We're here
for your family
Involving an attorney in one's family affairs is a difficult decision. Hayden Willis will not only offer sound legal assistance during these difficult times, but also ensure your private family matters stay private.
Your divorce case or child custody matter involves a unique set of facts and legal issues which requires a thorough review. I try to offer a common sense approach in this area.
Too often, intense emotions related to the divorce distract from focusing on getting the best possible result for the future. I seek to help clients navigate the divorce process by offering a big picture approach and implementing a strategy that suits your particular set of facts.
When children are involved, I will always seek to promote what is in their best interests. The health, education, religious training, and overall welfare of children of divorcing parents is my highest priority. I have experience working on highly contested and complex custody disputes that involve issues of substance abuse, mental illness, special needs, domestic abuse and child abuse.
Divorce
Divorce in the United States, also known as dissolution of marriage, is a legal process in which a judge or other authority dissolves the bonds of matrimony existing between two persons, thus restoring them to the status of being single and independent of one another.
Property Division
During a divorce, property division is one of the main disputes addressed by the court outside of child-related matters. The court will generally divide the marital property in half, and each spouse will get one half of the total property. The court can give one spouse more property than the other spouse if the court has a good reason to do so.
Child Custody
Child custody is a legal term regarding guardianship which is used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent or guardian and a child in that person's care. Decisions about child custody typically arise in proceedings involving divorce, annulment, separation, adoption or parental death.
Child Support
Child support is designed to help cover the expenses involved with raising children, such as food, clothing, medical costs, housing, school costs and costs related to other activities. There are no regulations about what child support payments can and cannot be used for.
Paternity and Legitimation
Although paternity identifies a man as the biological father of a child, it does not grant him any legal rights with regard to his son or daughter. When a child is born out of wedlock, legitimation is required for a man to be recognized as the legal father of a child.
Guardian Ad Litem
A guardian ad litem is a unique type of guardian in a relationship that has been created by a court order only for the duration of a legal action. Courts appoint these special representatives for infants, minors, and mentally incompetent persons, all of whom generally need help protecting their rights in court.
