Kent County Family Law Attorneys

Family law cases are personal and sensitive. In Kent County, if you are divorcing, fighting for custody of your child, or seeking child support or alimony, schedule a consultation to discuss your legal needs with a Kent County family law attorney at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison.

When you become our client, your family law case is handled discreetly. Abram, Gulab & Hutchison will work in your long-term best interests, bring your divorce or other family law matter to its best possible outcome, and help you and your family move positively into the future.

Don’t go through a divorce or custody battle alone. At Abram, Gulab & Hutchison, we understand the financial and emotional pressures you may be facing. We are committed to providing sound guidance and support through every step of the legal process.

Let Abram, Gulab & Hutchison Handle Your Divorce

If you are divorcing in Kent County, you must have the right divorce lawyer from the start. Before you file divorce papers (or if your spouse is filing for divorce), schedule a consultation to discuss your rights with a Kent County family lawyer at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison.

Abram, Gulab & Hutchison will assist you with the financial disclosure Delaware law requires. A fair division of the marital assets requires accurate disclosures. If your spouse fails to make a full, accurate disclosure, you could lose assets that are rightfully yours.

Financial disclosure in a Delaware divorce requires spouses to exchange detailed information about their incomes, expenses, assets, and debts within 28 days of filing for divorce. If you believe your spouse is hiding assets, that is the first thing you should tell your divorce attorney.

Finding concealed assets isn’t the only reason Abram, Gulab & Hutchison should handle your divorce. We’ll help you settle any divorce-related disputes over child custody, child support, spousal support (alimony), parental visitations, and the division of marital assets.

What Are Delaware’s Basic Divorce Requirements?

To divorce in Delaware, you or your spouse must have resided in the state (or must have been stationed here as military personnel) for at least six months before filing. You then file the divorce petition in the county where either spouse resides.

A divorce in Delaware usually takes 3 to 12 months. A contested divorce may take longer. For a no-fault divorce, you must reside separately from your spouse for at least six months before a Delaware court will grant the divorce.

There is no way to know in advance what a divorce will cost, but compromise and cooperation between the spouses is the only practical and realistic way to reduce your divorce expenses.

How Are Marital Assets Divided in a Delaware Divorce?

Joint marital assets in Delaware divorces are divided and distributed “equitably,” which means the division must be fair but not necessarily fifty-fifty. The court’s first step is categorizing a couple’s assets and properties as marital or individual:

1. Individual property refers to assets owned by the spouses before the marriage, property inherited during the marriage, or gifts received as individuals from third parties.
2. Marital property refers to all assets and debts acquired by either partner during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title or account.

Separate property can be “commingled” and classified as marital if it is combined with marital assets (such as a spouse depositing an inheritance into a joint bank account used by both partners for marital expenses).

If spouses can’t agree on marital property division, a judge will consider the pertinent factors to achieve a fair distribution. When you are represented by Abram, Gulab & Hutchison, your divorce lawyer will ensure that when your divorce is final, you receive everything that is rightfully yours.

Are You Seeking Your Child’s Custody?

At Abram, Gulab & Hutchison, divorce is only one aspect of our comprehensive family law practice. During or after your divorce proceedings, if a dispute arises over child custody, child support, visitation, or spousal support, we provide aggressive and effective advocacy.

If parents cannot agree on child custody, the court will hold a hearing to decide on the custody arrangement. You win the custody of your child by proving you are the parent who can best facilitate your child’s health, safety, and well-being. At custody hearings, Delaware courts consider these questions:

1. Can you provide a safe and stable home?
2. How familiar are you with your child’s activities and interests?
3. Can you prepare a parenting plan or negotiate an arrangement with the other parent?
4. Will you have dependable, consistent, trustworthy childcare?

Parents involved in child custody cases need the advice and legal representation that a Kent County family law attorney at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison provides. We will prepare you for the custody hearing, accompany you, and advocate vigorously on your behalf.

How Do Delaware Courts Handle Child Support?

Children have the right to the financial support of both parents. Child support is what non-custodial parents pay to custodial parents to help support their children. Delaware’s child support guidelines are designed to ease conflict and promote the best interests of the child.

To determine child support payment amounts, the guidelines consider both parents’ incomes and the child’s needs. Child support payments usually end when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school.

If you are a custodial parent who needs child support, or if you are a non-custodial parent and you believe you’re paying more than your fair share, discuss the matter with an attorney at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison.

Should Divorcing Couples Pursue Mediation?

Delaware courts typically require mediation for child custody, child support, and parental visitation cases before proceeding to litigation. Mediation is not strictly required for Delaware divorces, but the courts encourage divorcing couples to resolve their disputes through mediation.

Abram, Gulab & Hutchison can guide you through divorce mediation. With assistance from a neutral third-party mediator, the process encourages divorcing spouses to resolve their disputes with cooperation and compromise.

Mediation is confidential, so there is no public record of the proceedings. It can save divorcing spouses money and time, and it helps them avoid an acrimonious courtroom divorce trial. The benefits of mediation are considerable. Divorcing spouses, and not a judge, control the process.

How Does Mediation Work?

Have a clear understanding of your goals before mediation begins. At your first mediation session, your mediator will explain the process and the rules governing mediation. Subsequent sessions focus on resolving specific issues, such as spousal support and parenting schedules.

If mediation is successful, the mediator assists the divorcing spouses in preparing a written settlement agreement. The agreement must be filed with and approved by the court to become a legally binding order.

If you choose mediation, have a Kent County family lawyer at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison review the agreement to ensure it’s clear, effective, and enforceable. Mediation is faster, less confrontational, and allows for personalized solutions that a judge may not be able to provide.

How Can You Enforce Divorce-Related Court Orders?

The attorneys at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison can assist you in enforcing child support, child custody, visitation, and spousal support orders. In Delaware, intentionally violating a child support order can result in severe penalties.

Specific penalties depend on the details of a child support violation. The Delaware Division of Child Support Services assists parents in enforcing child support orders, utilizing tools such as wage garnishments and driver’s license suspensions.

If the court ordered child support and you’re not receiving payments, or if the court ordered visitations and your ex is preventing or interfering with your visits, Abram, Gulab & Hutchison will petition the court to enforce its order.

How Can You Change a Divorce-Related Court Order?

Over time, the orders the court issued when your divorce was finalized may become impractical, unenforceable, or outdated. A family law attorney at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison can assist you in seeking the modification of a divorce-related court order.

A Delaware court will approve a modification of a court order only when a significant life change has occurred. A relocation, unemployment, a sudden injury or illness, or the birth of a new child to either parent may require a modification to one or more court orders.

If you believe you need to modify a court order or are unsure if your circumstances require a modification, our law firm can assist you. If you need the court to modify a court order, we will guide you through the modification process and advocate for a favorable outcome.

Meet Our Family Law Team

Abram, Gulab & Hutchison is dedicated to resolving family law disputes through mediation and negotiation if possible, but we are prepared to fight in court for our clients’ best interests. We bring our proven legal skills, diverse backgrounds, and decades of experience to every case.

The family law team at Abram, Gulab & Hutchison will address your concerns about the division of marital assets, child custody, child support, spousal support, parental visitations, and the modification and enforcement of divorce-related court orders.

We are skilled and experienced at resolving the most complicated family law matters. We proudly serve our clients and their families throughout Kent County. Contact Abram, Gulab & Hutchison at 302-405-7010 to schedule a free consultation with a Kent County family attorney.