Our Services

Education

A comprehensive analysis of your case enables us to fully understand and strategize for your legal needs.

Guidance

Tailored strategies crafted to effectively support and navigate your law case towards a successful resolution.

Advocate

Compassionate advocacy to fight for your family’s rights and protect your best interests in the courtroom.

Child Custody

Divorce may be one of the most difficult events that you and your family ever face. Navigating child support, in addition to the emotional burden of divorce, can be a stressful and taxing experience. To reduce this stress, you need an experienced and empathetic custody support lawyer who can take care of your needs while advocating for you in the courtroom.
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Divorce

Unfortunately, sometimes a marriage cannot survive. If you have found yourself in a situation where you and/or your spouse would like to dissolve your marriage, Vincent & Ratajczak Attorneys at Law can help you. We have helped many people work through divorce settlements very similar to yours. We are a passionate team that has the experience needed to help you and your family figure out the best course of action. .
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Legal Separation

If you want to separate from your spouse and for some reason do not desire to file to dissolve your marriage, you can file a Petition for Legal Separation. People choose legal separation over divorce for several different reasons. Some are opposed to divorce due to their religious beliefs. Some are just morally opposed to divorce. Some don’t want to be the one to file but want to put that ultimate decision on their spouse. Some don’t want to be divorced as they desire to stay as a dependent of their spouse for health insurance purposes. It is important to understand that if you file for legal separation, your spouse can turn it into a dissolution even if that is not your wish. .
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Child Support

Divorce may be one of the most difficult events that you and your family ever face. Navigating child support, in addition to the emotional burden of divorce, can be a stressful and taxing experience. To reduce this stress, you need an experienced and empathetic custody support lawyer who can take care of your needs while advocating for you in the courtroom.
Learn more....

Domestic Violence

Private parties can seek to have their own restraining orders issued against another individual. There are two (2) types of Restraining Orders. Domestic Violence Prevention Restraining Orders (DVROs) and Civil Harrassment Prevention Restraining Orders (CHROs). The Family Court governs the issuance of DVROs and the Civil Court governs the issuance of CHROs. Read More....

Guardianship

If you are wanting to take over all parental duties, rights and responsibilities of a minor child in the place of the child’s parents, you must file a guardianship action in the Probate Department of the Superior Court. A guardianship action requires the showing that it would be detrimental for the child to remain with its parents and that it would be in the child’s best interests to live with you. Once a guardianship is granted, then it stays in place unless one of the parents successfully petitions the court to terminate the guardianship. Read More......

Child Visitation

Family Code §3100(a) provides that the court shall grant reasonable visitation rights to a parent unless it is shown that the visitation would be detrimental to the best interest of the child. The question therefore becomes what is reasonable and what is in the child’s best interest. For the answers to these questions the court must look at each case on a case by case basis. Everyone’s case facts and family dynamics are different. Read More ...

Appeals

Generally the word “appeal” comes up if you lost at trial. You lost and you feel like justice was not done. Did the Court abuse its discretion? Was there no substantial evidence to support the ruling such that no reasonable fact finder could have come to the same conclusion? Was there an error in application of the law? If any of the above apply then you might want to consider an appeal. Generally you have a 60 day deadline from date of entry of your order to appeal it. If you miss this deadline you can’t appeal the order. To preserve it you must file a Notice of Appeal. Not even the best attorney can overcome this requirement. The appeals process is very complicated and time consuming therefore it is expensive. Most abandon their appeal due to the vast amount of work and time involved. Some however appeal and get their Judgments overturned. Read More....

Spousal Support

There are two (2) types of spousal support: temporary (while the family law case is pending) and permanent (from the conclusion of your case and out into the future). Temporary spousal support is usually calculated by imputing much of the same information above as with child support into the computer program. The court may not calculate permanent spousal support off the above guideline support program but rather must hear evidence on and make factual findings pursuant to Family Code §4320 discussed below.

Annulment

To annul your marriage means to get a judgment stating that your marriage never legally happened. Many people believe that a marriage can be annulled simply because it didn’t work out or because it was a marriage of short duration. This is not true. To annul your marriage, you must show that there was some sort of fraud or substantial misrepresentation upon which you relied in consenting to the marriage in the first place.

Premarital Agreement

Premarital agreements, commonly known as prenups, are legal documents signed by couples before marriage to establish property and financial rights in the event of divorce. They provide protection for family businesses and assets, address specific situations involving debts or obligations, and clarify inheritance plans. While discussing divorce before marriage may seem unromantic, considering the high divorce rates in the United States, prenups can provide peace of mind. However, it's essential to ensure the agreement complies with state laws and fairness standards to be enforceable in court. Consulting with an experienced attorney can help create a fair and legally sound prenuptial agreement. Discussing financial approaches, potential marriage breakdown factors, and addressing unspoken agreements can further strengthen the agreement. Remember to decide whether the agreement will be fixed or renegotiated over time and disclose credit reports and financial circumstances to each other.

Paternity

A paternity judgment is a court declaration that establishes a male person as the legal father of a child. While married men are automatically considered fathers, unmarried men may need a court's recognition of their paternity. To obtain a paternity judgment, either the father or mother can file a Petition to Establish Parental Relationship in the family court. If both parties agree, the process is usually quick, but disagreements may require a trial. A putative father is someone who has taken on the role of a father, even if not biologically related to the child. DNA tests are often ordered to determine paternity. The cost of obtaining a paternity judgment varies based on the circumstances, and if litigation is involved, expenses can be higher. Child custody orders in paternity cases consider the child's best interests, including legal and physical custody. To challenge a paternity judgment, a specific set-aside procedure must be followed within a strict timeline. Paternity differs from adoption, where individuals become legal parents without a biological connection to the child.

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