Family issues are a part of life and if you’re going through a divorce, spousal or de facto maintenance, property settlement or child support issue, it can be difficult to cope. This is why you need to find a point cook family lawyer who can help you get through these situations.
Family Law
Family law is a broad field, which includes a range of legal issues related to family relationships. The most common areas of practice include divorce and child support, but attorneys may also advise clients on custody, adoption, prenuptial agreements, and restraining orders.
Family issues can be highly emotional and complicated, which is why many people find it helpful to hire a family lawyer. They often offer mediation and negotiation services to help you avoid costly litigation, save time and money, and get the results you want.
While family law is a surprisingly broad area of the law, it can still be challenging for people to navigate. A good family lawyer understands the delicate nature of these issues and can guide you through the process with patience, compassion, and a strong moral compass.
Divorce
If you and your spouse have minor children, a divorce can affect their lives in many ways. This includes where they will live, who will make major decisions for them, and how they will be supported financially.
It can also affect the amount of child support that you pay. Every state has its own guidelines for calculating child support payments.
Most states require both parents to pay some money toward their children’s needs, even if they share custody. This can include the costs of childcare, health insurance for children who have medical issues and extracurricular activities for kids.
The easiest and least expensive way to resolve divorce disputes is to get both parties to agree on all of the issues in advance, including parenting time, division of property, alimony and child support. This is called an “uncontested divorce.”
Child Support
Child support is a term used to describe the money that parents pay each other to help with their children’s needs. Unlike maintenance, which only addresses the financial needs of the spouses, child support is designed to ensure that kids receive economic assistance from both parents to cover expenses such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and transportation.
It is important to note that, although the courts have guidelines about what expenses should be covered by child support payments, recipients do not have to adhere to those guidelines and can spend the funds however they wish. This can lead to a conflict between the parties and may cause a lot of frustration and confusion.
Property Settlement
Property settlement is the process where you finalise all legal, financial and administrative procedures involved in buying a home. Once settlement is complete you are then the new owner and will get your title deeds so that you can register ownership with the relevant government agency in your state or territory.
In a property settlement agreement your lawyer will prepare all of the details relating to the division of assets and debts and how they will be divided between you as a couple. It may also include issues such as child support, a child’s education, medical expenses, tax deductions, who has the kids for the holidays, and many other things.
If you are negotiating a property settlement agreement it is important to have your solicitor review and carefully draft the contract before pen meets paper. This can ensure that the terms of the agreement are as clear and concise as possible.
