Your spouse may begin paying you child support voluntarily at any time. A temporary order for support will give you the right to collect the support if your spouse stops paying. Talk to your lawyer about court hearings for temporary support in your county. You may have to wait for several weeks to several months…
Restraining orders are court orders directing a person not to engage in certain behavior. A protective order is usually a short way of saying a Domestic Violence Protective Order (“DVPO”), a specific type of restraining order that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence. In addition to targeting domestic violence through a DVPO, restraining…
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act introduced into the United States House of Representatives on November 2, 2017 could have a huge impact on couples in process of, or considering, divorce. The Act contains a provision which would eliminate the Alimony Deduction. You’re likely asking yourself “How might this affect me at tax time?” Let’s…
Selling your home is a big decision. To help you decide what is right for you, ask yourself these questions: How will selling the home impact my children? How much support do I anticipate receiving? Can I afford to stay in the house after the divorce? After the divorce, will I be willing to give…
A deposition is the asking and answering of questions under oath, outside of court, in the presence of a court reporter. A deposition may be taken of you, your spouse, or potential witnesses in your divorce case, including experts. Both attorneys will be present. You and your spouse also have the right to be present…
The Custody Mediation Program addresses issues of child custody and visitation. Once a case involving custody or visitation is filed, the case is sent to the Custody Mediation Program. The court then orders the parties to attend an orientation session and at least one Custody Mediation. Preparation Prior to attending a mediation session with your…
One tool to assist you and your attorney in establishing your case as a primary care provider is a chart indicating the care you and your spouse have each provided for your child. The clearer you are about the history of parenting; the better job your attorney can do in presenting your case to the…
A property settlement agreement is a written document that includes all of the financial agreements you and your spouse have reached in your divorce. This may include the division of property, debts, child support, alimony, insurance, and attorney fees. The property settlement may be a separate document, or it may be incorporated into a court…
Trial preparation includes countless necessary tasks. These are just some of them: Developing arguments to be made on each of the contested issues Researching and reviewing the relevant law in your case Reviewing the facts of your case to determine which witnesses are best suited to testifying about them Reviewing, selecting, and preparing exhibits Preparing…
If your domestic violence case goes to court, the following may be useful exhibits: Photographs of injuries; Photographs of damaged property; Abusive or threatening notes, letters, texts or e-mails; Abusive or threatening voice messages; Videos or audio of your spouse abusing or threatening you (speak with an attorney prior to secretly recording anyone without their…