Carpinteria Family Law Attorney

The family is a unit based on multiple relationships (e.g. spouse to spouse, parent to child), mutual needs, and cooperation. These things are often seen as social issues, but there are dozens of underlying legal issues that govern how a family works. In many cases, the law governs how a family is put together, how it can be split apart, and what the rights and dynamics of family members can be.

If you are undergoing complex issues within your family, it is often important to consult with an attorney about your rights and responsibilities or get help filing with the courts for various family law issues. Family law covers more than just divorce cases, and talking to a family law attorney can be important in many situations. If you have a family law issue and need the help of an experienced family lawyer in Carpinteria, call The Law Offices of Bamieh and De Smeth today. Our lawyers’ combined decades of experience can help you with your family law matters. For a free consultation, call (805) 643-5555 today.

Types of Family Law Issues

If you need help with any of the following issues, an experienced family lawyer may be able to help. Hiring a family lawyer to help with your questions and concerns can help you understand your best course of action for more than just divorce cases. Additionally, our family lawyers can take your case before a judge and fight to get you the outcomes you want to see through the court. The following are all common areas of practice within the field of family law that our attorneys help with:

Divorce

The divorce rate in California is approximately 60% – higher than the national average of 50%. This means that many Californians will need help filing for divorce or dealing with their spouse’s decision to file for divorce. Our attorneys are willing to help you with your case and guide you through related issues, like property division. Our lawyers can advocate for your needs and help ensure that you get what you want out of your divorce.

Alimony and Spousal Support

After a divorce, it is important to think about how you will continue to support yourself and what kind of support your spouse will need. Many Californians seek spousal support or “alimony” so that they can continue to receive financial support from their ex-spouse for housing and basic needs. Many times, the orders surrounding support are only intended to last for a limited period of time, but they may still be subject to change after significant events, like losing your job, getting a new job, or getting remarried. Talk to an attorney about how alimony works in your case.

Child Custody

Even if you’ve never been married or divorced, you could still face child custody issues. Child custody can mean the legal ability to make decisions in your child’s life or the ability to physically spend time with your child or have them live in your household. The issues surrounding how child custody is granted, who should get custody, and when custody can be stripped away are incredibly complex.

Child Support

Along with child custody issues, there are often issues of child support. You have the legal duty to support your biological children, even if you are not close to them or involved in their lives. Many parents need to take the other parent to court to have support amounts determined and put into a court order. If you are having trouble paying or receiving child support or want to have the court increase the amount you receive or decrease your child support payments, talk to an attorney about your options.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Prenuptial agreements may seem like issues for celebrities and billionaires, but a prenuptial agreement can be extremely helpful in many cases. If you own a business, have significant investments, or otherwise have property you want to protect in the event of a divorce, a prenuptial agreement can help lay-out the rules up front. Similarly, a postnuptial agreement can be formed after you are already married for similar results. Prenuptial agreements are not a plan that you will get divorced, but they can save you significant stress later if you do decide to get divorced.

Adoption

Sometimes your family’s biggest issue is that it is not big enough. Couples or individuals interested in adoption often have many legal hurdles to overcome before getting their adoption finalized and becoming parents. These issues can be more complex if you are looking to adopt from overseas, if you are working with a surrogate, or if you are looking to adopt someone like a niece/nephew or stepchild who already has legal parents. Talk to an attorney to see how working with an adoption attorney can help your case.

Our Carpinteria Family Lawyers Offer Free Consultations

If you have an issue listed above or any other issue related to family law, contact our lawyers today. We can help fight for your rights and work to get you the outcome you desire. For a free consultation on your case, contact the Carpinteria family law attorneys at The Law Offices of Bamieh and De Smeth today. Our phone number is (805) 643-5555.