After a divorce, it’s natural to want to go back to your previous last name. If that wasn’t already handled during your divorce proceedings, we can help you legally change your name.
While no divorce is necessarily easy, they can be even more challenging when there are children involved. Let’s discuss the different types of custody arrangements that might work in your situation.
You may have thought of Panama City, Fla. as a tourist destination, but a research by Brown University shows it also is a place where couples don’t get along. The city was No. 1 for most divorces per capita in the country, followed by Sierra Vista, Ariz. and Charleston, W.V.
Can legal determinations for child custody, alimony and child support apply to limited divorce circumstances? Yes. These determinations can still be applied to situations when couples opt for a limited divorce as opposed to an absolute divorce.
It’s important to understand that in any custody decision, the judge is going to look at stability as a primary factor in any decision. We will ensure that this is an important focus when presenting your case.
While there may be no shortage of children in need of good homes, you may find that it’s an arduous process to adopt a child. In many cases, working with a family attorney can help you ensure that all the paperwork you’re filing is accurate.
While it may be tempting to use the same attorney as your spouse to cut costs during a divorce, we don’t recommend it. It’s important to have someone on your side looking out for your best interests.
Remember, divorce negotiations won’t necessarily be the same as negotiations within a marriage. After making an asset offer, avoid being the first person to bring it up, even if that means a lengthy silence on the subject.
Does living together for a time make it more likely that a couple will have a long marriage? A study of 22,000 couples by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention found no difference in the divorce rates when couples lived together before getting married with those who did not.
There are three general rules that must be followed by your family law attorney in executing a prenuptial agreement. The contract generally must be in writing, be entered into voluntarily by both parties and not be “unconscionable.”
Have you tried everything with no results? You know you're headed to court but there's so much going on that you're completely overwhelmed? We can help you navigate the court system. We know how to deal with complex litigation and are on your side.
Do you believe that your spouse is unfit to have custody of your child? A family lawyer knows the facts and issues to raise – if they are present in your situation – that commonly lead judges to award sole custody.
It’s important for parents to know that visitation isn’t always a guarantee after the divorce is final. If your spouse has a history of violence or erratic behavior, it may be best to push for supervised visitation.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional for a court to consider race when a non-custodial parent petitions for a change of custody. Essentially, this cannot be the basis for any legal custody decision.
So what exactly is a “fault” divorce? This is a type of divorce where the filing party cites a specific reason why their spouse is at fault for the failure of the marriage. Common grounds for a fault divorce include cruelty, adultery, desertion, and confinement in prison for a prolonged period of time.
Regardless of the feelings between parents, the welfare of the children is important. If you're considering keeping a consistent relationship between children and parents, consider co-parenting, which gives both parents equal parental standing.
If you’ve devoted the last several years of your life raising children and managing a household, you may have concerns about how you’ll support yourself after your divorce. In some cases, you may qualify for spousal support that will make your transition a little easier financially.
These days, sole legal custody is very rare unless it is proven that one parent is unfit. In terms of building your case, it’s best to go with sole physical custody, where the other parent still shares in any decision making.
While you may not believe you’ll have many assets in your lifetime, cars, homes and retirement accounts can quickly add up. Creating a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement while your relationship is strong can protect you both in the event of a divorce.
It’s hard for a child to be kept away from either parent- but at times, we all know that it is for the best. If you feel that is the case for your child, a good attorney can help you do all you can to keep that distance, or ensure that visitation is as safe as it can be made, which may actually be ideal.
Do you know the state with the highest divorce rate in the country, according to 2009 statistics? Interestingly, it was Nevada - known for its wedding chapels and quick marriages in Las Vegas - had 6.7 divorces for every 1,000 people.
The notion of spousal support, also known as alimony, is involved in some divorce cases. Either spouse can be required to pay alimony during and after the divorce depending on the need of their spouse and their ability to pay.
When it comes to custody proceedings, it’s important to maintain a handwritten parenting notebook. This might include a record of the daily care needs of the children, as well as incidents that reflect any concerns you might have concerning the other parent.
So what exactly qualifies as community property? This includes everything accumulated over the course of the marriage, including debts, property, savings, and investments.
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is not an American invention. In fact, the Code of Hammurabi in ancient Babylon mentions the concept of alimony.
If you are facing a custody battle, we highly recommend that you keep a calendar for everything. This will not only help you look back and remember details, but it can provide crucial documentation of other events and happenings.
Now that you've agreed on the major issues of custody, it's time to have a parenting plan in place. We can help you set up vacation schedules, access to school records, medical care responsibilities, and decision-making requirements. You don't have to do this alone.
In collaborative divorces, experts are often hired jointly to advise the parties. For instance, a financial adviser might review the marital estate, while a parenting expert might provide input as to the best custody situation for the children.
For many children, the idea of having to say in court which parent they want to live with can be a frightening and painful experience. If there’s any way to keep your child from speaking out, we’ll do everything we can to create a solid case without them.
Are you willing to risk a mistake that could affect your rights in a divorce case, or even worse, leave you with less money than you are entitled to? Trying to save money by not hiring a lawyer could end up costing you because of an error in the divorce settlement documents.
Make sure your wife-to-be is as certain as possible about getting married. A UCLA study tracked nearly 300 married couples and found that 19 percent of women who admitted before the wedding that they had some doubts ended up divorced within four years. Only 8 percent of women who said they had no doubts were divorced within four years.
So what’s the difference between a contested and uncontested divorce? In contested divorces, the parties are adversarial and cannot agree to a separation agreement, leading them to court. In uncontested divorces, the parties agree to all matters.
What does it mean if a parent has legal child custody? This means that the parent is responsible for the everyday decisions which affect the child’s lifestyle – for example, choosing a pediatrician and school and outlining the child’s diet and bedtime.
If your spouse has blindsided you with a divorce request, it’s natural to feel confused and hurt. Retaining your own attorney right away can provide an intermediary between you and your spouse so that you don’t have to maintain open communication.
Are you looking for the fastest way to get divorced? As long as you and your spouse agree, we can handle the paperwork showing the judge that all issues regarding division of property and custody have a proposed settlement.
Going to court can be a scary process, and even more so if it's an emotionally charged issue like divorce. Your family law attorney will meet with you ahead of time and go over what to expect, so you are fully prepared for your court date.
Did you know that once you and your spouse no longer live in the same state, child custody proceedings can become more complex? When facing this, it’s important to have an attorney by your side who understands how to navigate interstate hearings.
What types of adoptions can be performed without the assistance of an adoption agency? An independent adoption, a relative adoption, an identified adoption and in some cases an international adoption. When performed legally, these types of adoptions are just as binding as agency adoptions.
Have you been trying to decide if you need to hire an attorney for your child custody case? Remember, unless you and the other party are in complete agreement, you need someone on your side.
Although you may clearly be the wronged party in your situation, there’s no guarantee the judge will side with you when you go to court. Having us by your side can help ensure the legalities of your case are framed in the most favorable manner.
There are basically two types of joint custody: joint physical and joint legal custody. With joint physical custody, children spend an equal amount of time with each parent, while with joint legal custody, medical, education, and religious decisions about the children are shared.
In divorce court, the term “coverture” refers to the period of time during which a woman is married. This term is usually used when establishing the value of property (such as a pension) that was acquired during the term of the marriage.
Parental alienation syndrome describes a condition where one parent is relentlessly hostile to the other in front of the children, causing the child to express hatred toward the other parent. This syndrome sometimes become relevant in child custody cases.
In family law cases, emotions are often running high on both sides of the aisle. Since proceedings are often short, consider making a list of the most important points so you can stick to the facts when you’re addressing the judge.
We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. We're still closed to the public because of the pandemic. But we are working hard for our current and new clients by phone and other means of communication. Let us know if we can help.😷
If you're involved in a custody battle, it's vitally important to approach your case correctly. The case may be decided largely on the basis of the initial paperwork you file. Talk to an experienced family law attorney as soon as possible to come up with a comprehensive plan for your case.
One important element the court will take into consideration when determining custody is the child’s established living pattern in terms of school, home, community, religious institution, and the like. We will make sure we look at all of these factors when building your case.
Going to court can be a traumatic event, especially when dealing with divorce. Alternative Dispute Resolution, including a collective divorce or mediation, may be a less stressful alternative to working out the details of your separation.
The easiest way to change your name legally is through marriage, but if you need to change your name for other reasons-as long as you're not dodging legal proceedings-we can help with the court and other legal paperwork.
If you’re interested in working directly with the birth parents to adopt a baby, you’ll definitely need a family attorney to walk you through the finer points of the process. When you’re ready to get started, we’re always here for you.
When it comes to divorce and debt, the basic rule of thumb is this: if the debts were jointly incurred, then both parties remain ultimately responsible for them.
When it comes to divorce and debt, the basic rule of thumb is this: if the debts were jointly incurred, then both parties remain ultimately responsible for them.
According to several studies, spouses in the majority of divorces in the U.S. find themselves in worse economic shape after the divorce than before.
So what exactly does the “best interests of the child” mean when it comes to child custody cases? This can include anything from the child’s age, gender, and mental and physical health, to the lifestyle and other social factors of the parents.
When it comes to divorce and debt, the basic rule of thumb is this: if the debts were jointly incurred, then both parties remain ultimately responsible for them.
When ending your marriage is the only viable option, you know that you have a lot of decisions to make. Good advice on how to move forward- especially in the legal realm- can save you a great deal of heartache and perhaps even help ensure that you have the money you need to do so.
Does lump sum alimony have to be paid all at once? Not always. The amount of a lump sum alimony judgment can be paid all at once or in some instances over an extended period of time – but whether this possibility exists will depend on the circumstances of the divorce.
According to several studies, spouses in the majority of divorces in the U.S. find themselves in worse economic shape after the divorce than before.
So what exactly does the “best interests of the child” mean when it comes to child custody cases? This can include anything from the child’s age, gender, and mental and physical health, to the lifestyle and other social factors of the parents.
Is there something about the lifestyle or weather in Florida that makes it a divorce capital of the country? According to a study of 2009 divorce statistics by researchers at Brown University, four cities in Florida were in the top ten for most divorces per capita. No other state had more than one.
It’s important to remember that there’s really no winning when it comes to family law and divorce cases. Rather, it’s often better to look for fair and equitable compromises that all parties can live with instead of seeking to gain a victory in name only.
When ending your marriage is the only viable option, you know that you have a lot of decisions to make. Good advice on how to move forward- especially in the legal realm- can save you a great deal of heartache and perhaps even help ensure that you have the money you need to do so.
Does lump sum alimony have to be paid all at once? Not always. The amount of a lump sum alimony judgment can be paid all at once or in some instances over an extended period of time – but whether this possibility exists will depend on the circumstances of the divorce.
According to several studies, spouses in the majority of divorces in the U.S. find themselves in worse economic shape after the divorce than before.
So what exactly does the “best interests of the child” mean when it comes to child custody cases? This can include anything from the child’s age, gender, and mental and physical health, to the lifestyle and other social factors of the parents.