Family Law in Alabama

Whether happy or sad, family law issues can be highly emotional and difficult for our clients.  This is why you need solid, individual legal support from someone who will provide sound, unemotional legal advice based on Alabama’s specific laws.  Your attorney must be able to present your options in clear language, treating you with concern and consideration.

The Doerr Law Firm has almost two decades of experience specific to Alabama’s family laws and has the experience and compassion you need to help you with any family legal issue. 

Prenuptial Agreements

Most couples don’t want to think about a prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement) when dealing with the details of planning the happiest day in their lives.  Still, there are times when it makes sense to have a plan. 

• If one person enters the marriage with significant debt, the couple needs to agree on who will be responsible for it.
• It is common to come to the marriage with significant assets like family heirlooms that need to remain within the original family.
• Children from prior marriages need to be financially protected in all circumstances.

You cannot leave these situations to chance.  When you hire the Doerr Law Firm to write your prenuptial agreement, you can be assured you will have clear written guidelines created with the sensitivity needed to avoid disagreement now and in the future.

Adoptions

First and foremost, the goal of foster and adoption laws is to provide children with a happy permanent home.  At one time, this goal would have involved only children within the United States, and placement would be to traditional family situations.  Today, adoption is more complex, involving many legal situations, such as these:

• Adoption of children from foreign countries
• Multiethnic adoptions
• Single parent adoptions
• Second parent adoptions
• Adoption by older couples

Of course, to protect the children, the legal requirements behind any adoption can be complicated and time-consuming, and many regional laws can affect the outcome.  You need an attorney who is experienced in all aspects of adoption in Alabama.  With almost 20 years of experience in Alabama family law, Donald D. Doerr can help ensure that you meet all requirements needed for a successful adoption in Baldwin County, Mobile County, and along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Divorce

The pain and emotions in divorce make decision-making particularly difficult, especially when emotionally-invested friends and family offer well-meaning advice.  Donald D. Doerr considers all your issues and your feelings before presenting you with your best possible options.

Alabama has its own set of divorce laws.  You need an attorney who can ensure your case is presented in a way that meets Alabama’s requirements and protects your rights to a fair settlement.  Located in Bay Minette, AL, the Doerr Law Firm can provide the support you need in the state of Alabama.

If you are uncomfortable dealing with a painful courtroom trial, in the right circumstances we will try to negotiate a fair settlement out of court.  When your interests cannot be preserved outside of a courtroom, we will provide the strong litigation skills you need.

Modifications

As life situations change, the divorce settlement that made sense years ago may no longer apply. 

Sudden financial hardship may come to the spouse who is paying child support or alimony.
The spouse who is receiving child support or alimony may no longer need all or part of that income, thanks to receiving a sudden financial windfall.
Visitation or custody requirements may change when one spouse relocates to a distant state. 
College expenses exceed the amount that was anticipated when the initial divorce decree was decided.

You cannot count on an informal agreement when life changes -- you need a formal change to the divorce decree.  When you contact the Doerr Law Firm, you can ensure that you will continue to have an agreement that is legally-binding in the state of Alabama.

Custody and child support

When children are involved, divorce is more complex.  The state of Alabama considers the best interests of the children first in issues of child custody, child support, and visitation rights.  The Doerr Law Firm can help ensure that your children have what they need by presenting the strongest case in court.  We will do everything possible to make sure your children remain happy and safe.

Other areas of family law

Marriage and the needs of your children are certainly a large part of family law.  But, there are many other legal issues that can arise, including these:

• Domestic abuse - protection from abuse petitions, domestic violence, assault, battery, harassment, stalking, and restraining orders
• Juvenile law - juvenile dependency petitions and juvenile delinquency
• Marital property - division of marital assets and debts, retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, pension plans, stocks, bonds and personal property

The Doerr Law Firm can handle these and other family law issues that occur within your family.

Contact us

When you need an attorney to handle sensitive family matters, call the Doerr Law Firm at 877-880-6285 or contact us online to arrange for a low-cost initial consultation.  Weekend and evening appointments are available upon request.

Conveniently located across from the Bay Minette, AL courthouse, the practice regularly assists clients in these areas:

• Baldwin County
• Mobile County
• Alabama Gulf Coast

Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(e) requires the following language on all attorney advertising: "No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers."