Fayetteville Family Law Attorney

Family life isn’t always idyllic. Sometimes issues arise that can’t be resolved amicably between spouses or co-parents. When that happens, a Fayetteville family law attorney can step in to help resolve the problem, protecting their client’s rights and interests throughout the legal proceedings.

Trust Bundy Law

Bundy Law is home to numerous skilled and experienced family law attorneys, including the only one certified by the International Academy of Family Lawyers in the area. Our experience, coupled with our commitment to our clients, means you can trust us to help you with even the most complex family law affairs.

Why Hire a Family Law Attorney?

Around 35% of the population in Fayetteville, AR, is married. Another 10% of people have gotten divorced. The median income for married families was $112,400 in 2022, indicating that couples have a lot to lose in divorce. Family lawyers provide help with divorce cases, among other essential functions.

Getting divorced is just one reason to hire a family law attorney. These professionals can also assist with adoption proceedings, help establish paternity, draft child custody and support agreements, and even support grandparents’ rights. Basically, if your legal issue concerns family life, a family law attorney is the person to call for help with filing paperwork, staying on top of deadlines, gathering evidence, and constructing compelling legal arguments.

What Is Covered Under Family Law?

Family law is a broad field that encompasses legal issues that come up before, during, and after marriages. Legal issues handled by family lawyers can include:

• Divorce and separation. Most people consulting family law attorneys do so to protect their rights and interests during an upcoming divorce. Family lawyers help with everything from dividing marital property to drafting child custody agreements and fighting for spousal support.
• Child custody and visitation. If you and your spouse or significant other have children together, child custody and visitation rights could become an issue during a divorce or separation. Having a family law attorney on your side can help to ensure that any decisions reached regarding custody and visitation protect the best interests of your child.
• Child support. It’s often the case that the non-custodial parent pays the custodial parent a set monthly amount to support their child. Child support agreements must be drafted during divorce proceedings. They can be modified whenever there are substantial changes in circumstances for either party. Learn more by contacting a Fayetteville child support lawyer.
• Paternity. Establishing paternity may become necessary if you’re an unmarried father who wants parental rights. This issue also comes up when single mothers must prove paternity to get child support.
• Adoption and guardianship. The adoption process is quite complex. Adoptive parents should always consult a family attorney before beginning this process. Assigning guardianship is equally complex, though it is only relevant when the parents of a minor child are unable to care for them.
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Prenuptial agreements are designed to define spouses’ rights to marital property prior to getting married. Postnuptial agreements serve the same purpose, but they’re signed following the wedding.

How Your Attorney Can Help

The types of assistance your attorney can provide depend on what brings you to the Washington County Courthouse. However, there are some steps an attorney can take to help protect your rights in any case. Your attorney can:

• Provide an objective point of view about the case.
• Help you navigate paperwork.
• Give you access to consultants and expert witnesses.
• Assist with alternative dispute resolution.
• Negotiate with your spouse’s lawyer.
• Get you a favorable settlement agreement.
• Provide courtroom representation.

If you’re not sure whether your legal issue falls under the purview of family law, you should reach out to a local law firm with questions.

FAQs

How Much Does a Family Lawyer Cost in Arkansas?

How much a family lawyer costs in Arkansas varies depending on the specifics of your case. It will cost more to resolve a complex, high-asset divorce case than a simple, straightforward, and uncontested one, for example, and less to resolve child custody issues on which both parents agree. You can find out how much you should expect to pay by reaching out to a Fayetteville family lawyer about fee schedules.

What Is the New Father Law in Arkansas?

The new father law in Arkansas refers to Act 604, a bill that was passed in 2021, which makes the default option for new child custody orders joint custody. Joint custody means that both parents share some responsibility for the child and get a reasonably equal amount of time with them. Parents seeking sole custody now have the burden of proof. They must demonstrate that joint custody would not be in the child’s best interests. Reach out to Fayetteville child custody lawyer to learn more.

Is Arkansas a 50/50 State in Divorce?

Arkansas is not a 50/50 state in divorce. Instead, the courts use equitable distribution to fairly divide marital property. The judge will consider factors such as each spouse’s age, health, and income, along with the length of the marriage, to ensure that the division of assets is fair to both parties. Contact a Fayetteville asset division lawyer for more info.

What Money Cannot Be Touched in an Arkansas Divorce?

The money that can’t be touched in an Arkansas divorce includes all separate property. Separate property includes any assets you or your spouse owned before getting married, plus inheritances or gifts to one spouse, and workers’ compensation proceeds. Note that these assets can become marital property if they are commingled with joint funds.

Your Fayetteville Family Law Attorney

It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning to get divorced or need to make modifications to an existing child custody agreement. If you’re having a legal issue pertaining to family law, you need a Fayetteville family law attorney on your side to help.

You can trust the experienced legal team here at Bundy Law. We have experience handling a wide range of family law cases. We can also help you resolve your family law dispute. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation with a member of our team today.