Boutte Divorce Lawyer

Experienced Divorce Attorney in Boutte, LA

The process of a divorce involves major life changes, financial strain, and emotional stress. It is much easier to manage with the support of a Boutte divorce lawyer.

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Hire a Divorce Lawyer at Marino Law Firm, LLC

At Marino Law Firm, LLC, the father-son attorney team has over 50 years of collective experience. Mark A. Marino founded the firm after law school in 1986 and has spent years offering aggressive, compassionate, and ethical legal representation to individuals and families. Orrin A. Marino provides straightforward and informative legal representation that further elevates the firm.

Our team has experience navigating the local courts and understands how different jurisdictions in the River Parishes can affect your divorce or other family law case. We efficiently handle cases, helping you secure the ideal outcome to a divorce without adding unnecessary costs to the process. Our attorneys advocate for your interests to better protect your family’s future.

Key Aspects of the Divorce Process in Boutte

In Louisiana, the divorce rate was 0.9 per 1,000 residents in 2023, compared to the national rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents. Although divorces are less common than in other places, they still occur frequently.

In Boutte, a divorce will likely be filed with the 29th Judicial District Court serving St. Charles Parish. The process of a divorce involves determining several key aspects of financial and personal separation, which can be determined in a trial or outside of court through mediation or negotiation. The main aspects of a divorce decree are:

Property Division

The median income for married couple families in Boutte is $89,063. Louisiana is a community property state, with each spouse having an equal ownership in the assets and debts they acquired during their marriage. 

The court divides this marital or community property equally between spouses. If spouses determine a division of property without the court, then the court may approve that division as long as it isn’t unfair.

There is a 71.9% homeownership rate in Boutte, and 9.7% of homes are valued between $500,000 and $999,999. A home is one of the key assets that has to be considered during property division, and often the largest. Property division must value you and your spouse’s assets and determine whether the assets are considered separate or marital property.

Child Custody

When parents divorce with minor children, they must determine custody. The courts in Louisiana determine child custody based on the child’s best interests. 

Parents can agree on parental rights, custody, and visitation, and the court may approve it as long as it doesn’t negatively impact the child’s best interests. The court may award joint custody if the agreement isn’t approved and it is in the child’s interests.

When considering the child’s interests, the court assesses factors like:

• The potential for a child to be abused
• The mental and physical health of each party
• The emotional ties between the child and each parent

Many other factors are also considered depending on the family situation.

Child Support

Financial support for children during a divorce is also crucial. Both parents are responsible for providing for their child’s financial needs, and a child support agreement helps both parents pay for their share of support even after separation. 

The court assesses several things when determining child support, including:

• The basic financial support a child needs
• How many children need financial support
• If there are any extraordinary costs for a child’s financial support
• Each parent’s income
• The total income of both parents
• The existing custody arrangement

The court follows a formula to determine child support, but can alter the formula if the amount is not in the child’s interests.

Spousal Support

Spousal support may be awarded in some divorces. If one spouse is in need of financial support and is not the at-fault party in an at-fault divorce, the court may award support during the divorce proceedings, after the divorce is finalized, or both. The court will also consider the ability of the other spouse to pay support and the standard of living that was established while the couple was married.

FAQs

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Louisiana?

The cost of a divorce lawyer in Louisiana depends on many factors, including the specific attorney you work with and your unique divorce case. If your case is uncontested, these cases tend to take less time and also cost less. 

A case that can be handled outside of court, even if it’s contested, may cost more, but not as much as a litigated divorce. More complex property, support, or custody determinations likely increase the costs of an attorney and divorce.

What Is the Biggest Mistake During a Divorce?

One of the biggest mistakes during a divorce is failing to hire a divorce lawyer during the process. Even if you and your spouse agree on issues and want to work together on your divorce decree, mistakes and misunderstandings of the law can complicate the process. 

This might leave one of you without sufficient financial support or result in the court denying approval of the agreement. An attorney protects your rights and works to create a fair agreement that the court will approve.

What Is the First Step in Getting a Divorce in Louisiana?

The first step in getting a divorce in Louisiana is determining the grounds that you want to file on and what requirements they have. If you file for a no-fault divorce, there is a required waiting period after serving your spouse the petition. 

This means that spouses have to live separately for a certain period of time. A fault-based divorce doesn’t have the same waiting requirements, but requires proof of fault, such as adultery, committing a serious felony, or abuse.

What Are the Three C’s of Divorce?

The three C’s of divorce often include communication, cooperation, and compromise. This is most applicable to divorces where spouses are working together on a divorce decree through mediation or other alternative dispute resolution. 

If you are unwilling to communicate with your spouse and cooperate to find resolutions, then this form of divorce will likely be unhelpful and waste time and money. Parties may need to litigate the divorce afterward if negotiations fail.

Boutte Divorce Attorney

If you are planning to file for divorce in Boutte, reach out to Marino Law Firm, LLC today to better protect your family and your financial stability.