Long Island Divorce Attorney
Do you have questions regarding divorce and child custody?
Since 1976, the legal team at Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. have been defending the rights of clients throughout Long Island. Our primary focus is divorce and family law and we are committed to helping individuals and families through this difficult time. We have been honored to be named as New York Metro Area's Super Lawyers as well as ranked as one of the largest matrimonial law firms in Long Island. We have experience handling every type of divorce case, including:
Child Abduction
Child abduction can involve a stranger, a family member or the other parent. In many cases child abduction is the result of the other parent unlawfully taking the child away from their natural parent or lawful guardians. Child abduction cases can occur on the domestic or international levels, meaning they can occur within one's own region or state, out of state or internationally. Read more on child abduction.
Divorce
Besides the emotional trauma that can occur when going through a divorce, the legal issues you must face can add to the stress and complications. When there are children involved, it is even more important to resolve every aspect successfully. Read more on divorce.
High Net Worth Divorce
Every divorce case can be complex, however, when there is a large amount of assets involved in the marriage, it can become more difficult. Businesses, real estate, stocks, multiple bank accounts, and trusts are just some of the assets that will have to be examined and divided. Read more on high net worth divorce.
Mediation
Many couples prefer to not to take their divorce case through the courts. Although this is sometimes the only option couples have, mediation is often a good alternative. To be successful, both individuals must be willing to negotiate and be clear in want they want. Read more on mediation.
No-Fault Divorce
Since October of 2010, New York has allowed couples to file for a no-fault divorce. Before this, couples would only be granted a divorce based on adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, imprisonment, or living apart for more than one year. Now couples only need to testify that the marriage has been irretrievably broken for longer than six months. Read more on no-fault divorce.
Parental Relocation
Whenever a custodial parent wishes to move a substantial distance away from the noncustodial parent, they will need to gain the approval from the courts. Since every situation is unique, the family court will weigh a number of factors when making a decision. In all cases, the court will make a determination based on what is in the best interests of the child when deciding whether to permit relocation or deny one. Read more on parental relocation.
Legal Separation
Separation differs from divorce in that the couple is still legally married, but has a written agreement or court judgment to live apart for a period of time. This can be beneficial as it allows them to determine issues like child custody and spousal support without court interference. Read more on legal separation.
Child Custody
When seeking to determine child custody, it is important to understand the different types and how they could affect your family. Sole or primary custody refers to the parent the child spends most of their time with. In a shared custody situation, the child splits their time between the two parents. Read more on child custody.
Child Support
Child support is designed with the best interests of the child in mind. If the child lives solely with one parent, the other parent will be responsible for helping with their care and upbringing. In New York, this is usually based on a percentage of the parent's income. Read more on child support.
Visitation
When one parent has sole custody of the child or children, the other parent will usually have visitation rights. A parenting plan is a written agreement which clarifies custody and visitation expectations and rights. It is recommended to families as it helps prevent conflicts and misunderstandings. Read more on visitation.
Spousal Support
After a divorce, one spouse may be required to make payments to the other. Permanent support is payment for daily needs and continues until a change of circumstances occur. Rehabilitative support is more temporary and allows the dependent spouse to regain vocational skills until they can support themselves. Read more on spousal support.
Pre/post Nuptial Agreements
Although prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements may have bad connotations, they could actually be an invaluable tool for couples. It helps determine what should happen to assets, property, and children should anything happen. Read more on pre/post nuptial agreements.
Paternity
If there are any issues regarding the paternity of the father, it may be necessary to legally identify the father and what his responsibilities are. It the couple was married, paternity is presumed. Also, if the couple singed an Acknowledgement of Paternity form or underwent a DNA test, paternity is legally established. Read more on paternity.
Father's Rights
In the past, the mother had more likelihood of receiving sole custody of the children after a divorce. Now, however, both parents are being awarded equal rights. The different factors that the court will take into consideration include: the child's age, health, preference, and the parent's ability to care for them. Read more on father's rights.
Women's Divorce Rights
When women leave their career in order to be the primary caregiver of the children, it can be difficult for them after a divorce. They will have to provide for themselves and their families. A Long Island divorce attorney from our firm can help women in this situation and make sure that their rights are not trampled on. Read more on women's divorce rights.
Equitable Distribution
Rather than splitting assets in half, New York considers a variety of aspects in distributing money and property in divorce cases. Some of these factors include: the length of the marriage, the earning power of each spouse, who will have primary custody of the children, and more. Read more on equitable distribution.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence usually includes physical, emotional, or sexual abuse towards one's spouse, partner, or children. If there were any allegations of domestic violence in your past, this could bear greatly on your divorce case and on how child custody and visitation rights are determined. Read more on domestic violence.
Orders of Protection
In domestic violence situations, issuing an order of protection may be necessary. These are issued by a court and can help protect spouses and children from abuse. In a "stay-away" order, the respondent is not allowed to come within a set distance of the petitioner. A "refrain-from" order means the respondent has to desist from their abuse behavior. Read more on orders of protection.
Same-Sex Marriage
New York is one of the few states that allows same-sex marriages to take place. If you would like information regarding the legal aspects of these marriages, a Long Island divorce attorney could help with everything from prenuptial agreements to adoptions to wills. Read more on same-sex marriage.
Marriage Equality Act
As of June 24th 2011, the Marriage Equality Act made it legal for same-sex couples to be married. All of the rights of married couples are not granted to same-sex couples, except for some federal benefits. To learn more about marriage in New York, contact an attorney from our firm. Read more on
Marriage Equality Act.
Domestic Partnership
Before entering into a domestic partnership, it is recommended that you speak with an attorney. Clarifying expectations can bring transparency to the relationship and can prevent future complications and conflicts. Read more on domestic partnership.
Parental Alienation
Due to emotional turmoil that may result from a divorce case, sometimes one parent will seek to turn the child or children against the other parents. This is illegal as it is an attempt to destroy the parent-child bond. If you have suffered from this, we can help stand up for your rights. Read more on parental alienation.
Parenting after Divorce
After a divorce occurs involving children, it is highly recommended that the former spouses establish a parenting plan. This is not just helpful to the parents, but to the children as well. It helps them maintain consistency in their upbringing and makes sure decisions are being made in their best interests. Read more on parenting after divorce.
Grandparental Rights
There are times when the court determines that both parents are not capable of adequately caring for their children. In these cases, it may be decided that the children should be in the care of their grandparents. The court always attempts to act in the best interests of the children, and unfortunately being with their biological parents is not always ideal. Read more on grandparental rights.
Contact a Long Island divorce lawyer from our firm today!
If you would like to review your case in more detail, do not hesitate to speak with a Long Island divorce attorney from our legal team. We have been helping families through divorce situations for over thirty years and will do our utmost to help you through this time while keeping your goals in mind.
Contact a Long Island divorce attorney for more information or fill out our online form for a free case evaluation.