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Kansas Family Law Attorneys

At Joseph, Hollander & Craft, our skilled Kansas family law attorneys are here to guide you through the divorce and separation process. We know these situations can quickly become complicated and emotional. Our team is here to support you every step of the way, keeping your needs and goals as our top priority.

How Much Does a Family Law Attorney in Kansas Cost?

The cost of a Kansas family law attorney will vary depending on factors like the matter for which you need assistance, whether and the extent to which the matter is disputed by another party, the complexity and novelty of issues in dispute, the resources the attorney offers (including, for example, legal staff), and the attorney’s experience level.

Our attorneys charge hourly rates and bill time spent working on your case by the tenth of the hour. Upon hiring, you will pay a retainer fee. This is an upfront payment to engage our services, not a final bill. Any unused portion of your retainer will be refunded if resolution of your matter does not require use of the full retainer payment. More extensive matters may require additional deposits.

Every case involves different amounts of research, drafting, document and discovery review, client conferences, consultations with outside experts and witnesses, and hearings in court. The unique circumstances of each individual case dictate the overall cost. Once your attorney knows what to expect from your case, he or she can provide an estimate regarding what sort of financial commitment will be required.

Questions to Ask a Kansas Family Law Attorney

Hiring the right family law attorney can make all the difference in your case. The following are some suggested questions to ask when deciding on a Kansas family law attorney:

How Much Experience Do You Have in Family Law Practice?

Asking about an attorney’s family law practice experience is useful because it shows the depth of their practical knowledge. The duration for which they have been in practice is important, but you may also want to ask how your attorney has spent that time. Has the attorney always practiced family law? Does the attorney exclusively practice family law? The answers to these questions can help you determine whether the attorney is a good fit for you. For example, you may want an attorney who focuses exclusively on divorce litigation if your sole focus is to dissolve your marriage and divide your property. By contrast, a divorce attorney with a background in criminal law might be better suited to assist someone involved in a divorce involving allegations of criminal mistreatment of a spouse or child.

How Do You Approach Family Law Cases?

Ask about the attorney’s standard approach to family law cases and how the attorney would approach your case based on the facts you can supply in your initial consultation. This can help you determine compatibility for ongoing representation. If you want a lawyer who will aggressively fight for every possible advantage that can be obtained, say so–and ask if the attorney is up to the task. If you want to minimize disputes, make that known. Discuss how different approaches will affect the likely outcome of your case and the costs involved in resolving your matter.

Can You Take My Case to Trial if Necessary?

Most family law cases never go to trial. However, it is important to work with a family law attorney who will not force you to settle for less than you deserve. Your family law attorney should be capable enough to make your case at trial if settlement is not an option.

Can You Estimate the Total Cost of My Case?

The cost of hiring a lawyer to handle your case largely depends on what is involved. However, you can request an estimate that will best illustrate the scope of work the lawyer expects will be necessary and its related fees.

Who Else Will Be Assisting You With My Case?

It is important to ask who will work on your case. Collaboration between attorneys and staff in the law firm you hire may be the best way to make your case progress smoothly and efficiently. A more seasoned attorney may offer guidance and instruction regarding complex issues, for example. Paralegals and legal assistants may help your attorney accomplish your goals at a lower overall cost to you by handling routine drafting and correspondence at a lower hourly rate.

How Can I Get in Touch with You?

Some attorneys prefer to communicate through email, while others are available by phone or video calls. Ask about the attorney’s availability and how often their office responds to calls and messages.

You may also want to ask your attorney how often you should expect updates on your case. Your divorce attorney will need to stay in touch with you frequently during certain times in the case, such as when responding to discovery demands. Other periods of your case will require less frequent communication. After a motion is filed, for example, you may need to wait for the judge to rule before the case can progress.

How Joseph, Hollander & Craft Can Help Your Case

At Joseph, Hollander & Craft, we believe that personalized representation is the best representation. We are known in the Kansas legal community for our common-sense approach to addressing each of our client’s specific needs. We will listen carefully, provide an objective assessment of the situation, and pursue your goals strategically and deliberately.

Our Kansas family law attorneys are sensitive to the personal and at times emotional nature of family law matters. We will work to prepare you for the legal process ahead, explaining everything we can in plain English and helping guide you through any challenges that might come up in your case. We work tirelessly to provide you with customized solutions for your family law matter, including:

• Legal Separation vs Divorce: Our Kansas divorce lawyers can help you decide whether to proceed with legal separation instead of divorce.
• Spousal Support and Alimony: In Kansas, either spouse can request spousal support during the divorce. Whether your divorce is uncontested or highly contentious, we can protect your financial security and future interests.
• Child Support: Child support issues are of paramount importance to both Kansas family law courts and the parents involved in a dispute. Settling on a sustainable amount for monthly child support payments is critical to protecting a child’s best interests.
• Custody, Parenting Time, and Visitation Rights: Our Kansas child custody lawyers can advise you on issues pertaining to child custody and visitation rights, as well as modifying parenting plans after the divorce. Our firm helps ensure familial relationships are healthy and preserved for all involved.
• Property Division: In divorces involving out-of-state property, high-net-worth individuals, small business owners, or other complex divisions of property, our Kansas divorce lawyers can account for all your interests.
• Paternity Law: If you are not married to the mother or father of your child, we can assist with a paternity action in order to establish custody and parenting time and formalize child support owed by the non-custodial parent.
• Adoptions: Our Kansas adoption attorneys can assist with private kinship adoptions, including grandparent or step-parent adoption.
• Temporary and permanent guardianships: Formalized care for a minor child or disabled adult is an important area of family law. We can assist you with creating a sustainable and productive structure to provide that care.
• Grandparents Rights: At Joseph, Hollander & Craft, we are dedicated to protecting children’s best interests concerning all family members. Our Kansas family law attorneys help protect the rights of grandparents within shifting family dynamics and support parents who seek to establish boundaries on their child’s behalf.
• Prenuptial Agreements: Crafting a fair and reasonable prenuptial agreement can help ensure future success. We can draft, review, and prepare prenuptial agreements, fighting to keep conditions fair and legally enforceable.

Our Kansas family law attorneys help resolve legal issues that arise around all kinds of family law matters so you can focus on what matters most: protecting and enjoying time with your loved ones. Call us for a consultation today.

Kansas Family Law Attorneys FAQs

Here are some of the questions we receive most often from clients just like you:

I Was Just Served with Divorce Papers – What Do I Do?

First, do not panic if you were served with divorce papers. Remember that you are at the very beginning of the process and any temporary orders you have received are just that – temporary.

The court does not have unlimited powers over your marriage, but ignoring divorce papers will not make them go away. You will need to prepare a response or an “answer” that must be filed in court within the specified timeframe.

Contact a Kansas divorce attorney as soon as possible if you have been served with divorce papers. You can meet with several attorneys to find a good match, but remember that you will need to respond to the papers promptly.

Am I Able to Get an Annulment Instead of a Divorce?

An annulment in Kansas is possible under certain conditions, but not in every case. Annulments are permitted in Kansas exist when the marriage is void or voidable. For instance, if you can prove fraud, incest, bigamy, or other existing impediments to the marriage, you may qualify for an annulment.

One example of a marriage that can be annulled is one that occurred while one party was intoxicated or otherwise participated in a “joke” marriage. In cases involving deceit, an annulment may be possible if a condition was concealed that would have stopped one party from consenting had they known, such as impotency. Other marriages that may qualify for an annulment in Kansas include:

• Underage weddings without parental permission
• Weddings wherein one party was incapable of understanding what they were consenting to
• Coercion, wherein one party can prove they were forced into marriage

If I Do Not Have Children, Do I Need to Hire a Kansas Family Law Lawyer for My Case?

It is possible to represent yourself “pro se,” but hiring a lawyer can help protect finances and your rights in divorce cases that do not involve children.

You and your spouse may agree it is time to end the marriage, but issues like the division of property or the paying of alimony can create friction regarding how to move forward. Even when you think you agree about financial issues, you may not be considering all the legal rights and interests at stake. Hiring an independent third party to look out for your interests means you can be confident you are not giving up important rights or giving up money (or property) you are entitled to keep.

Hiring a lawyer can also reduce the stress of managing court filings, meeting deadlines, negotiating with your spouse and their legal counsel.

Are the Things I Tell My Lawyer Confidential?

What you tell your attorney during a professional consultation is protected under attorney-client privilege. This is an ethical standard that ensures that what you tell your attorney remains private and confidential.

To provide accurate guidance in your case, we need to know all the facts involved. Even if they may seem distressing, silly, or even harmful to your case, we can only truly help if we know the full story.

Let Joseph, Hollander & Craft Help You with Your Family Law Case

Joseph, Hollander & Craft offers professional, personalized legal acumen designed to help you obtain the best possible outcome in your case. Our attorneys have received “AV” and “Distinguished” rankings from the Martindale Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers; ratings from Best Lawyers®; and recognition by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers®.

We are widely recognized in Kansas as some of the best lawyers for the job, but we don’t rest on our laurels. We are committed to improving outcomes for our clients and providing dedicated, customized care to everyone who hires us for their family law concerns. If you need help, contact one of our Kansas family law attorneys today.