Family Law deals with especially sensitive issues that can have life-long emotional and financial effects. It is a specialized area of law, requiring specific training in negotiation and litigation skills, taxation, property and business evaluation, as well as knowledge of constantly changing rules and procedures.
The Law Offices of Kevin J. Szotkowski devotes exclusive time to the practice of Family Law. With hands-on experience, Mr. Szotkowski offers a comprehensive understanding of the legal and human issues involved in all areas of Family Law:
- Dissolution of Marriage:
We guide you carefully through the legal steps and help you resolve your personal concerns with the goal of achieving a fair and equitable agree-agreement.
- Children:
We evaluate all of the options to help you find the best solution for your children.
- Property Settlement Agreement:
We provide expert counsel and strong advocacy in the complex areas of discovery, assess agreement and negotiation of personal and business assets.
- Child Support:
We apply innovative solutions and strong negotiation techniques to the development of agreements, revision and enforcement of workable child support agreements. When agreements are not possible, we provide strong, persuasive representation in court.
- Spousal Support:
We represent your interests for now and the future.
- Mediation:
We assist you and your spouse to resolve your differences without going to court.
Prior to obtaining a divorce in Nevada, one of the divorcing parties must establish Nevada residency. This includes residing in the State of Nevada for at least six (6) weeks prior to the commencement of any divorce proceeding. An individual must have the in-tent to permanently reside in the State of Nevada at the time the divorce action is filed. Residency means having a physical presence in Nevada although an individual would not be precluded from working outside the State while he or she is establishing residency, as long as he or she is actually physically residing in the State.
Nevada provides a consensual divorce process, whereby if the two parties to a divorce agree, then they may jointly petition a Nevada District Court to obtain a divorce. Only one of the petitioners must be a Nevada resident (see related paragraph on Residency) however, both parties must sign the Joint Petition which must be notarized at the time of the signing of the parties
A Marital Settlement Agreement, which generally covers issues of property, debts, child custody, support and visitation, may be incorporated into a Joint Petition Divorce Decree even if that Agreement was prepared in another State. However, Nevada may then obtain jurisdiction over the parties and their children. If the parties to a Joint Petition do not have children, then it is usually fairly easy for a simple division of debts and property to be included in the Joint Petition. However, more complicated property divisions should have their own separate, written, legal agreement.
Once the Petition has been filed, along with an Affidavit of Resident Witness, generally the divorce is completed within a matter of days. This process is relatively inexpensive for those parties that can agree to an amicable divorce.
Residency
To verify residency, an Affidavit of Resident Witness is required to be filed in a divorce proceeding. This Affidavit is executed by a Nevada resident; who has been a Nevada resident for at least twelve (12) months and who can state under oath that they are acquainted with the individual seeking the divorce and personally know that individual has resided in the State of Nevada at least six (6) weeks prior to the commencement of the divorce action.
Neither the State Bar of Nevada nor any agency of the State Bar of Nevada has certified any lawyer identified here as a specialist or as an expert.
Please feel free to contact me at (775) 323-2230 or by e-mail at inquiry@szotlaw.com.
