Your family is one of the most important things in the world to you. In fact, it very arguably might be the most important thing. Of course you want to do what is best for them, but how do you know what that is? If you are facing a family law concern, whether it is a divorce, domestic violence matter, or a paternity dispute, you need an experienced Hudson Valley family law attorney that is prepared to handle your case.
Divorce
If you are facing a divorce, it doesn’t matter what your financial situation is—you undoubtedly have serious financial concerns. After all, you are about to go through one of the biggest changes of your life. Before you even begin down that path, you need to talk with a Wappinger Falls divorce attorney to find out if such a drastic and final change is the right thing for you. Legal counsel can help you to explore other options that may be available to you, such as a legal separation. There are many factors that need to be accounted for before making such a life-changing decision.
If you decide that divorce is the best option for you after talking with one of our attorneys, we will walk through each aspect of your life that will be touched by this decision—together. New York divorce law is not easy to understand. We know, and we can help. Contact us to see how.
Child Support, Child Custody and Visitation Rights
If you have children, they are likely one of your biggest concerns. What will happen to them? Who will support them financially? Where will they live? Who will make the important decisions in their lives? These last two questions are determined by legal and physical child custody. If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement, the court may need to make the decision for you. There are many factors that a New York judge will consider when determining these cases. Working with a Hudson Valley child custody lawyer can help you to get a favorable outcome when it comes to child custody, child support, and visitation rights.
Alimony
Regardless of whether or not you and your spouse have children together, money is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to divorce. How will you continue to financially support yourself (and possibly your kids) without your spouse’s income to supplement yours? A New York judge will determine whether or not to award alimony (also referred to as spousal support) and how much to award. At Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele, LLP, we can explain to you how a judge calculates spousal support, and we will fight for your rights to the best possible post-divorce financial situation.
Property Division
Another major concern is how your property will be divided. For a while now, your property has been shared. Perhaps you have consolidated your separate bank accounts into a joint account. Perhaps you received a hefty inheritance, which you used to fix some major structural issues in your marital home. Or maybe your spouse started a business years ago into which you invested your time and money. Scenarios like these are not uncommon, and this is where property division can get messy. You need a Poughkeepsie family law attorney who knows how to guide you through the property division process in a divorce, so that you are not left deprived of the assets that are rightfully yours. We are a strong team from Dutchess County that will work together to get you optimal results.
Modifications and Enforcements
We also continue to represent you after your divorce. Just because it has been finalized doesn’t mean that we stop working for you. Life never stops changing, and what was best for you at the time of your divorce may not be best for you later. This is why we work with clients with post-divorce modifications, regardless of whether or not we were your attorneys from the start. The courts can be petitioned to modify existing orders, and we can help you to do this. We can also help if your ex-spouse is not holding up his or her end of the deal. If your former spouse fails to abide by the conditions of your divorce order, we will protect your rights in enforcement proceedings.
No matter your situation, we can help you. We have experience handling same-sex divorce cases as well as complex cases, such as couples that have high-dollar assets. If you and your spouse share in a professional practice or own a business together, we can guide you through the complex division process. We will always keep in mind the tax system and do what we can to keep your taxes at a minimum. There are so many things that go into a divorce that you simply cannot be expected to think of. That is what we are here to do for you.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Perhaps your situation is a lot less grim and you are in fact about to begin your marriage rather than end it. This is an exciting (and somewhat stressful) time, and you want to make sure that you go into this as prepared as possible so that you are covered should your marriage end in a divorce one day. A prenuptial agreement is a great tool that can help you to do just that by laying out property division and expectations. We can help you to draft such agreements, as well as postnuptial agreements. Call us for help; we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Paternity Disputes and Domestic Abuse
What if you are separating from your partner, but you never got married? How does the father get custody and visitation rights in a situation like this? If you and your partner have a child together but were never married, you will need to first establish paternity before you can be granted child support, custody, or visitation rights. In order to do this, you will most likely have to sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity form. If there is a dispute, you may have to undergo DNA testing to establish paternity. We can guide you through this process and make sure that your rights as a father are honored.
We have also worked with individuals through situations of domestic abuse. No matter what side you are on—the person charged or the person assaulted—you need aggressive legal advocacy.
Prepared to Do What It Takes for Your Family Law Concern
At Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele, LLP, we are prepared for anything and are not afraid to take a case to trial to get you the outcome that you deserve. Not every case needs to be litigated, or taken to trial, but you can be sure that you have the right team on your side if it does. We have the experience in litigation that you need on your side in the courtroom. We help New York families through their most difficult times, protecting your rights and the people you love. Contact us right away to see how we can help you.