» Family Law

Not all family law matters need to be resolved in the courtroom. Parties can sometimes negotiate their own solutions. Mediation can offer a private, amicable, and cost-effective way to settle custody, parenting time, and support issues without judicial intervention. Mediation can also allow parents to find creative solutions to their disputes and reach a tailored agreement that works for the whole family. With mediation, a neutral third party helps to facilitate healthy communication between the parents, and both will have the opportunity to express their concerns and needs. Since mediation is a low-conflict process, it can help to preserve the relationship between co-parents for the benefit of the children.

The length of time it can take to resolve a family law matter can depend on the type of dispute and each party’s willingness to settle. While some matters can be resolved in a matter of weeks or months, others may take years. Cases that are high-conflict and complex will typically take longer to resolve than those where the parties are amicable and willing to work together to reach an agreement.

Child support is a payment made by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent to cover the costs of their child’s basic needs. It is calculated by a formula set forth under state law called the “income shares model.” This model aims to ensure the child receives the same parental proportion of each parent’s income as if they lived together. Specifically, it considers the income of each parent, the number of children, the cost of health insurance, and childcare expenses.