Most of the decisions made in family law will have an impact on your daily life. It will affect where your children live, how often you see the children, the amount of financial support you will receive or pay, and/or what you are entitled to after a marriage ends.
These issues directly impact your emotional well-being, your relationships with those that may have been a daily part of your life, and your financial future.
When facing serious life changes, the quality of the legal counsel that you select is on of the most important decisions that you will make. Contact an experienced Arlington family attorney for immediate assistance. A family lawyer can build a case to help produce a successful result on your behalf.
Prenuptial Agreement
Establishing a prenuptial agreement is not the most romantic way to plan for an upcoming wedding, but it is a practical way to protect both spouses in the event that the marriage does not last.
A prenuptial agreement is a contract, which does not become effective until the couple marries, that a betrothed couple enters into that states each party’s rights and the obligations to the other person, if the marriage should end in divorce. This agreement can be drafted with the help of an Arlington family lawyer.
A prenuptial agreement can be a useful precursor to any marriage, but it can be especially useful when either party has children from an earlier relationship. For a prenuptial agreement to be valid in Virginia, it must be in writing. It must also be the result of an agreement arrived at by the parties without fraud or influence, and it is very important that the parties mutually disclose their assets and liabilities to each other prior to executing the agreement.
Marital Agreement
Married couples can also enter into a contractual agreement that has the same effects of a prenuptial agreement. Once the parties enter into a marital agreement, it is immediately effective. To be valid, the marital agreement has to be entered into without coercion and/or duress, must be in writing, and has to be signed by both parties.
Entering into a contract with a potential or current spouse is just one component of the family law practice area. Family law is a broad area of law that encompasses petitioning for divorce, establishing child custody, setting child support, altering custody agreements, and adopting children, among other subject matters. An individual should be sure to consult with a family lawyer in Arlington to understand the nuances of this legal document.
Finance
Whether an individual is planning for a marriage or a divorce, it is important for the person to consider their financial status and the financial implications of the impending marriage or divorce.
The process of gathering the information necessary to plan for and make informed financial decisions is overwhelming. An experienced Arlington family attorney can assist with the process of narrowing the focus to what is most important.
An experienced family lawyer in Arlington can also advise on what could be done and should be done and avoided to ensure that the person does not damage their case as they begin financial planning.
Contacting an Attorney
It is important to have a skilled family law attorney that is able to provide you with objective guidance and is familiar with the other parties in the proceeding when you have a matter in family court. A skilled local attorney in Arlington will ensure that you get the best outcome possible in your family law case.