Mystic, Connecticut is a vibrant community nestled beside beautiful waterways, and it is home to thousands of families. Family law is one of the most difficult and emotionally tense areas of legal practice and requires the knowledge and compassion of a local Mystic family lawyer. Whether you are seeking a divorce, trying to determine a child custody arrangement, or hoping to establish a valid prenuptial agreement, Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law can help.
For over 80 years, the team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law has been helping clients through a wide range of family law matters. Our family lawyers, Jeffrey Hill, Jillian Miller, and Michael A. Blanchard, understand the complications that are involved in these cases and how Connecticut law can apply to your unique situation. We can help you reach a resolution in your family law case that works for your interests and protects your rights.
Our Family Law Services in Mystic, Connecticut
Every family in Mystic is unique. With a median household income of $146,042, residents of Mystic often face matters of family law that are directly tied to their financial interests and stability. It is vital that you hire an attorney who understands your personal and financial situation and can work to protect you and address your specific needs.
Between 2023 and 2024, Connecticut saw 23,164 new family law cases filed. The most common cases of family law our firm has handled over the years include:
- When a couple decides to end their marriage, this is not an easy decision, and there can be many emotions and animosities involved. This can especially be the case if young children or highly valued properties are involved. In Connecticut, you may decide to file a divorce for reasons like adultery or cruelty. This option is known as a fault-based divorce. However, you can also file a no-fault divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
- Legal separation. Some couples may wish to live separate lives but do not want to go through a traditional divorce, as it could cause them to lose out on certain benefits like retirement or pension plans and health insurance coverage. In a legal separation, there are still several issues that will need to be resolved, including child support or custody and property division.
- Child custody. In a Mystic divorce, separation, or paternity issue, child custody can be a contentious topic. Of course, you want to do what is in the best interests of your child, but these disputes can quickly become emotional and tense. If the courts need to step in and make a determination for you, they will account for factors like the age and needs of your child and the parents’ individual relationships with their children.
- Child support. In Mystic, Connecticut, both parents are legally obligated to financially support their children, whether they are married, in a relationship, or not. The family courts in Mystic will take several factors into account when determining the amount of child support involved in your case, including the age of the children, the physical, educational, and medical needs of your child, and your income level.
- Also known as spousal support, alimony is the payment of support from one ex-spouse to another in order to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a standard of living similar to what they have grown accustomed to during their marriage. There are several factors that can impact alimony amounts, including the length of the marriage, the ages of the parties involved, and the sources and amount of income both parties earn.
- Prenuptial agreements. For some marriages in Mystic, especially those involving individuals with high amounts of wealth, establishing a prenuptial agreement might be a wise idea. These contracts can safeguard your hard-won assets in the event of a divorce, death, or illness.
- Property division. One of the most difficult aspects of a Mystic divorce or legal separation is the division of marital or shared property. In Connecticut, property that was acquired during the marriage is subject to a fair split, though not perfectly 50/50. These items of property can include the family home, vacation properties, vehicles, bank accounts, pension plans, income tax refunds, and home furnishings.
Why Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law Is the Right Choice for Your Family
When you are facing an issue of family law, it is vital that you choose an attorney who understands the unique needs of you and your loved ones and how certain rulings might affect you for years to come. Family law is a delicate area of practice, and the lawyers at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law have the experience and compassion to approach these cases with the goal of protecting your needs and interests. You can count on us to do the following:
- The moment you walk through our doors, we review your family law case and determine the right course of action to take.
- We can help you better understand your legal rights and the options you have so that you can make informed decisions for yourself and your loved ones.
- We can help you prepare and file all necessary legal documents in your case by the imposed deadlines.
- We can help you enter into negotiations or mediation with the other parties involved in your case and seek a settlement that protects your interests and future stability.
- If negotiation and mediation do not prove fruitful, we can argue your case before a judge and aggressively advocate for a case outcome that is most favorable for you.
Is Mediation Right for You?
Many individuals facing issues of family law in Mystic may wonder if mediation is right for them. There are many pros and cons to mediation, including the following:
- Benefits of mediation can include reaching a resolution faster, being more cost-effective, and offering more privacy and confidentiality for you and your loved ones.
- Mediation may not be the right choice for you if there is a history of abuse between the involved parties, if one or both of the parties refuses to communicate with one another, or if the health and safety of one or both parties are put at risk through mediation.
When you meet with the team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law, we can review your case and determine whether or not mediation is right for your case.
Contact Our Offices Today for All Your Family Law Needs
Family law cases can come in all shapes, sizes, and degrees of difficulty. In 2022 alone, there were 2.8 divorces per every 1,000 residents in Connecticut. In these cases and other similar situations of family law, it is vital that you have an attorney on your side who is ready to fight for you and protect your rights to your children, your property, and your well-being. Contact the offices of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law today to learn more.
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