The primary components of our Family Law sector are as follows:
1. Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) and Separation
This is the core of traditional family law practice.
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- Uncontested Divorce: Facilitating a straightforward divorce where both parties agree on all terms (division of assets, child custody, support).
- Contested Divorce: Representing a client in a divorce where one or more major issues are disputed. This involves:
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- Negotiation: Engaging in settlement discussions with the other party’s attorney.
- Litigation: Taking the case to court for a judge to decide on unresolved issues.
- Discovery: Formally exchanging financial and other relevant information through interrogatories, requests for document production, and depositions.
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- Legal Separation: Assisting couples who wish to live apart and formalize their separation through a court order without officially terminating the marriage.
2. Division of Marital Property and Debt
- Identification and Valuation: Identifying all marital assets and debts (real estate, retirement accounts, businesses, investments, loans) and obtaining accurate valuations, often with the help of forensic accountants or appraisers.
- Negotiation and Litigation: Advocating for a fair and equitable (not necessarily equal) distribution of property.
- Complex Asset Division: Handling the division of sophisticated assets like stock options, professional practices, and executive compensation packages.
3. Inheritance
- Estate Planning: Drafting Wills and Trusts that dictate who will inherit a person’s assets.
- Estate Administration (Probate): Guiding the executor or administrator through the legal process of validating the will, paying debts, and distributing the inheritance to the beneficiaries after a person dies.
- Inheritance Disputes
4. Domestic Violence
5. Guardianship
Advising and assisting for the appointment of Guardianship of a Minor (Child) and an Incapacitated Adult
6. Other Family Law Matters
- Paternity Actions: Establishing the legal father of a child, which is necessary for unmarried parents to seek custody or child support.
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements:
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- Drafting: Creating legally sound agreements that specify how assets and debts will be divided in the event of divorce or death.
- Review: Advising clients on the implications of an agreement presented by their fiancé or spouse.
- Challenging/Enforcing: Litigating the enforcement or challenging the validity of an existing agreement.
7. Dispute Resolution Alternatives.