Family Law encompasses issues that arise out of relationships among family members, such as adoption, divorce and child custody arrangements. Attorneys specializing in this field can assist clients in navigating these complexities with ease.
Every state has different child custody and support laws. A good family attorney can help their clients understand all available options to them and select the most effective course of action.
Child Custody
Determining who will have custody and what type of custody arrangement should be awarded is a critical decision for parents. Courts make their determination by looking at what would be in the best interests of each child, considering factors like bonding between parent and child, each parent's ability to care for and nurture the child, mental and physical health conditions of both parties, work schedules and support systems available to both.
Courts may grant either joint legal custody or sole legal custody to one parent. With joint legal custody, both parents can share equal authority for major decisions about their child such as religious upbringing, medical treatment and education; with sole legal custody being made solely by one of them.
Custody and access arrangements may change when circumstances have drastically altered; to do so, however, a parent must demonstrate how doing so would serve their child's best interests.
Child Support
After a marriage ends with children, the parent who doesn't have primary custody must usually pay child support payments to help cover costs associated with raising them. While exact rules and requirements differ between states, all support payments aim at guaranteeing an acceptable standard of living for your kids.
Child support may cover not only food and clothing costs, but may also cover educational costs, childcare expenses, extracurricular activities, entertainment needs and transportation needs. Furthermore, out-of-pocket medical expenses (deductibles, co-pays and uninsured services) may often be covered as well.
Child support payments are determined using specific calculations that take both parents' incomes into account. If one parent experiences significant changes, it could be worthwhile exploring whether filing a modification request with their trusted family lawyer; they will ensure you receive a fair and reasonable payment plan as a result.
Prenuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements (prenups) are contracts that outline how property will be divided in the event of divorce. They usually differentiate between separate property (that each party owned prior to marriage) and marital property (assets acquired during the marriage). Our attorneys can assist in crafting prenups that are legally enforceable in your state.
Prenuptial agreements (prenups) may also set forth arrangements for spousal support (alimony) in the event of divorce and inheritance rights, though courts cannot force one spouse into unconscionable obligations that go beyond fairness.
Prenups don't address issues regarding child custody or visitation as these must be handled through other legal documents. Furthermore, prenups may be invalidated if either party felt pressured to sign it, and even voided in states that don't follow community property laws; consequently these agreements may not suit everyone and must be carefully constructed so as to be legally binding.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse, both physical and emotional, should never be accepted. Abuse occurs both between same-sex partners as well as across sexes in relationships such as husband/wife, partner/cohabitant or intimate family members and can involve any actions intended to intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate blame isolate or wound someone - this may include threats or actual violence being used against them.
Emotional abuse includes insulting you, ignoring or devaluing what you say, ridiculing you in front of others, making negative remarks about friends and family, or embarrassing you because of your achievements. Economical abuse includes restricting money access, monitoring phone use or barring access to work or school.
Sexual Abuse refers to any situation wherein someone forces someone else into engaging in unsafe or unwanted sexual activity against their will or unsafe environment, regardless of its intended use or consequences. Forced sexual acts constitute acts of aggression and violence and can be very serious or life-threatening - for this reason a restraining order can protect victims of abusive individuals.
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