The Shelton, Connecticut Family Law Attorneys of David G. Volman, LLC - Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Connecticut laws and procedures related to family law are complicated and require a skilled family law attorney to properly navigate through the process. The Connecticut family lawyers of David G. Volman, LLC stand up for the rights of people facing divorce, legal separation, the complicated procedures of adoption and other family law issues within the city of Shelton, Connecticut, and surrounding Connecticut cities and counties. The Connecticut family lawyers of David G. Volman, LLC deliver personalized attention to clients by keeping case information detailed and accessible, and provide family law legal solutions related to the following matters:

Divorce:

Connecticut is a “no-fault” divorce state. A "no-fault" divorce is one where the spouse suing for divorce does not have to prove that the other spouse did something wrong. To file for a no-fault divorce, one spouse must simply state a reason recognized by the state. In most states, it's as easy as stating that the couple cannot get along (e.g., “incompatibility” or “irreconcilable differences”). In a Connecticut divorce, as in several states, the couple must live apart for a period of time in order to obtain a no-fault divorce. Even in a “no-fault” state, complicated issues can arise such as domestic violence, child abuse accusations and complex disputes over asset division and financial matters. Connecticut divorce lawyer David Volman has the experience and commitment to detail to advise you through every legal phase of your divorce case.

Child Custody:

No area of family law brings to the courtroom the tension, anxiety, hostility, volatility and raw emotion as child custody and visitation litigation. Rare is the divorce, dissolution or custody determination in which the parties have been able to set aside personal differences to reach the goal of what is best for the children involved. “Custody” is the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare. Custody usually refers to a combination of physical custody and legal custody.

Many factors influence an award of custody and the way a case is presented in court can have a large impact on the result for you and your children. If you are awarded the children as a primary custodial parent there are far reaching consequences both to you and to the well-being and development of your child. The Connecticut child custody attorneys of Volman Law are there for you when the most important things in your life – your children – are the focus of your legal needs.

Paternity:

Establishing legal fatherhood and the rights and duties that accompany it is known as paternity. There can be a difference between a biological father and a legal father. When a child is born, the mother's name automatically appears on the birth certificate. If she is married, her husband is assumed to be the baby's father. If the parents are not married, it is important for the mother, for the father, and above all for the child, to establish paternity. Connecticut paternity lawyer David Volman can help you make sure that you follow all the steps that are necessary in a paternity case to protect your (and your child's) legal rights.

Child Support:

Child support is a periodic payment made to a custodial parent from a non-custodial parent to help compensate a child's living expenses, i.e. food, clothes, etc., and any other related debts. When one parent is awarded sole custody, as in the event of a divorce, the non-custodial parent is required to fulfill his or her child support obligation by making set payments, whereas the custodial parent meets his or her support obligation through the custody itself. When parents are awarded joint custody in a divorce, however, the support obligation is shared, and is based on a ratio of each parent's income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

The obligation to support minor children cannot be waived by either parent and is a right enjoyed by the child, not the parent. The State of Connecticut has guidelines that factor the amount of child support, such as the amount of time spent with the child, the income of both parents and the standard of living the child is accustomed to. The Connecticut child support lawyers of David G. Volman, LLC will apply their knowledge and expertise to guide you through the child support process step-by-step.

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony):

Alimony is temporary or permanent financial support paid from one separated spouse to the other, either in one lump sum or in installments. Alimony is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and above the money provided by child support. Alimony differs from child support because it is at the discretion of the judge. Child support is usually determined by state-sanctioned guidelines. Alimony lawyer David Volman represents both men and women on either side of the issue of spousal support (alimony) throughout the State of Connecticut.

Divorce Attorney David Volman will stand up for your rights and make it his goal to secure the property that you are entitled in your divorce case.

Adoption:

Adoption is the legal process by which a person becomes a lawful member of a family different from their birth family. Once a final order of adoption has been ruled by a court of law, the adoptive parents gain the same rights and responsibilities as parents whose children are born to them; subsequently, an adopted child gains the same rights as birth children in regard to inheritance, child support and other legal matters. In most U.S. jurisdictions, at the time the adoption is finalized, the adopted child's name is legally changed and the court orders the issuance of a new, amended birth certificate. The Connecticut adoption lawyers of David G. Volman, LLC will guide your family through every step of the adoption process.

Prenuptial Agreements:

A prenuptial agreement, or a premarital agreement, (often referred to as a “pre-nup”) is a written contract created by two individuals who plan to be married. This agreement lists all individually owned property, such as homes and businesses, family assets, stocks and bonds, savings accounts as well as debts, and specifies what will and will not remain individually owned property after the legalization of marriage. Prenuptial agreements also specify whether spousal support will be paid in the event of a divorce, and the intentions regarding distribution of individually owned property upon death.

Factors that cannot be stipulated in prenuptial agreements are binding legal matters such as child support; i.e. a couple cannot lawfully agree in a prenuptial agreement that either party will in no way be responsible for restitution. And, a few states do not allow prenuptial agreements to modify or eliminate the right of a spouse to receive court-ordered alimony at divorce, although a prenuptial agreement can facilitate in the degree of compensation. For more information about a Connecticut “pre-nup,” contact the Attorneys of David G. Volman, LLC today, to help you plan for your future.

Take Action to Protect Your Rights:

If you or someone close to you in Fairfield County, New Haven County, Hartford County, Bridgeport, Milford, Stratford, Shelton, Monroe, Ansonia or within the surrounding cities and counties of Connecticut needs the assistance and trusted legal advice of an experienced family law attorney, contact the family lawyers of David G. Volman, LLC today, at (866) 435-4276, or use the contact form provided on this site to begin your free consultation and evaluation of your family's legal needs.