Connecticut Family Lawyer Protects Your Rights and Interests

Experienced Waterbury attorney assists with a range of domestic legal concerns

Family law matters can be difficult to navigate, even under the most amicable circumstances. A skilled family lawyer can help remove the stress while advocating for your interests. When it’s time to file for divorce, seek help for child custody and visitation matters, or establish fair terms for alimony and child support, Holmes Law Offices in Waterbury provides the skilled counsel Connecticut families deserve. I bring more than 20 years of experience to handling these sensitive legal cases for clients and am dedicated to seeking an outcome that gives you confidence in the future.

Responsive family lawyer guides clients through divorce

Connecticut’s no-fault divorce laws mean that either spouse can file for a dissolution of marriage by claiming it is “irretrievably broken.”  It’s also possible to file for a fault-based divorce based on grounds such as adultery, separation of 18 months or more, or intolerable cruelty. Whether you and your spouse have a relatively friendly divorce or are embroiled in a bitter battle, I will assert your rights throughout the legal process so you can move forward with your new life.

Skillful counselor delivers divorce mediation services

When divorcing spouses are committed to reaching an agreement on important issues such as child custody and asset division outside of court, divorce mediation may be a good option. As an alternative form of dispute resolution, mediation offers divorcing couples a range of benefits: sessions don’t need to conform to a court calendar, so they are more convenient, less time-consuming and less expensive than litigation. By providing skilled representation to clients during mediation, I can protect their interests while they reach an agreement that the court will recognize as valid.

Established law firm offers guidance on alimony and child support

In a divorce, the spouse who has earned more may be ordered to pay alimony to the other spouse. Before awarding alimony, a judge may consider a range of factors, including:

• Length of the marriage
• Each spouse’s occupation, income, employability, and vocational skills
• Each spouse’s age, health, and needs 

Whether you are seeking to receive alimony or arguing against paying it, I can defend your financial interests in court. I also represent parents who are seeking or must pay child support. Connecticut judges use a formula based on the parents’ combined net weekly income to determine the amount of child support to be paid by the noncustodial parent.

Family law attorney provides effective child custody and visitation guidance

Parents are encouraged to work together to create a parenting plan that puts the child’s needs first. If the parents are unable to agree on a parenting plan, a judge will determine child custody and visitation. While Connecticut courts generally prefer parents to share legal custody — the right to make important decisions about their child’s welfare — judges may award sole legal custody if it’s deemed to be in the child’s interests. Physical custody can also be shared, but there are a range of factors judges consider when determining where children should live:

• Parents’ abilities to meet the child’s needs
• Child’s developmental needs
• Relationship between each parent and the child
• The custodial parent’s willingness to facilitate the child’s relationship with the other parent
• Stability and safety of each residence 

In all custody and visitation matters, I will ensure the court is provided with all relevant information and advocate for your parental rights vigorously so that your bond with your children is preserved.

Consult a skillful Connecticut family law attorney

As a seasoned family law attorney, I am committed to helping clients resolve complicated legal matters. Families throughout Connecticut can rely on Holmes Law Offices in Waterbury to provide thoughtful counseling and determined representation. Please call 203-596-1091 or contact me online to schedule a consultation.