"We know families. We know the law." Sabrina Ball
PRACTICE AREAS
Divorce / Mediation / Child Support / Custody /
Adoption / Prenuptial Agreement
Divorce
If you have exhausted all other avenues and are moving forward with a divorce, your options are either an uncontested divorce or a contested divorce. Schedule a consultation today, so we can help you better understand which option is best for you based on your current situation.
There are certain issues that must be addresed in every divorce, whether it be contested or uncontested - property division, debt, and health insurance - to name just a few.
A divorce will be based upon the ground of irreconcilable differences if you are able to agree on the terms of a Marital Dissolution Agreements and Permanent Parenting Plan. Other grounds include Inappropriate Marital Conduct, Adultery, and several other fault based grounds.
Custody
Juvenile Court is the place that will address child related issues if the parents were never married.
Juvenile Court is also the court that hears child abuse, usually termed as "dependency an neglect" cases. Grandparent's visitation rights can also be heard at Juvenile Court.
No more important decision will impact you and your spouse than the parenting schedule for your children. Decisions on how to share responsibilities will not only affect your life, but also the well being of your children.
The "Parenting Plan" is a legal document that will set out each party's rights and responsibilities concerning the children. Issues to be addressed include the following:
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Week to week schedule
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Summer schedule
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Holiday and school breaks
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Child Support/income tax deduction/private school tuition
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Health insurance
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Dispute resolution options
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Parent education class
Adoption
Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights are a complex areas of the law. It is extremely important that you retain an attorney that knows the law in this area and understands the details of the process.
There are several different types of adoptions. A step parent adoption is a legal action that allows the married partner of the legal parent to adopt a child. In order for this process to begin, the other parent's parental rights will need to first be legally terminated. This can be accomplished either by the consent or a contested process. Once the adoption is granted, the child's birth certificate will be changed to reflect the adopting parent and any requested name change.
Other adoptions include adoption agencies, foreign country readoptions, and children in the custody of the Department of Children's Services.
Mediation
Couples have discovered that there is an option for resolving parenting issues and financial dispensation through divorce mediation. Choosing to cooperate with your spouse and work through parenting startegies together will improve the difficult process of dissolving the marriage. Mediation will save you time in court rooms and hearings, as well as the costs associated with legal counsel for both parties. By working together, parents can better focus on the needs of their children and how to plan for their future.
Child Support
Child support is set based upon specific guidelines. In order to determine child support, the income of both parents will be determined as well as the number of days per year the children will be spending with each parent. The guidelines also factor in the cost of day care and medical insurance.