A trial lawyer might be needed for several different reasons. Craig Divine at Divine Law Office LLC has years of experience helping families. Family law covers marriage, divorce, spousal support, child support, and child custody. If you are going through a divorce, legal separation or a child custody dispute, a trial lawyer will help to ensure the best outcome of the case.
When you are wanting a divorce, legal separation, or to modify child support or child custody orders, your best option is to obtain a trial lawyer. Having a trial lawyer, versus another type of litigation attorney, is important to the success of your family’s case. A lawyer who is familiar with local judges can present a better case for their clients. Here is a list of situations where a trial lawyer may be helpful to your family:
- Divorce: The legal term for this is Dissolution of Marriage. It’s important to know what your rights are during this process regarding access to your home and bank accounts. Who needs to pay for what? And how to handle insurance for yourself and your dependents. You need an experienced trial lawyer who knows how to protect what belongs to you and fight for you.
- Separation: People who feel they need a break from marriage but are unsure if they want to get a divorce, sometimes consider a separation first. A separation is different than a divorce because it means while you are still legally married to your spouse, you are living apart. In Missouri, a legal separation is a legally binding contract with orders and legal protections in place for the participants.
- Paternity: If you separate from your partner and you have children together, you need to file a paternity action. This is especially important for men who want to be actively involved in their children’s lives. This action grants an enforceable schedule of visitation for non-custodial parents and keeps things amicable between non-married parents. A trial lawyer is an expert at handling these situations.
- Child Custody: This pertains to both physical and legal custody. Legal custody gives a parent the right to receive information and make decisions concerning their child, while physical custody gives a parent the right to have physical parenting time with their child. Protect your rights to all custody agreements by hiring a trial lawyer.
- Child Support: Child support can be entered administratively in an administrative paternity action without any input from the father. Ultimately it is a math formula that dictates what amount of support is paid, however they do consider things like health insurance costs, daycare and tax deductions and they also make sure there are no conflicting support orders already in place.
- Modifications: Circumstances change over time, but even when both parents have reached an agreement outside of the court, only a judge can modify an original court order. This includes things like income or expenses of the child. Having a trial lawyer to represent you is just as important as having one during the divorce.
- Criminal Non-Support: Falling behind on child support could have you facing a criminal charge. This is called criminal non-support, and the charge can range from misdemeanor up to felonies depending on the history and how much money is owed. If this is not handled correctly it can lead to jail time and even loss of driving privileges. It’s important to have a trial lawyer who is experienced in these types of cases.
A divorce proceeding, a legal separation or paternity action, child support, and visitation, no matter the case, you need a trial lawyer in your corner. Craig M. Divine is an experienced family law trial lawyer who can handle the paperwork, keep track of deadlines, and guide you through the process with a helping hand. Contact Divine Law Office, LLC for a free consultation today or visit our website. To contact us to call (816) 474-2240.