Family cases combine law, relationships and everyday arrangements. A divorce can involve care of children, child support, visitation, the home, assets and debts; an inheritance can involve family communication, the scope of the estate, the validity of a will and real estate. We advise on pre-marital planning, divorce, parental rights, domestic violence and inheritance, weighing safety, the child's best interests, property and any cross-border element, and turning the arrangements into clear, enforceable documents.
No. If the spouses can agree on the divorce and the related matters, they can divorce by agreement as the law provides; if they cannot, court mediation is also available. Only where there is no agreement and the dispute cannot be resolved will it go to a contested divorce action.
In everyday speech people talk about custody of a minor child; in legal practice the usual terms are parental rights, or the exercise of rights and assumption of duties regarding a minor child. The court centers on the child's best interests, weighing factors such as who the primary carer has been, parenting capacity, stability of life and the child's wishes.
It can plan the matrimonial property regime, pre-marital assets, income after marriage, family expenses, debts and other living arrangements. But the effect of some terms — those touching on personal status, children, or contrary to public policy and good morals — may be limited, so the agreement should be drafted around the couple's specific needs.
Communications, photographs, public posts, admissions and other materials should be preserved by lawful means. Evidence-gathering must not involve entering a home, accessing accounts, installing unlawful devices or otherwise invading privacy. Before claiming, the limitation period and the strength of the evidence should also be assessed.
Start by confirming the heirs, the date of death, any will, and the assets and debts, then assess whether to renounce the inheritance, file the estate tax return and arrange the division. Procedures such as renunciation are subject to statutory time limits, so advice should be sought promptly where the debts are unclear.
If you are facing one of the issues above, it helps to gather the relevant notices, contracts, correspondence, a timeline of events and the outcome you hope for before contacting us to arrange a consultation. Once we understand the basic facts and have completed a conflict-of-interest check, we will explain how we can help, the scope of engagement and our fees. The outcome of any matter depends on its specific facts, the evidence, the applicable law and the decision of the competent authority or court.
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