Family lawyers specialize in legal matters related to relationships, such as custody and support payments. Additionally, they may assist victims of domestic violence. Family attorneys must possess excellent interpersonal skills as well as possess an ability to effectively communicate with clients.
Lawyers need excellent research skills. They draft legal documents and participate in court hearings, making this career particularly fulfilling if helping families in crisis is what drives you.
Divorce
Divorce is a complex legal matter with lasting implications on multiple aspects of one's life, from custody and financial arrangements to custody arrangements and child welfare concerns. Therefore, having an experienced divorce lawyer at your side to ensure your rights are upheld throughout this process is key to protecting them effectively.
To obtain a divorce, one spouse must file a petition with the court, usually citing irreconcilable differences as the grounds. Other circumstances, such as adultery or extreme cruelty may also justify divorce proceedings.
After filing the divorce petition, it must be delivered to both spouses for service. This can usually be accomplished using professional process servers or sheriffs; other methods may exist in certain states. Following service, couples can begin discussing and negotiating settlement options - or else let the judge make that determination for them - which once complete, result in a final divorce judgment being signed off on by him/her.
Child Custody
Divorce and separation require parents to address child custody matters. Depending on their arrangement, one parent could assume sole legal custody while both could share decision-making responsibilities and parenting time; courts tend to favor keeping both parents involved in their children's lives.
Legal custody allows parents the power to make decisions regarding a child's education, health care needs, religious upbringing and non-emergency medical requirements. This may involve selecting a primary care doctor, authorizing medications for non-emergency conditions and choosing where the child resides.
Judges evaluate both parents' parenting abilities, home environments, lifestyles and work schedules when determining a custody arrangement. Should circumstances change - for example with new romantic relationships or disability that impede parental ability - modifications could be sought from their custody agreement. Our firm can assist either by creating modifications for existing arrangements or by helping parents seek modifications for new situations that arise - contact us to speak to one of our Malvern family lawyers about your options today!
Pre-Nuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements are contracts drawn up between couples before they marry that outline assets, debts and financial responsibilities in case of separation or divorce. They provide peace of mind to both parties by protecting inheritance rights and preventing heirs from being left out of an estate; helping establish how businesses will be held, operated and valued; or outlining who will pay specific debts such as credit card balances or student loans.
But because a prenuptial agreement cannot address child support or custody matters, it's crucial that both partners discuss them prior to signing one. A judge will only uphold a prenup if it was entered into freely with full disclosure of assets from both sides, free from coercion or undue influence, and signed in the presence of a notary public.
Domestic Abuse
If your partner hits, chokes, throws you against something or threatens to harm your children or pets; controls your finances or refuses to allow you to work or attend school; enforces a strict dress code or controls phone contacts; humiliates you before friends and family; acts jealously or possessively - that could all be red flags for trouble.
Abuse may take many forms - be it physical, psychological, financial or emotional. Abuse may affect spouses, cohabitants, girlfriends/boyfriends and intimate partners as well as siblings or any household members of any age or gender.
Though physical abuse is the most visible form of mistreatment in relationships, other forms such as threats and verbal assault can also be damaging. Psychological and financial abuse may even be more harmful; emotionally abusive relationships destroy self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression symptoms, make victims feel powerless and isolated - and make children become victims. Abusive relationships may even impact children in terms of behavior issues, eating and sleeping issues and delays in development.
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