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Family law comprises many different aspects of life, including adoptions, termination of parental rights, grandparent rights, pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, post-divorce property divisions, spousal maintenance (alimony), child support, visitation, and more. Often the family law matter is part of a complex series of issues which may also involve a criminal law case or a probate and estate administration. After the divorce, clients should revise their will and powers of attorney, and often there are real estate issues, as well. The good news is that the Law Office of Laura D. Heard, P.C. can assist with all of these. Why go to a specialist in divorce if you have to hire another attorney to handle other related issues? Laura D. Heard can handle divorce, property transfers, probate, wills, guardianships, and criminal defense. Laura received the highest grade in her law school class in domestic relations, and has much experience in criminal court, probate court, and child abuse court, as well as divorce court.
The law requires at least a 60-day waiting period between the time the petition is filed and the judge signing the final order.
The retainer for divorce depends on many things. A truly uncontested divorce is rare, but for a divorce with no property division at all, no land, no vehicles, no retirement, and no children, Laura D. Heard offers a “$750 down and $750 in 30 days” plan. In other cases, the retainer will vary depending on the type and amount of property and issues involved, but ultimately the cost will be based upon the amount of time involved at the attorney's billing rate per hour. For more complex divorce cases, be prepared to discuss the following:
- How many children are involved, and what are their ages?
- What is the income of both spouses? Is spousal support requested?
- What real estate is owned and how was it acquired?
- What retirement plans, IRA's, 401K's, military retirement, etc. is available?
- What are the debts of the parties, including mortgages, home equity loans, promissory notes, car loans, credit cards, IRS liens, etc.?
- Provide the social security number and driver's license number of both spouses.
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