FAQ
Do you charge for an initial interview?
Yes. We charge our hourly rates for an initial interview.
In what family law areas do you practice?
Our practice includes divorce, alimony, child custody and support, property division, parenting and visitation, relocation, pre-marital and post-nuptial agreements, jurisdictional disputes, legal separation, international family matters, post-judgment modification of financial and custody orders, and post-judgment enforcement of court orders.
How long have the attorneys at N&P practiced family law?
Edward Nusbaum 38 years
Thomas P. Parrino 25 years
Harold W. Haldeman 11 years
Laura R. Shattuck 11 years
How long will my divorce take?
There is no “typical” time for a divorce. Each divorce differs from every other divorce depending upon, among other factors: the financial issues of the marital estate, the reasonableness of the respective parties, and the Court’s schedule.
What distinguishes N&P from other law firms?
Our firm’s top priority is client service. We are accessible and responsive to your needs, providing regular communication, real-time updates and prompt legal counseling on issues that arise in your particular circumstances.
As seasoned negotiators and capable litigators, we apply our skill and diligent preparation to resolve your case by agreement while always prepared to litigate when necessary.
Other law firms recognize our prominence by hiring us as co-counsel in cases.
We work collectively to serve your needs, to research the legal issues in your case, and to devise the best course of action given the facts of your case in an effort to provide you with sufficient information to make important decisions.
Why does N&P not practice mediation divorce law?
The mediation divorce process is fraught with risks since the process may not account for the unequal negotiation skills of the parties, and often fails to focus on fair and equitable results as the primary goal, sometimes resulting in disproportionate and unfair results. The process, moreover, assumes that the couple involved, with no legal background, will be able to negotiate a resolution of all issues with the individual mediator who does not represent either party’s interest. When that assumption fails, in most cases, the parties then hire their own reviewing counsel, resulting in the additional expenditure of two more lawyers who may very well come into the mediation process and advise their clients against that which a mediator has been recommending for a significant period of time. The result is that the divorce is now prolonged, the mediation may fail, and the time and finances spent on mediation have been unfruitful. Many times in mediation, the parties are left to the “good faith” representations of their spouse without the benefit of discovery, which would reveal whether or not the assets and incomes of the respective parties, upon which an agreement is reached, is accurate.
Why does N&P not practice collaborative divorce law?
The collaborative divorce process involves lawyers who refuse to litigate any aspect of a divorce if settlement negotiations fail. Often, one spouse in a collaborative divorce setting is disadvantaged because of unequal bargaining power. Furthermore, the collaborative process deprives each party of the litigation alternative to resolve their disputes. Additionally, when collaboration fails, clients are forced to negotiate their differences in a litigation setting or settle the case on less favorable terms to bring their divorce to a conclusion.
How does N&P resolve divorce issues?
We settle most of our cases by agreement but the option of litigation is necessary to reach an equitable result when other methods have failed. We possess the necessary litigation tools to litigate a case as a last resort.
What if my case needs non-legal expert help in areas such as taxes, valuation or child custody?
When necessary, we work with proven and trusted outside professionals such as tax experts, valuation experts, forensic accountants, custody and psychological evaluators, trusts and estates experts, substance abuse experts and information technology experts.
What is my divorce going to demand of me?
Detailed preparation of a financial affidavit.
Preparation of a comprehensive marital summary; a history of your marriage.
Preparation of a parenting plan to determine accessibility of each parent to their children on issues such as visitation, vacations, holidays and residence.
Response to interrogatories or production requests from the other side.
Patience and perseverance as you work with us in preparation of your case.
