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What is a family law firm?
As family lawyers, we help our clients manage the legal fallout from upheavals in family life like divorce and disputes involving child custody, support, and visitation. We work hard to cut through legal complexity and provide thoughtful personal guidance so our clients can make informed choices, deal with personal, family, and financial issues, then move on with their lives.
Our firm has broad, in-depth experience in family law, but our real passion is serving our clients. When questions and concerns come up—and they will—we'll be here to help. Even though we've worked through family law problems hundreds of times, we understand for our clients each case is very personal, and family law issues may be new and unfamiliar. So in this office, there's no such thing as a dumb question. That's what we're here for.
Frequent questions
Will I lose my kids?
A parent's right to be involved in the life of their child is fundamental under the New Hampshire Constitution, and the courts generally seek to maintain children's contact with both parents. So unless abuse or neglect is proven, each parent is generally entitled to spend time with their children.
Usually, one parent is awarded primary physical custody, and the other is entitled to visitation. In making this determination, the courts are guided by the best interest of the children. Generally, the parent who has spent the most time caring for the children will get primary physical custody. More on custody.
Is there alimony in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire Courts sometimes order alimony-regular payments by one spouse to the other to help support the recipient-for a period of time. Such an order would be based on one spouse's ability to pay and the other spouse's need. More questions and answers.
If you are facing a family law issue, don't delay. Call us now without obligation. How to schedule a free initial consultation.
Facing divorce?
The breakdown of a primary relationship is traumatic for most people. So it is not unusual to have trouble coping with every day decisions, let alone the major issues involved in changing living patterns, making arrangements for children, and distribution of assets. We have helped hundreds of clients through this process, providing both experienced legal representation and caring guidance and support.
If you need to initiate a divorce, or if you have just been served with a petition for divorce filed by your spouse, you should obtain advice and representation from an attorney experienced in family law. If you have been served, please call us immediately, as you must respond within a time limit set by the court. More on what to do next.
Child custody, visitation, and support
There are two kinds of child custody in New Hampshire: legal custody and physical custody. A parent with legal custody of a child remains involved in the child's life and participates in major decisions affecting the child. A parent with primary physical custody of a child provides the primary residence of the child and is responsible for most day-to-day matters. In most cases, joint legal custody is appropriate, and one parent will be primary physical custodian. Our office frequently assists in working out both short- and long-term custodial arrangements. More on custody, visitation, and support.
We are experienced in assisting clients in obtaining restraining orders when necessary for their protection, and in defending other clients from baseless charges of domestic violence where restraining orders were improperly sought against them. More on Restraining Orders.