Legal Services
Our practice has been strictly focused on the areas of divorce and family law. We are committed to providing our clients with the knowledge and expertise they are looking for when they need to make some tough decisions, whether long or short term, for their future. Please read below for more information on our available services.
Divorce & Legal Separation
As with most people, family is the most important thing in your life. A divorce or family law matter can be an emotional, traumatic experience and change your life in ways you never thought possible. You want to protect your family rights, fathers rights or mothers rights whatever the case may be with an experienced New Hampshire divorce and family law lawyer. You will have questions and plenty of them that relate to divorce or separation, divorce grounds like adultery or abandonment, child custody and parenting rights for shared parenting or primary residence, child support, alimony, and property distribution. Read More...
Parenting Rights & Custody
In a divorce or parenting rights case the parties are concerned about the time each will have with their children. You want to protect your parental rights, whether it is father's rights or mother's rights and you want an experienced, effective New Hampshire divorce and family law lawyer in your corner. Since family law on parenting rights has changed in New Hampshire, you certainly will have questions relating to child custody, visitation and decision-making which are now part of parenting rights and parenting responsibilities. Read More...
Child Support
Child support is probably the most contested issue in divorce and family law cases. Since divorce and family law has changed in New Hampshire the child support guidelines is not always applied. It is best to consult with a New Hampshire divorce and family law lawyer to understand how the child support laws work. Parties' incomes and parenting schedule are important factors for the Court in deciding child support. Read More...
Father's Rights
The fight for Father's Rights in a divorce or parenting rights case in New Hampshire where the father has been an active, participating parent continues to show progress. The Court, in its determination of parental rights and responsibilities, including residential placement, shall not make a preference for one parent over the other because of the sex of the parent, the sex of the child, or the financial resources of a parent. Read More...
Unwed Parents/Paternity
Typically before the Court will award an unwed father parental rights over his child, paternity must be established. A paternity test would be ordered by the Court or the Department of Health and Human Services could send notice to the unwed father (identified by the mother) to submit to one. If the unwed father signed an Affidavit of Paternity at the time the baby was born, submitting to a paternity test would not be necessary. Parental rights and child support are handled in a similar fashion as described in other sections of this website. Read More...
Alimony
If alimony is an issue in your divorce case you should speak with a lawyer familiar with the laws of New Hampshire on alimony or spousal support. Law Offices of Heather M. Sekella located in Manchester, nh has effective, knowledgeable divorce and family law lawyers who can guide you through the legal arguments made on this hot legal topic. Unlike child support, where there is a formula by which the obligation is determined, alimony, also known as spousal support is based upon showing one party has a need and the other party has the ability to pay. Read More...
Property Division
Marital assets are property, real or personal, brought into the marriage or acquired during the marriage, either jointly or individually, regardless of how title to the property is held. In a divorce, New Hampshire Courts presume that an equal division of marital assets or marital property between the parties is equitable (fair/reasonable), unless the Court finds that an equal division would not be equitable or appropriate after taking into consideration certain factors. Read More...
Grandparent's Rights
Not many New Hampshire grandparents are aware that under certain circumstances, they may have a right to grandparent visitation with their grandchildren. It is important to note that a parents' right to parent his/her child is a basic right and is protected by the Constitution and further supported by case law. Grandparents' rights are not greater than the parents' rights to their own children, but in certain cases, grandparents may be able to meet criteria that the Court will consider in issuing an order for grandparents' visitation rights. Read More...
Restraining Orders
In a divorce or family law matter, parties residing together in a hostile and/or volatile environment increase his/her chances of a domestic violence claim by the other. A party who feels an immediate and present danger of abuse may obtain a domestic violence restraining order if he/she can prove such claim of physical or certain verbal abuse, both on a temporary basis and final basis. Some situations may not constitute domestic violence or domestic abuse, but stalking or harassment which are governed by other statutes and require proof of other types of conduct on the part of the aggressor. It is in your best interest to speak with a New Hampshire family law lawyer with a straight-forward, no nonsense approach. Read More...
Guardianship of Minors
The father and mother of every minor are joint guardians of the person of such minor, and the powers, rights, and duties of the father and mother in regard to such minor shall be equal. Upon the death of either parent, the survivor shall be the sole guardian of the person of the minor. RSA 463:3 (I) Parents' Rights. Read More...
Modification
There are different types of modification for different types of orders. For instance, if the issue is child support, an obligor or an obligee may apply to the Court for modification of child support if three (3) years have passed since the last order, or there is a “substantial change in circumstances. Read More...
Termination of Parental Rights
RSA 170-C:1 provides for the involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship by a judicial process which will safeguard the rights and interests of all parties concerned and when it is in the best interest of the child. Implicit in this chapter is the philosophy that whenever possible family life should be strengthened and preserved, and that the parent-child relationship is to be terminated only when the adoption of that child may be contemplated. Read More...
Contempt
In situations where one party is not complying with a Court Order and that party's non-compliance is willful and intentional without good cause, and the Court finds this allegation to be accurate, the Court may issue Orders against the non-compliant party which may include reasonable costs and attorneys' fees to the prevailing party.
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