A divorce is a legal process that formally ends a valid marriage. When a court grants a divorce, the spouses are no longer legally married and regain the legal status of unmarried individuals. The divorce proceeding may also resolve related issues such as division of property and debts, spousal support, child custody, child support, and parental responsibilities, depending on the circumstances. Our firm is here to help you navigate all these nuances and make sure you get your desired outcome for any divorce.

The biggest question we get asked is what is the difference between a divorce and a legal separation. A legal separation is a court-recognized arrangement in which spouses remain legally married but live separately and have their rights and responsibilities formally determined by a court order or separation agreement. A legal separation may address issues such as property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support, while preserving the marital relationship and certain legal benefits of marriage. Unlike a divorce, a legal separation does not terminate the marriage.

A child custody case is a legal proceeding in which a court determines the care, custody, and decision-making responsibilities for a child when parents or guardians cannot agree. The court's primary consideration is the best interests of the child, and it may decide issues such as legal custody (decision-making authority), physical custody (where the child lives), visitation or parenting time, and parental responsibilities.

Child support is a legal obligation requiring a parent to provide financial assistance for the care and upbringing of their child. A court typically determines the amount based on factors such as the parents' incomes, the child's needs, custody arrangements, and applicable state guidelines. Child support is intended to help cover expenses related to the child's housing, food, clothing, education, healthcare, and overall well-being. These cases can be about beginning or terminating child support, modifying a previous child support order or enforcing an existing order when one or more parties is not cooperating.

Spousal support is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other to provide financial assistance during or after a separation or divorce. The purpose is to help a spouse meet reasonable financial needs and, in some cases, maintain a standard of living similar to that enjoyed during the marriage. Courts typically consider factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, financial resources, and the circumstances of the parties when determining whether support should be awarded and in what amount.

A domestic violence protective order is a court order issued to protect a person from abuse, threats, harassment, stalking, or violence by a family member, household member, intimate partner, or former partner. The order may prohibit contact, require the respondent to stay away from the protected person, grant temporary custody of children, or provide other protections necessary for the safety and well-being of the protected individual.

If you already have court orders in place we can still help. Our firm can help with appeals, when you disagree with a court order and would like your argument reheard by the court. Modifications in which you agree with some or most of court orders but would like to request changes be made. Or we can help with enforcement when another involved party is not following the requirements of a court order.