Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law

What is the least expensive type of divorce?

When a former marriage dissolves, it can be expensive when the divorce is contested.  This is due to the fact that the court will be pulled in to resolve the situation, and each party has their own attorney who is fighting for their client.  When the two parties can amicably agree on all matters of the divorce and get them resolved prior to court, the costs will be lower.  In any case, it is strongly advised that you contact a Long Island family lawyer from the Law Offices of Scupp & Berman, LLP to ensure that all aspects of the divorce are correctly addressed under law, and that your rights are protected concerning certain assets, rights regarding children or other matters in the divorce.

How do I choose a divorce lawyer?

We have found that most of our clients are referred by family, friends and associates or other attorneys, which is a strong recommendation when you need an attorney.  Experience is extremely important in family law matters, as in many cases facing a courtroom is part of the procedure.  This is not the time to break in an attorney!  Our firm has over 20 years of experience in the courts throughout Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and is familiar with the personnel of these courts, as well as other divorce attorneys in the area.  This experience and knowledge lends itself to negotiations on behalf of our client.

Can a child support agreement be modified?

When the court orders certain support, it cannot be changed without a modification through the court.  We can assist you in resolving this matter.  Circumstances change, such as employment, the child's current needs, medical problems and others.  These situations require a modification, and our legal team can help.

How can I be sure that I don't lose my personal property or inheritance in my divorce?

When a marriage dissolves, this is a personal matter of extreme importance that often creates difficulty.  As throughout the marriage, certain assets may have been comingled, proving the personal assets owned prior to marriage can be very important.  We will carefully review the situation against state law, and advise you what can be expected.  Our state laws provide for "equitable distribution" which does not mean 50/50.  Contributions made during the marriage can affect the outcome when splitting assets, such as if one spouse used personal money to upgrade their wife/husband's property.  Determining marital property and separate property is a procedure that we are very familiar with.

Is there any way to avoid paying spousal support?

How spousal support is determined in court is through a formula.  It is not assumed that one spouse will get support, and if each party is able to provide for themselves, there may be no spousal support ordered by the court.  They follow a specific formula to determine whether support will be ordered.  We can assist you in determining the likelihood of paying support, and what your alternatives could be.

Can I increase my spousal support payments?

When there is good reason to increase the payments, it may be possible to modify an existing spousal support order.

What can your firm help with in family law matters?

We are proud to serve clients throughout Long Island, Nassau County and Suffolk County with Divorce, both contested divorce  and uncontested divorce as well as matters related to child custody, child support, and spousal support/alimony.  When a Separation Agreements is necessary, we can draft this agreement and negotiate for our client.  Some clients require either a pre or post nuptial agreement, or could require assistance with a marital property matter.  We also provide strong legal support for fathers' rights and grandparents' rights as well as visitation.  If you feel you are a victim of parental alienation, this can be addressed legally.

We have many clients who need assistance in high net worth divorce cases, military divorce, property division or asset division in divorce.  Some face relocation or must have a modification of an existing agreement.

In some cases we need to help those who are victims of domestic violence and can assist in filing orders of protection to prevent our client from suffering further harm, an urgent legal matter.

Contact a Long Island Family Law Attorney from our firm to provide you with outstanding client service and high quality legal representation.