Jacqueli Wagner Esq

If you or your children are being emotionally and/physically abused by either parent, you may be entitled to an immediate Order of Protection and in the more severe cases, an award of exclusive possession of the marital home. Domestic Violence comes in many shapes and forms. In answer to our question, does your spouse hit you, we have often heard the response, "no".

Even with the great numbers of divorce cases before our courts, New York State remains the only state that requires "grounds" for divorce. We can not avail ourselves of "incompatibility", "irreconcilable differences", "irretrievable marriage breakdown" as litigants in every other state can.

Because of the need for grounds to obtain a divorce and because this area of the law is so technical, it is necessary to have attorneys who know the nuances of the law, who know what needs to be proven, and who know how to draft pleadings in an effective manner.As a result of poorly drafted pleadings a case could be dismissed leaving the client without relief.

May people who consult with a Family Law Attorney or a Matrimonial attorney need to modify a prior Order or Agreement entered by the parties. As time goes on, and life happens to us all, some Orders need to be changed (modified). If a client meets the proper burden of proof, a Court may modify a prior Order.

A pension appraisal company can be hired to provide the parties with the exact amount of benefits to be paid to each party upon the retirement of either or both of the parties. These companies evaluate pensions, deferred compensation plans, 401K and Plans. The use of these companies assists in making sure that any settlement is fair and that both sides are receiving all of the monies that they are entitled to.