Family law attorneys specialize in legal matters that impact families, such as divorce, child custody and support matters. Furthermore, William is widely recognized as one of Mississippi's premier family lawyers.
Divorce

Whatever caused the end of your marriage or de facto relationship - be it infidelity, domestic violence or simply irreconcilable differences - professional legal assistance will likely be needed. An experienced family lawyer can guide you through the steps needed for separation and divorce proceedings.

Couples seeking divorce often separate in preparation of filing or live apart while trying to reconcile. A court may order one spouse to pay alimony, which comes in three varieties - permanent alimony, temporary alimony and rehabilitative alimony.

Failure to file and serve the required paperwork with the court and your spouse (the respondent) in a timely fashion could delay proceedings significantly, so having access to a family law attorney who can draft and deliver these forms to both of them could prove invaluable in expediting proceedings.
Child Custody

As part of any divorce proceeding, child custody issues must be settled. Child custody involves both where children live and who makes decisions for them; judges determine child custody arrangements based on what's best for the children based on factors including both parents' relationships with them as well as any domestic violence history between them.

The court may grant joint legal custody to both parents, giving each an equal say over key decisions concerning medical care, education and religious upbringing of their child. Or it may award sole legal custody to one.

If the parties cannot agree on custody and visitation arrangements, the court may order a home study and psychological evaluation for both parents and their child(ren), with costs shared equally between both parties.
Child Support

Child support should ensure a child can enjoy a reasonable standard of living, including food and clothing. Furthermore, child support may include education expenses like school supplies, uniforms and tuition as well as extracurricular activities like after-school sports lessons or music lessons.

Medical costs should also be factored into a child support calculation; from annual checkups to deductibles and copays. Nannies, babysitters, daycare and summer camp may be covered as well as entertainment costs (if both parties can agree upon an amount).

If you cannot reach an agreement with your former partner regarding child support payments, having legal representation on your side can be crucial in successfully representing your case before the courts. They will assist in compiling all the necessary documents and effectively representing you before judges.
Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is a pervasive criminal issue that affects children, men and women from every socioeconomic background. It takes many forms - physical assault to emotional manipulation to psychological abuse; often invisible but nonetheless devastatingly powerful. Anyone can become vulnerable.

Emotional abuse can be just as detrimental to someone as physical violence; this includes name calling, humiliation and other tactics designed to undermine self-esteem. Monitoring someone's location constantly or disallowing them from attending school or work could all qualify as acts of emotional abuse.

Financial abuse can be just as harmful as emotional or physical abuse. It includes restricting access to money, restricting spending or even outright theft, while it could also include threats to hurt family pets or damage property, along with any type of forceful sexual activity which constitutes domestic violence.
Inheritance

When an inheritance is received and then divided between partners during divorce or separation proceedings, its disposition will depend on when it was acquired. An inheritance received before or early on in a relationship may be treated as separate property while one received during or post marriage may be treated communally.

Property settlement lawyers can assist clients with making important decisions regarding what to do with inheritance assets, such as whether to sell their home or rent it out. Furthermore, Heidelberg family lawyers specialize in probate or estate administration processes and may help when issues arise such as when a personal representative or trustee attempts to sell estate property without receiving approval from beneficiaries.