Family law covers different aspects of marriage, divorce, and raising children. These kinds of cases are often tense and emotional. We understand. When feelings are intense, it can be difficult to see what your options are and what steps you need to take next. That’s where a family lawyer can help.
Keller Law Firm, P.C. is on your side whether you’re attempting to leave a toxic marriage or fighting for the best interests of your children. Our firm embodies a spirit of independence, and we want to help you end disputes and enjoy the promise of a new beginning.
You don’t have to face these kinds of cases on your own. To request a consultation with a skilled Wyoming family law attorney, contact our Thermopolis law office today.
Navigating Family Law Issues in Hot Springs County
Wyoming has unique laws surrounding marriage and divorce that take some people by surprise. You may start divorce proceedings assuming that what you owned before your marriage or any inheritance will remain yours. In Wyoming, that isn’t the case. This can lead to a lot of frustrating and some very ugly battles.
It makes sense: this is your future, your life, your land, and your livelihood. To defend your independence and your ability to live free, you need Wyoming family law attorneys who can help you plan ahead and be ready for the long game.
The team at Keller Law Firm, P.C. understands the needs of people here in the Bighorn Basin. We want to make sure your needs are respected, your concerns are heard, and that you trust us to see you through whatever is ahead.
Legal Help When Getting Married or Ending a Marriage
Keller Law Firm, P.C. can provide guidance and insight into all kinds of family law cases in the state of Wyoming. Whether you’re about to get married or you know it’s time for your marriage to end, you can turn to our Thermopolis family lawyer for help.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Prenups are drafted before getting married and postnups are drafted after a marriage. Both of these agreements help establish financial rights and obligations if a marriage ends. Couples can use prenups and postnups to protect certain assets and investments during a divorce and to prevent prolonged disputes over who gets what.
Our team can help you draft a strong prenuptial or postnuptial agreement that protects your assets and shields you from taking on marital debt.
It is worth restating that prenups and postnups are especially helpful since Wyoming is not a community property state. This could be the peace of mind you need even if you never get divorced or separated.
Filing for Divorce
Going through a divorce is rarely easy. Not all couples are able to split amicably, and there could be complicated feelings between exes that result in bad blood and drawn out legal fights.
While you could try to go it alone, it’s best to have a divorce attorney who can provide all the support you need in case the going gets tough.
Our Thermopolis family law attorneys can help you navigate a rocky divorce. If you and your ex have children and intend to co-parent, your attorney can help spare feelings for the good of your family moving forward.
Judicial Separations
Not all marriages in Wyoming will end in a divorce. The state also allows judicial separations, which some people also call legal separation.
Judicial separation means that a married couple lives separately, divides property, and creates child custody arrangements, but the couple remains married. Since the separated couple is still married, this also means the spouses cannot remarry under the law.
If you and your spouse have irreconcilable differences but want to remain married because of religious beliefs or health insurance, we understand. Keller Law Firm, P.C. can go over the pros and cons of separation and guide you through this process.
Dividing Property and Paying Spousal Support
Many of the most heated disagreements in a divorce involve the division of property. Since Wyoming does not recognize community and separate property like other states, people risk losing their nest egg if they do not have good legal representation on their side.
Division of Property
Wyoming is an equitable distribution state. That means when a couple is married, all of their property may be divided. That includes property they owned before marriage. The court has discretion when it comes to dividing the following property in a divorce or separation:
- Any assets and debts acquired during a marriage
- Any assets and debts the spouses owned before they got married
- Any gifts or inherited property, even if intended for one spouse
- A retirement account or business
- Digital assets, investments, and stocks
Remember that equitable distribution does not mean a 50/50 split down the middle. Our Thermopolis family lawyer can help you fight for your belongings and investments. Even when divorce proceedings become combative, we’ll bring 100% to the fight.
Alimony Payments
Also known as spousal support, alimony is paid from one spouse to another to help maintain a certain standard of living after a marriage has ended. Alimony is not always awarded in a divorce. Wyoming judges will consider whether one spouse has a legitimate need for financial support and whether the other spouse has the means to pay alimony.
There are three primary types of alimony in Wyoming:
- Transitional support helps a former spouse become financially independent after a marriage. This often involves job training or additional education.
- Compensatory support compensates a spouse for their financial or personal contribution in the other spouse’s education, career, or earning capacity during marriage.
- Spousal maintenance refers to ongoing alimony payments when a spouse cannot reasonably meet their financial obligations after divorce. These kinds of alimony payments may be temporary or long-term.
Our Thermopolis family law attorney can let you know whether you qualify for alimony or if it’s wise to dispute your ex’s need for spousal support.
Legal Guidance for Co-Parents in Wyoming
Raising a child with your ex can be challenging even when former spouses still get along. Schedules and financial circumstances can change, and there may be some fundamental disagreements about what’s best for your children.
Keller Law Firm, P.C. can bring perspective when disputes arise. We help you keep your focus on what’s best for your child and how to be the best parent you can be.
Child Custody
Child custody refers to where a child lives (physical custody) and important decisions about a child’s education, health, and other aspects of their upbringing (legal custody). There are different kinds of custody arrangements.
- Joint physical custody is when a child spends time with both parents.
- Joint legal custody is when both parents share authority over important decisions in upbringing.
- Primary physical custody is when a child primarily lives with one parent (custodial parent) but still visits the other parent (noncustodial parent).
- Sole physical custody is when the child lives with the custodial parent but may be given court-approved visitation with the noncustodial parent.
- Sole legal custody is when one parent makes all major decisions about a child’s well-being.
Wyoming courts do not favor mothers over fathers or vice versa. Instead, courts consider custody arrangements that are in the best interests of a child.
Child Support Payments
Child support payments are made by one parent to the other in order to cover the costs of raising a child. This includes food, rent, clothing, doctor visits, childcare needs, and any educational expenses.
The parent who has a higher income may be asked to make child support payments to the other parent. Child support obligations depend on custody arrangements and other factors. Child support payments can be adjusted when financial circumstances change.
Our Thermopolis family lawyers can answer any questions you may have about child support payments. This includes what to do when the other parent refuses to pay child support. You’re looking out for your child’s best interests, and so will we.
Parenting Time and Visitation Rights
When in the child’s best interests, Wyoming law recognizes the benefits of maintaining a relationship with both parents. Noncustodial parents have rights and can create a parenting plan to provide time to bond and make memories with their children.
Visitation schedules can vary, and sometimes parents may get into disputes over which holidays or weekends they get to spend with their children. In situations that involve domestic violence or abuse, there may be concerns about a child’s safety and whether it’s prudent for the noncustodial parent to have any contact.
These situations can be complicated. Yet in our work as criminal defense lawyers, we also know that people can change. At Keller Law Firm, P.C., we will listen to your situation without judgement and help you be the best parent you can be.
Why Choose Keller Law Firm, P.C. for Hot Springs County Family Law Cases
Don’t go through a divorce or child custody battle on your own. You need our Wyoming family law attorneys on your side to protect your rights and the rights of your children. You can count on Keller Law Firm, P.C. for strong, practical support.
- We Honor the Spirit of Independence: Wyoming is a freedom-loving state, and our firm wants to embody this spirit. We help people who want to start over and do what’s best for their children.
- We Are Loyal to the Bighorn Basin: We aren’t just suits and ties. Our attorneys live in the Bighorn Basin and want to look out for our neighbors throughout the region.
- Our Word Is Our Bond: Whenever our lawyers promise something, we want you to hold us to our word. Accountability allows us to put those words into action.
- We Fight to Win and We Never Quit: When you work with our firm, we will stand with you every step of the way. No matter the setback or the challenge in your family law case, we will rise to the occasion.
- Peace of Mind Throughout the Fight: Family law cases are stressful and emotional. We understand. We want to be your rock from beginning to end. Whenever you are overwhelmed by another dispute with your ex, look to us for strength.
Contact a Wyoming Family Law Attorney Near You
Whether you’re contemplating divorce or you need help with child support or alimony payments, our family lawyers in the Bighorn Basin will be here for you. Keller Law Firm, P.C. fights for what’s good and what’s right when your independence is at stake. To request a consultation with a family lawyer in Wyoming, contact our Thermopolis law office today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law Cases
These are some common questions we’ve heard about family law from people living in Hot Springs County.
What are the residency requirements for a divorce in Wyoming?
To file for divorce in the state of Wyoming, one spouse must live in a Wyoming residence for at least 60 consecutive days.
However, if the marriage happened in Wyoming, one spouse only needs to live in the state from the time of marriage to the date they file for divorce. In this case, there is no need to abide by the 60-day threshold.
How does Wyoming handle child custody determinations?
As with other states, Wyoming courts always consider the best interests of a child in custody determinations. This often involves assessing the fitness of a parent, the nature of a child-parent relationship, the distance between parents’ respective residences, and any past history of abuse or neglect.
Our Thermopolis family law attorneys can help discuss your child’s best interests when we work with you on your case.
Can child support orders be modified after the decree is finalized?
Yes, you can modify child support orders after a divorce is finalized. This is often done when a parent has a substantial change in their finances, loses a job, becomes disabled, suffers a serious medical issue, or is deployed to active military service.
If your life has changed in significant ways, our family lawyers can review what happened and discuss how child support modifications are filed in Wyoming.
Do I need to update my last will and testament if I get a divorce?
Yes, it’s a good idea to at least review your will and any estate planning documents after getting divorced. Our Wyoming family lawyers can talk about your estate plan and what updates should be made as we work with you on your case.