An attorney who practices family law isn’t just for negotiating a divorce. There are myriad reasons why a person may need to consult with a family law practitioner.
At Rulon T. Burton and Associates, we specialize in family law and bankruptcy law. But our skilled team doesn’t just practice as divorce lawyers in Utah.
Adoption or Guardianship
If you find yourself with the desire and opportunity to adopt a child into your family, a lawyer can serve as your advocate throughout the process. From start to finish, they can help you choose an adoption agency to work with, fill out all the paperwork, and finalize the adoption in court. Whether you’re adopting locally or across state/country lines, a lawyer can ensure you’re current on the requirements.
A family law expert can help you work with the adoption system to keep the process moving, ensuring you’re not missing anything along the way. There may be court appearances related to the adoption as well as negotiations to be made, and having a family lawyer on your side can make all the difference when it comes to peace of mind through the lengthy process.
Child Custody
In the event you are dissolving a marriage, sometimes a divorce lawyer is the best means of establishing child custody arrangements. Even if the divorce was uncontested and the division of assets was a breeze, making the best custody decisions for your children can be difficult to do on your own. Sometimes a mediator can make all the difference.
One of our Utah divorce lawyers can help you understand the typical custody arrangements in the state, and help you decide if any changes should be made. Based on how many nights a child stays with each parent, child support will be determined and upheld by the court. If there are ever any concerns with custody arrangements or child support, going through a lawyer can be the simplest and most civil way to address them.
Divorce
Obviously, a family lawyer can mitigate a divorce. They can also represent you when negotiating alimony if no prenuptial agreement exists. Not all family law attorneys specialize in spousal support, but many do.
Even if your divorce is proceeding smoothly, you may want to hire a family lawyer to assist you if you wish to contest anything laid out in a prenuptial agreement.
Juvenile Issues
Family law attorneys can represent your under-age child in the event they engage in criminal behavior. Having a lawyer for your child to advocate for their best interests can take the burden off your shoulders. If your child is ever facing juvenile felony charges, it’s important to have a defense attorney who is familiar with juvenile law, since civil court differs from criminal court.
If a parent abuses a child, a family lawyer can represent the child as a victim of domestic abuse. Or, if a parent is wrongfully accused of abuse and is attempting to regain custodial rights, a family lawyer should be hired as an advocate.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
You may be entering a relationship wearing rose-colored glasses, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a prenuptial agreement to protect your assets. A prenup details what each spouse is entitled to in the event of a divorce. It can protect children you have from a previous relationship, as well as personal investments.
You can also create a postnuptial agreement, which acts the same as a prenup. Instead of being outlined before marriage, it’s made afterward. A pre or postnuptial agreement doesn’t mean you expect your relationship to end in divorce; it means you care enough about each other to make a divorce less stressful if it does occur.
A prenup cannot dictate child custody or child support agreements prior to marriage dissolution, but it can outline alimony or spousal support.
More Than a Divorce Lawyer
Through good times and bad, a family law expert can be vital for helping families navigate the legal system. They not only represent you in court but can provide you with resources for adjusting to your new normal, whether it be adding a child to your family through adoption, or restructuring your family after a divorce. If you need family law advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Rulon T. Burton.