Albuquerque

Family law cases can include a range of legal issues, and it is not uncommon for a single case to involve multiple legal matters. Uncovering more about this legal practice, the following presents an overview of the most common types of family law cases and the specific legal issues they can involve.

When you are ready to discuss your family legal issues, please do not hesitate to contact Sutherland Law Firm, LLC.

When a marriage is over, spouses can have a few different options for legally ending their union. These options can include:

• Annulment, the legal process of voiding a marriage – With an annulment, it will be as though the marriage never occurred (from a legal standpoint). There are specific grounds for seeking an annulment in New Mexico, such as bigamy or underage marriage without the consent of a parent/guardian.
• Legal Separation, the legal process of establishing certain rights and duties between spouses who are living apart – Legal separations can be useful when spouses do not meet the residency requirements for divorce in New Mexico or when they want to take an interim step towards divorce. This can also be a good option for separating marital property while still retaining a spouse’s benefits (like Social Security benefits or health care coverage).
• Divorce, the legal process of dissolving a marital union – As the most common option for ending a marriage, divorce can involve the division of marital property (assets and debts), as well as future support payment obligations and custody issues. Divorce cases can be uncontested or contested, depending on whether spouses dispute the issues of the case. In the event of contested divorce cases, spouses may be able to resolve them out of court, via divorce mediation. If that fails, the case will go to family court to be resolved.

The best option for you will depend on the details of your situation, along with your needs and goals. If you are unsure how to proceed with legally ending your marriage, simply contact a divorce attorney at Sutherland Law Firm for essential advice regarding your best options.

Whether custody disputes arise in or outside of divorce, they can be just as contentious and complex as a divorce case. Some of the issues that commonly arise in custody disputes can include (and many not be limited to):

• The division of parenting time – The Court will focus on dividing physical custody (i.e.,