Family Law

Many parents find that they need assistance with child support enforcement. Perhaps you are a custodial parent who needs help enforcing a child support order. I can help you collect overdue child support and file a contempt action against the noncustodial parent, if necessary. If you are a noncustodial parent who has been served with an enforcement to pay child support or a motion for contempt, I can challenge these actions and help you avoid the potential consequences like fines or jail time.

Parents who are not married must often establish the child’s paternity through a legal process called paternity to obtain important rights like custody, visitation and support. Whether you are a mother or father, I can guide you through the paternity process and help uphold your and your child’s rights to custody, visitation and financial support.

An uncontested divorce offers clients a more streamlined legal process. By agreeing to important financial and parental issues, you can often save time, money and the stress of a protracted legal battle. You can also avoid a public court proceeding, ensuring your privacy and that of your children. It is important to consider, however, that spouses can change their minds, even in the most amicable breakups, so it is imperative that your attorney represents your interests throughout the process and helps you reach an agreement that leaves nothing to chance. Information that gets overlooked when the marriage is dissolved can lead to negative consequences that extend far into the future. I will ensure your divorce terms meet your needs and goals, so you can move forward with confidence.

Retaining a skillful alimony attorney can help you convince the court that you need support, increasing the chance that alimony will be awarded. Alternatively, I can also work to convince the judge that your ex does not need spousal support or needs less than he or she asked for.

I advise clients on the types of alimony that are relevant to their divorce, which may include:

Temporary alimony — Meant to provide support during divorce proceedings, temporary alimony helps recipient spouses address their financial needs until the case is resolved.
Rehabilitative alimony — To help a dependent spouse acquire or re-establish the skills they need to become self-reliant, rehabilitative alimony can be granted. This support may end when enough time has passed for the recipient to find a suitable job or complete their education.
Reimbursement alimony — These payments might be awarded to the spouse who worked, took care of the home or made other contributions while their spouse pursued professional training or career development.
Permanent alimony — Permanent alimony may be given to a spouse who is seriously ill or who is unable for another reason to earn enough income to maintain their standard of living. It is more likely to exist at the end of a long marriage where one party didn’t work outside the home. Despite the name, these orders are frequently modified due to changing financial needs or other circumstances.