Divorce & Family Law

The key issues in divorce are custody, distribution of the marital assets, child support, spousal support (alimony), and the grounds of divorce.

​

A misstep in any of these areas could have devastating long-term effects on your family, your livelihood, and your ability to care for yourself.

​

In a recent case, I seized upon an opposing counsel's mistake at trial. The opposing spouse unnecessarily dragged out the litigation and expected the Court to award her far more than was due to her. Opposing counsel proved the value of my client's retirement account, but she forgot to prove that the retirement account existed during the marriage, like offering a simple financial statement. The opposing spouse was set to lose any right to my client's retirement accounts. My client was in the driver's seat. Ultimately, my client and I leveraged opposing counsel's mistake to reach a settlement agreement in my client's favor.

Your kids' best interests---that's all that the Court cares about. There may be all sorts of drama with the other parent and that parent may treat you horribly when you're alone, but none of that matters if it doesn't affect the kids (although it almost always does affect the kids, and a good attorney can help the judge see that).

A Judge will consider various factors to determine custody and visitation. In my experience, the factor that has turned more cases one way or another has been a parent's ability to assess and provide for the emotional needs of the children. You may be good at that, but you need to prove it and you must do so within the restrictions of the rules of evidence. 

​

I know the rules and will make them work in your favor.

​

You don't have to move out of the house or even give up financial support from your spouse or other parent to your children to escape abuse. The Courts can protect you while giving you possession of your home and financial support from your spouse or the other parent to your children.

​

I will help you get the protection, and the financial support, you need.

There's more to child and spousal support than just each person's paycheck. For example, if your spouse or the other parent of your children earns less money than they could otherwise earn, the Court can calculate child and/or spousal support based upon what they could be making. 

​

If your spouse is trying fake a low income, I will track down the evidence of what they could actually make and prove to the Court that child and spousal support should be based on a higher income.

Don't assume it's not yours just because it's in your spouse's name. If property was acquired during the marriage, then it's yours also, with only a few exceptions. The Court will decide how much belongs to you depending on factors such as who is at fault for the failure of the marriage. The Court might divide everything 50/50 or it might give you more or lease, depending on the evidence.

​

A misstep in discover (the pre-trial processing of obtaining information and documents from your spouse) or the trial could result in you receiving much less than what is due to you. I will ensure that we obtain and present all of the necessary evidence needed to prove your case and get all that is due to you. 

Do you suspect that your spouse is hiding money or assets? If it can be found, I will find it. I will ensure that all of the assets and money are before the Judge and that you get all that is due to you.