New Iberia Divorce Lawyer

A divorce is a tumultuous and difficult time in anyone’s life, and it can change all of your expectations for the future. Divorce may be contested or uncontested, no-fault or fault-based, and litigated or negotiated. Every family’s divorce is unique and has its own complex factors depending on income, personal needs, children, and other specifics. When you are getting a divorce, it is crucial that you work with a New Iberia divorce lawyer.

Having an attorney helps you get legal advice and representation for your specific needs and make decisions about the type of divorce that is right for you. This guidance can be essential and make it easier for you to focus on working towards your future and adjusting to a new way of life.

Bertuccini Law Firm: Compassionate Family-First Divorce Lawyers

When you are separating, you need a legal team that will treat you with respect and compassion. At Bertuccini Law Firm, we provide caring legal representation with the dignity you deserve. Our team will take the time to listen to your reasons for your divorce and help you determine what divorce process will help maintain the well-being of your family and home while supporting your objectives.

We walk you through your options so that you can make a well-reasoned decision. Bertuccini Law Firm has significant experience in divorce and related family law cases, supporting families throughout communities around New Iberia. We aim for alternative dispute resolution methods that help couples reach a fair resolution without the stress of litigation. However, mediation or collaborative divorces are not an option for every couple.

Negotiations may fail due to an inability to compromise, or out-of-court solutions may not be safe for you. When these situations occur, our firm will protect your interests and advocate for you through litigation. Our firm puts people and families first. We want to help you navigate a divorce case successfully and protect the well-being of any children you may have. It is our goal to make divorce as manageable as possible.

The Many Divorce-Related Family Law Cases in Separation

In 2022, the Louisiana divorce rate was 0.7 per 1,000 population, much lower than in the prior nine years and the lowest reported rate in the nation. There are many factors that influence the divorce rate, including financial and social factors, and divorce rates also vary based on age, education, and work.

Divorce and other family law cases in New Iberia are handled by the 16th Judicial District Court in the Iberia Courthouse. This is located at 300 Iberia Street.

While there is still a generally negative view of divorce, many couples who get divorced do so because it is right for themselves and their families. Even when couples are amicable and/or divorce is the most beneficial outcome, the process is still costly, stressful, and long. Divorces are complicated emotionally, and they are also legally complex. Multiple family law cases are typically involved in a divorce case, including:

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Property division

In Louisiana, marital property is assumed to be equally owned by both spouses, and the court divides this property equally. Couples can also decide their own property division out of court.

Marital property generally includes all assets and debts a couple obtained during their marriage, with some exceptions. The property division process requires all assets to be valued and categorized as marital or separate assets. Depending on the complexity and commingling of property, this can be a difficult process.

Working with an attorney makes it easier to navigate this process, and attorneys are likely to have connections to forensic accountants and asset appraisers. This can make the process of property division much easier. An attorney can also help spouses negotiate a fair division of property that the court is likely to approve.

Child custody and visitation

Custody determinations are part of any divorce where there are minor or dependent children, and in separations between unmarried parents. In 2018, about 21.9 million children in the U.S. lived in a household where one parent lived elsewhere. Child custody determinations are important in determining where a child lives and how parents make decisions for their children when they don’t live together, but it is also a very emotional process.

The court makes decisions about child custody based on the child’s best interests, and it is crucial that you work with a legal team that is always focused on your children’s interests and well-being. After a separation, children need to have a custody arrangement that supports them and helps them thrive. Our team will always focus on the outcome that is most beneficial for children.

Child support

Financial support from both parents is a child’s right. When a custody arrangement is made, child support payments ensure that both parents equally contribute to the financial support of their child. A parent with a higher income or with less custody is likely to be the parent paying child support.

There is a formula used to determine child support based on the income of parents, the cost of raising and caring for a child, and the custody arrangement. However, this formula can be altered depending on the specific child’s needs and is always made in the child’s best interests. It is essential that child support payments provide all the support a child needs.

Spousal support

There are two main types of spousal support, also called alimony. There is spousal support awarded during divorce proceedings, called interim spousal support, and there is support awarded in the divorce decree, called final periodic spousal support.

Interim support is awarded based on the needs of one spouse for financial support and the ability of the other spouse to pay. Final periodic support is awarded and assessed based on factors like income, earning capacity, custody of children, and the duration of the marriage.

Domestic violence

Allegations of domestic violence can significantly affect how the divorce proceeds. It can impact the determination of spousal support and whether parents have custody of their children. Victims of domestic abuse need to get protection for themselves and their children during the divorce. When there are false accusations of abuse, these must be addressed.

Let Bertuccini Law Firm Help With Your New Iberia Divorce Case

Our firm puts people first in divorce and family law cases and wants to help you secure the outcome that improves your future and your family’s well-being. Contact Bertuccini Law Firm today to see how we can support you and your loved ones in the divorce process.