Areas of Practice

Family law

Family law covers legal issues involving marriage and children. Common matters include divorce, dividing marital property and debts, establishing paternity, and resolving questions about child custody, parenting time, and support.

You may have a family law question if you are considering divorce, making arrangements for your children, or asking whether an existing court order can be changed or enforced. Parents who were never married may also need advice about their rights and responsibilities.

Legal custody concerns major decisions about a child, such as education and medical care. Physical custody concerns where the child lives.

Parenting time is the time a child spends with each parent. Child support concerns financial support for the child. These issues are related, but each addresses a different part of the family's arrangements.

Criminal defense

Criminal defense involves representing someone accused of a crime. It can include explaining the charges, reviewing evidence, preparing for hearings, and considering how the case might be resolved.

You may need a defense attorney if you have been arrested, received notice of criminal charges, or have an upcoming court appearance in a criminal case. An attorney can explain the proceedings and the possible consequences of entering a plea agreement or going to trial.

A criminal charge is an accusation. At trial, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense attorney represents the accused person and can question witnesses, challenge evidence where appropriate, and present a defense.

When you contact us, have any charging documents or court notices available and mention any scheduled hearing.

Civil litigation

Civil litigation resolves legal disputes through a lawsuit. The parties may be individuals, businesses, or other organizations. Their dispute may concern money, property, or obligations under an agreement.

You may have a civil dispute if someone has failed to follow a contract, you disagree about money owed, or there is a conflict over property rights. You may also need to respond to a lawsuit filed against you. The person bringing the claim is usually called the plaintiff; the person responding is the defendant.

Some disputes are settled through negotiation or mediation. In mediation, a neutral person helps the parties try to reach an agreement. Other disputes require a judge or jury to decide the contested issues. The available options depend on the claim, the evidence, and the circumstances.

Guardianships

A guardianship gives someone court-appointed authority to make certain decisions for another person. Depending on the court's order, a guardian may be responsible for personal care, financial affairs, or both.

Guardianship questions can arise when a child needs an adult other than a parent to take legal responsibility for their care. They can also arise when an illness, injury, or disability makes it difficult for an adult to make or communicate necessary decisions. Whether guardianship is appropriate depends on the person's abilities and circumstances.

Caring for a relative or sharing a home does not, by itself, make someone a legal guardian. A court appointment establishes that authority, and the guardian must follow the duties and limits that apply.

An attorney can help assess whether guardianship is needed or whether another arrangement, such as supported decision-making, may be suitable.

Probate matters

After someone dies, there may be questions about their property, unpaid debts, and who has authority to handle their affairs. Probate is the court process used to recognize a will and administer an estate when court involvement is required.

An estate is the money, property, and other assets a person leaves behind. Handling an estate can involve identifying those assets, addressing debts and expenses, and transferring property to the people entitled to receive it.

You may have a probate question if a will names you to handle an estate, a family member has died and you are unsure where to begin, or you need to understand how inherited property can be transferred.

Some assets pass directly to another owner or beneficiary, and some estates may qualify for simpler procedures. The appropriate process depends on the estate and how its assets are owned.