NALA APC Family Law: Child Custody, Child Support, and Visitation ...

NALA APC
Family Law: Child Custody, Child Support, and Visitation
Paralegal Assistance
Intake and Assessment
1. Assist attorney with the initial client interview.
2. Send client information letter with retainer agreement, forms to complete, and
instructions to call for an appointment.
3. Accumulate, organize, index, and summarize pertinent documents from schools,
medical providers, therapists and other affiliated professionals.
4. Assist investigators in uncovering hidden assets.
5. Conduct background checks of client and other parties.
6. Analyze income and expense information provided by client.
7. Work with client in gathering earnings information, day care costs, health, dental,
and vision costs for children.
8. Work with clients and child support agencies in compiling information for determining
child support arrearage.
9. Assist clients with gathering information and preparation of financial affidavits and
disclosures.
10. Collect information on assets, bank accounts, and personal information.
11. Locate and interview potential witnesses and other persons who can provide relevant
information; summarize witness statements.
Client Assistance
1. Draft and assist in execution of paternity acknowledgments.
2. Distribute information regarding mandatory mediation and parenting classes.
3. Provide information and assist client with requirements of home study evaluations.
4. Follow up on compliance with counseling, mediation, and parenting class
requirements, and file proof of compliance with the court.
Communication
1. Draft correspondence with clients, courts, and other attorneys.
2. Maintain contact with clients, keeping them informed of case progress, meeting and
appearance requirements, and requests for necessary information.
3. Provide information to the client necessary for compliance with court orders and
counseling and mediation requirements.
4. Monitor the client’s progress, making sure client completes counseling and mediation
requirements in a timely manner.
5. Notify clients and witnesses on hearing and trial dates, depositions, etc
Case Preparation
1. Determine whether a child is the subject of a pending support, custody, or visitation
proceeding.
2. Determine requirements for legitimation and proof of paternity.
3. Research requirements for acknowledgement of paternity and its legal effect.
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NALA APC
Family Law: Child Custody, Child Support, and Visitation
4. Research and draft protective or restraining orders.
5. Work with accountants, financial advisors, brokers, and other financial experts
retained by client.
6. Work with clients in gathering and compiling financial information and required
disclosure documents.
7. Retain appraisers for real estate and business and personal property.
8. Prepare financial affidavits.
9. Calculate and determine birthing costs and health insurance obligation.
Settlement Negotiations
1. Draft settlement proposals, demands, and agreements.
2. Assist in settlement negotiations.
3. Assist attorney in analysis of proposed settlements.
4. Arrange mediation with mediator and other parties.
5. Attend mediation session and provide assistance to client and attorneys.
6. Summarize mediation sessions and draft memoranda of understanding.
7. Draft settlement agreements based on agreements made in mediation sessions.
Commencement of Action
1. Prepare initial pleadings, including petition, summons and service documents,
affidavits as to children, and any responses
2. Draft applications, stipulations, proposed orders, notices, and other routine
pleadings.
3. Draft initial pleadings and supporting affidavits complying with jurisdictional
requirements for divorce, child custody, and child support.
4. Arrange for service of process.
5. Prepare and distribute preliminary automatic disclosure documents and follow up on
statutory and court deadlines.
6. Prepare motions for temporary matters such as temporary child support, temporary
custody, and visitation.
Discovery
1. Review and organize opposing parties' discovery requests.
2. Assist attorneys and clients in gathering documents and data to respond to discovery
requests.
3. Draft discovery requests to be served on opposing parties; review and organize the
responses.
4. Organize, index, and summarize discovery materials.
5. Assist attorney in preparing clients for depositions.
6. Research legal issues regarding privileges and discovery of expert witnesses.
7. Attend depositions and assist attorney and clients.
8. Review and summarize deposition transcripts.
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NALA APC
Family Law: Child Custody, Child Support, and Visitation
Trial
1. Arrange for expert witnesses and assist in preparing witnesses and clients for trial.
2. Research local court rules and practices regarding child witnesses and admissibility of
hearsay testimony.
3. Research legal questions and assist in drafting brief and memoranda.
4. Notice and set hearings.
5. Calculate and determine child support obligation.
6. Attend evidentiary hearings and trials to assist the attorney.
7. Prepare pretrial order.
8. Prepare trial exhibits and trial notebooks.
9. Attend and assist attorney in hearings.
10. Prepare proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
11. Prepare orders and decrees.
Post-Trial/Settlement
1. Prepare documents such as titles, deeds, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, etc.,
for transfer of assets.
2. Arrange for filing and recording of transfer documents.
3. Review bills for tax deductible fees and prepare opinion letters to client.
4. Draft pleadings for withdrawal from case.
5. Facilitate visitation. Assist client with avoiding problems by setting expectations.
Explain process of visitation and client’s duty to facilitate and cooperate.
6. Prepare income assignments, writs of garnishment for support, writs of continuing
garnishment, motions for entry of judgment, and motions for contempt citations.
7. Assist in coordinating parenting time, parenting time exchanges, nurturing classes,
and telephone and/or personal visitations between parties and child.
8. Prepare motions, responses to motions, and supporting affidavits for modification of
visitation, custody, or child support.
9. Draft letter for closing file and return of original documents to client.
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