FAMILY LAW
The Kentucky family law attorneys at Miniard & Associates understand the highly emotional nature of family law issues. We offer clients a sense of calm when they are struggling with the emotional upheaval of divorce, child custody or child support issues, juvenile arrest or other family law disputes.
Our aim is to provide clients with the optimal outcome. To do this, we work closely with each client, ascertaining his or her goals, and then tailoring a strategy for achieving those goals.
We have extensive family law experience, ranging from trials and hearings in the courtroom to divorce mediations and collaborative family law meetings. We can tackle any divorce, from the simplest filing, to one involving complex asset division. We help place clients in the best financial position to protect themselves and their children.
The attorneys at Miniard & Associates handle an array of family law matters, including:
Adoptions
Adoptions can be complicated, as the laws dealing with adoptions are very strict and precise. We strive to make adoptions as uncomplicated and joyous as possible. We know the law as it deals with adoptions, and we know the happiness that adoption brings. Our attorneys have a familiarity and knowledge of adoption law, having experience with private domestic adoptions, foreign adoptions, foster adoptions, step-parent or grandparent adoptions, and adult adoptions.
Back To Top
Divorce / Dissolution
Divorce can be extremely difficult and emotionally draining. Our attorneys have experience dealing with these emotions, putting clients at ease while negotiating an appropriate resolution. When conciliation does not resolve divorce disputes, we have the litigation skills and experience necessary to obtain positive results in court.
Divorce, also known as dissolution of marriage, addresses a wide range of issues, including child custody, child support, visitation, relocation or residency out of state, alimony and equitable distribution of property. No two divorces are alike. Each involves issues unique to the specific client. We take the time to get to know each client and his or her goals. We strive to get the best possible result for our client, while resolving the case as quickly and economically as possible.
Back To Top
Child Custody / Visitation
Custody determines who will make decisions for a child regarding religion, education, medical care and other major issues. Custody arrangements can be awarded as sole custody or joint custody. In joint custody, both parents have an equal say in these important decisions. Joint custody, however, does not necessarily mean equal parenting time. Often in joint custody arrangements, there is a primary residential or physical custodian who gets a majority of the time with the children, with the other parent receiving “parenting time” or “visitation.”
The custody arrangements for children after a divorce are vital to their well-being. We aid our clients in protecting the children during this emotional and difficult time. We help families negotiate, enforce, and modify child custody arrangements that are best for clients and their children.
Back To Top
Child Support / Paternity
A divorce agreement should adequately provide for children’s financial needs. Child support is meant to ensure children continue with the same standard of living they enjoyed before the divorce. This can be achieved through traditional child support payments or more creative means such as splitting costs.
Our attorneys are experienced in negotiating fair child support payments. We counsel clients on whether they are receiving too little or paying too much. When circumstances change, such as the loss of a job, a promotion, an inheritance, extreme medical expenses or education expenses, we are successful at obtaining modifications to support awards.
When the identity of a child’s father is in dispute, we can pursue paternity DNA testing of the alleged father(s) and the child. We also represent alleged fathers in paternity matters.
Back To Top
Collaborative Family Law
Collaborative law provides an alternative to high-stress, high-cost, adversarial divorce proceedings. The collaborative law process promotes the settling of cases without court intervention. In the collaborative process, couples going through a divorce retain lawyers trained in collaborative law to help them reach a settlement by acting more as advisors than as litigators. The couples are encouraged to take a mature, cooperative, non-combative approach. Before the collaborative process begins, the couple and their lawyers contract in writing to work together as a team to resolve their family law issues. Both lawyers pledge not to take the case to court. This creates a cooperative environment in which communication remains open and flexibility and control remain in the hands of the couple. If you are interested in the collaborative family law approach or wish to have more information, please contact Miniard & Associates.
Back To Top
