Heidi E. Opinsky

The Law Offices of Heidi E. Opinsky, LLC

Are you currently considering a divorce?
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203-653-3542   hopinsky@opinskylaw.com

New Canaan Divorce Attorney & Family Law Firm

Going through the process of ending your marriage is emotional, time-consuming, and expensive. A divorce may not be something you ever saw yourself getting, and you may not even want to dissolve your union. Regardless, if divorce is on the table, it’s important that you have trustworthy legal advocacy on your side and only your side. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a knowledgeable divorce attorney in New Canaan as soon as possible to begin learning about your legal rights and what options may be available to you. 

Heidi E. Opinksy is standing by to provide you with the compassionate, caring, and zealous legal advocacy you need during this challenging time. 

What to Know About Getting a Fairfield County Divorce  

Divorce is never easy, even if you’re the one who wants it. Even if you believe that getting a divorce in New Canaan will be the next best step for your family, going through the process of dissolving your marriage can be a difficult and often deeply emotional experience. 

You need dedicated legal support from an experienced New Canaan CT divorce attorney who can guide you through the process of navigating the Superior Court system and advocate for the best interests of you and your family. 

Legal Issues a Connecticut Family Lawyer Can Help With 

There are numerous family legal matters that a New Canaan family law firm can assist you with, such as: 

Property Division 

Property division laws in Connecticut are different from most other states. Similarly, most states have a dedicated family court while divorce and other family legal cases in New Canaan are seen by the Connecticut Superior Court Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk at Stamford. 

All property acquired during a marriage in Connecticut is considered eligible for equitable distribution between both partners. Unless a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement exists that outlines who gets what assets in a divorce, all property is considered shared and can be distributed between each party as a judge sees fit. 

If you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement about how to divide your property between the two of you, typically, a judge will accept the agreement and make it part of the official divorce decree. It’s worth attempting to negotiate the division of your assets with the help of a New Canaan divorce lawyer. 

Child Custody and Visitation 

Child custody and visitation are some of the most emotionally charged issues in any New Canaan divorce. Both you and your spouse want what’s best for your children, however, you may each have very different ideas of what “best” looks like. In these cases, you’ll likely need the help of a New Canaan Connecticut family lawyer to help you illustrate to a judge why your proposed plan for child custody arrangements is in the child’s best interests. 

Paternity 

Paternity must be legally established in some family legal cases. For example, an unmarried couple who wishes to share custody and visitation of a child must obtain proof of paternity before a Connecticut Superior Court will award custody or visitation to the alleged father of the child. Or, if a mother wishes to obtain financial support from her child’s alleged father, she must be able to prove that the man in question is indeed the child’s biological parent. 

Support and Alimony 

The assistance of a divorce lawyer in Connecticut is often necessary for issues related to child and spousal support, often called spousal maintenance. Discuss the following issues with your New Canaan family lawyer, if applicable: 

Child Support 

Child support can be a massively contentious issue; often, the payor is afraid they’ll be court-ordered to pay more support than they can reasonably afford and the recipient is concerned they may not receive enough support to adequately care for their child. Your divorce lawyer can help you calculate New York child support and advocate for the best interests of you and your family, regardless of which side of the issue you’re on. 

Spousal Maintenance 

Similar to child support, spousal maintenance or alimony can also become contentious. Often, the higher earning spouse does not want to pay for support, even if it’s temporary. The lesser earning spouse is often left to fight for the alimony they deserve after the end of a marriage so they can make a new life for themselves 

Modification of Support 

In many cases, alimony and child support orders are written to last years. However, financial situations change frequently and what worked two or even three years ago may not be working for you now. A modification of support can be sought by either party if financial circumstances have changed significantly on the part of the payor. 

For example, if the recipient learns that the payor has received a substantial raise, they can request the court recalculate the amount of support being paid; typically they will be able to receive a greater amount of support if the payor is making more money. 

Alternatively, if the payor is making less money, such as after demotion or job loss, they can also file for a modification of support and request that the amount being paid be reduced. 

A New Canaan Divorce Attorney Is Your Best Asset 

A divorce lawyer in New Canaan is perhaps your most valuable asset when going through a Connecticut dissolution of marriage. It’s important that you work with a New Canaan family lawyer who understands both the legal and emotional challenges you face as you close one chapter of your life and prepare for the next to be opened. 

Tips for Working With a New Canaan, CT Divorce Lawyer 

Your divorce attorney in Connecticut is an excellent resource as you prepare for your New Canaan dissolution of marriage. Here are some tips on working successfully with your CT lawyer: 

  • Be honest about your situation. Your lawyer’s job isn’t to pass judgment on you; they’re paid to advocate for you regardless. Be transparent and allow your attorney to sort out what’s best. 
  • Come prepared. When you meet with your New Canaan divorce attorney, bring a list of questions you want to ask or any documents that you’ve been asked to bring. Don’t waste your time and money; make the most of meetings with your lawyer by being ready to go at the start of each in-person or virtual meeting. 
  • Provide quick responses. The faster you are able to respond to your lawyer when asked for information or documentation, the faster your attorney will be able to move forward with your case. If possible, don’t delay when responding to your CT divorce lawyer. 

Contact New Canaan Divorce Lawyer Heidi E. Opinsky Now 

If you’re considering your Connecticut divorce options, don’t wait to reach out to an experienced New Canaan family law attorney to get answers to your important questions. This is a difficult time for you and your loved ones, and it’s important that you have more than adequate support as you go through the process of ending your marriage. 

Heidi Opinksy is available now to guide you through your dissolution of marriage in Connecticut. Dial 203-653-3542 to contact us for your consultation. 

Serving clients in New Canaan, CT and surrounding areas near Fairfield County, including but not limited to the neighboring towns of Norwalk, Wilton, and North Stamford. New Canaan neighborhoods served include but are not limited to Pinney’s Corners – Selleck’s Corners, New Canaan Center, Smith Ridge Road – Canoe Hill Road, and Talamadge Hill – Ponus. 

About New Canaan, Connecticut 

New Canaan is a part of Fairfield County that sits on the New York – Connecticut border. It’s just roughly an hour from Manhattan via train, making it an excellent town for commuters who want to live outside the city and travel for work. The town is a part of Connecticut’s Gold Coast, which is named for its multiple wealthy coastal towns that are home to some of America’s richest, including Wall Street hedge fund managers and other East coast millionaires and billionaires. 

With a population of just under 20,000, New Canaan is well known for its stunning and state-of-the-art architecture and numerous lush public parks. It’s considered one of the most wealthy towns in America, consistently ranking among the top richest zip codes across the country. 

Points of interest in New Canaan, CT include: