Family law attorneys specialize in handling sensitive and complicated matters that affect members of a family, such as custody, support or domestic abuse.
Divorce
Divorce (sometimes referred to as dissolution of marriage) is the legal action taken to end a marital relationship and involves various issues including custody/parenting time issues, spousal support payments and property division. All of these matters will usually be decided by court and are determined according to state law.
As there are so many details involved with divorce cases, hiring an experienced family law practitioner to manage them is often best. An attorney with extensive knowledge in family law will quickly identify relevant issues, provide options advice on these issues and advocate for positive outcomes on your behalf.
In some instances, courts may require mediation in which a neutral third-party will assist both of you in reaching an agreement on all issues regarding your divorce process. Divorce mediation isn’t required by most courts but highly recommended; Liz is experienced in all areas of Family Law including divorce, alimony, custody visitation support child support modifications of orders & modifications to orders with an emphasis on efficiency & cost efficiency when handling divorce matters efficiently & cost effectively.
Child Custody
Child custody refers to the process by which parents will make decisions regarding their children’s education, religion and healthcare after divorce or separation. Parents can either share joint custody of their children or sole custody.
Judges make custody decisions by considering various factors, including a child’s best interests, their relationship between parent and child, age of the child as well as parents’ ability to provide safe and stable homes for both. Sometimes judges will order psychological assessment for both parties involved.
An experienced Ivanhoe family lawyers can assist in helping you come to an agreement about custody and access. While it is preferable for this process to occur outside of court, doing so directly with children would likely be less disruptive for both sides involved than litigating the issue in court. If no agreement can be reached through negotiation alone, courts will step in.
Child Support
Child support is a legal requirement of parents following separation or divorce in order to provide financial assistance for their children’s welfare. The purpose of child support payments is to supplement the income of the custodial parent while sharing costs related to raising a child or children among all parties involved.
Although most states provide guidelines for the payment of child support, the exact figure may depend on your state and case. Typically, those earning more pay a portion of their gross income to support the other parent who has custody.
Child support agreements often cover expenses such as orthodontia, extracurricular activities and private school tuition – these costs should generally not be part of a child’s regular expenses. Failure to pay court-ordered child support amounts is considered criminal offense in the US and enforcement mechanisms include wage garnishments, property seizures and contempt of court decrees as necessary – should nonpayment occur it is important that both parties attend all scheduled hearings as promptly as possible.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic violence refers to any pattern of coercive behavior used by one partner against another intimate partner in order to exert power or gain control. This may involve physical, psychological, and/or economic abuse – such as withholding financial resources from an intimate partner and prohibiting attendance at school or work.
Emotional abuse typically involves manipulating and deflating a victim’s sense of self-worth through manipulative techniques like criticizing, name calling or blaming. Furthermore, emotional abusers may also threaten harm or kill to their victim, their children and even pets; isolate their target by keeping them away from friends and family or blocking access to their vehicle; damage their property or steal belongings if possible.
Other forms of domestic violence may include sabotaging an employment (calling them at work, stalking them or refusing them access to the car), controlling finances (denying access to funds or running up debt in their name) and financial abuse. Children exposed to domestic violence can suffer long-term effects including emotional issues, developmental delays, eating and sleeping disorders and behavioral problems.
