Domestic Relations or Family Law deals with issues involving families and youth. At Cobert, Haber & Haber we assist our clients in the following areas:

• Separation
• Divorce
• Property Division
• Spousal Support (alimony)
• Child Support
• Child Custody and Visitation

New York Courts are empowered to decide issues of divorce, property division, support and custody. When parties cannot agree on these issues, then a court, after hearing evidence of facts specific to the case, will decide these issues based upon statutes (laws) and case law. Whether a person is negotiating a settlement or presenting a case to the court, he or she needs a knowledgeable and experienced family lawyer to get the benefit of all the law has to offer.

Divorce may be sought on fault grounds or based on a period of separation (no-fault). Careful thought and consideration should be given before deciding which course to take. Going through a divorce is emotionally and financially difficult. In most cases removing some of the animosity from the equation may be beneficial. In other cases, however, the facts may support the need to pursue a fault-based divorce.

Future financial security is a primary concern for everyone going through a divorce. Will a person be obligated to pay support? Will he or she receive enough support to make ends meet? Does he or she need to get a job or to seek a better paying job? In Virginia, spouses have an obligation to support each other. Spousal support is not awarded to punish a "guilty" spouse. The availability of spousal support or not must be considered in the context of many factors such as a spouse's need and the ability of a spouse to pay.

The laws controlling the division of property are complex and constantly changing. Before agreeing to a property settlement or before asking the court to divide property, it is very important to determine how and when the property was acquired and maintained. This is because some property may be separate property and not subject to division by the court. A knowledgeable and skillful lawyer can help steer a client through the maze of the laws and cases which may affect property division.

Whether a divorce case is resolved quickly and efficiently or drags on for years may well depend upon the attitude of the parties and attorneys involved. Seeking co-parenting solutions to custody and visitation disputes may positively affect a child for the rest of his or her life. Seeking alternatives to litigation, such as mediation and negotiation, may mean the difference between getting divorced and surviving a divorce. The family practitioners at Cobert, Haber & Haber are capable of addressing all these various issues.