Many critical life moments can be made simpler by working with a skilled family law attorney. Whether you are preparing for marriage or contemplating divorce, you should consider reaching out to a Hartford family lawyer. Our team of legal professionals can assist you in filing for legal separation, fighting for marital property rights, or negotiating child custody agreements. Reach out to our firm today to learn how you can benefit from retaining legal counsel.
Under Connecticut General Statute § 46b-40, a legal professional can help an individual petition for marital dissolution, annulment, or legal separation. Additionally, a Hartford family law attorney can meet with two spouses as a mediator to help broker an agreement and draft all necessary paperwork to have it submitted to the Court.
For many parents, the breakdown of a marriage can create uncertainties, fear, and worries about their children. Child custody and support are often at the forefront of most parents’ minds.
Connecticut law recognizes the importance of having both parents play a role in their children’s lives. Consequently, courts operate with a presumption that joint custody is in the best interests of the child. In a dispute between a parent and a non-parent, courts operate with the presumption that it is best for the child to stay with their parent.
Courts often award joint legal custody to both parents, so they can each play a role in making critical decisions relating to their child’s religious, education, and medical needs. In determining physical custody, which decides where a child will reside and how much parenting time each parent gets, a court will look at what is in the best interests of the child. Our diligent legal team knows how to advocate for a parent’s custodial rights under these standards.
Each parent must contribute to the financial upbringing of their child, regardless of how much of a role they play in their child’s life. A dedicated Hartford attorney experienced with family law cases can help ensure a receiving parent gets their fair share of financial support from the paying parent. Our experienced attorneys have also successfully represented paying parents to ensure their support obligations are not overly burdensome.
If two parties are concerned about the economic and emotional well-being of their children, they can hire independent counsel for a minor child. Such counsel is often referred to as a guardian ad litem (GAL), who is appointed by the Court to conduct an evaluation and provide a recommendation as to what orders would align with the child’s best interests. An attorney can represent a parent or the best interests of the child during child support, custody, and relocation disputes.
When couples get divorced, they need to divide all assets and debts. Because Connecticut is an equitable distribution state, ex-partners do not necessarily each receive a 50-50 split of the assets. Instead, a judge has discretion to divide all marital property in a manner that the court considers fair and equitable.
In Connecticut, a court can consider all the property that either spouse owns to be part of the marital estate. Unlike other states, each partner’s premarital assets that they acquired prior to the marriage are not automatically considered to be separate property and excluded from equitable division.
In an effort to make a division as fair as possible, courts have broad discretion to award different pieces of property to either ex-partner, regardless of when the property was acquired or who initially obtained it. A court will only automatically exclude certain “separate” property from division when a couple has a premarital or postnuptial agreement that clearly delineates what marital versus separate property is.
In the absence of a marital agreement, a court may consider all property subject to division, which is why working with a knowledgeable Hartford family attorney who can advocate for an individual’s right to a fair division of the assets is essential.
Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-81(c) outlines specific factors that courts can consider when determining how to divide assets and debts between a couple, including:
To ensure that an individual has the best chance of getting a fair distribution of the couple’s assets, working with a seasoned Hartford family attorney is critical.
Family disputes are often emotional, and litigation tends to heighten these tensions. As such, many people participate in alternative dispute resolution services to resolve certain marital issues. Mediation can serve as a way for families to avoid litigation and resolve their disputes in a private setting. A mediator can act as a neutral third party in disputes regarding issues such as:
Mediation can also be useful for parents wishing to modify child custody or support orders due to changed circumstances, including job loss, relocation, or a child’s special needs. Meeting with an attorney can help Hartford families resolve their family legal disputes in a non-adversarial manner.
Couples who want to avoid future disputes about property division or alimony should work with a legal advocate to draft a marital agreement. Both prenuptial and postnuptial contracts can be used to preemptively address issues that may arise throughout a marriage.
These agreements can define an individual’s separate property and set expectations for the management and ownership of income, assets, and debts during the marriage. Executing an agreement with a skilled lawyer in Hartford can help families prevent highly contested issues during potential divorce proceedings.
The dedicated legal professionals on our team can help navigate many significant moments in your life. You do not have to handle these difficult transitions and legal processes alone. A Hartford family lawyer can help you file a divorce petition, fight for custody of your children, or request spousal support. Contact Dolan Divorce Lawyers today to discuss the benefits of hiring counsel to assist with your family law disputes.
By: Chris D.
1305 Post Road, Suite 205 Fairfield CT 06824 Phone: (203) 990-1387 Rating: ★★★★★
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