At Cummings Law Firm our attorney brings extensive experience to the family law issues facing men and women throughout Connecticut. If a divorce is on your horizon, you likely have questions. Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked divorce questions.
For legal advice specific to your situation, contact us online or call 203-754-7779.
How Much Will My Divorce Cost?
There is no way to pinpoint exactly what a divorce will cost, but there are factors that have a heavy influence over the cost of the process. An uncontested divorce — where the couples agree on how they want to resolve the financial and parenting issues — will be less costly than a contested divorce — a divorce where contested issues are resolved via trial.
Does Divorce Mean I Need To Prepare For A Long Legal Battle?
Despite the reputation divorce has for tearing families apart and draining bank accounts, divorce does not have to be a long, messy, acrimonious process. In fact, when parties agree on the majority of the issues in their divorce, it can be a relatively simple process where a judge simply signs off an agreement reached via calm negotiation. On the other hand, cases involving contentious disputes over issues such as alimony or complex assets have the potential to result in lengthy litigation.
Can I Get Full Custody?
This is a question our lawyer often receives from parents in the lead-up to a divorce. We understand that parents often feel they are best equipped to raise their children and therefore should have full custody, but resolving custody matters is not that simple.
There are two types of custody — legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody covers the right to make decisions about how a child is raised, including medical care, schooling and religion. Physical custody refers to where the child lives or how much time the child spends with each parent.
In almost all cases, parents will share legal and physical custody based on what is deemed to be in the best interests of the child. The court will always use this standard whether you agree or not, so it's best to make peace with that right away.
A parent truly having "full custody" (full legal and physical custody) is quite rare and tends to occur when one parent represents a threat to the child as a result of violent behavior, substance abuse, or other illegal or dangerous actions.
Will I Get Child Support? Will I Pay Child Support?
Child support is determined according to Connecticut child support guidelines that take factors into account such as the incomes of the parents. Deviations from the guidelines can occur for various reasons such as an approved shared parenting structure. Learn more.