ATTORNEY
SERVICES
Benefits of a Divorce and
Family Law Attorney
Effective Advocacy for Divorce and Family Law Clients
Choosing the right attorney to represent you in your divorce and family law case is often the most important decision you can make to impact the outcome.
Your attorney will be your primary, and often sole, source of legal guidance, shaping your understanding of the proceedings and influencing how you approach key decisions. Moreover, you must rely on your attorney to advocate effectively on your behalf, ensuring your voice is heard and your interests are protected.
Much like any profession however, the caliber of divorce and family law attorneys can vary widely in terms of their ability, integrity, philosophy, and dedication.
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With over 17 years of experience, attorney Bradford “Brad” Bennett has successfully resolved hundreds of divorce and family law cases, both in and out of the courtroom.
As further detailed herein, Brad’s unique approach to family law involves ongoing strategic discussions with clients, promoting settlement while being fully prepared to advocate in court, and remaining mindful of their long-term goals beyond the conclusion of the case.
"I immediately felt as though I was in good hands from the initial consultation. Brad was thorough, intelligent, straight-forward, and personable. I’m very grateful for all he did for me and my son. He is a blessing to family law."
- Carrie B.
Comprehensive Legal Advice to Think Like an Attorney
Your family law attorney must have a thorough understanding of the laws governing divorce, parentage, property division, financial support, child custody, parenting time, modifications, enforcement, and other related matters.
Their expertise is essential in helping you understand your rights and obligations under the law, enabling you to make informed decisions based on your unique circumstances.
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While Brad does possess a deep understanding of family law, his legal expertise extends well beyond the fundamentals, having earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Family Law, Certified Divorce Coach, as well as becoming a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®. He is also highly proficient in the rules governing discovery, civil procedure, and evidence, essential skills to navigate cases that become protracted, contested, or involve dishonesty.
Establish Realistic Expectations and Prepare Strategically
Your attorney will likely be your primary source of legal guidance in your divorce or family law matter, shaping both your expectations and understanding of the process.
Consequently, clients will often part ways with their attorney mid-case if they believe the attorney made promises they either knew, or should have known, were unattainable. For other clients however, this realization may come too late, after they have incurred substantial legal fees to take the case to trial, only to receive an unfavorable ruling from the judge.
This issue is more common among attorneys who are inexperienced, overly eager to secure new clients, or who prioritize personal financial gain over their clients' best interests.
Brad takes pride in being honest and transparent with potential clients even before formalizing an attorney-client relationship.
He not only recognizes that every case has both strengths and weaknesses, but he is adept at identifying areas of leverage to benefit his clients in settlement negotiations or at trial. Brad values maintaining a collaborative relationship with his clients, actively involving them at every stage of the process and providing a clear cost-benefit analysis for each decision.
Unlike some attorneys, he avoids the common bait-and-switch tactic whereby the principal attorney conducts the initial client consultation, only to delegate the case to a paralegal or less experienced associate after being retained.
PRACTICE AREAS
Divorce & Legal Separation
Child Support & Parenting Time
Maintenance (Alimony) & Asset Allocation
Post-Decree Modification
& Enforcement
Forensic Accounting
& Dissipation
College Contribution
Pre & Postnuptial Agreements
Divorce & Family Law Consultancy Services
Build a Strong Foundation Through Discovery
While many clients initially believe their divorce or family law matter will be simple and straightforward, such cases often involve disagreements, complexities, or an opposing party who is reluctant to fully disclose their financial wherewithal.
In these situations, in order to negotiate a settlement or litigate effectively, it is essential that all relevant information is uncovered, shared, and understood. Unfortunately, many clients remain entirely unaware when their attorney fails to take these critical steps, which can significantly impact the outcome of their case.
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Regardless of the complexity of your case, Brad will conduct the commensurate level of discovery necessary to ensure full disclosure of all relevant information.
This may include uncovering additional sources of income, hidden assets, or improper spending, depending on the specifics of your situation. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Brad brings additional expertise in identifying financial discrepancies.
To achieve complete transparency, particularly when faced with a reluctant opposing party, Brad will not hesitate to utilize the full range of discovery tools available, including interrogatories, requests for production, subpoenas, depositions, and the use of experts.
Thorough Financial Analysis and Valuations
While most divorce and family law attorneys can calculate spousal and child support obligations in accordance with established legal guidelines, typically based on income formulas and, for child support, the allocation of parenting time – Brad takes this analysis a step further.
He meticulously examines how each party’s income is determined to ensure all income is accurately accounted for and that any applicable deductions are properly applied. Additionally, Brad understands how spousal support can be strategically structured to complement the division of the marital estate, addressing your unique circumstances and future financial needs.
This approach maximizes the potential benefit of spousal support in your case, ensuring a more tailored and effective resolution, and increasing the opportunity for settlement.
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In divorce cases, parties often struggle to fully understand how to authenticate their non-marital property, the implications of commingling assets, and the ways in which non-marital property can become marital property. Additionally, even some inexperienced attorneys may fail to properly assess certain non-traditional assets, such as non-monetary employee benefits or business ownership.
Brad has a deep understanding of the legal requirements for proving or challenging the classification of property in a divorce. He is highly skilled at ensuring that all marital property is accurately included in the marital estate and is adept at addressing how non-marital property can influence its division. Moreover, Brad recognizes that businesses often carry an inherent value unique to divorce proceedings, a factor frequently misunderstood or deliberately manipulated by the party involved.
Resolve Child-Related Matters from a Principled Mindset
If children are involved, your divorce and family law attorney will be essential in resolving all child-related matters, such as parenting time, education, healthcare, religion, extracurricular activities, insurance, and transportation.
These issues often take precedence and can significantly impact such financial matters as child support, spousal support, and who retains the primary residence. Therefore, even a minor disagreement in these areas can quickly escalate and bring the entire case to a standstill.
Understanding that child-related disputes are often emotionally charged and prone to escalation, Brad carefully analyzes both parents’ positions before addressing the merits of each contested issue.
His initial focus is to identify whether either parent’s positions are further influenced by underlying financial motives, a gratuitous desire for equality with their spouse or partner, outdated gender stereotypes, or the tendency to improperly conflate parental rights with their parenting abilities or love for their children. After determining same, only then will Brad focus on presenting evidence-based solutions that align with the children’s best interests.
Negotiate Superior Settlement Agreements
The effectiveness of your divorce and family law attorney frequently depends on their ability to communicate and negotiate skillfully on your behalf.
While some believe they need to hire a “shark” to rigidly defend their positions throughout the process and aggressively litigate in court, they often find this approach to be time-consuming, ineffective, and costly. Moreover, this tactic is often indicative of an inexperienced or one-dimensional attorney.
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Exceptional attorneys like Brad strike a more balanced approach, maintaining professionalism, courtesy, and assertiveness while remaining open to negotiation throughout the process to achieve a cost-effective and favorable resolution. Brad also excels at drafting comprehensive and meticulously detailed agreements that address every relevant issue and meet all legal standards. Most importantly, he understands that a settlement holds little value if it is not properly documented, especially if the agreement is later enforced in court.
Thorough Pre-Trial Preparation and Court Representation
The most high-stakes and visible role of a divorce and family law attorney is often on display during court proceedings, where they examine witnesses, present evidence, and advocate on behalf of their client.
In these situations, negotiations have broken down, leaving the judge to resolve all contested issues. After hearing the evidence, a judge's ruling will often reflect how well each client’s attorney prepared for the hearing or trial, maintained realistic expectations, and objectively assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the case. Moreover, a trial typically occurs only after the judge has provided multiple opportunities for the parties to settle, including offering informal recommendations during one or more pre-trial conferences.
Brad deeply understands that, long before a trial or hearing begins, judges often start forming opinions on the issues and, most importantly, signal what evidence they consider essential or irrelevant. Unlike some attorneys who fail to anticipate that a case may end in litigation, Brad approaches every case as though it may ultimately proceed to trial, ensuring he is fully prepared to advocate effectively for his clients in court.
He ensures that his clients’ positions are not only reasonable but also strongly supported by evidence, while thoroughly investigating any unfounded claims made by the opposing party. Brad is confident that he can increase the likelihood of settling a contested and stagnant case shortly after the opposing side realizes that they are less prepared for trial than he is.