Fall River Family Law Lawyer

Are you looking for a family law lawyer in Fall River, MA?

At Flavio DaCosta Law, we provide confidential case reviews with a Fall River family law lawyer.

If you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or a support question in Fall River, MA, the next step is understanding how the Probate and Family Court will handle your case. Our Fall River, MA family law lawyer can review your circumstances, explain your options, and represent you in negotiations and in court.

Our firm has years of experience representing families in Fall River. We can schedule a case review when you are ready.

Family Law Lawyer Fall River, MA

Fall River has 41,991 households, according to U.S. Census QuickFacts. About 23.8 percent of its residents were born outside the United States.

A family law lawyer represents a person in legal matters that involve a spouse, a parent, or a child. These matters include divorce, custody, support, and changes to an existing court order. A Fall River family law attorney prepares the case, negotiates with the other party, and presents the client’s position to the court when a hearing is needed. Where one spouse is not a U.S. citizen, the case may also affect immigration status.

Types of Family Law Cases We Handle in Fall River

Our Fall River family law practice covers matters heard in the Probate and Family Court. A family law matter often involves more than one issue. The facts of each case determine which of these issues are in dispute. We set the client’s goals before the first filing or negotiation.

• Divorce. A divorce ends the marriage, divides property and debts, and sets arrangements for any children. We review the client’s financial records and the proposed terms. We also prepare the client for each hearing and negotiation. We explain how each term would apply after the judgment.
• Child custody and parenting time. These cases decide where a child lives and how decisions about the child are made. We help the client document the child’s schedule and needs. We then present a parenting plan to the other parent or to the court. We explain how the proposed schedule would work in each household.
• Child support. Support orders take into account each parent’s income and the needs of the child. We review the financial information from both sides. We also address health insurance and other expenses that the order covers.
• Modification of existing orders. A change in income, residence, or the child’s needs may lead a parent to seek a change to an order. We review the original order and the facts that have changed. We then present the request to the other parent or to the court.
• Paternity. A paternity case establishes the legal father of a child. The result affects custody, parenting time, and support. We represent the client in those proceedings.
• Mediator. Many family disputes are resolved through mediation instead of a hearing. We represent clients in mediation and review each term before the client signs an agreement.
• Marriage green card. A divorce can affect a spouse’s pending petition or conditional green card. We review that effect with the client before any divorce agreement is signed.

Why Choose Flavio DaCosta Law as My Family Law Lawyer in Fall River, MA?

Court Preparation in Family Law Matters

A family court hearing is decided on the documents and testimony presented to the judge. We gather financial records, parenting schedules, and prior court orders before the hearing. We prepare the client to answer the judge’s questions clearly and consistently. We also explain each possible outcome and the order that would follow. Our preparation includes a review of the other party’s likely requests and the documents that party may submit. We review the timing of each filing and hearing with the client. Our Fall River family law attorneys also consider whether mediation would resolve an issue sooner than a hearing.

Flavio DaCosta and Family Immigration Matters

Flavio DaCosta is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He earned his J.D. at RWU Law. A divorce can change the course of a spouse’s immigration case. Mr. DaCosta’s work on marriage-based petitions allows us to review that effect during the family law case. Our office serves clients in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, so family members can follow each step of the process.

What Is Important To Understand About Family Law Cases?

Divorce, Property Division, and Custody in Massachusetts

A family law case usually involves some combination of five issues.

• Ending the marriage. One spouse, or both spouses, may start a divorce. The process is shorter when the spouses agree on the terms.
• Property and debts. The court divides marital property and debts in a manner it considers fair. It looks at factors such as the length of the marriage and each spouse’s income.
• Custody and parenting time. The court decides where a child lives and how parents make decisions. The court bases those decisions on the child’s best interests.
• Support. The court may order child support and, in some cases, spousal support.
• Changes after judgment. A court can change an order when circumstances change significantly.

What Is the Family Law Case Timeline?

Timing varies with the court’s schedule and with whether the spouses agree on the terms. A case settled by agreement concludes sooner than one that goes to trial.

• Filing. One spouse files a complaint, or both spouses file together.
• Temporary orders. The court may issue temporary orders on custody, support, and finances while the case is pending.
• Disclosure. Each side exchanges financial information.
• Negotiation or mediation. The sides attempt to settle the terms.
• Judgment. The court enters a final judgment by approving an agreement or after a trial.

What Are Important Aspects of a Family Law Case?

Family law cases are decided on facts about the household. The most important facts concern the children, the finances, and the history of any existing orders.

The children’s needs come first in any custody or parenting time decision. The court looks at the child’s schedule, school, health, and relationship with each parent. Financial records matter in every case. They determine how property is divided and how support is set. Records showing the family’s routine, such as school and medical records, support the client’s parenting-time position. Existing court orders matter when a party seeks a change. The order shows what the court previously decided and what conditions apply.

What Should You Bring to Your Family Law Consultation?

Household records help us identify the issues in dispute. Bring what is available, even if it is incomplete.

• Marriage certificate and any existing court orders
• Recent pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements
• A list of property, debts, and monthly expenses
• Information on the children’s schedules, schools, and medical needs

At the consultation, our Fall River family law lawyers review the facts, explain the court process, and discuss the outcomes you want for yourself and your children.

Fall River Family Court and Local Resources

The Probate and Family Court hears divorce, paternity, child support, custody, and abuse prevention matters. Its Fall River location is at 289 Rock Street. The Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton also serves all the cities and towns in Bristol County. The state’s Child Support Services Division helps parents establish parentage and enforce or modify child support orders.

Reach Out to Flavio DaCosta Law to Schedule a Consultation

Contact us if you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or a support question in Fall River. Our Fall River family law lawyer can review your circumstances, explain your options, and represent you in negotiations and in court. Flavio DaCosta Law will review the documents and the court dates ahead with you.