Family law attorneys specialize in handling delicate legal matters affecting families. This may include matters such as child custody and support payments, estate planning assistance and any related concerns.
Criminal charges can have devastating repercussions and you should contact a Broadmeadows family lawyers as soon as possible if facing them.
Divorce
Divorce is the legal dissolution of marriage. While this process may seem straightforward at first, as partners come to terms with life without each other and question whether their union was ever truly healthy to begin with, divorce can often be emotionally charged as individuals begin considering what life would be like without each other and whether their marriage was ever meant to last in the first place.
Divorces often involve complex legal matters such as child custody and property division, making this time in your life one of the most trying. Our family lawyers are experienced and ready to guide you through this journey.
At our firm, we also offer mediation services to help resolve disputes outside of court. Mediation involves working with an impartial third party who facilitates an agreement between you and your spouse through discussion or negotiations. Mediation may be suggested by the court or you can hire your own mediator.
Some states allow legal separations while others require trial separations before granting divorces. A legal separation can provide less formal than divorce proceedings while still permitting couples to keep medical and insurance benefits.
Child Custody
Child custody laws in the US are determined primarily by state courts. Judges take several factors into consideration when awarding care and decision-making responsibilities to one parent over the other, typically favoring those who can ensure a stable home environment and ensure continuity for children's lifestyles.
Custody orders may include provisions preventing parents from taking children outside the country or state without prior permission or court approval, and without first consulting their lawyer first. Parents found in violation may face parental kidnapping charges; for assistance on this front the Mooney Valley and Broadmeadows Community Legal Centres provide free legal help in family law matters.
Child Support
As a general rule, both parents are expected to provide financial support for their children. This may include expenses related to food, housing, medical care and any necessary child care costs. Furthermore, noncustodial parents may be expected to cover health insurance payments.
Determining how much support someone should receive can be challenging, which is why parents should seek legal representation to represent their case in court and fight for what is their rightful entitlement.
Many states provide specific guidelines for calculating child support amounts. These typically include predictable childcare costs like daycare services and nannies as well as some extracurricular activities like summer camp or instrument lessons; these expenses must be agreed to by both parties and can be considered separate agreements from their basic support obligation.
Prenuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements (or "prenups") are written contracts you and your future spouse enter into before getting married, outlining a list of all assets owned individually, how they will be distributed during marriage and upon divorce, liability for debts owed to either party and an outline of any potential spousal support payments made if needed in case of dissolution of marriage.
Though prenups may seem unromantic, they can actually help foster trust and open channels of communication in your relationship. Furthermore, prenups can protect assets such as family businesses and provide for any children from prior relationships or from other sources who require financial provisioning. Lastly, they help prevent disputes regarding inheritances or any other family property issues which might arise during separation or divorce proceedings.
Adoption
Adoption is a legal process which transfers parental responsibilities for a child from one or both biological parents to adoptive parents/caregivers, and can involve complex issues and considerable personal information. At Legal Eagle Group we can assist with all legal aspects of this important journey.
Our attorneys specialize in domestic, private and agency adoptions as well as second-parent, step-parent and international re-adoptions and re-adoptions, kinship placements and guardianship matters.
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, it's essential that you seek legal advice as quickly as possible. A skilled criminal attorney can help get a better result in your case and avoid jail time altogether. Call us now for a free consultation; we serve clients throughout Victoria.
