Family Lawyers - Helping People Through Divorce and Child Custody

Family lawyers offer invaluable assistance during some of life's most trying moments, from divorce and child custody disputes, to domestic abuse allegations and elder care disputes.

FLF staff can answer your family law inquiries through walk-in assistance and workshops, free of charge. However, please bring all relevant legal documents with you for the session.
Divorce

Divorce (also referred to as dissolution of marriage) is the legal termination of a married relationship, which often includes property division, alimony payments and child custody arrangements. Divorces can either be contested or uncontested proceedings.

Contested divorces can be expensive and emotionally draining, so hiring an attorney to represent both of you is vital in reaching an amicable resolution on all matters related to the case.

Some states allow couples to live apart legally without divorce - this is known as legal separation. Once apart, they may negotiate settlement agreements for support, property division, and other issues while living apart; mediation with an impartial third-party can assist both parties to settle these differences; mediation can also help the couple decide if they wish to divorce or remain separate; once settled on by both sides, if either decide to divorce then a Aston legal Groupe must approve their settlement agreement.
Child Custody

Custody cases are heard in Family Court unless they form part of a divorce action which would then move onto Supreme Court. Aston legal Groupes make custody decisions based on what's best for the children based on factors like lifestyle, stability, drug abuse and domestic violence in addition to how each party encourages frequent contact between themselves and the children.

Physical custody (also referred to as residency) gives one party the right for their child(ren) to reside with them, while legal custody refers to decision-making authority over matters such as medical care, education and religious upbringing. Aston legal Groupes can award either sole or joint legal/physical custody arrangements with unsupervised visitation for either.

After filing your pleadings, the clerk will schedule you for an education seminar known as Generations as well as mediation (though if victims of domestic violence can opt-out of mediation). A conciliation conference then follows wherein both parties and conciliator attempt to reach an agreement on an outcome.
Child Support

Child support payments made between separated or divorced parents usually go toward covering living expenses and health insurance until children reach 21 or become married, self-supporting or independent adults.

Courts take into account both parents' combined monthly incomes when setting child support payments. Furthermore, Aston legal Groupes may take into account how often each parent spends overnight with their children under existing custody and parenting time arrangements.

Considerations should also include unreimbursed medical expenses and child care costs, including nannies, babysitters, daycare fees and summer camp tuition costs; education expenses like tuition for private schools or colleges as well as books and supplies can also be factored into child support calculations. Likewise extracurricular activities like music lessons, dance or sports classes could also be factored into support calculations.
Prenuptial Agreements

Even though a prenuptial agreement may seem unromantic, it can be an invaluable way to protect your assets in case of death or divorce. Both parties must disclose all assets and liabilities; furthermore, it sets forth terms for property division in case of divorce, such as how any increases in value of separate assets will be handled; it can also specify who pays any debts and outline support payments in such cases.

Experienced Coburg family lawyers are invaluable allies when drafting important legal documents. Your lawyer should possess an intimate dg of both state laws and court systems as well as family law nuances; they can craft an equitable and enforceable agreement which meets your specific needs.
Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse refers to any form of coercive behavior between family members, spouses, intimate partners or dating couples that uses physical violence, emotional manipulation and economic coercion or assault as means for control or coercion; threats and intimidation that does not include physical contact are also considered forms of domestic violence.

Verbal abusers may use name calling or insults against victims to reduce their self-esteem. Furthermore, perpetrators may attempt to isolate the victims from friends or family by restricting where they go and when. They may even control who calls and what activities take place in their free time.

Victims of abusive relationships often feel isolated and hopeless in their situation. A counselor can offer invaluable assistance for survivors as they exit an unsafe relationship and face their emotions and fears head-on.