Family lawyers help resolve sensitive matters that affect families directly. Their role requires both expert knowledge of law, as well as strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Mornington family lawyers are here to help you secure the results that you desire. Their aim will be to avoid going to Court if possible; otherwise they will fight hard in your behalf should that become necessary.
Family law
Family law encompasses many areas that pertain to relationships. This may include divorce, custody of children and adoption proceedings. Lawyers specializing in this field work with clients to file lawsuits on their behalf and represent them at court hearings. They also help draft legal documents on behalf of clients while offering guidance regarding their rights.
Family lawyers provide assistance in various legal areas, such as spousal support and property division. Additionally, they can assist couples who wish to enter into prenuptial agreements and guide clients through the legal adoption of children.
Career Path for Family Lawyers A career as a family lawyer begins with an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject like politics, journalism or philosophy. Once this hurdle has been cleared, take and pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). With your results in hand you can enroll into law school to earn your bachelor of laws degree before finding employment with large firms or launching your own practice.
Divorce
Divorce can be one of the most distressful life events to endure, often raising numerous issues for dispute such as child custody, access, property division and spousal support.
If you are married or in a common-law relationship and have lived apart for one year or longer, and wish to seek a divorce, applying to court for it can be done. Adultery or cruelty grounds for divorce can also be applied for; these grounds will need convincing circumstantial evidence in order to be approved by a judge.
Once a divorce order has been issued by the court, both parties must abide by its terms. Failing to do so could lead to losing entitlements such as employment insurance benefits and social assistance payments; as such it’s prudent to consult a lawyer regarding its implications before taking any actions; doing so can prevent costly mistakes as well as aid you with applying for legal aid if applicable.
Child custody
Our lawyers have extensive experience handling all forms of child custody arrangements and can assist in setting up temporary, sole, joint, or shared custody arrangements for you and your children after divorce or separation. Custody determines who the children will live with following divorce or separation as well as decision-making responsibilities and access rights between both parents.
Judges take many factors into consideration when making custody decisions, such as their past relationship history and whether one parent was primary caregiver; past behavior; and the best interests of their child(ren).
Access rights can be established in either a court order or separation agreement and can be set out reasonably, fixed or supervised. If your former spouse/partner refuses to abide by their access schedule set out in legal documents or agreements, our family law firm can assist in enforcing those terms through contempt proceedings against them.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence refers to any pattern of abusive relationships that involves physical, emotional or economic harm to intimate partners. It includes stalking, sexual assault, neglect and Munchausen by proxy – as well as physical or psychological aggression toward children or elders – regardless of culture, religion socioeconomic boundaries or geographical location; it can impact same-sex and opposite-sex relationships as well as all gender identities.
Victims and their families who experience domestic violence can suffer devastating repercussions that include mental illness, physical or financial hardship, loss of employment opportunities and even death.
Restraining orders provide vital protection from abusive behavior, such as having access to your property or being contacted, as well as stopping someone from controlling your financial affairs – which can be particularly important when considering divorce cases, where both parties’ finances must remain stable for them both. In addition, it can protect children from unsafe environments; Mornington Family Lawyers will assist in securing fair and equitable spousal support payments so you can live comfortably after ending a relationship.
