Lawyers and attorneys specialize in various practice areas. If you are currently facing issues related to your family, then you’ll need an attorney who’s well-versed in family law. So, when to hire a family lawyer? If you are facing legal issues with your family, that’s when you’ll need the help of an attorney.
The Purpose of a Family Lawyer
Most of us want to have the perfect family, but unfortunately, not everything will go as planned because of affairs. If these affairs require professional help from an attorney, look for someone who specializes in family law. Also, look for someone who has empathy and a strong work ethic, as this is the kind of person you’ll happily work with. Not to mention, make the trial favorable to you in case the affair goes to court.
No matter what the case is, the lawyer will prepare the necessary documentation for your case and gather evidence that will be helpful in court.
When do you need their Help?
Family law covers finances, child law, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, guardianship, and matrimonial law. For more details, here’s when you need to book an appointment with a family law attorney:
- Tying the Knot
Young couples who try to tie the knot might get overwhelmed with the legal process, especially if they don’t have adults who could help them out. A lawyer will guide you on the necessary requirements you’ll need for marriage as well as give you advice on your rights and responsibilities. Prenup arrangements will also be brought up if the family law attorney in Des Moines deems them necessary.
- Considering Divorce
Many people usually seek the services of a family lawyer for a divorce, most of the time due to a lack of communication. So to take control of the issue and put everything in order, seeking legal help is the best decision you could make. Another reason why divorce is considered is because of domestic or verbal abuse, neglect, or an irresponsible spouse.
- Adoption Process
Not every married couple has the ability to bear a child because of an underlying condition, but that doesn’t mean that the couple who adopts a child has a health condition. Sometimes, couples form a bond with a foster kid after spending some time together, which causes them to consider adopting.
For cases like this, you can ask for advice from a family lawyer on how to process the adoption papers.
- Child Custody
After you and your spouse divorce, the next issue you’ll have to face is child custody. This is a rather complicated process if both parents want to keep the kids, especially if there’s only one child. A family lawyer will handle the legal process, and a lot of conditions will need to be considered. This includes the capability of supporting the child mentally, emotionally, and financially.
- Child Support
There are many situations that can result in child support needs. If you are left hanging during this critical moment, call an experienced family lawyer who can help you demand child support from your ex-partner.
Don’t be afraid to approach a family law attorney in Des Moines, as they’ll hear you out without being judgmental. In fact, they’ll help sort out your problems and ensure their clients receive a fair judgment in court. If you’re looking for someone who’s soft-spoken and can empathize with your situation, contact us at Shindler, Anderson, Goplerud & Weese Law Firm, and we’ll endorse you to the professional you can count on.
If you need our services, you can reach us by calling (515) 223-4567. You can also visit us personally at our firm at 5015 Grand Ridge Drive, Suite 100, West Des Moines, IA.
Author: “>Andrew B. Howie
1. Filing Taxes? Double-check your marital status.
Here’s a good tax-season tip — if you have a divorce case pending, how you file your income tax returns is based on your marital status on December 31 the previous year. For example, for tax year 2015 (federal returns due April 18, 2016), your filing status (married filing jointly, married filing separately, single, or head-of-household) depends on whether you were married at 11:59 p.m., December 31, 2015. Be sure to bring this to the attention of your tax preparer. If your divorce is pending, the court can force you to refile under a different status if you’re not careful which means owing more in taxes or giving back that refund.
2. Think before you text…or post…or email
Always presume that your ex (and inevitably a judge) will discover (no matter how tight your passwords or privacy settings are) every photo, voicemail, email, text message, or social media posting that is from you, includes you, or is about you. Never leave a voicemail message for anyone after you’ve been drinking (or even if you’re sober for that matter) that you do not want played in court for a judge to hear.
3. Don’t ditch those divorce papers
If you are served with divorce papers, do not ignore them. Each jurisdiction has a deadline to formally respond a petition for divorce. If you are served and fail to timely respond in a timely manner, your soon-to-be-ex can obtain a default divorce judgment against you and receive virtually anything and everything he or she asks for.
4. Discussing your ex? Watch your language.
Anything you say to another person about your ex may be used in court against you in your divorce case. No matter how frustrated you are, never threaten your ex or talk badly about him or her to or near your children.
5. Keep your kids involved in your ex’s life.
Don’t try to remove your ex from your children’s lives, even in small ways. Subtle actions can be used to build a case against you receiving custody. For example:
- Hiding all photos of your ex and your kids.
- Denying or limiting agreed-upon opportunities for your children to talk to or interact with your ex.
- Loading your kids’ schedules with extracurricular activities, then claiming that they’re too busy to visit your ex.
The key exception in these situations is if direct physical harm or significant emotional harm to your child or yourself will likely result from such contact with your ex. Remember, judges hear in virtually every case, “my ex is crazy” or “my ex is verbally abusive”. Those claims only influence the judge if there is clear evidence of direct harm to a child or yourself. In other words, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words don’t hurt me” holds true in divorce cases.