Divorce & Seperation
We believe in reasonable actions and sensible solutions that protect our clients’ interests.
Office Located @: 154 South 2nd Street, Fulton, New York 13069
315.598.1928
Divorce
Skilled Representation for CNY Families
Every couple faces unique challenges. When a marriage ends, you deserve representation designed to meet your specific needs — guidance from an attorney who doesn’t just dictate a solution, but who asks the question: What is best for you?
At the Lanza Law Office, we tailor solutions to each client’s needs. We take the time to learn about you, so we can understand what you want out of the process. We start with the story of your relationship. We continue with your concerns and plans for the future. Then, we develop a divorce strategy that helps you reach your goals by addressing all the issues that may affect you, such as:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Spousal support/alimony
- Division of marital assets and debts
Customizing Our Approach to Meet Your Needs
The traditional way to get divorced involves the spouses taking sides against each other in litigation. Our legal team has decades of experience handling contentious court battles for clients, and we will not hesitate to do so for you if it is necessary.
However, we have found that a relatively new method of family dispute resolution leads to much less conflict and much happier outcomes. That method is called collaborative divorce.
In collaborative divorce, you and your spouse are each represented by a family law attorney. Everyone agrees to resolve the issues in your divorce through discussion and agreement instead of going to court. We then work with mental health professionals and financial specialists to reach resolutions that fit each person’s needs. All divorce-related issues, such as custody, property division and child support can all be resolved using the collaborative process, and it is done without the anger and bitterness commonly associated with the end of a marriage.
Separation
We also understand that marriages deteriorate for many reasons – sometime for the “at fault” reasons and sometimes couples just grow apart. If they do, and if they wish to resolve their issues without going to court, or wish to avoid placing blame where it does not belong, they may consider entering into a separation agreement.
Separation agreements are complex documents that deal with all the issues related to the demise of a marriage. They address child custody, division of property and support matters. Couples enter into this agreement and live apart. After a minimum of one year has passed, a divorce may be granted on the ground that the couple has been living separately. As of October 12, 2010, they may also use the additional ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for a period of at least six months as long as all other issues have been resolved, including, equitable distribution, spousal support, child support, custody, visitation, and counsel and expert fees.
Separation agreements should not be confused with postnuptial agreements. These agreements serve as a condition to remaining married, where couples lay out their respective rights and responsibilities.
You Can End Your Marriage Peacefully
When most people think about divorce, they think about hostility, bitterness and resentment. Conventional divorce does nothing to alleviate these feelings. In fact, it exacerbates them. Fortunately, there is a way for you and your spouse to work together toward a mutually agreeable divorce settlement.
Collaborative divorce gives you control over your own future and allows you and your spouse to find constructive ways to dissolve the marriage. At the office of Salvatoe F. Lanza we believe strongly that collaborative divorce is superior to traditional litigation. The process fosters an atmosphere of respect and problem solving that is simply not possible when engaged in a court battle. This atmosphere is healthy for you and it minimizes impact on your children.
Let’s Work Together