Exploring your alternatives to a contested divorce

The traditional contested divorce is the costliest and most time-consuming form of divorce available in New York. Since Simonetti & Associates is determined to provide quality service while controlling costs, we often recommend measures that expedite the process:

• Uncontested divorce: Couples who agree that their relationship is over can dissolve their marriage through a negotiated process. Usually, the process begins before either party files. Both spouses retain an attorney to negotiate all the ancillary issues, such as child custody, asset division and spousal support. If they succeed, they can present the court with a signed divorce settlement agreement. If negotiations stall, they’ve still got a partial agreement and can mediate the remaining issues or ask the court to decide.

• Collaborative divorce: This is another method of achieving an uncontested divorce, but instead of traditional negotiation, where the threat of litigation hangs overhead, each party and each party’s divorce lawyer pledge not to take the case to trial. Instead, they work cooperatively toward a mutually beneficial resolution. The goal is to forge a divorce settlement agreement the court can approve.

Questions Regarding Divorce:

What do divorce lawyers do?

Divorce law typically falls within the realm of family law. This means that they handle a variety of different issues regarding family life, aside from just the divorce process. This can include marriage annulment, legal separation, child custody, child support, visitation and much more.

How long does the average divorce take?

Unfortunately, once you have both signed the papers and had them filed with the court, the amount of time it takes is completely out of your hands. The finalization is a process executed by a judge and can take anywhere from six weeks to twelve months to over with.

What is the average retainer fee for a divorce lawyer?

A retainer refers to the billing that is done upfront when you decide to go through the divorce process. A lawyer typically asks for this at the beginning of the divorce process as an advance on your overall fee. It can run anywhere from $2,000.00 to $3,500.00. If your case is suspected to go to trial, the fee may even be higher.

Call Our Suffolk County Family ESQ for a free consultation about the divorce process

If you are going through a divorce on Long Island, call 877-385-2560 or contact us online to arrange your free consultation. We offer flexible office hours at our offices in Woodbury and New York.

Suffolk County Divorce Mediation

Going through a divorce on Long Island is never easy and usually causes much emotional distress on both spouses. This is why hiring the right experienced divorce attorney is the best thing you can do for yourself in order to take the emotional burden off yourself. There are many things that an experienced attorney can do for you and they will help the whole process of the divorce go as quick and easy for you as possible. Here at Simonetti & Associates, pride ourselves on expert client care and esteemed professional assistance.

Assistance & Professional Help

One of the most important things that your attorney will be able to do for you is uncovered all assets that your spouse may be hiding from you. A lot of times in a divorce one spouse may feel slighted and think that they are entitled to more of the assets and will attempt to hide them. Your attorney can use the legal power of discovery to uncover such assets so that you can then both decide what is rightfully yours.

Your attorney will also handle all of the negotiations with your spouse’s attorney so that you don’t have to worry about getting into an argument with your soon to be ex-spouse. This will take most of the emotion out of it allowing you to take this time to heal.

Your attorney will also be able to evaluate all of the settlements that your spouse will try and propose to you and they will be able to tell you if they think the offer is the right one for you or if they think that you should be asking for more. When you retain your attorney they will also be able to help with any child custody issues that may arise as well as any other legal issue you may encounter throughout the process.

Who To Contact?

Hiring an attorney during a divorce is one of the smartest decisions that you can make. They will make everything go quickly and make sure it impacts your life as less as possible. If you are in the Long Island area then having the best divorce attorney nearby can make the process as efficient as possible. So rather than spending hours searching the web for “divorce lawyer near me”, “child support lawyer long island NY” or “family court lawyer Suffolk County NY”, contact Simonetti & Associates today!

Divorce Lawyer Near Me

At Simonetti & Associates, we want to make sure you have plenty of benefits during this difficult situation. By taking the steps outlined above, you can help save your money and financial assets. Simonetti & Associates is a well-reputed firm, with a divorce lawyer in Suffolk County available, so if you think you can benefit from our services, do not hesitate to get in contact with one of our attorneys today!

How do I choose a family law attorney?

Simonetti & Associates is a team of family lawyers in Suffolk County, New York that have over 75 years of combined experience on Long Island. When choosing a team of family law attorneys one should ensure they are picking a team that is compassionate during this emotional process and can deliver the best possible outcome for one’s family. Simonetti & Associates makes sure to offer a number of different services so that they can best assist you with any and all legal issues related to needing a Suffolk County Family ESQ. These services include adoption, divorce, legal agreements, fathers’ rights, protection orders and mediation just to name a few.

What we do

Picking a family law attorney can be an emotional time in one’s life, which is why Simonetti & Associates have the expertise and experience to make this a smooth transition and be the representative you need if your ex-spouse is not willing to compromise or come to a settlement. While some cases may be settled with mediation, others cannot due to one side not cooperating and sometimes insisting on having an ongoing battle. We here at Simonetti & Associates are here to help and be your voice to get your life moving forward one step at a time; so that you can focus on your day to day life without having to worry about any family issues you are experiencing. 

Simonetti & Associates – Suffolk County Family ESQ

As a Suffolk County Family ESQ with much success and experience Simonetti & Associates is not limited to only Suffolk County, but works all around Long Island as well; from New Hyde Park all the way to Montauk we are here to make sure to provide resolution to any family situations. Simonetti & Associates has also been named Long Island’s best Divorce Lawyer year after year since 2014. Along with being an accessible family law attorney we also offer flexible office hours and affordable rates to better serve the Long Island community! If you’re looking for help with representation please give us a call or contact us on our website to get started! We even offer a complimentary free consultation. We look forward to working with you.

What to Look for in a Family Lawyer

Couples looking to get married, or looking to get a divorce, can benefit tremendously from the help of a Suffolk County family law attorney. It is important to recognize when a lawyer is needed in different scenarios and what factors to take into consideration when the decision is made to hire a family law attorney. A Suffolk County Family ESQ can be the person to rely on during these emotional and trying times whether a couple is looking to adopt, looking to create a prenuptial agreement, seeking guidance on child custody, or considering divorce.

It is best to begin immediately searching for local family law attorneys when you file your case in order to have the proper legal guidance as soon as possible. Local attorneys are usually familiar with judges, court staff, and local customs which can sometimes allow for a less stressful case. Searching online for websites and social media pages will help to determine if a particular lawyer is right for you, but asking friends and family for recommendations can be helpful as well. Remember to check any reviews online to double-check the attorney’s reputation and make sure they are the right fit for your needs. It is also important to choose a lawyer that has at least a few years of experience in order to reassure you that they have the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the case.

When choosing the perfect family law attorney to fit your needs, a free consultation with the lawyer will allow you to ask questions that you were not able to answer during the research process. Be sure to ask for a brochure in order to reinforce or discourage reviews that were found throughout the research phase, but remember, it is always important to act on what you think is best for the situation. Simonetti & Associates can provide you with a free consultation so you can find out for yourself who the best Suffolk County family ESQ is for you!

Voted Long Island’s Best Suffolk County Family ESQ with over 28 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.

What are the responsibilities of a family lawyer?

Are you considering divorce, adoption, guardianship or emancipation? Then you may need a family lawyer. A family lawyer is a licensed attorney who is responsible for legal issues involving family members. These lawyers can offer you legal advice, oversee family estates and observe meditation sessions. If you need a family lawyer, there is a Suffolk County Family ESQ that has your back. Visit Simonetti & Associates to get professional and compassionate help from experienced lawyers today! 

The importance of protecting your privacy from the public:

Usually, most court proceedings, including divorce, are open to the public. So unless you file for divorce under seal, your divorce proceedings become public matters. When you file for divorce under seal, confidential information remains private from the public. Reasons to file under seal include: 

• To protect victims of domestic violence
• Protect restrictive business information
• Protect children for identification in divorce records 
• To keep sensitive info, such as social security numbers and bank account numbers private 

Divorce can be a difficult situation to go through but making sure you have a great lawyer who will protect your privacy and ensure your financial security could make it a little easier. Get in touch with a Suffolk County Family ESQ if you have any questions on how to protect your privacy during this time.

The importance of protecting your privacy from your spouse:

When married couples separate, it can sometimes become messy and spouses may use every bit of information to gain an advantage over the other. It is important to that extra step the protect yourself during this time. This could include changing your passwords so nobody has access to social media websites or voicemails and hold it against you. Or even establishing an individual bank account in your name, since being linked to the same credit card account can lead to unwanted expenditures for both parties. It is also important to keep in mind that you need to protect any important documents such as:

• Diplomas
• Birth Certificates 
• Pension Papers
• Tax Returns 
• Social Security Statements 
• Real Estate Information 
• Any Documentation Having To Do With Your Children

It is important to take these steps to protect your assets and family. All of this can be overwhelming though, and that list is just a glimpse of the things you’ll need. If you need help from a family lawyer, know that Simonetti & Associates can help! Learn more about our free initial consultations with a Suffolk County Family ESQ by visiting our website. 

Why choose a Suffolk County Family ESQ? 

Simonetti & Associates offers over 30 years of experience in family law while still having affordable, family-friendly rates. Our attorneys will help you with any problems you have and will protect your privacy at all costs. Request a consultation with a Suffolk County Family ESQ today to ensure you are being taken care of. 

Competence in Family Law Proceedings

Long Island’s Best Divorce Lawyer said this appeal was the result of an order partially granting Petitioner Father’s application to modify a prior order of custody and visitation.  While the Father was incarcerated custody of the three children was awarded to the maternal grandparents.  In anticipation of his release from prison, Father commenced a proceeding where he was seeking the custody of the youngest child.  Ultimately, the Court determined the Father to be an untreated sex offender.  An order was entered modifying the supervised visitation schedule, however any future custody modification was to be conditioned on the Father completing sex offender treatment.  This appeal followed.

Contact Our Suffolk County Family ESQ

A Suffolk County Family ESQ said the Father’s grounds for the appeal were he had been denied the effective assistance of counsel.  The Family Court’s decision was made without holding a fact-finding hearing and based on evidence outside the record.  The Father challenged the accuracy of the evidence which came from the attorney for the children.  The Appellate Division overturned the Family Court’s decision ruling that the Family Court “improperly relief upon the attorney for the children as both an investigative arm of the court and as an advisor, referring to her as the court’s ‘quarterback’ and regularly deferring to her recommendations in reaching is determinations.”  The Appellate Division went on citing the failure of the Father’s counsel to object to the Family Court’s improper use of the attorney for the children, as well as the failure to request a fact-finding hearing regarding the sex offender treatment.  As a result, the Father’s representation was rendered “less than meaningful.”
Having competent representation throughout all litigation proceedings is necessary to be successful.  The experienced attorneys at Simonetti & Associates are knowledgeable in the aspects of Family Law proceedings.  Schedule a free consultation today.