Family law covers a broad spectrum of legal relationships that involve the rights and responsibilities of individuals, couples, children, and sometimes, other family members. When you need legal documents drawn up or get involve in difficult or contentious family matters, you can get the guidance and expertise you need by hiring an experienced and competent family law attorney.

Prenuptial Agreements and Postnuptial Agreements

Before two people enter into marital bliss, it can be a good idea to sign a prenuptial agreement. Such agreements are important when one or both parties have substantial assets and they want to be protected in case the marriage ends in divorce.

Postnuptial agreements are like prenuptial agreements except they are a contract entered into by spouses after they are already married. If you decide, shortly after you are married, that you want to keep some or all of your pre-marital assets separate from your spouse, this is the agreement you must sign. .

Both of these agreements are quite common among older couples who have children from a previous marriage and might want to make sure that their estate will pass on to their sons and daughters upon their demise.

Relationships Outside of Traditional Marriage

Domestic partnerships and same-sex couples are not afforded all of the rights of a couple in a traditional marriage. While some states have approved same-sex marriages, there are still many problems when members of the same sex are involved in a committed relationship.

Filing joint tax returns and same-sex property rights are often issues that non-traditional couples must face. In domestic partnerships, authority of one partner to make life and death medical decisions for their mate, who is unable to make those decisions on his or her own, can be the subject of litigation.

Adoption Rights

You may seek to adopt a child through an adoption agency if you and your spouse can not have a child on your own. There are also situations where a child is born to a family member who is unable to take care of the child. In such cases, interfamily adoption may be the best thing for the child. You may marry a spouse who has one or more children by another father and decide to adopt that child or those children. Step-parent adoption requires certain legal steps that are best handled by an attorney who practices family law.

Other Issues that call for a Family Law Attorney

• Protection from abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Grandparents’ rights
• Fathers’ rights
• Paternity

Freddy M. Godoy is an experienced family law who has been a practicing attorney for more that a decade. He began as a criminal lawyer and has extensive experience litigating in a courtroom setting. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s law school, law clerk for a prominent family court judge in Philadelphia and well versed in all areas of family law, Mr. Godoy takes a personal interest in all of his clients.

If you want a no-nonsense, honest and efficient attorney who can help get your life back in order, you will be well served by contacting the Law Office of Freddy M. Godoy for straightforward advice and personal attention to your case.