The practice of Family Law includes such diverse proceedings as Adoptions, Paternity, and Divorce, and is unique insofar as it deals primarily with the legal boundaries concerning relationships between spouses, parents, children, and to a lesser extent, the state. Although Family Law matters deal primarily with State law, there is also an important interplay of federal statutes as well.
Because Family Law cases can be emotionally difficult, and sometimes traumatic for the parties involved, the Law stresses an emphasis on achieving a result that is in the best interests of the child, or, in the case of a divorce without children, a result that is fair and equitable to both parties.  Despite the emotional aspects of divorce proceedings, oftentimes a fair and amicable divorce can occur without the parties spending days in Court, through the negotiated drafting of a Separation Agreement and Property Settlement Agreement.  In cases where the defendant spouse has not committed egregious harm to the plaintiff spouse, a Separation and Settlement Agreement may protect both parties’ interests, while reducing the parties’ – and parties’ children’s – anguish and distress.
In addition to divorce and separation, there are many other cases for which you may wish to utilize an attorney.  For example, Child Support proceedings are not limited to divorce actions.  If a party has never been married to their child’s father, they may still bring an action to compel that father to provide financial support for the child.  In some cases a paternity proceeding must first be brought in order to establish the father’s relation to the child.
Some of the most common Family Law proceedings handled by my firm include:

• Separation/Divorce
• Paternity
• Child Support (enforcement & modification)
• Child Custody (enforcement & modification)
• Guardianship/Adoption
• Guardianship of Elder
• Juvenile Court Matters