FAMILY LAW
Description
If you are facing difficult family matters, you need an attorney who will work with you to get you what you need.
We can help with:
- divorce
- custody agreements
- alimony
- visitation rights
- property settlement
- Division of Youth and Family Services matters
We pride ourselves on our commitment to accessibility and communication. We give our clients practical and aggressive
(where warranted) legal advice in these difficult matters.
Child Support
Child support calculations have technical issues that can impact what a person must pay. Unrepresented or under-represented
litigants often overlook technical rules that cause thousands of dollars in overpayments or underpayments of child
support obligations. Some child support cases warrant full trial-like hearings and background investigations where
disputed facts may affect a child support obligation.
We provide an effective review of child support matters and aggressively litigate child support cases where called for,
always remaining sensitive to the emotional well-being of the client and family.
Alimony
Alimony is another issue that quite often requires a skilled professional to help achieve just results. Alimony
cases are particularly fact-sensitive. The right attorney working with you can negotiate on the unique facts and
circumstances of your case that can make the difference between longer or permanent alimony obligations for
substantial amounts and
shorter duration obligations at reduced amounts.
Custody
Clients identify child custody, parenting time and related issues as the single most important aspect of their
family court matters. While the bulk of such issues are decided under the simply-stated "best interest of the child"
standard, application of that standard is rarely easy.
Domestic Violence / Restraining Orders
There are serious consequences to the personal and professional lives of those who are found guilty of what
the courts have characterized as "a serious crime against society"-domestic violence. Our firm is committed
to handling domestic issues; distinguishing trivial matters which the domestic violence laws are not designed
to address from serious abusive behavior when the protections of the Domestic Violence Act are called for.
These cases often work their way through the family court quickly. Given the serious consequences, they require
lawyers with the experience and expertise to effectively present the important aspects of a domestic violence
situation to a court in a trial on a limited time frame. Our firm has lawyers available
on an emergent basis to effectively handle such matters.
Link to Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Page
DYFS
The Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) may become involved with a family. The firm helps families manage
the complications that arise when dealing with DYFS and the family court.
Attorneys
Law Clerk
Paralegals
Why Choose Us?
The attorneys at Helmer, Paul, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. handle family law matters professionally,
providing sound, practical advice and aggressive representation (as warranted) to achieve our client's goals.
Divorce, separation and family issues can cause tremendous stress. Our firm keeps the emotional, as well as
financial, well-being of our clients and their families as the primary goals throughout our representation.
We work with you as a team. When you can do the work yourself to minimize counsel fees, we encourage and
indeed expect you to actively participate. Being involved in all aspects of your case yields good results at lower costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
(Click on question to view answer.)
- 1. Can I move out of state with my children
even though my ex-spouse and I have joint custody?
That depends on where and why you are moving out of state.
- 2. Do I still have to pay child support for
my child who has turned 18?
That depends on many factors such as whether the child is in school, planning to go to college or working.
You would need to file a successful motion for emancipation of the child to be excused from paying support.
- 3. My ex-spouse is not paying child support.
Can I deny visitation because of that?
No. Visitation and child support are two separate issues. We can help you by filing a motion to enforce
your rights to get support paid. The judge can impose sanctions including attorney's fees and
even jail time against your former spouse.
- 4. My ex-spouse is paying support for our
three children.
When the oldest child is emancipated will I receive 1/3 less?
No, you will receive the proper amount of support based on two children. That is usually higher proportionately
than for three children. The court will look at
your and your ex-spouse's financial picture and determine a new amount of support.
- 5. DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services)
has taken my children because they suspect child abuse. What can I do?
Hire an attorney ASAP to challenge the actions of DYFS. An attorney can challenge their witnesses
and proofs to resolve the matter.
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