Family Law Attorneys in Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Getting a divorce or seeking custody of the kids can be a difficult and expensive legal process. Knowing that your family’s future is on the line, you should turn to a proven family law attorney in Connecticut, for high-quality and efficient representation.
With years of experience, Attorney Joey-Lynn Darius has shown she knows how to work with any situation. Our Connecticut family law attorneys have the solutions you’re looking for, from taking on simple adoption cases to complex child custody battles.
What exactly is Family Law?
Family law is a branch of collaborative law that deals that deals with various matters such as, marriage, adoption divorce, and child custody, among other things. Family law attorneys may represent clients in family probate court procedures or related discussions. They can also write critical legal papers like court petitions and property agreements.
Some family law practitioners also handle adoption, paternity, emancipation, and other non-divorce-related cases.
The concept of family encompasses so many elements of life. As a result, lawyers in the area assist Connecticut residents from various walks of life in dealing with delicate matters that many people do not instantly associate with family law.
Important Phrases to Know
Emancipation: The legal process by which a minor becomes self-sufficient adopts adult responsibility for their welfare and is no longer under the care of their parents.
Marital Property: Property accumulated by either spouse throughout marriage and susceptible to split in the event of divorce.
Alimony is a monetary payment paid by one spouse to the other for support during or after a legal separation or divorce.
Paternity: The origin or ancestry of a father (establishing paternity is the confirmation of the identification of a child’s biological father).
Prenuptial Agreement: A prenuptial agreement is an agreement formed before marriage, where the parties agree to forfeit future rights to each other’s property in the case of divorce or death.
What Does A Family Lawyer Do?
The following are some of the most prevalent practice areas for Connecticut family lawyers:
- Divorce
- Real Estate division in a marriage
- Prenuptial contracts
- Cases involving child custody
- Child support
- Parental authority
- Spousal support or alimony
- Domestic abuse
- Restraining orders
- Estate planning
- Adoption
- Guardianship
- Juvenile dependency
- Juvenile delinquency
- Abuse of children
Attorneys function as advocates for their clients, including advocating a minor child’s interests in child abuse or juvenile dependency proceedings.
Do You Need The Assistance Of A Family Law Attorney?
Specific family law concerns, such as essential court filings, may be addressed without the assistance of an attorney. However, when significant problems are at stake, it may be prudent to get legal help from an experienced lawyer. Divorce may include the division of substantial sums of money, a claim, property, and assets. Without legal advice from a divorce lawyer, you risk missing out on what you deserve during a split.
For many divorcing spouses, the primary concern is visitation and child custody. If there are disagreements over child custody, a family lawyer may assist you in ensuring that your child is secure and well-cared for. This involves establishing child custody with the custodial parent, establishing a visitation plan in your child’s best interest, and obtaining the financial assistance required to care for your child.
Consider the Following When Hiring a Family Law Attorney
Most family attorneys serve clients in divorce cases and other divorce-related problems. However, family law is a diverse practice area that encompasses foster care, mediation, and reproductive rights.
Due to the personal nature of a family law issue, having a trustworthy legal professional on your side can assist you in ensuring that your loved ones are appropriately represented and safeguarded throughout any court proceedings.
The following are the most often cited reasons for hiring an experienced family law attorney:
Divorce: Each spouse retains their counsel, who assists in developing a settlement plan to avoid a trial. A divorce attorney can assist in distributing marital property, calculating spousal support, and recommending a child custody, visitation, and support arrangement (if applicable).
Child Custody / Child Support: While court decisions and settlement agreements covering custody and support are often included in the broader divorce case, they may be reconsidered as circumstances change. Child support, for example, may be modified in response to a change in the non-custodial parent’s financial affairs.
Paternity: Paternity lawsuits are often brought by mothers to collect child support from an non-custodial father. However, biological dads may occasionally seek paternity to establish contact with their children. Typically, DNA testing is used to establish paternity.
Adoption / Foster Care: Adoption is a complicated procedure that varies according to the type of adoption, the country of origin, and state laws. As such, consulting with a family law attorney is critical. While foster parents sometimes adopt their foster children, the foster care procedure does not always need legal assistance.
How Do You Choose An Effective Family Law Attorney?
The most effective method of locating a competent family law attorney based in Connecticut is to contact the law firm and discuss your case.
Each lawyer is unique, so it is important to select a family law attorney whom you are comfortable with and who can assist you with your specific legal needs. Before choosing a lawyer, feel free to ask any questions to ensure you understand your current situation. Among the questions you may want to ask your lawyer are the following:
- How many years have you been practicing family law?
- How much experience do you have with my particular kind of family law case?
- What is the pricing or fee structure for legal services provided by your firm?
- Will you be the primary attorney handling my case?
- How will you communicate any updates?
- What are my alternatives for settling my divorce agreement?
- How do you handle divorce cases?
Do You Need to Speak to a Family Law Attorney?
Family law is a complex legal issue to tackle on your own. You need to be sure of your legal rights. You can’t afford the consequences of going into a meeting without all the information you need because you didn’t consult with an attorney in advance. If you want the best possible outcome, you need an attorney who can handle these complex situations. If you are confronted with another attorney, you need an attorney skilled in that field.
If you need help with your family law concerns, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with our law firm – Darius Law Group, LLC. You may also find more information about family law in our FAQs page.