No matter the circumstances, divorce is difficult. The results of the divorce process and the terms of your divorce decree have a significant impact on your life following divorce and your ability to move forward with your life in a healthy and supportive way.
At Woodford Sathappan McGee, our goal is to support women through their divorce so that they can leave their marriage with confidence. We want you to feel empowered, and able to live your best possible life after divorce.
To do that, we will assign an experienced family law attorney to your case, one who understands the importance of a caring attorney-client relationship.
For most people, it is in their best interests to minimize conflict during divorce proceedings, especially if there are any children involved. Therefore, we prioritize mediation and negotiation wherever possible. However, we are also prepared to fight fiercely on your behalf in court, if necessary.
The terms of your divorce decree could affect you for the rest of your life, so it is essential that you have the guidance of a family law lawyer who cares about your future. Our professional but personal approach, and our dedication to women, allow us to provide unparalleled support to women in Blue Ash, OH.
To arrange a free consultation with a family law practice that is dedicated to women, call our law office today at 380-212-3731.
The divorce lawyers at Woodford Sathappan McGee are committed to using mediation and negotiation to foster a collaborative law process. When you seek legal representation from us, you will secure the guidance of a family law attorney who is a highly trained mediator.
The family court judge will expect you and your ex-spouse to at least try mediation before they take over and decide on your behalf. We are prepared to take on even the most high-conflict situations and many of our clients are impressed, and a little surprised, by what they can accomplish with our help.
The benefits of using mediation with Woodford Sathappan McGee include:
Court proceedings can be expensive, but when you can come to arrangements on your own, it minimizes the courts’ involvement. This means you spend less money on legal fees overall.
Waiting for court dates can take months, and if you need more than one hearing, the divorce process can take over a year. When you come to your own agreements with the help of an attorney, then your agreements are more likely to be approved by a judge the first time around.
While you might not feel like being friends with your ex-spouse right now, when you can settle your differences with the help of a professional, it helps keep things amicable. This can be beneficial if you have children.
When you can stay amicable with your spouse, it protects children who could otherwise be exposed to a lot of your unhealthy conflict. Studies have shown that children have the best chances of healthy development when both parents are involved in their lives. This will be a lot easier to accomplish if you and your ex-spouse are on amicable terms.
When a judge is forced to make decisions, they may make ones that you don’t like, or place stipulations that are difficult to adhere to. When you are able to come to your own arrangements, you can make sure that they are in line with what’s best for you and your family.
Any plan you come up with will need to be approved by a judge who will make decisions based on family law. When you have help from a family lawyer, they will understand what the judge will look for and maximize the chances of it being approved.
At Woodford Sathappan McGee, we are also highly skilled in litigation. That means that if your case requires a lengthy court proceeding, we are prepared to go the distance to protect your rights and interests.
As well as guiding you through key divorce issues such as property division, child custody, alimony, and more, we are also here to support you beyond your divorce. That means that if any problems arise, such as the need to amend your divorce papers or your ex-spouse cannot meet their obligations, we will be there.
The divorce attorneys at our family law firm can guide you through all the challenges of legal separation.
Our practice areas and some of the legal services we offer include:
One of the most important aspects of family law cases is property division. Ohio is an equitable distribution state, so the marital property must be split in a fair and just way. This is much more complex than simply splitting everything down the middle.
The first thing your legal team will help you do is to divide your property into separate and marital:
Separate property is anything you owned prior to marriage. It also includes gifts and inheritance and anything protected by prenuptial agreements. Separate property will continue to belong to you after divorce.
Any property, assets, or investments obtained while you were married are classified as marital property and are subject to division. That includes pensions, vehicle investments, real estate, bank accounts, stocks, and bonds.
When determining how to divide marital property in a just and fair way, several factors will be considered, such as each spouse’s needs, the primary custodial parent, if there is a child involved, the length of the marriage, each spouse’s contribution to the marriage, and more.
An experienced divorce attorney from Woodford Sathappan McGee will help you in gathering documents to evidence what you are owed. They will make sure that property is divided in a just and fair way that protects your future.
If your ex-spouse has any hidden assets or offshore properties, they will also make sure that they are accounted for in your divorce decree.
Spousal support is essential for some women, as it enables them to continue to live to the same standard of living. It also empowers them to leave their divorce feeling confident about their future.
Some women we work with have made a lot of sacrifices to care for children and a home. These sacrifices should be considered both when dividing property and determining whether spousal support should be awarded.
Spousal support is not always granted, but if you believe you are owed it, then your best chance of success is to speak to one of our Blue Ash, OH lawyers.
If you are going to be the primary custodian of your children, then you deserve child support. Both parents are legally required to financially and emotionally support their children and an attorney from Woodford Sathappan McGee will help make sure that your children’s needs are the top priority.
When children are involved in divorce cases, it is important that their needs are prioritized. We want what’s best for them, which usually means preserving a sense of stability wherever possible.
Usually, one parent will have primary custody, which means that the child lives with them the majority of the time. The other parent will then be awarded visitation rights, such as one weekday and every other weekend.
In Ohio, parents are awarded “parenting rights and responsibilities”. Parental rights include the right to make decisions on behalf of the child, such as where they go to school and if they go to church. Parenting responsibilities refer to the time the child spends with each parent.
The court expects you to create a plan that keeps both parents heavily involved in the child’s life unless there is a reason not to. If you have concerns about your children’s well-being with your ex-spouse, then you should contact a divorce lawyer as soon as possible so they can help you evidence your claims and put forward a compelling argument.
At Woodford Sathappan McGee, we have the skills and resources to support women throughout their divorce and beyond. If any issues arise after your divorce, you will already have a trusted attorney who you can turn to, one who understands your situation and is prepared to go the distance to support you.
Hopefully, once you are served your divorce papers, you will experience a massive sense of relief. You have the tools you need to move forward with your life and can finally implement the structure and routine you need to thrive.
However, life is complicated, and sometimes the agreements of your divorce decree no longer benefit you or your children. As you cannot simply stop adhering to your divorce decree, instead, you will need to file for a divorce modification.
A successful divorce modification can be difficult to obtain, as you will need to prove that there has been a substantial change of circumstances. Examples include a change of job, illness, changing needs of the child, or the discovery of hidden assets.
A Blue Ash family law attorney at Woodford Sathappan McGee will help you file for a divorce modification to maximize your chances of success.
If your ex-spouse repeatedly fails to meet the obligations laid out in your divorce decree, then it can create a lot of stress and insecurity. You may choose to file contempt proceedings against them to ensure compliance.
A judge could garnish their wages, seize assets, or even issue a jail sentence. Child support and alimony payments never disappear and if your ex-spouse keeps missing payments, they will build up and may even gain interest.
However, you must follow the proper legal protocols. If you try to take matters into your own hands by denying visitation, then you could also be guilty of contempt.
If you have suffered domestic violence at the hands of your spouse, then we can advise you on how to get to a place of safety. We can help file a protection order so that they are forced to stay away from you and will make sure the court understands the extent of your experiences. We are also prepared to use litigation to protect your rights, your children, and your future.
If you and your ex-spouse agree on everything and don’t have children or lots of assets, then you may choose to file for divorce on your own. However, considering the far-reaching implications of a divorce decree, it is a good idea to at least seek a free consultation with a divorce attorney.
If you are facing a complex divorce, it could take up to two years to complete. In the meantime, you might wonder what happens regarding key issues, such as child custody.
If you need guidance while you wait for your divorce decree, you can file for temporary orders which will place obligations on you and your ex-partner. This will include things such as child custody and who will live in the family home.
Although these orders are temporary, they can affect the final decisions made by a judge, especially as they may look to minimize any disruption to children’s lives. Therefore, it is important to take them seriously and seek advice from a family law attorney.
The cost of divorce varies depending on its complexity. However, we will aim to keep costs down by using mediation where possible. When you contact us for a free consultation, we can give you an idea about the cost of your case so you can make an informed choice.
Some of our clients have a preference to work with a female attorney. They may feel more at ease speaking with another woman, or they may have had unpleasant experiences with men. It doesn’t matter the reason, if you would rather work with another woman then we are happy to accommodate.
Every attorney at our law firm works solely in the family law practice area, which means they have in-depth knowledge of the issues that you may be facing. Each attorney may also have specific skills that could benefit you, so we will assign you to the best person for your specific case.
Divorce cases vary in how long they take depending on the number of contested issues, and how long you have to wait for court dates. Some take as little as four months and others two years or more.
We understand you may be eager to move your divorce along quickly and we will strive to keep everything moving without sacrificing any aspect of your case.
Woodford Sathappan McGee was formed in 2001 when three highly skilled family law attorneys Natalie McGee, Katie Woodford, and Hari Sathappan came together to create a practice dedicated to helping women in family law matters. They shared a desire to empower women to move forward from divorce with confidence.
When they formed Woodford Sathappan McGee, they created the only law firm serving Blue Ash, OH, that exclusively represents women. Their dedication to women gives them a unique advantage to meet their needs, provides a safe space for them to share their experiences and gifts them with a life full of new opportunities.
Our team practice law across the entirety of Ohio State, so whether you need a Cincinnati family law lawyer or a Blue Ash divorce lawyer, we have an attorney ready to help.
Contact us today at 380-212-3731 to schedule a free consultation.
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