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Sometimes You Need Someone To Stand Up For You

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS...

What Kind Of Support Will I Need In The Future? Who Is Going To Support Me? What If I Have Never Had A Job Til Now? Does He Have To Pay The Cost For Me To Go To School? Am I Entitled To Support? How Do I Prepare A Financial Affidavit? Where Do The Numbers Come From? How Accurate Should My Financial Statement Be? Do I List Everything On The Financial Affidavit? Can I Continue To Spend Money Like I Always Have? Why Should He Get To Cut My Spending Off? I Don't Have Work Experience, So Why Should I Have To Work? I Have Been A Stay At Home Mom For Years, What Am I Supposed To Do Now? What About Our Kids School? Who Decides Who Gets The Kids? What Are The Issues In Deciding Custody? What Is A Guardian Ad Litem? Could I Lose My Children? What Is A Parenting Plan? Shouldn't The Kids Live With Me? Does He Get The Kids Because He Has More Money? Doesn't It Matter That I Teach Them Everything? Will He Still Have To Pay For Their Costs? What About The Allowance For The Kids, Who Is Going To Pay That? Who Is Going To Pay For Our Kids Extra-Curricular Activities? He Was The One That Wanted Her To Take Skating Lessons, Shouldn't He Have To Pay? How Will We Split The Holidays? I Should Get To Make The Decisions For The Kids, Shouldn't I?

What About Child Support? How Is Child Support Calculated? What About College? What About Extra-Curricular Costs? Who Pays For Health Insurance? Who Is Going To Pay The Out Of Pocket Medical Costs? What Is Abuse? What Isn't Abuse? Would I Know Abuse If I Saw It? Is Abuse Different For A Man And Woman? Has My Spouse Gone Too Far? Has My Husband Or Wife Hidden Our Assets? Can My Husband Really Do This? Can I Be Denied Access To Our Assets? He Says He Is Going To Sell The Things We Own My Husband Sell Things We Own? Can My Husband Really Control My Spending? What If He Says I'll Get Nothing? Should I Get Alimony? Is The Business Really His? Are His Rights More Important Than Mine? What Are My Rights Anyway? What Is Fair Under The Circumstances? What Is Equitable Division? What Makes An Asset A Separate Or Premarital Asset? Isn't Everything We Owned After Marriage A Marital Asset? He Made Me Sign Something Before We Got Married, Now He Says I Get Nothing, Is That True? Am I Prepared To Make These Important Decisions? Who Gets Our House? Who Gets The Lake House? If I Keep The Time Share Does He Still Pay The Costs? Does He Have The Right To Tape My Phone Calls? Can He Go Through My Computer And Look At My Personal Stuff? What If He Knows My Passwords? He Knows Things That There Is No Way Of Him Knowing Unless He Is Following Me? Do I Get 50% Of Everything? I Should, Shouldn't I? What Are The Tax Consequences? Why Should I Care About Taxes? What Is The Difference Between Alimony And Property Settlement Payments? What About Support Payments That We Don't Call Alimony? Do I Really Understand The Issues?

How Do I Go About Proving Things In Court? What Is Confidential? How Do I Build My Case? Will This Go To Court? What Is Mediation And How Does It Work? Who Pays The Debt? Who Decides What Debt Is Mine? How Much Of The Debt Is Legitimate? Who Decides How Much Things Are Worth? What If My Husband Says We Don't Own Anything Of Value? How Do We Settle This? What If We Can't Settle Our Case? What Is Mediation? What If His Attorney Knows The Mediator? Is He Going To Be Ahead Of Us In Mediation? What Does The Mediator Decide? What If We Make A Good Offer To Settle And They Turn It Down? What If They Make An Offer, Do We Have To Respond? Even If It's Ridiculous And Unfair? What Id A Deposition? How Does That Work? Can I Ask Questions Too? Can We Ask About His Girl-Friend? What If My Spouse Is Cheating On Me? DO I Still Have To Support Her? What Is All Of This Going To Cost Me? Will I Recover Attorney Fees From My Spouse? Shouldn't He Pay For My Attorney? How Much Will An Attorney Cost? Should I Hire The Most Expensive Attorney So That He Will Have To Give Me What I Want? Who Decides How Much He Has To Pay For My Attorney? He Is Using His Earnings And Paying For His Attorney, Shouldn't I Get To Do The Same Thing? What Is An Attorney Really Going To Do? Should I Have To Pay My Attorney A Retainer Fee? Is The Retainer Fee Refundable? Can I Write My Attorney Fees Off Of My Taxes? How Much Should It Cost To Take A Deposition? How Much Does Trial Cost? Why Do I Need An Expert, If I Have An Attorney? What Does A Forensic Accountant Do? How Long Should This Take? Will I Be Able To Talk To The Attorney Any Time? Why Am I Paying An Attorney If I Am Going To Have To Do All Of The Work Anyway? How Much Should I Tell The Attorney? What Is A Confidential Relationship? When Do I Pay The Attorney? Can I Just Pay My Attorney Fees From Whatever I End Up With? Can I Use A Credit Card To Pay My Fees?

I HAVE ANSWERS

THE NEXT RIGHT DECISION

Your head is spinning and you need answers because the decisions you make and the things you do and say will affect everything that matters to you. You may be overwhelmed, possibly crippled by uncertainty but you must nonetheless make The Next Right Decision.

Avoid wasting time, you need to understand the issues and get to the bottom line. Divorce doesn't go on forever, but the results are going to, so making "The Next Right Decision" begins with selecting The Right Lawyer!

"NOBODY CARES HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE" - Pres. Theodore Roosevelt

SOMEONE TO CHAMPION YOUR CAUSE

Jon Spetalnick, a driven, assertive and proactive Family Law Attorney who believes in action rather than happenstance. I'm honest, candid and methodical with clients, opposing counsel, and in court. From the first time we meet I further and foster a pattern of behavior, practices and representation that is specifically intended to bolster your credibility and ensure you make the Next Right Decision. My practice is devoted to issues associated with divorce, including child custody, child support and modification of custody and support issues.

When family law issues arise it's the most important thing in your life at that moment. Everyone handles these issues differently; some are overwhelmed by emotion, fear, uncertainty or anxiety, while others adopt the attributes of an Ostrich burying their head in the sand. Some clients have an "I want this over as quickly as possible" attitude, while others dig in their heels because they don't want a divorce. Some clients want a divorce, others really need one, and then there are situations where a person recognizes they've grown apart from their spouse and want to understand their rights, and to resolve matters before they are blown out of proportion, cost a fortune, or tear relationships and friendships apart. Some clients feel life is over, others feel their lives are just beginning again.

Divorce is both stressful and life altering. I help you minimize the impact by helping you navigate the complexities of ending a marriage. I zealously represent my clients in the courtroom, but litigation isn't always the best way to resolve a divorce. We always try to resolve your case amicably when possible. Where children are involved, you and your spouse need to preserve the ability to handle parenting interactions, despite divorce. Life's precious moments shouldn't be tainted by angry or bitter ex-spouses. I have extensive experience in cases involving substantial assets; high incomes, small businesses and hidden assets, and my financial analysis capabilities are a strength.I've also handled many contested custody issues involving adultery, alcohol, drug abuse, and physical violence.

You've seen lawyers on television and in the movies, so you think you know what to expect. Some attorney's claim it only takes one call. Your experiences with a lawyer may be limited to drafting a will or buying a house. When Divorce issues arise, my role is similar to that of a movie director or screenwriter. Together we clearly define your goals, appropriately frame the issues based on the facts and circumstances of your case, accurately assess financial and child related matters, and determine an efficient and effective course of action. Together we work to make certain your case, behavior, decisions, practices and settlement proposals play out favorably.

MY APPROACH TO DIVORCE

My approach is different because it's methodical, measured, proactive and goal oriented. As a Family Law Attorney I wear many hats in representing a client.I'm financial advisor, divorce counselor, cheerleader, accountant, psychologist, sounding board, friend and attorney all rolled up in one. Family Law can be emotionally draining for attorneys too, and many want nothing to do with family law issues, while for others it makes being a lawyer worthwhile. Many people seek careers intending to help those in crisis; some in law enforcement, others as physiologists, counselors, financial planners, and therapists. This isn't just what I do, it's who I am, I';m a Divorce Lawyer. Every one of my clients is given my cell phone number so that we can resolve situations and issues and to allow us to determine the best approach before these issues become bigger and more costly to resolve.

Every case and every client deserves to be handled with integrity and honesty. I employ tactics and methods consistent with the "Next Right Decision" throughout your case. Throughout your case we gather information and we prepare to litigate until your case is settled. Achieving reasoned results is paramount but relies on accurately assessing your case. Part of that process requires that we educate your spouse and opposing counsel so we can meet our goals most efficiently. All during this time we make certain you handle yourself in a way the judge, jury and others view you and your case favorably.

We use logic, reason, normalcy, integrity and being prepared to approach negotiations, mediation, hearings or trial prepared and we deal with your estranged spouse in a fair, reasonable, and honest manner. It comes down to achieving great results by being better prepared. Parties easily "Lawyer Up&" and tie knots which can be difficult and costly to untie. Divorce is expensive enough; we need to employ steps to control costs. Great results don't just happen, they are achieved by developing a full and accurate understanding of the issues and working closely. Cases should be resolved with minimal collateral damage. You can kill a fly with a sledge hammer or a fly swatter; a sledge hammer is just as effective (and can be more fun) than a fly swatter but the fly swatter is more efficient and leaves less collateral damage.

THE PATH FORWARD

We determine how best to tell your story, develop an argument and design a resolution that makes sense for everyone. Our main goal is not to take your spouse to the cleaners, clean someone's clock or to get revenge. You need to recognize that when your divorce is over, one way or another, you walk away with a written document (either a Settlement Agreement, Parenting Plan, Child Support Worksheet or the Order of the Court). On day one we begin to address the specific language to include in those written instruments.

The real key to your divorce is you. Clients need to be fully engaged and involved in their representation. You don't want your attorney or their staff to sheild you or determine your fate without your regular and meaningful input. You should be in regular contact with your attorney and your phone calls should be returned promptly. Your involvement accomplishes several key advantages:

You are better prepared for any deposition, hearing or trial
You are better prepared to contribute in negotiations and mediation
You are better prepared to understand and restate our goals
You are better prepared to handle the stress of divorce
You are better able to control and reduce your total costs