New Haven Divorce Attorney
In times of upheaval, it is important to have a knowledgeable attorney to advise you about your options and your rights. At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, our lawyers understand that family law matters can be stressful. We will advocate for your interests and help you reach favorable agreements on difficult family law issues, including divorce in New Haven. For more information about our divorce practice, contact our law firm to schedule a consultation.
Comprehensive Representation During Your New Haven Divorce
Our firm has over 70 years of experience representing clients in a variety of disputes related to their divorces.
Due to our extensive experience and strength in the courtroom, our New Haven family lawyers are comfortable handling even the most complex situations, including those involving high assets or individuals of high net worth. We know how to handle special issues of asset and debt division, and can assist you if you have concerns about your retirement funds and 401(k) accounts, as well as valuing your family or other closely held business.
If you are looking for an aggressive attorney to represent you in divorce litigation or a strong advocate to protect your interests during your New Haven mediation sessions, our firm’s lawyers are here to help.
Providing Connecticut Clients With Other Family Legal Services
Aside from divorce, our firm provides comprehensive representation in a variety of other legal issues affecting families today, including:
- Prenuptial agreements
- Legal separation
- Paternity
- Adoptions, including stepparent adoptions
- Termination of parental rights
- Domestic violence and orders for protection
- Post-judgment modifications and contempt hearings
We Handle Contested & Uncontested Divorces
In Connecticut, you and your spouse are required to abide by a 90-day waiting period after you file for divorce. At the end of the waiting period, the court will assign your case as an uncontested or contested matter. Uncontested cases are assigned for a hearing, while contested cases head to trial.
Uncontested divorces typically resolve much faster than contested ones. During the hearing, you and your spouse will present a marital settlement agreement that addresses all of the legal matters associated with the divorce, such as alimony and child custody. If the court finds that the agreement is fair and equitable, it will approve the divorce.
If the parties involved in a divorce are unable to agree, the case will be considered contested. You and your spouse will need to appear in court and present evidence to a judge. The judge will then decide the final terms of the divorce agreement.
At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, we can help you navigate both contested and uncontested divorce cases. Our firm can represent you during a divorce trial, advocating aggressively for your best interests during these complex proceedings. We can also guide you during the creation of a marital settlement agreement, helping to ensure that your interests are protected in this document.
Aggressively Representing Your Interests In Your Family Legal Matter
Our family and divorce attorneys in New Haven use litigation, negotiation, and mediation to protect your interests and achieve the best outcome possible. Whether you need a prenuptial agreement drafted or are involved in a contentious divorce, our firm will provide you with sound legal advice about your rights and options.
How Can a New Haven Divorce Attorney Help You?
Filing for divorce can be a complex and stressful process. Having a New Haven divorce attorney on your side can go a long way in reducing the burden of this process while simultaneously protecting your best interests. Your lawyer will be dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome in your divorce case, providing valuable advice during each step of the process.
Your attorney can help your case in several ways:
- Legal Knowledge: Your lawyer will have a strong understanding of Connecticut divorce law and the matters that often accompany the dissolution of marriage. Your lawyer can help you understand and plan for child custody, spousal support, and more.
- Support and Advice: Divorce can be emotional, and you need the strongest support system possible to get through this difficult time. Your lawyer can offer you valuable support and advice during your divorce.
- Courtroom Preparation: In a contested divorce, your case will head to trial. Going to court can be stressful and confusing, but your attorney will have significant experience preparing these cases for trial. Your attorney can represent you in the courtroom and work to build a compelling case in your favor.
- Guidance Each Step of the Way: The divorce process can be complicated, which opens up room for error. Your lawyer can help you avoid potentially costly mistakes that could disrupt or harm your divorce case.
How Our New Haven Divorce Attorney May Approach Your Case
At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, our attorneys will carefully assess your case and develop a careful strategy to achieve the best possible outcome in your divorce. Depending on your situation, we may employ one of three approaches: mediated, litigated, and collaborative divorce.
- Mediated Divorce: Mediation is a process where a neutral third party guides divorcing couples through a series of topics related to their divorce. The purpose of this process is to help the spouses draft a mutually beneficial divorce settlement. Your attorney can guide you through the mediation process and work to ensure that each decision is in your best interest.
- Litigated Divorce: A litigated divorce is resolved through the court. If you do not opt for mediation or a collaborative divorce, your case will head to trial and a judge will be responsible for determining the terms of your divorce agreement. However, many litigated divorces resolve out-of-court during a settlement. Your lawyer can represent you during the trial and advocate aggressively to meet your specific goals.
- Collaborative Divorce: A collaborative divorce is a private process where a divorcing couple creates a divorce settlement that meets the needs of both parties. Like mediation, collaborative divorce is voluntary, but both parties are represented by their respective attorneys throughout the process. Your lawyer can guide you through the collaborative divorce and help you generate creative solutions so that you can resolve your case outside of the courtroom.
New Haven Divorce Proceedings FAQs
What’s the Difference Between Separation and Divorce?
A legal separation is very similar to a divorce. This process follows all of the same steps, including establishing residency requirements, appearing in court, and creating a legal agreement. However, couples who are separated are still legally married and are therefore not able to remarry. Either party may change a legal separation to a divorce by filing a petition.
What Are the Residency Requirements for Divorce in New Haven?
To file for divorce in Connecticut, you will need to meet one of the following requirements:
- You or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least one year before you file for divorce.
- You or your spouse moved away from Connecticut after being married in the state and moved back to Connecticut by the filing date.
- The cause of your divorce happened after you or your spouse moved to Connecticut.
How Do You Initiate a Dissolution of Marriage?
To file for divorce in Connecticut, you will first need to file a formal complaint, which details the facts of your marriage and why you are filing for divorce. The complaint must then be served to your spouse, who will then need to file a response with the court by a certain date. These steps then initiate the action for dissolution of marriage.
What Are the Legal Grounds for Divorce in Connecticut?
You need to have a legally acceptable reason to file for divorce in Connecticut. You can pursue a fault-based divorce, where you will need to prove that your spouse’s misconduct caused the dissolution of your marriage. However, you can also file for a no-fault divorce, where you simply declare that your marriage has broken down irretrievably.
What Is the Waiting Period for Divorce?
When a spouse is served with divorce papers, there is a date by which he or she must file a response. This date is known as the return day. You must wait at least 90 days from the return day before the marriage will be formally dissolved.
Contact Our Firm Today
Our New Haven law firm represents clients throughout Connecticut. Contact us online or call (203) 800-7343 to learn how we can help you with your divorce-related concerns.
Our New Haven divorce and family law attorneys: