Trusted Same-Sex Divorce Attorneys In West Virginia
It’s never easy dealing with the end of your marriage. The knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at Lyne Ranson Law Offices, PLLC, in Charleston, West Virginia, can offer you support.
Under West Virginia law, a divorce for a same-sex couple progresses just like any other divorce: one or both of you will file a petition, marital property will be divided fairly (equitably) and the court will enter a divorce decree.
However, we also recognize that ending a marriage requires much more than a formal legal procedure. For over three decades, our attorneys have offered our clients a secure space to seek legal counsel to face the challenges of a separation.
Specific Problems Of Same-Sex Divorce Law
People in same-sex marriages can face several common challenges that will require an experienced LGBTQ divorce lawyer. Whether your marriage began long before formal legal documentation of your union, or has included complex legal processes to start and maintain your family, all the details need thoughtful planning. Our attorneys provide proactive assistance in all of these very different but equally important aspects:
- Parental rights: We advocate on your behalf to ensure your parental rights are established and protect your relationship with your child during a divorce.
- Adoption: If your family is formed through legal adoption, we can help you understand how it affects the legal proceedings in your case. This includes guidance on court custody and rights concerning your children, as well as arrangements for child support.
- Nonbiological children: If your bond with your child, whether adopted or otherwise, feels very strong – regardless of biological connection – you will need lawyers who are tenacious in ensuring your parental rights are legally protected.
- Property division: Dividing the assets in same-sex divorces is frequently the most challenging part, particularly if all the property and finances are combined long before marriage even came about. Our divorce lawyers with high-asset experience understand how to accurately determine and divide the value of executive salaries, company stakes and pensions.
- Child support: We ensure your child support calculations accurately reflect your financial situation, your spouse’s income and your children’s needs.
- Child custody: We assist you in creating child custody agreements and visitation schedules that clearly outline when and where each parent will be with the children, as well as the allocation of decision-making responsibilities.
To file a same-sex divorce in West Virginia, some prerequisites need to be established, with one concerning the type of court that has jurisdiction over your matter and the second relating to the residence of one or both married parties.
If you were married in West Virginia, you or your spouse need only be a bona fide resident of the state at the time of filing; however, if you were married outside of West Virginia, at least one party must have resided in the state continuously for at least one year before filing.
Contact Our Charleston Office Today
You are not alone in facing this challenge. When you reach out to Lyne Ranson Law Offices, PLLC, one of our attorneys will attentively listen to your experience, assess the details of your situation and develop a strategic plan tailored to your needs. Let our compassionate and knowledgeable LGBTQ divorce lawyers assist you throughout this transition, from beginning to end. For help moving forward, contact Lyne Ranson Law Offices, PLLC, today at 304-932-0591 or use the online contact form.