Family law issues are sensitive and typically highly emotional issues that require a certain kind of experience and care. When you are trying to deal with a family law issue or are considering adding a member to your family, you must have an experienced family law attorney on your side to guide you through the process. Having a trusted advocate working on your behalf makes the process easier.
The family law attorneys at O’Flaherty Law are the team you want on your side, regardless of your individual goal. What makes O’Flaherty Law different from other family law firms is that our team takes the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions quickly, and work hard to get the results you want. You deserve the kind of care and experience O’Flaherty can provide for you when it comes to your family. The family law attorneys at O’Flaherty Law have many years of experience in a wide range of family law issues, from pre-marital agreements to adoption to divorce and custody battles. No matter what your family law issue is, the team at O’Flaherty Law will guide you through the process and get you the best possible result.
With our family law team you can rest assured that you are getting the best legal advice, we offer legal representation and advice in he following aspects of family law matter.
Covid-19 shouldn’t put your legal needs on hold. You can receive a consultation and most legal services without leaving your home. Our attorneys are happy to speak to you by phone, video conference, or e-mail.
When dealing with a family law legal matter, filing an appeal may be option if you disagree with the outcome. However, the appeals process is complex, so it is important to have an attorney that understands both family law and appeals.
Child support and child custody are complex matters and often the points of significant distress during the divorce process. Still each parent has a responsibility to support their children after divorce or separation. We help you simplify the process.
It is important for each party to voice their wishes and be involved in the outcome of their family law matter which is why family mediation is common in divorce proceedings. This allows both parties to come to an agreement.
Protecting your rights as a father are crucial to the wellbeing of your child. To get the best result for your child or children, you need experienced legal service from child custody attorneys that understand the law.
While there are many family law attorneys to choose from, it is not a decision to be taken lightly. Having an experienced family law attorney at your side during your case makes all the difference. The team at O’Flaherty Law will provide you with a strategy outlining each step of your case and regular case status updates. We have an open-door communication policy with all of our clients, so they are well informed.
Awarded Avvo's 2016 Clients' Choice Award for Divorce, Suburban Life Magazine's Best Under 40 in 2015, and receiving an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, at O'Flaherty Law, we offer personalized service so we will be with you every step, explaining what you can expect and how to achieve your goals best.
The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good first for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us. We take your legal matters very seriously, which is why with each consultation, we strive to ensure you feel confident about the future of your case.
The team at O’Flaherty Law will never leave you wondering where your case is at or what you can expect from the attorney on your case. Along with regular communication and detailed explanation of the issues in your family law matter, the team at O’Flaherty Law is experienced in all family law issues, including the following:
At your first consultation with an O’Flaherty Law attorney, you can expect to discuss the issues and what you want to achieve. Once your attorney has that information, they will provide you with an estimated retainer. Upon signing a retainer agreement, your attorney will outline a strategy to get your case where it needs to go. Whatever next steps are required, from a simple demand letter to court appearances to preparing for and appearing at a trial, the team at O’Flaherty Law will be beside you every step of the way.
Whether you want to file for divorce or legal separation, O’Flaherty Law can assist you with either. The process for the two things is relatively similar, establishing residency, filing a petition, and asking for a court order. The difference is that you are still legally married at the end of the legal separation process.
Divorce
If you are ready to file for divorce O’Flaherty Law is very experienced in the entire divorce process, including all post-judgment orders. Your O’Flaherty Law attorney will be able to prepare you to file for divorce, let you know what to expect as far as timelines and when the process should be final, and represent you if the divorce is contested and the case needs to be litigated.
Suppose you have minor children or anticipate the divorce will be contested. In that case, O’Flaherty can provide the aggressive representation you need to ensure that you will have your say in court and will respect your rights.
Legal Separation
If you are not ready or willing to get a divorce but want a separate life away from your spouse, O’Flaherty Law can assist you with petitioning the court for legal separation. While you will still be legally married, it is important to include terms in the order granting separation to make sure that you and any minor children are adequately cared for. Furthermore, you want your legal separation to be properly done if you decide you want the court to convert it into a divorce.
Child Protection Proceedings
If the state you reside in suspects that there is child abuse or neglect, they will begin child protection proceedings. The state may go through an evaluation process with home visits and interviews to ascertain the relevant facts and plan for whether or not the child should remain in the home. It is your right to hire an attorney to represent you during this time. You have a right to an attorney who will advocate for you and your family and assist with getting the situation resolved so that you can go back to your everyday life with your family intact. Child Protective Services does not owe you any duty and may not sit down and explain things to you.
Juvenile Law Cases
Kids make mistakes, and some need more help with those mistakes than others. Thankfully, most juvenile justice systems recognize that juveniles are still growing into adults and tend to focus on more rehabilitative methods to prepare the child to be a responsible adult rather than punishing the child. The juvenile justice system does have its different way of doing things, and your O’Flaherty law attorney will be able to provide the necessary guidance. The team at O’Flaherty Law is experienced with juvenile law cases. It will be able to provide the assistance you and your child need to navigate the juvenile justice system successfully.
If you have a child with someone you are not married to, paternity is not automatically assumed and must be formally established to enforce legal rights. If you are the father of the child in question, you are entitled to establish your legal rights as the father and to have a meaningful relationship with the child. If you are a mother who knows who the father is, but he denies his obligation to the child, you have a right to seek support on behalf of the child. If the other parent is resisting or denying paternity, you have options, and the attorneys at O’Flaherty law can help you explore the best course of action.
Protective Orders
If you are being threatened or abused, O’Flaherty Law can help you get the order for the protection you need to help you stay safe. There are many things an abuser can say and do to make you feel unsafe, and there is never any excuse for domestic violence. Orders for protection can force your abuser to maintain a certain distance from you, refrain from contacting you, and protect any children you share with the abuser. If you feel unsafe or have been abused, you should not waste any time getting an order for protection. Furthermore, except for the state of New York, the court will not make an attorney available to you while you try to get an order for protection. If you do not have an attorney, you will be unrepresented and vulnerable to any order for protection being dismissed or only granted for a very short period of time. O’Flaherty Law can assist you in getting the order as quickly as possible and making sure it is adequately enforced.
Domestic Abuse Cases
Domestic abuse is when someone who lives with you physically hurts you or threatens to hurt you. If someone is hurting you or threatening to hurt you, call 911. It is enough for them to make you believe that they are about to hurt you. You do not deserve to be threatened or physically harmed at any time, for any reason. When it is time to go to court to prove your case against your abuser, you need a lawyer with you. The attorneys at O’Flaherty Law are experienced in representing the victims of domestic abuse. From the initial temporary order for protection to the in-person hearing where the order can be made long term or permanent, you will have us on your side working to help keep you and your family safe.
We encourage our clients to ask as many questions during a family law case. Once the judge hands down the final order, we want our clients to feel excited about the outcome and the legal services we provide. While we will always be available to answer all of your questions, we think some are more frequently asked before hiring an attorney than others. Some of the more common questions we get from family law clients include:
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A family law attorney is an attorney who can handle most family law issues. Do not expect an attorney who practices family law to handle corporate litigation or tax law issues (although some certainly do!). If you are uncertain about the real issue, a consult with one of our experienced attorneys will shed light on the legal aspects of your case and the best path forward for you.
Yes, We can explain paternity law, including establishing paternity by consent at birth, contested paternity suits, proving paternity, DNA testing to determine paternity, and child support and custody in paternity cases.
Yes, most courts require that you at least attempt to create a parenting plan with the child’s other parent, and if you cannot agree on one with your spouse, you must submit your own proposed parenting plan. The court will use this to help decide what is in the child's best interests and what is sustainable for all parties involved. If the parties cannot agree on the parenting plan, the court may refer to the submitted parenting plans to create custody and visitation terms in the final order.
Some states allow grandparents to petition for some visitation rights if the parents choose not to allow contact, and the grandparents can prove that visitation is in the grandchild’s best interests. However, the grandparents must remember that they do not have the same rights that a parent has to spend meaningful time with the grandchild.
Note that grandparents can petition the court for visitation rights, but they are not guaranteed visitation rights. If grandparents are granted visitation rights, it will be through a court order. If the parent or parents still do not want to allow the grandparents to see the grandchild, the grandparents will have to ask the court for an enforcement order.
It depends on what kind of family law case you lost. If you lost custody of or visitation with your children, you need to meet with your family law attorney to evaluate why you lost and the next steps for regaining those rights. If you lost a different kind of family law case appeal is always an option. Have a frank discussion with your attorney about why you lost your case at the trial level and what changes could or should be made to increase your chances of a successful modification or appeal.
If you are having a family law issue, it is always in your best interests to at least consult with an experienced family law attorney. The legal system is not easily navigated by those who are not trained to practice law, and you must have someone knowledgeable to assist you. Generally speaking, you should always retain help as early as possible when it comes to legal matters. Your case has the best possible chance for success from the start rather than later when avoidable problems could appear. The situation could be a great deal more difficult to navigate.
A civil union or a domestic partnership are legal relationships that grant certain rights and benefits to the parties. As with any legal relationship, there can be litigation, in other words, lawsuits. The best way to discourage litigation from occurring or increase your chances of success if you are caught in litigation is to make sure any agreements forming the relationships are created and or carefully reviewed by your attorney before entering into them.
There is no law preventing you from representing yourself. However, just because you can represent yourself does not mean you should. Above we answered, “Do I need a lawyer for my family law issue?” The same principles apply to the question, “Why can’t I just represent myself?” It is always a good idea to at least have an initial consultation with an attorney to talk about what your situation is and what sort of help is available to you. While you know a lot about your situation and the surrounding facts, an attorney will be able to take that information and analyze it in light of the relevant law and explain that analysis to you. Then, together, you can work on getting the best possible result for you.
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