Winchester Family Lawyer
There are many reasons why you might need a family attorney. Family attorneys practice law that pertains to family matters. This includes prenuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, guardianships, and more. If you have concerns with a legal family matter then you need to work with a trusted family lawyer to represent you in negotiations, mediation sessions, and court hearings.
Reasons to Have Family Law Representation
Your family attorney might specialize in one or two specific areas of family law, but in general they will be able to offer advice on a variety of family law issues. You might benefit from family law representation for the following:
- Establishing paternity
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Divorce or annulments
- Legal separation
- Alimony
- Restraining orders
There are many other areas where a family attorney could be beneficial. If you are unsure, consult with your local law office in Winchester for advice on how to proceed with your case.
Establishing Paternity
If you are considering asking for child support from a partner that you were never married to it is imperative that parentage is established. Parentage is assumed when a child is born to married parents; however, paternity is not established if a child is born out of wedlock.
A paternity lawyer can be crucial in getting a court to require the suspected parent to take a genetic test that confirms parentage. Additionally, if you want to see a child that is yours, but you do not have established parentage then a paternity attorney can help you establish your parental rights.
Child Custody, Visitation, and Support
When parents separate or divorce then they need a child custody agreement made that specifies how the child is to be cared for. A child custody attorney can write up the document. If there are disagreements between the two parties, having a child custody lawyer can help protect your parental rights.
In addition to protecting your rights as a parent, a child support attorney can help the parent with sole or primary custody get the financial support that they need for the child’s living expenses. A
a child support attorney is able to represent a parent in negotiations, make recommendations during mediations sessions, and be the representative during court hearings.
Having a child support lawyer can help to ensure that the correct amount of child support is awarded. Additionally, your Winchester child support attorney might suggest additional inclusions to have in the agreement, like which parent pays for medical insurance, school tuition, and other expenses not directly related to living expenses. If any changes are ever needed to a child support agreement you should always consult with your child support lawyer in Winchester.
Divorce, Annulments, and Legal Separation
Your divorce attorney can help if you are in need of filing for divorce, are interested in an annulment, or want to legally separate from your spouse. A divorce lawyer will be able to determine which path is best for you depending on your wants and needs.
The divorce lawyer in Winchester that you work with might suggest an annulment if you are in an invalid marriage. Your marriage will be considered to be void if you were married underage, under fradulent cirumstances, in the event of incest, or if one spouse was in another legal marriage at the time of the marriage (bigamy). An annulment will not be granted if the marriage ends because of irreconcilable differences or if it was a short marriage.
Your divorce attorney in Winchester might suggest legal separation before filing for divorce if you are unsure that you and your spouse will stay divorced or you cannot divorce for religious reasons. Legal separation can protect your rights while you are living apart from your estranged spouse.
A Winchester divorce law office can assist couples that want to stay married only for financial benefits. In this case, a legal separation would benefit both persons while protecting financial assets.
Legal separation might also be suggested by your family attorney if you do not meet the state’s residency requirements for divorce.
Alimony
In certain situations you might need the help of an alimony lawyer to receive spousal support. There are two types of spousal support – temporary and permanent. The court will take several factors, including the length of your marriage, into consideration when determining how much to award a spouse for alimony.
Restraining Orders
Your safety should always be of high importance. If you are ever in a situation involving domestic violence or abuse you need to get to a safe place. When you are safe you should contact a family law restraining order attorney for help. You can get court ordered protection from your abuser. They will be ordered to not approach or contact you upon issuance of a protective order.
There are different restraining orders and protective orders recognized by the state. The details of your specific situation will help your attorney determine exactly what restraining order or protective order they should file for. An emergency protective order takes place immediately and lasts for five days whereas a temporary restraining order lasts for three weeks and can be extended for as long as five years.
When you need help getting out of an abusive situation you need to get to a safe place first, then you need to contact an attorney for help.
Clark & Gomez Law is the Best Choice for Your Winchester Family Attorney Needs
When you need a family law attorney on your side, you want the best. Clark & Gomez, Attorneys at Law are the best family attorneys in Winchester. They have over 30 years of experience working on family law cases.
Get started by meeting with an attorney for a consultation about your case. They will help you to understand the legal process and give you realistic expectations for what the outcome might be. Your team of attorneys will work closely together in order to prepare a personalized strategy that meets your needs. Contact them today for help with your family law needs.