Family Law Services

Caring, Competent Counsel for Your Family Law Matters

MARITAL DISSOLUTIONS (DIVORCE)

Attorney Heard assists clients in divorces that involve:

  • Complex financial issues
  • High-conflict parenting plan/child custody disputes
  • Relocation
  • Restraining orders
  • Child support

LEGAL SEPARATION

Before divorce, many clients enter into legally binding separation agreements. Some key details to know about this subject include:

  • Legal separation involves similar issues presented in divorce cases with a goal of entry of a Final Legal Separation Order
  • Final Legal Separation Orders do not dissolve the marriage and the parties are not divorced upon entry

PARENTING PLAN AND CHILD CUSTODY MODIFICATIONS

Parenting plans and child custody agreements may not always work as your children get older. Get help:

  • Requesting child custody modifications
  • Protesting child custody modifications
  • Petitioning the Court for changes to an existing parenting plan
  • Filing motions to contest requested parenting plan modifications 

HAGUE CONVENTION CASES

Hague Convention cases are serious family law issues involving the abduction of a child across international borders without the consent of the child’s legal guardian. Attorney Heard could assist in:

  • Pursuing proceedings under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act
  • Filing a Hague Convention application

PARENTING PLAN/CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES

Parents often do not agree on child custody arrangements and parenting plans. A strong legal advocate can:

  • Assist clients in developing Parenting Plans that are in the best interests of the children
  • Work with parenting evaluators to prepare recommendations for parenting plans to the court
  • Coordinate with third party professionals for any other necessary evaluations (drug and alcohol evaluations, anger management evaluations, evaluations regarding other addictions)
  • Advocate for supervised visitation
  • Request a parenting coordinator or co-parenting counseling be ordered to assist the parents

INTERNATIONAL CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES

In addition to domestic custody disputes, Attorney Heard provides advice and assistance in cross-border custody disputes. These services include:

  • Helping clients develop a plan and strategy for their unique case
  • Coordinating with foreign counsel or foreign parties for a thorough solution
  • Addressing complex jurisdictional issues
  • Effectively working in cross-cultural situations
  • Assisting clients with cases involving the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
  • Cross-Border Mediation

PARENTING PLAN AND CHILD CUSTODY RELOCATION

Whether you are interested in relocating to another state or country or you need to protest such relocation attempts, you need a family law attorney who will 

  • Advise clients in relocation cases involving the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
  • Coordinate with out-of-state counsel for comprehensive representation for the client
  • Develop a strategy for each client’s distinctive circumstances
  • Draft Parenting Plans in the best interests of the children

PATERNITY

Establishing paternity can have a dramatic effect on your life and your children’s. Attorney Heard can assist you in:

  • Establishing parentage
  • Developing Parenting Plans in cases in which paternity is not disputed

CHILD SUPPORT

Child support cases can be particularly volatile. You may need an experienced legal advocate for assistance with:

  • Drafting Child Support Orders to provide payments made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship
  • Analyzing financial issues relevant to child support orders
  • Adjustment and Modification of child support orders

RESTRAINING ORDERS

When your safety is a concern and you need to keep yourself and your family out of harm’s way, Attorney Heard may be available to assist clients with:

  • Entry of restraining orders that address financial issues, use of property, and temporary custody issues.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDERS

Take steps to protect yourself and your children from threats or violence. Your family law attorney at our firm can:

  • Assist clients with entry of orders protecting clients from contact by other parties who have threatened or assaulted clients
  • Request temporary orders regarding visitation and custody of minor children

Contact Stacy and the firm today to determine the best personalized course of action for you and your children .