Fitchburg Divorce Attorney
Caring & Compassionate Divorce Representation
At the Law Office of Robert W. Kovacs, Jr. we are committed to helping our clients gain a sense of empowerment and control in their divorce and family law proceedings. When you take into account the amount of time, effort and energy that goes into building a marriage and a family, it's understandable why the same level of caution and care must go into dissolving it. Our legal team is well aware of the challenges ahead of you and we want to put forth our best effort to minimize the consequence of divorce and the impact it has on your future. If you are getting a divorce, we are confident that a Fitchburg divorce lawyer from our firm can provide you with the information you need to proceed forward with confidence.
Our firm offers a broad range of divorce and family law services including those pertaining to guardianships and paternity. If you are in need of court order enforcement, we can advise you of your rights as well as inform you of the legal tools that can enforce such orders.
Handling Divorce Matters in Fitchburg
Although you can represent yourself in a divorce proceeding, it is not a wise idea. Too often people make errors in the filing process or they make errors in the paperwork itself, leading to a lengthy and inconvenient delay in the court proceedings. When couples have minor children, they will have to decide upon child custody and visitation. Where couples cannot agree on who will get the kids and who will get visitation, it becomes necessary to get the court involved. We will stand by your side and make every effort to come to an agreement with your spouse in order to avoid costly litigation. If your spouse is still unwilling to work with you, then we will prepare your case for trial should the need arise.
If you and your spouse own real estate, businesses, or have other sizeable assets then your property will be divided under the laws of equitable distribution. The state of Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state and unlike community property states such as California, it doesn't necessarily mean that your assets will be divided 50/50 down the middle. The courts handle divorce cases on a case-by-case basis and make a determination based on what they believe is fair and just.
Another issue to address in a divorce proceeding is the possibility of spousal support and this goes the same for both same sex marriages and marriages between heterosexual couples. If domestic violence is a factor in the marriage, then we can assist you in getting a protective order against your abusive spouse. A protective order may order your spouse to stay away from you and your children and it can demand that they move out of the family home. On the other hand, if you have been accused of physically, sexually or mentally abusing your spouse or another family member, we can assist you in seeking to get a protection order removed.
Some married couples don't want to live together any longer, but they don't want to get a divorce either. In cases such as these, we can help you get a legal separation from your spouse. Legal separation allows you to enjoy the benefits of being married while enjoying the benefits of being divorced. Our clients usually favor a legal separation over a divorce when they have special reasons keeping them from filing for divorce. These reasons may be personal, religious, medical or insurance motivated, or any combination of the above. With a legal separation, one spouse may be ordered to pay the other spouse spousal support or child support and matters involving child custody and visitation are worked out with the family court's approval.
Court Order Modifications
As the years go by, children grow, people can lose their jobs, they can fall ill, or they can earn degrees and get promotions. All of these reasons could warrant a modification to a court order, whether it be for child support, child custody or spousal support. Considering life is so fluid, those who don't seek a modification at some point in time are probably in the minority when it comes to post-divorce modifications. Should your life see a major change such as a relocation for work, or a relocation for new marriage, or a sudden job loss, or even a big promotion, you may need to seek out a modification to a standing court order. Keep in mind that although life changes, court orders do not change unless you go to court and petition for a change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Contact the Firm For Legal Support
Most people asking for a downward modification to their spousal support payments or child support payments have taken a pay cut or lost their job temporarily. Since child support payments are not retroactive, it's extremely important that you request a modification as soon as your circumstances change significantly. Parents can also seek modifications when their children grow older, because sometimes kids decide to live with the other parent for one reason or another.
The divorce process is filled with rules and complex requirements; therefore, if you are seeking a divorce in Fitchburg, we suggest that you visit our FAQ page, or contact a member of our legal team directly. We want to help you achieve your goals in your divorce proceedings, this way you can move on with your life with hopes for a brighter, more promising future.