Werribee family lawyer specialize in legal matters concerning relationships within families. They can assist with sensitive and private issues like domestic abuse and provide guidance and advice in property settlements, alimony payments, child custody arrangements and prenuptial agreements - they may even help file criminal charges against an abusive partner for domestic violence.
Family Law

Family Law encompasses a broad legal field encompassing marriage, divorce, child custody arrangements and domestic abuse issues. Most family law cases can be resolved through negotiation or mediation; however if negotiations fail then litigation may be necessary.

Family attorneys also play an essential role when couples want to adopt children. They help prepare legal paperwork and guide couples through the adoption process; in addition, they provide property settlement advice and alimony payments.

Family lawyers also help clients file for divorce. Divorce can be an arduous and complex process when there are children involved; their expertise can assist clients through this difficult time by developing an action plan to address custody, alimony, property settlement and even prenuptial agreements.
Divorce

Divorce is the legal end to marriage or civil union. It dissolves your financial relationship, divides property, custody and support among you both and determines their respective divisions if no agreements can be reached on these issues - otherwise a trial may be necessary to reach resolution.

A judge decides these issues and signs a judgment of divorce or dissolution, which outlines your responsibilities regarding child custody, parenting time, financial support and assets/debt distribution. Alimony payments may also be included depending on your unique situation; permanent, temporary or rehabilitative payments could apply.

Divorce can be filed for on various grounds: irreconcilable differences, separation, desertion and extreme cruelty among them. You can obtain forms and instructions from your court or contact an ombudsman in your state for this process. Some states offer legal separation as an alternative solution.
Child Custody

Child custody refers to both legal and physical custody arrangements for your children. Legal custody refers to decision-making authority while physical custody dictates where they will live.

Judges make decisions regarding custody arrangements by considering what's in the best interests of each child. Under law, judges are obliged to consider multiple factors when making these determinations.

If a parent wishes to modify a custody order, they must file a Petition for Custody Modification with the court and submit original pleadings, Entry of Appearance forms, Client Information Sheet or Custody Supplement forms and Criminal Record/Abuse History Verification forms with the clerk at the custodial window on the first floor (sometimes known as Generations).

A clerk will schedule both parties for a four-hour education seminar and mediation session (victims of domestic violence are exempt). Conciliation conferences may also be scheduled during this time.
Prenuptial Agreements

Prenuptial agreements or marriage contracts are legal documents which outline a couple's assets and financial interests as well as their expectations of each other upon divorce. They also clarify individual responsibilities while protecting from debt collectors that might otherwise attempt to seize earnings and property from them.

People often opt for prenuptial agreements when there is an unequal distribution of wealth or when one party wants to ensure the inheritance rights of children from previous relationships. Prenups also make divorce simpler by outlining how assets will be distributed between the partners -- thus eliminating lengthy legal battles over them. Drafting such an agreement promotes open communication among partners as well as healthy financial discussions between them; an attorney can assist couples with this step and set clear guidelines for their marriage going forward.
Domestic Abuse

Have You or Someone You Know Been Abused? Domestic abuse refers to any pattern of abusive behaviors employed by adults to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner or former partner, whether physical, sexual, emotional, economic or any combination thereof. Abuse can take various forms ranging from physical harm and sexual harassment through to stalking, coercive control tactics such as withholding food money and supplies and isolating survivors from friends and family as well as hurting or killing pets. Abuse can affect people of all ages gender religion and socioeconomic status and can take place between partners of same or different sexes as well as couples that include mixed sexes amongst themselves as well as couples formed among themselves with one gender being affected as well as strangers among couples made up by adults in some way - it does not discrimination by any way either!