Family Law and Divorce

New York, NY: Family law is fraught with issues that are not for the faint of heart, and not easily resolved. Family attorneys are integral to a good resolution, and a qualified family law firm will have a broad cross section of skill sets amongst its professionals, so you are guided towards an amicable resolution, rather then led down the garden path. [ Read More ]

Forensic psychologists and neuropsychologists regularly give expert opinions about a person’s mental capacity in the criminal, family law and civil courts. The evaluative process involves clinical interviews, psychological/neuropsychological testing, review of the records and interviews with individuals who have personal knowledge of the defendant’s behavior and cognition. [ Read More ]

Orlando, FL: While family law often involves tales of estranged bedfellows, where things get really complicated are the child custody battles. Custody laws usually guide lawyers along the family law custody road, but not in a vacuum. Other factors include things such as pre-nuptial agreements and the circumstances that can serve to make it that much easier, or harder, for the legal professionals involved. [ Read More ]

Divorce and Separation
Divorces may be friendly, uncontested affairs, or so serious that they require a termination of parental rights. The more a couple can make their own decisions about their divorce, the more money they will save. The less time they spend fighting, the less they will spend on attorney fees.

Child Custody
You may face child custody issues if you are divorcing, separating or even if you are not married to the child's other parent. A custody order will determine the rights and duties of each parent and who gets to make decisions about where the children live, their education, etc. In most cases, both parents will have an on-going joint custody relationship with the children. Sole management of the children is only given if there would be severe negative affects on the physical or emotional health of the children.

Child Support
Child support will vary from state to state. It can be calculated based on Net Income or Gross Income and can include items such as severance pay, commissions, retirement benefits, overtime, pensions, tips, trust income, bonuses, annuities, dividends, rental income, UI benefits, gifts or prizes, when calculating the amount to be paid.

Other factors affecting the amount incude special needs of the children, and children that must be supported from other relationships. The person paying child support will generally be responsible for paying for the childrens health insurance as well.

Adoptions can be arranged in several different ways. You may approach an adoption agency, where children who have become wards of the state are available for adoption.

"Independent" adoptions are arranged directly between the birth parents and the adopting parents. An attorney will be needed to take care of the paperwork. Connecticut, Delaware and Massachusetts do not allow independent adoptions. An "open adoption" will allow the birth parents to maintain contact with the child.

An "identified" adoption is one in which the adopting parents and the birth mother ask an adoption agency to take over the adoption process, benefiting from the agency's experience with the legal issues.

Issues around adoption include self identity, searching for birth parents, reunion with birth parents, cultural differences and community integration.