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DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND FAMILY LAW

Several family law attorneys in our firm offer legal services in areas pertaining to dissolution of marriage, child custody, and post dissolution of marriage issues.

DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

In the early 1970's Kentucky passed a no fault divorce statute. As such, it is not necessary for parties seeking to end a marriage to justify the decision to do so. However, the prerequisites to dissolve a marriage and the time associated with that procedure vary greatly between the different counties our firm services. Fortunately, we are familiar with practices in both Hardin County and the surrounding counties including Meade County, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, and Nelson. Consequently, our office can address many of the issues that arise in a divorce action regardless of which county the matter is proceeding in. Issues which typically have to be addressed include:

  1. The value of the property owned by the parties at the time of the dissolution of marriage and wether the property in question was acquired prior to the marriage.
  2. What are the tax consequences involved in the dissolution?
  3. What will be the effect of the dissolution on the parties health insurance coverage?
  4. Division of retirement benefits is often a very important aspect of a divorce. Obviously, in Hardin County and surrounding areas the division of Military retirement in accordance with State and Federal law has to be addressed. Likewise, other retirement benefits require considerable experience to ensure that the benefits are allocated legally and equitably.

CHILD CUSTODY

Child Support Arrangements

Child Support Arrangements

ISSUES

WHAT I WANT

WHAT MY SPOUSE WANTS

1

Custodial arrangements for the children

2

Visitation/Parenting Time

3

Child support

4

Medical, dental, hospital, pharmaceutical, and psychological expenses for children

5

COBRA or medical insurance for former spouse up to three years from the entry of the divorce judgment where applicable

6

Income tax exemptions regarding the children–who will claim them

7

Alimony/spousal support

8

Property division

9

Division of real estate, transfers, deeds

10

Making sure that all investments are covered including limited partnerships, stocks, bonds and savings

11

The handling of debts

12

Pensions, IRA accounts, 401K transfers, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders

13

Personal Property including furniture, furnishings art, and collectibles

14

Motor vehicles, including trailers, and boats

15

Income taxes whether there can be any joint filings and liabilities for payment of taxes

16

Bankruptcy issues, protection in case one spouse does bankrupt

17

Proper security and protection regarding property division

18

Clauses to hold the other spouse harmless and indemnification in case someone fails to live up to his or her obligations.

19

How to handle the discovery of hidden assets

20

Spouse abuse and restraining orders

21

Restoration of maiden name

22

Life insurance policies as protection for child support payments, alimony/spousal support payments, and/or property payments in the event of death.

23

Attorney fees and/or mediator, accountant, and other expert fees and payment of same

24

College education for children and/or spouse

25

Provisions for review in certain circumstances such as with regard to child support and/or spousal support

26

Clauses such as payment for summer camps and/or religious training and/or upbringing or other special situations involving children

27

Visitation

28

I.D. Card

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For many years, it was generally accepted in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that a divorce in which there were minor children would traditionally result in the mother being the custodian of the children. However, the reality is that both parents are now typically awarded joint custody with either the mother or father being named the primary physical custodian. The days in which the mother automatically became the primary custodian of the children has passed. It is not uncommon for the father to be named as primary custodian of the children, particularly if the children are school age.

Our family law attorneys are available to assist you in demonstrating to the Court the needs of the children and how they can best be met. The family law attorneys in our office can advise you on the various ways in which it can be demonstrated to the Court that your children would benefit from you being the primary custodial parent.

As one would expect, in the issue of custody of children the law is constantly evolving. The firm's lawyers stay abreast of this ever changing of area of the domestic relations law in order to assist our clients in this most difficult time.

POST DISSOLUTION MATTERS

It is very common for parties to a divorce to return to court after the dissolution in order to address issues that have arisen because of changes in circumstances. Obviously, we live in an ever changing world. Parents move, children grow up, and other events occur that make it necessary for the parties to revisit the original agreement or Court Order. Issues often addressed after the dissolution of marriage include: modification of child support, modification of visitation, modification of custody, and modification of espousal maintenance. Our office is more then able to assist you in this area.

ADOPTIONS

Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson, & Pike has had the privilege of handling numerous adoptions for clients. We are experienced in all of the various aspects of adoption. An adoption involves, in many cases, not only the adoption itself, but also termination of parental rights, guardianship, temporary custody, determination of paternity, placement of a child, and name changes. Our firm handles all types of adoption including private adoption, intrastate adoption, interstate adoption, and international adoption. It is especially important in adoptions to have experienced family law attorneys that understand the process and the domestic relations law. Adoptive parents do not want to have to worry about the fact that their adoption may not have been legally sound. At Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson, & Pike our attorneys are very cautious and diligent in trying to make sure that all of the stages of the adoption process are legally sufficient.