A family law lawyer can help you if you are in one of the following situations.

• You are thinking of getting married or living in a marriage like (common law) relationship?
• You are already in a marriage or common law relationship that is about to end.
• You have children with your spouse or partner.
• Your spouse or partner has children from a previous relationship, which you acted like a parent toward, or that resided with you during your relationship.
• There are allegations of child or spousal abuse in the relationship.
• You own common property with your spouse or partner.
• Either you or your spouse/partner is financially dependent on the other.

If you find yourself in any of these situations, start by asking yourself: "What do I want to accomplish?"

• Are you interested in entering into an agreement with your current or future partner or spouse, which will deal with issues in the event that you separate or pre-decease him or her? (A domestic contract)
• Are you looking for the most simple and cost effective way to get out of your relationship?
• Is there property to be divided? Do you already have a plan as to how to divvy things up? Do you have questions about how it should be divided according to law?
• Do you believe you are entitled to spousal and/or child support payments? Or, are you the one who is likely to pay spousal and/or support? Do you want to know how much those payments should be? Do you want to know how long you should be making payments for?
• Are you facing child custody or child access issues? Are you concerned that you might not see your children as much as you should? Do you have some concerns about your children's safety?
• What are the tax implications of the decisions you make regarding your separation or divorce?
• Do you even know what you are trying to accomplish? Do you have any idea about what your rights and obligations are in the event that you do separate?

Experienced Family Law lawyers can help you with any or all of the above questions. They not only bring their legal training to your situation, they also bring a level of objectivity that most people, who are in the midst of a break up, simply don't have. It is this objectivity, combined with legal expertise, which will ensure that you get the advice you need to make the best decisions possible.

Then, once you have decided how you want to proceed, a family lawyer can put your position forward in the most effective manner to achieve the results you are after.

An experienced Family Law lawyer can:

• Help you draft an effective domestic contract (a pre-nuptial, marriage contract or co-habitation agreement).
• If you are separating, review any agreement that you and your partner/spouse have come to, which deals with the separation. He/she will insure that it covers all of your rights and obligations, and that there are not any issues (legal land mines) that you missed.
• If you are having difficulty coming to an agreement with your partner/spouse (but one is still possible without having to resort to the courts), negotiate on your behalf to achieve the best results possible.
• If you must go to court, advocate on your behalf, and put you in the best possible position before the court.

Take some time to read though our site to learn more about specific legal issues. That will give you a clearer view about how a family law lawyer can assist you. And, when you are ready to talk to one, simply dial 310-4446 or go to our contact page.