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Connecticut Family Lawyer

If you are considering a divorce or experiencing a custody conflict, your family’s wellbeing and financial security are likely at stake. Family disputes and transitions are complex matters that can escalate quickly and become unmanageable if not handled properly.  We offer honest and dedicated representation and are here to guide you to a favorable resolution of your family law case. Our firm culture emphasizes accessibility and approachability for our clients, as well as respect for their concerns, time, and resources. Our Connecticut family attorneys have extensive experience handling complex financial and custodial disputes throughout the state. We are here to understand, help and advocate for your interests.

Understanding the Scope of Family Law

Two of the main services family law lawyers offer are divorce litigation and mediation. However, there are many other types of domestic issues for which families might seek legal help. The skilled legal team at Dolan Divorce Lawyers regularly handles cases concerning the following domestic matters:

The laws governing these issues are complex, and attempting to interpret legal statutes during significant life moments can be overwhelming. Thus, it is often beneficial for families to seek legal help from a knowledgeable and compassionate lawyer in the area.

Marital Dissolution in Connecticut

When seeking to end one’s marriage, it is essential to speak with a family attorney familiar with state legal statutes. Relationships end for many reasons, but there is not always one person responsible for the breakdown of the marriage. For this reason, the state allows spouses to file for no-fault or fault divorces.

Couples who simply have “irreconcilable differences” typically file for no-fault divorces. Conversely, if one person was unfaithful, the spouses might file for a fault-based dissolution. A lawyer can inform individuals of the legal implications of both filings.

Legal Representation You Can Count On

Our clients come to us at one of the most difficult points in their life. We are here to help you get through it.
Nicole Bikakis
Family Law

Nicole C. Bikakis is the managing partner of Dolan Divorce Lawyers. In that role, she oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations and implements strategic firm initiatives. In addition to serving as managing partner, Attorney Bikakis represents clients in Family Law matters, with a focus on mediation, collaborative divorce, and prenuptial agreements. She has been selected to the New England Super Lawyers Rising Star list every year since 2016.

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Kevin O’Leary
Family Law

Kevin J. O’Leary is a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Kevin handles consultations for the firm, manages the intake team, and is a litigation team member. Prior to his role as an intake attorney, he was a litigation attorney with the firm handling family law matters statewide including divorce, custody, child support, post-judgment issues, and restraining orders.

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Nicole A. Carnemolla
Family Law

Nicole A. Carnemolla is a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Nicole handles the firm’s family law matters, with a particular focus on high income/asset divorce cases and custody matters. Attorney Carnemolla joins Dolan Divorce Lawyers after working as an associate attorney at Lynch Law Group, LLC in Shelton, CT, where she handled both civil and matrimonial matters. While Attorney Carnemolla has developed significant experience in both civil litigation and matrimonial cases, she is continually drawn back to family matters and focuses her practice in that area.

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Nicole C. Mather
Family Law

Nicole C. Mather is a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Nicole handles family matters for the firm, with a particular focus on complex custody disputes and asset division. With over ten years of legal experience, she joined us from Cordell & Cordell, where she exclusively practiced family law as a senior litigation attorney. She has been selected as a New England Super Lawyers Rising Star year every year since 2019.

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Ruth N. Dwyer
Family Law

Ruth Nadeau Dwyer is a Partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Ruth handles Family Law matters for the firm, including divorce, custody, and post judgment matters. Attorney Dwyer started as a Legal Research Clerk for the Connecticut Judicial Branch before joining Ackerly Brown LLP in Bantam. During her 17 years at Ackerly Brown, Attorney Dwyer handled all aspects of family law, including litigation, mediation, and Guardian Ad Litem appointments, as well as civil litigation and probate litigation. She was selected to the New England Super Lawyers Rising Star list from 2012 through 2019.

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Mitchell Teta
Family Law

Mitchell Teta, a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers, courageously fought cancer for 19 months until his passing on September 19, 2022. Mitch was a brilliant lawyer and wonderful person. He had an impact on countless lives through his decade of work as a family law attorney.

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Ellen M. Lynch
Family Law

Ellen M. Lynch is a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Ellen handles consultations for the firm and is a litigation team member. Prior to her role as an intake attorney, she was a litigation attorney with the firm handling family law matters statewide including divorce, custody, child support, post-judgment issues, establishment of paternity, as well as restraining orders. She has been selected as a New England Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2022.

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Louise R. Zito
Family Law

Louise R. Zito is “Of Counsel” to Dolan Divorce Lawyers. She is a family law Attorney Mediator and Collaborative Attorney, admitted in Connecticut, New York and Federal Court. She offers client consultations for all areas of family matters, is available as consulting/review counsel, provides consultations and second opinions for existing mediations, and consultation services to other professionals experiencing Impasse in their Mediations and Collaborative work.

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Alexandra C. Ritter
Family Law

Alexandra C. Ritter is a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Alix handles Family Law matters for the firm, including divorce, custody and post-judgment matters, with a particular focus on complex asset division. Attorney Ritter started as an Associate at Moots Pellegrini, PC in New Milford, CT, where she handled both civil and family matters for the firm. Alix joined Dolan Divorce Lawyers after working as a Senior Litigation Attorney at Cordell, LLP in Hartford, CT, where she handled family matters exclusively.

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Courtney M. Parsons
Family Law

Courtney M. Parsons is a partner at Dolan Divorce Lawyers. Courtney handles Family Law matters for the firm, including divorce, custody and post-judgment matters. Attorney Parsons joins Dolan Divorce Lawyers after working as an Associate Attorney at BBB Attorneys, LLC in West Hartford, CT, where she handled both civil litigation and probate matters for the firm.

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What Our Clients Say About Our Services
A Quality and Honest Attorney
Matt Dolan was exceptional throughout my entire divorce process. He was very responsive and explained everything in a way that I could understand. He also continued to find errors and mistakes that the mediation attorneys would miss. He advocated on my behalf, but not in a "pushy lawyer" kind of...
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Doug L.
A Fantastic Advocate
I reached out to Matthew and his team for representation during a challenging time in my life. He was very easy to work with, laid out clear expectations and was a fantastic advocate during this time. He helped to negotiate a fair and equitable settlement outside of the courtroom. I...
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Erik L.
Knowledge and Prompt Responses
Matthew Dolan came highly recommended as representation on my behalf for a pre-nuptial agreement. Throughout the process, I worked with Nicole - I can't say enough about how comfortable she made me feel. Her knowledge and prompt responses made the entire process go incredibly smooth. I would absolutely recommend the...
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Brenda K.
Best Interest From the Beginning
Mitch was amazing, he was very responsive to every question I had and I could tell he had my best interest from the beginning. He brought up points that I would have never thought about and made sure that I was covered from any further issues, as my previous divorce...
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Mike C.
Extremely Caring and Very Professional
Matthew Dolan is an excellent lawyer. He is extremely caring and very professional. He did a great job assisting with me in my case and I would recommend him highly to anyone looking for personal legal assistance in the future.
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Jennifer M.
Care and Sensitivity
Going through a divorce is not an easy process. The amazing team at Dolan & Dolan handled by case with such care and sensitivity. There was wonderful communication and a great sense of confidence in their ability to fully advocate for me!
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Denora P.

Legal Assistance for Child Support Cases

Child support is often a highly contested matter for recently-divorced individuals and couples who were never married. State law requires all parents involved in these disputes to submit a Connecticut Child Support Guidelines Worksheet to the court. This document uses a formula to calculate regular payments based on both parties’ incomes.

After completing this worksheet, parents may work with a lawyer to negotiate child support that deviates from the calculated value. A legal professional can ensure any support agreements meet the applicable legal requirements. Alternatively, if two parties were never married, a parent might hire a family attorney for help requesting a paternity test to confirm or contest obligations to pay child support.

Child Custody and Visitation

Child custody and visitation disputes are often emotional for both parents and the children involved. Working with a local family attorney can help parents distance themselves from these strong emotions and negotiate an agreement that is best for their children.

The child custody and visitation laws in Connecticut apply to both divorced and unmarried parents. There are two types of custody: physical and legal. Physical custody concerns where the child resides, while legal custody involves making significant child-rearing decisions.

The courts consider many factors when determining child custody and visitation. Judges often rule in favor of both parents sharing custody, but this is not always the case. If one parent believes they should have sole legal custody, a skilled family law attorney can help them present a strong argument to the court.

Speak with a Connecticut Family Attorney Today

Domestic issues can lead to contentious disputes that impact the entire family. Though state law permits individuals to represent themselves in family court, you do not have to face the legal system alone.

Hiring a Connecticut family lawyer can significantly improve your chances of achieving the desired outcome in your case. The legal team at Dolan Divorce Lawyers can help you navigate the legal system, whether you are dealing with the marital dissolution process, a prenuptial agreement, or a child custody case. Schedule a consultation with a family attorney today to learn more about your legal rights and options.

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    Connecticut Family Lawyer | CT Family Law | Dolan Family Attorneys N/a
    Connecticut Family Lawyer | CT Family Law | Dolan Family Attorneys