Family Law

Adoption:

Adoptions are one of the joys of practicing law. An adoption is when parental rights are transferred from one or both of the birth parents to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents are entitled to all rights and obligations of the natural parent and become legally responsible for the child. Adopting a child is one of the most rewarding feelings a person can experience. Taylor Law Offices, P.C. is committed to helping you start or expand your family. We are proud of our adoption practice and will walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Dissolution of Marriage:

At Taylor Law Offices, P.C., we provide thoughtful and thorough representation to clients during dissolution of marriage. Divorce is a difficult process and involves serious emotional and financial risks. We have the experience and the sensitivity to protect our clients' interests during family law proceedings. The importance of understanding the long-term effects of decisions you make during the process of divorce can not be overstated. The attorneys of Taylor Law Offices, P.C. will see that you understand your legal options, clearly identify your primary goals, and remain focused on successfully achieving those goals.

As your divorce lawyer, Taylor Law Offices, P.C. will handle all related issues, including negotiation of a divorce settlement agreement that thoroughly addresses:

  • Distribution of property, including division of large marital estates, real and personal property, securities and investments, and retirement and pension plans
  • Child custody and visitation rights
  • Spousal maintenance (sometimes referred to as "alimony")

Our services do not end when your divorce is final, but include counsel and representation for post-decree modification of custody, visitation, and support orders, and enforcement of orders for support and visitation.

Paternity:

A variety of circumstances lead to the need for legal determination of paternity of a child. If parents are not married to each other, or if there is any question as to whether a wife conceived a child through relations with another man or in preparation to give a child over for adoption, it may be necessary to take legal action to learn who really is the biological father of a child.

Unmarried mothers may seek child support or other objectives such as confirmed inheritance rights from the father.

Unmarried fathers may seek parental rights, including custody or visitation rights.

A man alleged to be the father of a child may wish to prove or disprove this allegation.

A husband approaching divorce may seek to demonstrate to the courts that his wife had a baby with another party outside the marriage, and that he should not have to pay support for the child.

Grandparents (for example, parents of the father) preparing to seek guardianship of a grandchild may need legal proof of the child's identity and their relationship to the child by way of DNA testing of the father and the child.

Security, stability and the well-being of children are fundamental concerns of Taylor Law Offices, P.C.. This law firm revolves around the needs of children whose lives are affected by their parents' actions and decisions. We advise and represent mothers, fathers and grandparents in a variety of situations where a paternity action is needed. We are prepared to advise family members, including teenage parents, on the most advantageous ways to protect their children's right to support and parental care.

Child Custody & Visitation:

Child custody and visitation are issues that are decided by the court using the standard of the best interests of the child. The court seeks to put the child in the best position available through the decisions that are made on custody and visitation.

If parents are in agreement regarding the terms of their child custody and visitation agreement that agreement will end up being the final arrangement. If, however, the parents cannot agree, then the courts have various tools to assist them in reaching the goal of serving the best interests of the child.

Child Support:

Both parents of a child – whether married to each other or not – owe a duty of support to that child. When parents are separated or divorced, the nonresidential or noncustodial parent is obligated to pay a percentage of his or her income to the residential parent.

Taylor Law Offices, P.C. will help ensure that all income from all sources is taken into account for the purpose of calculating child support. Our years of experience have given us detailed knowledge as to what is and what is not income, what is an allowable deduction and how children's future college costs should be taken into account in cases of divorce or separation of parents.