Louis F. Simonetti, Jr. – Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes

Louis F. Simonetti, Jr. is the driving force and founder of Simonetti & Associates. With over 30 years of legal experience being a Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes, he draws from his corporate and business background to continue to develop the family law practice he started in 1990.

•  Long Island, New York
•  877-385-2560

Louis F. Simonetti, Jr. is the driving force and founder of Simonetti & Associates. With over 30 years of legal experience, he draws from his corporate and business background to continue to develop the family law practice he started in 1990. He has considerable experience analyzing various types of business ventures and financial situations, which allows him to maximize property divisions and settlements on behalf of his clients in divorce proceedings.

In addition to being an avid sports fan, Mr. Simonetti dedicates himself to giving back to the community. He has served as general counsel to various youth organizations and religious organizations, providing legal services for their members. He is a lifelong resident of Long Island and the father of four children and has been married for over 30 years.

Education

• – J.D., St. John’s University School of Law, 1987
• – Member, St. John’s University Law Review, 1986 –1987
• – Recipient of St. Thomas More Guild Scholarship
• – B.S.E., magna cum laude, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1984
• – Established the Wharton Investment Banking Society

Bar admissions

• – New York, 1988
• – U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1989
• – U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 1989

Recent Blog Posts From Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes

How Do Vacations Work With Joint Custody?

Sometimes, trying to plan a family vacation can bring about copious amounts of stress. This situation can be amplified if you share custody with your ex-spouse. If you’re wondering what role this can take in your vacation planning, our team at Simonetti & Associates will be there to help. Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes will walk you through how custody agreements can affect vacation planning, and how you should go about doing so.

Vacation Time Is Often Agreed Upon

Custody agreements are often very thorough to help ensure the best interest of the child. When both parents are awarded custody, the courts detail the times and dates when each parent has the child. Vacation time can often be worked into an agreement as well to help fight off any problems that may arise from trying to plan one. If vacation time was not put into the initial custody agreement, our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes can work to get it added in.

Will Vacation Time Will Affect Visitation Time

Both you and your ex-spouse will need to adhere to all custody agreements to avoid facing legal complications. However, vacation time may change the custody agreement for a small period. If you have custody of your children during the week, but your ex-spouse was awarded vacation time, they will be able to take the children even if it is during the week. The schedule will return to normal once the vacation has ended.

Vacationing Without The Kids

Another issue our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes sees often is whether a parent who is supposed to have custody during a time frame can take a vacation without their children or not. If you’re a spouse who depends on your ex to uphold their custody obligations so you can work, this can put you in a difficult situation. While it can vary on a case to case basis, our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes will help to ensure your ex-spouse cannot skip out on custody duties while claiming vacation time.

Contact Us

Determining how vacations can be worked into a custody agreement does not have to be a difficult process. Our team at Simonetti & Associates can offer the mitigation or representation needed to come to a favorable outcome. For more information about how our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes can help, contact us today.

How To Obtain An Order Of Protection In New York

How Can Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes Help You?

A surprisingly large number of Americans deal with abuse each year. This can be a very difficult and emotional experience but finding a way to prevent this is important to the well-being and health of thousands across the country. It can sometimes be a difficult decision but an order of protection may be your safest option. At Simonetti & Associates, a Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes, we work with you to figure out your most ideal and safe options.

What is an Order of Protection?

The legal order of protection is a document that protects you from someone who has abused you or someone that you think may abuse you. The order of protection enforces the fact that your abuser or potential abuser cannot come into contact with you or any of your household members as well as your workplace, home, or child’s school. It will also allow you to collect your belongings with police protection if you need to do so as well as pay your lawyer and any damages caused to you. 

When Should I Consider an Order of Protection?

An order of protection is a very serious matter which is why it is important to know when you should consider it. Many factors determine when and if you should file:

• You are 17 years old or older.
• You have been abused by a spouse, partner, or someone who you are blood-related to.
• You are being stalked.
• You have children with the individual

If any or all of these factors fit your situation, you must reach out to a lawyer to ensure your safety. Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes works with many individuals who fit into this category and work effortlessly to make sure they receive their protection.

How Does it Work?

There are two types of order of protection to get a Family Court order of protection; you would go to either the Family Court or the Probation Department. Family Court requires you to fill out a family offense petition. This is something that the Probation Department can help with. The Probation Department helps individuals to fill out the order of protection petitions. Once you have filed the petition, you will appear in court. A judge will look over the petition and decide if an order of protection is appropriate. The order of protection usually lasts for a year but sometimes they can last up to five years. If anything in your situation changes then you can bring it up with the court to change your order of protection.

Contact Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes

Having a court issue an order of protection is a very serious matter whether it be within the criminal court or family court. Order of protection is very important and is a great way to ensure your safety if you ever feel threatened. Having an experienced attorney in your corner to guide you through the process of obtaining one is also extremely helpful. Contact our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes today to hear your options and ensure your safety.

How to Help Your Child Cope with Divorce

How Can Simonetti & Associates Help You?

Being that Lou Simonetti is one of the top Long Island divorce lawyers, we understand your situation. We also know that your child might not understand your divorce and it can take a toll on children. If you are looking for a Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes who can not only help you with your case but help your family cope from the troubles of your divorce, reach out to us at Simonetti & Associates and see how we can help. Below we listed a few guidelines that can help your children cope with divorce:

• Be honest with your kids without playing the blame game
  • Kids have the right to know what is causing this sudden change in their lives. However, they also have a right to hear both sides of the divorce. They most likely love both parents and do not want to be forced to pick a side.
• Encourage your kids to express their feelings with reassurance and love 
  • It is very common for children to feel as though they are the reason for the divorce. They need to be told that they are loved and it is not because of them. They also need to know that they can express their feelings about the divorce.
  • This is extremely important because the divorce may be between you and your spouse, but it is a major change in your child’s life. For a Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes who can help you with your divorce, reach out to us at Simonetti & Associates and see how we can help your family.
• Work with your spouse to have a routine
  • Cooperating, especially in front of your children, is also extremely important. Routines allow for your child to have some stability since this is likely to be an unstable period of time in their lives.
• Keep an eye out for signs of your child being disturbed by this
  • Some of these signs include sleeping problems, concentration issues, eating habit changes, no interest in once enjoyed activities, withdrawing from friends and family, and outbursts of violence or anger.

If you would like to be represented by a Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes, call us today to schedule a meeting with Lou Simonetti. We also work with same-sex divorce in Nassau County.

Contact Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes

Voted Long Island’s Best Divorce Lawyer with over 30 years of experience in Divorce, Child Custody, Adoption, Same-sex divorce, Pre and postnuptial agreements, Father’s rights, Separation agreements, Protection Orders, and Meditation. To help keep your legal costs at a minimum, call 877-385-2560. 

Splitting Custody Without Affecting Your Child’s Schooling

When you have children, you are used to making decisions for them. When you separate or get a divorce from your child’s other parent, many things can change. Divorced parents often have questions about which school their children will attend and which parent gets to choose. If you have a joint custody arrangement, certain decisions have to be made together with your co-parent. At Simonetti & Associates, our experienced Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes can help you work through child custody agreements.

Custody and Your Child’s Schooling

There are two basic types of child custody that need to be accounted for in your agreement:

• Legal Custody – Legal custody of your child means that you have the right to make decisions about your child’s upbringing. If you have legal custody, you can make decisions about your child’s schooling.
• Residential Custody – Residential custody is also known as physical custody and indicates that you as a parent have the right to have your child live with you. In some states, joint physical custody is awarded when the child spends significant time with both parents. 

It can be a difficult decision to make changes to your child’s schooling during a divorce. If parents have joint physical custody, they must decide if the child has to change schools. The main reason that one parent would want to change a child’s school is that they want to move. When it comes to schooling, the court will generally aim to make a decision that will minimally disrupt your child’s typical schedule. Routine can be comforting for children of divorce. The most important thing to keep in mind is your child’s best interests. If the two parents cannot agree, it can be a lot harder to reach a decision. Working with a Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes can help you come up with a mutually agreeable solution. 

Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes

During your divorce, it is without question that you want to come to an amicable solution that benefits your children. This can be a troubling time for both you and your children, so aiming to create stability both at home and school can help them succeed. Our team at Simonetti & Associates can help you handle any child custody disputes. If you are interested in learning more about child custody, contact us today!

Request A Free Consultation With Our Divorce Lawyer in West Hampton Dunes