Starting a new life with someone is a joyous and exciting time. You have so many things to look forward to: marriage, children, and a lifetime spent in partnership with each other. No one gets married expecting anything to go wrong, but it's best to be prepared for any possible scenario. Here are four ways a family law attorney can help you.
1. Prenuptial agreement
When you marry your sweetheart, of course you want to believe that you'll never get divorced. Unfortunately, roughly half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce, according to the American Psychological Association. By signing a prenuptial agreement with your future spouse, you can protect both your assets in the event of a divorce. A prenup is a way to decide in advance how you'll split your assets if you break up. A family law attorney can help you draft a fair prenup.
2. Adoption
Family law attorneys do more than just handle divorce proceedings. If you decide you want to grow your family through adoption, a lawyer who specializes in this aspect of family law can help guide you through it. A lawyer can help you fill out the necessary applications and represent you in court, if necessary. If the birth parents decide not to adhere to your adoption agreement, your attorney can advocate for you.
3. Divorce
Although prenups are a good idea for all couples, you may have gotten married without one. In this case, getting a divorce can be a messy affair full of hurt feelings and resentment. A good family lawyer can represent your interests during this time, which can be especially necessary while you're reeling from the sudden change to your life. It's particularly important to have legal representation if you own a business or other joint venture with your spouse, since a lawyer can make sure you get your fair share when your marriage partnership dissolves.
4. Child custody
Divorce is never easy, but it can be particularly difficult when children are involved. Custody can be a sore spot for parents, since each parent often wants to see their child as much as possible. A family law attorney can help you work out a custody agreement with your ex-spouse. It's in everyone's best interest to solve custody battles quickly because they can be very upsetting to children.
Marriage and family life is complicated enough, but it can turn into a real headache when divorce is involved. Consider hiring a family law attorney to help you through the tricky legal situations that can happen in your family's life.
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