How can I make divorce easier for my kids?

Watching parents fall out of love and end their relationship creates uncertainty in the household, no matter the child’s age. And when parents move into separate households, children are tasked with adjusting to life without the presence of both parents each day.

Fortunately, there are ways to make divorce easier on your kids.

Let them know both parents love them unconditionally – Your children might feel like the divorce is their fault. Reassure them it is not and both you and your spouse love them.  

Be the adult – Your children need nurturing and your role is to help them through this process. Hopefully you have a support system in place to nurture you when you need it.

Be a good listener – Pay attention to your children’s emotions and encourage open communication.

Be mindful of transitions – Children are already adjusting to two homes and finding their “new normal”. Avoid unnecessary change to reduce your child’s stress.

Communicate with your ex – This isn’t easy, but it helps if you can forgive your ex at some level. Pick up and drop offs should be cordial. Your children should see both parents as pleasant as possible toward one another.   

Don’t talk poorly about the other parent – Making negative statements about your ex in front of your children is not healthy. In fact, it may harm your child’s sense of self-worth. If you have something to say to your former spouse, contact them directly and keep children out of it.

Why do I Need a Divorce Attorney?

When a marriage is ending, it can be emotional and overwhelming. How the divorce is handled will impact your life and your children’s life long after the divorce is final. Asking yourself questions like “do I need to hire a lawyer?” and “can I represent myself in court?” are valid concerns. 

We recommend talking with an attorney about your legal options before beginning the divorce process or immediately after finding out about the divorce if you are on the serving end. Learning how the divorce process works can give you peace of mind. A divorce attorney can advise how to protect your rights and interests, especially if your spouse is likely to disagree with your requests.

Unless your marriage lasted a very short time, you and your spouse have minimal assets, and you and your spouse do not have children, you should seek legal representation. Skilled legal representation will help protect your assets and property, child custody, and support needed for both you and your children. Most divorces are not so simple. For those representing themselves, it’s common to overlook legal issues like taxes, division of retirement assets, allocation of debts and other issues.

Nevada Divorce Lawyer

A Nevada divorce lawyer will help you identify these items and ensure your divorce settlement addresses all legal disputes.  For more information, contact Work Law for a free consultation or read more about the divorce process.

How to File for Divorce in Nevada

Divorce is not easy, but the process is relatively straightforward. In this article, we will provide an overview of the divorce process and what to expect. 

To file in Nevada, either spouse must have lived in Nevada for at least six weeks. Filing must occur in the county the parties lived in when they were married or the county one of the parties currently resides in. Since Nevada is a no-fault divorce state, the party filing for divorce will choose the reason for divorce as either incompatibility or living apart for at least one year. 

If both parties agree on all issues related to the divorce, you can file a Joint Petition. In this case, the following documents are required:

• Decree of Divorce
• Affidavit of Resident Witness
• Certificate of Service or Waiver, and
• Child Welfare and Identification Sheet

If the parties do not agree to all issues surrounding the divorce, the party will file a Compliant for Divorce. In this scenario, a Summons must also be filed.

Depending on the details of the divorce, other documents may be required. Once all appropriate forms are completed, the party filing will take the required number of copies to the clerk of court’s office. 

Nevada law requires the filing party to serve the documents to the other party, an action called the Service of Process. The other party has 20 days to file a response. If both parties reach a divorce agreement before the case moves forward, a settlement agreement can be presented to the court. Settlement allows the parties more control over their case and saves money. 

Experienced Family Law Attorney

If you are the filing party or were just served divorce papers, contact an experienced divorce attorney. Work Law will assist you through the process to give you peace of mind during this time of stress.

What is Divorce Mediation?

Mediation is an informal intervention between two parties to resolve disputes and reach an agreement. The process is facilitated by a trained third party, called a mediator. It is often used in legal matters as a cost-effective alternative to litigation.

The same method is used in divorce. Divorce mediation may be suggested to you and your spouse when going through a divorce. In this situation, both you and your spouse will attend a mediation session with an independent mediator to discuss issues relevant to the divorce. Issues may include child custody, child custody and alimony. The intent is to work through those pain points and reach an agreement amicably without having to go to court.

Reno Family Lawyer

Contact our law firm by phone at 775-386-2226 to speak with an experienced Family Law attorney.  Work Law will help you decide if divorce mediation is an appropriate option for your case.

Grandparent Visitation Rights

Did you know under rare circumstances grandparents have rights to visit grandchildren? The court may allow visitation to a child’s grandparents if:

-        Parental rights have been terminated

-        The parent was never legally married to the other parent

-        The parent is separated or divorced from the parent with child custody

-        The parent is deceased

If a parent denies, or unreasonably restricts, a grandparent’s right to visit their child, Nevada law presumes that is in the best interest of the child. However, with clear and convincing evidence, Nevada court will consider grandparents visitation rights that are in the best interest of the child. 

The court will determine the child’s best interest by considering the following factors:

-        The grandparent and child relationship  

-        The grandparent’s mental and physical health

-        The child’s preference for visitation

-        The financial support and emotional support provided by the grandparents

-        The grandparent’s ability to provide child with material needs like health care, food, and clothing

Nevada Family Law Attorney

Every family is different. If you have been denied visitation rights, seek an experienced family law attorney. The process for determining the best interest of a child is complex. Contact Work Law today so we can help you regain your relationship with your grandchild.

Do you have a right to Alimony/Spousal Support?

Alimony, or spousal support, is a court-ordered payment made from one party to the other party after divorce. Its purpose is to provide financial support for the party who was not working or earned substantially lower income than their spouse. State laws vary on how alimony is paid, but in Nevada is it typically paid in regular payments. Depending on the length or marriage and financial position of the divorcing couple, spousal support allowances are determined by the Court (NRS 125.150).

Nevada courts recognize three types of alimony or spousal support that may be awarded to either party in a divorce case.  

Types of Alimony

-        Temporary – Temporary alimony is awarded during the divorce proceedings and is intended to help cover short-term living expenses.

-        Rehabilitative – Rehabilitative alimony is also awarded short-term. It is meant to give the receiving party time to adjust financially to their new lifestyle and become self-supporting. This support is typically used to develop work skills, take trainings, and earn credentials.

-        Permanent – Permanent alimony is paid to the receiving party of long-term marriages. This type of alimony is granted when temporary alimony is not sufficient and rehabilitative alimony is not reasonable. Typically, the receiving party’s age and ability to work is an important factor. Permanent spousal support is paid until death of the payor or the receiving party is remarried.  

For the Court to consider spousal support, one party must have a genuine need for financial support after divorce, and the other party must have the funds to support it.  The Court will consider the following factors of each individual when determining whether or not to grant alimony and in what amount (NRS 125.150(9)): 

- financial position

- value of property

- contributions to any property

- duration of marriage

- income and earning capacity

- age and health

- career history before the marriage

Reno Alimony and Spousal Support Attorney

Whether you need solid legal representation to help secure alimony, or if you are faced with undesirable spousal support payments, we can help. Our spousal support attorney will take a tailored approach to your family law needs and will advocate your rights. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact our office today at 775-386-2226 to schedule a free consultation.

Joint Petition Divorce in Reno

If you need a divorce in Nevada, a joint petition may be a good place to start. 

Joint Petition Divorces in Nevada

Agreeing on divorce parameter as spouses make the whole divorce process simpler and faster in Reno. Sometimes you may not even need a family lawyer. Your divorce papers detailed or not ought to act in accordance with Reno NV divorce law. Uncontested divorce cases require the services of an uncontested divorce lawyer. This will help prevent future problems that arise from mistakes made in uncontested divorce cases.

Why you need help in uncontested divorce case

You are likely to pay a high price for the slightest mistake in an uncontested divorce case in the future. This is why it is imperative to make right decisions in regard to child support, child custody among others. The terms should be fair and acceptable by both of you and in accordance to Reno NV divorce law of course.

Don’t underrate any of the agreements or assume that it is not necessary to formalize them on grounds that you trust your ex-spouse to be. Remember that you are only sure about today and tomorrow is always a mystery. Here are the things you should not joke around with during the uncontested divorce case;

• Your children; at least hire a family lawyer to provide you with a clear and all-inclusive parenting plans. A lawyer will help you understand your responsibilities and rights when it comes to your children `
• Property division; in as much your spouse has no objection, it is important to include an attorney who will help you on debt and asset sharing during the divorce. This entails valuing assets, for instance, real estate, retirement benefits as well as business.
• Alimony; taking time during the divorce, in order to come up with alimony terms is worth the wait. This entails the amount of money to be sent and when as it prevents future dispute.

In Nevada, an uncontested divorce law requires that spouses create a complete divorce settlement that suits all the needs of the spouses.

Understand the process of filing a joint petition

Here are some of the crucial issues on which both parties are supposed to agree in a joint petition.

• Reasons for divorce
• In case of children under age 18, there should be agreement on child custody, child support, medical insurance, visitation and the holiday schedule.
• Community property and debt division.
• Alimony condition

During the divorce process, at least you should include a third party. Such an individual will be a witness of a complete divorce process and see to it that you have all signed the agreements.

A joint divorce petition should be filed in the court within your country. Your petition packet ought to entail the following divorce joint petition; resident witness affidavit, the cover sheet and a Child Welfare Identification Sheet in cases where the couple has kids.

After that, you people should give the judge handling your case a copy of the filed documents as well as original divorce decree.

Divorce decree should have the agreements of the parties in regard to child's support, visitation, division of property and debts, alimony and custody.

The divorce decree should only be filed after bearing the judge's signature. After it is signed by the judge, go ahead and file with the clerk at your nearest court.

Finally, uncontested divorce cases are less stressful though you need to do everything right and within Reno Nevada uncontested divorce laws.

Call today for a free Family Law case evaluation. 775-386-2226 

Children's Online Bullying is a Crime

It’s no secret we were raised in a different world than our kids. Children are often introduced to technology before using full sentences. By time they reach kindergarten, some children are more skilled on their iPad’s and Surface’s than their grandparents. What starts off as an innocent entertainment device, may be a vehicle for bullies to harass or humiliate other students in the middle school and high school years.

In Nevada, Cyberbullying is Defined as Bullying Committed through the use of Electronic Communication.

 

Examples of cyberbullying include:

-          Creating a hostile environment which interferes with the victim’s education

-          Exposing humiliating acts of the victim online

-          Poses a threat of immediate harm to the victim or to the property of another person through email, text message, social media, etc.

-          Hacking social media sites and posting embarrassing video, photo or text

Is your child the victim of cyberbullying?

Help for Victims

Bullying, through electronic means or not, can have long-term emotional effects on victims. If your child is a victim of bullying, seek help. File a complaint at the student’s school. Washoe County schools create a safety plan for each student directly involved and will contact the parents with an update. You can also go to bullyfreezone.nv.gov to report an incident and learn more.

Was your child cyberbullying another?

Depending on the act of cyberbullying, a person can be charged with one of the following crimes:

-          Civil right violation

-          Criminal harassment

-          Terroristic threats

-          Domestic Violence

If the offender is under 18 years old, he or she may be charged in juvenile court. If the offender is over 18 years old, the case may be treated as a misdemeanor. 

Nevada Family Law Attorney

While Nevada considers Cyberbullying a crime, there is potential conflict with the First Amendment. If harassing behavior is causing the victim to endure emotional stress, retain an attorney experienced in criminal law and First Amendment rights.  

Is Your Child Old Enough to Stay Home?

It’s not uncommon for children to stay home alone. Some reasons are outside the parent’s control, and sometimes out of neglect. There are both safety and legal reasons parents should consider before leaving their children home unsupervised. 

Legal Minimum Age to be Unsupervised

Most states (including Nevada) do not have a state law specifying the minimum age a child can be left home alone. However, Reno municipal code states “It shall be unlawful for any person who is a parent or guardian, or for any person who has been entrusted by a parent or guardian, to fail to supervise and attend a child or children under the age of ten years” (Reno Muni Code, Sec. 8.16.060). Children under ten cannot be left unattended at home in Reno city limits. It’s important to note, no two children are alike in cognitive ability and maturity at ten years old either. 

Safety First

Overall safety, including location and circumstance should be considered when determining if your child is old enough.  Parents should consider the following factors before leaving a child unsupervised for any length of time:

-          The child’s age and maturity level

-          The child’s ability to follow instruction

-          The time of day and length of time

-          Whether or not other children will be left alone with the eldest child

-          The safety of the home and the neighborhood

-          Neighbor support for emergencies

Risk of Neglect

Abuse or neglect of a child occurs when a guardian has either abandoned that child or deprived him/her of proper supervisions, protection, food, education, medical care or other well-being necessities. If you suspect child neglect, contact Child Protective Services.

Contact a Nevada Family Lawyer

Your child’s safety is always paramount. Call Work Law if you are concerned about the protections of your child.

The Nevada Divorce Process

Separating from your spouse is not an easy decision. It doesn’t help when a couple cannot reach a joint agreement about their assets, alimony, and child custody. It’s likely the Nevada Family Court will make decisions about finances and child custody. We have already explained why it is imperative to seek advice from a family law attorney before a court appearance, and in this article, we will describe the divorce process.

Filing a Divorce Compliant

First, an individual must file for divorce with the District Clerk in the county where one or both the individuals reside. Nevada law requires one party to be a state resident for a minimum of six weeks before the application is submitted. The plaintiff is the individual filing the complaint for divorce and the defendant is the other party receiving the compliant. The application will include the reason for divorce.  Typical reasons for divorce like incompatibility and non-cohabitation are considered a “no fault” divorce.

Dividing Community Property

Second, property and assets will be divided. Since Nevada is a Community Property state, the assets and any debts acquired during the marriage will be divided evenly between both parties. Should both parties not agree on how to share property, the Family Court will assist.

Determining Alimony

Third, the Court will decide if alimony (or spousal support) will be paid by one of the individuals to the other. This is determined by an appraisal of earnings and financial resource, but is done so on a case-by-case basis.

Child Custody and Child Support

Lastly, if children are involved, the Court will make child custody decisions in the best interested of the child if the parents were unable to reach an amicable agreement. Depending on the child custody arrangement, the Court will decide who and at how much child support will be paid to the parent with primary physical custody.

 

Seek Skilled Legal Representation

Of course, no two divorces are the same. The Family Court will make decisions that will impact your life and your children’s life after divorce. Meet with a skilled attorney - one that is strategic, confident, and accessible because your future depends on it.