Vermilion Parish Family Lawyer

Vermilion Parish Family Attorney

A family law case is often a sensitive and difficult process that changes your life and your family significantly. Working with a dedicated Vermilion Parish family lawyer is crucial to getting the legal and emotional support you need in these complicated cases.

There are many families that can use the support of an attorney. Vermilion Parish has an estimated population of nearly 58,000, with an average of 2.57 persons per household.

Dedicated Family Law Counsel With Compassion and Integrity

At Schnaars Law Firm, LLC, we provide families with experienced and personable legal support. When you bring your case to us, we tailor our legal support to your unique needs and those of your loved ones. Dyan Schnaars is a competent and dedicated attorney who has more than 25 years of legal experience and understands the painful process of divorce firsthand.

Vermilion Parish is served by the 15th Judicial District Court, which also serves Acadia and Lafayette Parishes.

Family Law Cases We Can Help You With in Vermilion Parish

When you are facing an emotionally and legally difficult case like a divorce or custody case, it is important to find legal representation with the knowledge and care that you deserve. At Schnaars Law Firm, LLC, we are the counsel that cares. In Vermilion Parish, our team can help you with numerous types of family law cases, including:

• Divorce and separation. The divorce rate in Louisiana as of 2022 was 7 per 1,000 population, the lowest reported rate in the nation. No divorce is simple, even when you and your partner are on good terms. There is still property to divide and spousal support to assign.Divorces can be especially complicated when you have minor children. You may have to determine paternity, create a parenting plan, and determine custody, visitation, and child support payments. Whether you have children or not, and whether you and your spouse are on good terms or not, it is important to protect your rights with our dedicated attorney.
• Child custody. A custody case may be necessary if married parents are divorcing or if unmarried parents are separating. The court will always consider the best interests of the child when determining custody.To determine best interests, the court will consider the emotional connection between each parent and their child, the chances of the child being abused in any potential custody arrangement, the mental and physical health of each party, and many other factors. Working with an attorney helps you advocate for the custody determination you think is right for your family.
• Modifications of orders. Court orders must be followed when they have been made, but they are not always permanent. When you, your ex-partner, or your children experience significant changes in your lives, most court orders can be modified to reflect those changes.
  A party seeing a financial change or a medical needs change would require several orders to be altered. An attorney can help you navigate this process and petition the court when needed.
• Paternity. An acknowledgment of paternity is especially important when the biological parents of a child are not married. Divorcing parents may also need to acknowledge paternity prior to getting divorced. These determinations can be entered into voluntarily, or a party can petition the court. It establishes parental rights and responsibilities for both parents.
• Grandparents’ rights and visitation. Grandparents’ rights to raise their grandchild or secure visitation rights may be determined in court when parents separate. It is especially important for grandparents to assert these rights when they are concerned about their grandchildren’s safety with their parents. Working with an attorney can help grandparents determine how they can remain involved in their grandchildren’s lives.
• Move-aways. Custody arrangements can be modified when a parent and their children move. However, there are steps that a parent must take to notify the children’s other parent. If the other parent does not agree with the move, the relocation case may go to court to decide if the move is necessary. An attorney can help you prepare for these cases.
• Interdictions. If a person in your family has become incapacitated or is incapable of making reasoned choices about their property and themselves, it may be necessary to petition the court for an interdiction. This legally states the person is unable to manage their affairs.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is a Child Custody Lawyer in Louisiana?

A: A Louisiana child custody lawyer’s costs are variable, depending on your case and the attorney you work with. Most child custody attorneys charge an hourly rate, which averages $274 an hour. However, an attorney’s fees could be much higher or much lower than this, depending on their experience and the complexity of your specific custody case. An attorney may also charge an upfront retainer fee.

Q: When Should You Hire a Family Lawyer?

A: You should hire a family lawyer if you have a family law case that is going to court, such as a divorce, a custody determination, a paternity determination, or modifications of court orders. These cases have a significant impact on your life, so it is important to protect your family’s interests and financial future. Family law is complex, especially in Louisiana. It is important to work with an attorney with specific experience and knowledge in family law cases like yours.

Q: Can You Get a Court-Appointed Attorney for Child Custody in Louisiana?

A: You generally cannot get a court-appointed attorney as a parent for a child custody case in Louisiana. Instead, it is possible for the judge to assign an attorney for a child if it is in the best interest of the child. If the proceedings are long, the interests of a parent and child conflict, or there is evidence of abuse against the child by a parent, an attorney may be appointed to represent the child’s interests.

Q: What Are the Most Common Family Law Cases?

A: Some of the most common family law cases in Louisiana include:

• Divorce, spousal maintenance, and property division
• Child custody and support determinations
• Paternity avowals and disavowals
• Modifications of existing court orders
• Move-aways or relocations
• Interdictions or conservatorships
• Annulments
• Domestic violence cases

Many family law cases overlap, and so one family law case may involve numerous aspects of family law.

Contact Experienced Vermilion Parish Family Lawyer

When you are facing a family law case, contact Schnaars Law Firm, LLC today. We provide one-hour consultations at a flat $100 fee, and we provide you personalized advice about your options.