Putting You And Your Family First
We bring extensive knowledge to provide our clients with skilled representation and advocacy. At Catamount Law, PLLC, we understand how stressful, overwhelming and emotional these matters can be. We pride ourselves on personal service and thoughtful, consistent attention and commitment to you. Whether your divorce is contested, collaborative or somewhere in between, it is important to have a family law attorney with integrity and a high standard of ethics and professionalism to guide you through the legal process.
Compassionate Guidance And Counsel Through Divorce
We regularly work with spouses going through high-conflict divorce. The conflict may be the result of violence, infidelity or even just growing apart, but the resulting stress and anxiety are universal. We have the experience and insight needed to effectively advocate for clients in contentious domestic relations matters, including:
- Divorce: We handle all aspects of divorce in Vermont, from property division to spousal support, with discretion and strategic planning.
- Parentage: We help establish legal parent-child relationships under the Vermont Parentage Act for all family structures.
- Alimony (spousal support): Our attorneys represent both paying and receiving spouses in support matters and modification requests.
- Child custody: We focus on protecting parent-child relationships and creating parenting plans that support long-term family stability.
- Relocation: We have significant experience handling cases where one parent seeks to move with a child.
- Modification: When circumstances change, we help modify existing custody, visitation or support orders.
- Relief From Abuse (RFA) restraining orders: We represent clients seeking restraining orders from partners and family members.
We work hard to reduce stress and find ways to make the divorce proceedings as amicable as possible.
Establishing Parentage In Vermont
In 2018, the Vermont Parentage Act (VPA) went into effect. The VPA was conceived as a way to clarify the legal definition of how parentage is established and the specific rights and responsibilities of parents in Vermont. Establishing parentage is the key to attaining parental rights to be involved in your child’s life, as well as getting a court order for child support. It is best to establish parentage as quickly as possible to make early medical decisions and secure insurance coverage.
The VPA recognizes several ways to establish parentage:
- A biological mother giving birth
- Adoption
- Being named as the parent on the birth certificate
- De facto parentage
- Nondonor genetic parentage
- Gestational carrier agreements
- Presumed parentage based on marriage to the birth mother
- Presumed parentage based on being named on the birth certificate
Why Choose Catamount Law, PLLC, For Family Law Matters
Our firm offers a unique advantage: we handle both family law and criminal defense. This dual focus matters because family law cases often overlap with criminal matters such as domestic assault charges or violations of court orders. With over 35 years of combined experience, Frank J. Twarog, Samantha V. Lednicky and Anna L. Shelley understand how decisions in one court affect outcomes in another.
We provide discreet, nonjudgmental representation and work with a network of professionals to build comprehensive strategies for complex cases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vermont Family Law
Family law issues in Vermont can introduce confusion and future uncertainty. The answers to frequent questions can help you move forward.
How long does it take to finalize a divorce in Vermont?
A Vermont divorce cannot be finalized until statutory waiting periods have passed. Spouses seeking a no‑fault divorce must live separately and apart for at least six consecutive months. The separation must show an intent to end the marriage, and spouses may remain in the same residence if they live independent lives.
After the court issues the decree nisi, a 90‑day waiting period usually applies before the divorce becomes absolute. Both spouses may jointly ask the court to shorten or waive this period, but approval is discretionary. The timeline also depends on contested issues, disclosures and court schedules.
How does Vermont determine child custody?
Vermont decides child custody by evaluating what arrangement best serves the child’s interests. State law uses the term Parental Rights and Responsibilities (PR&R), which includes both legal and physical components.
- Legal rights and responsibilities involve authority over major decisions related to education, medical care and religious upbringing.
- Physical rights and responsibilities determine where the child lives and who provides daily care.
Courts may award these rights solely to one parent or divide them between both parents. Judges review several factors, including each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs, the quality of existing relationships and each parent’s willingness to support ongoing contact with the other parent. Parenting schedules are crafted to promote stability, reduce conflict and support the child’s overall well‑being.
What happens to property that was owned prior to the marriage?
Vermont treats all property owned by either spouse as part of the marital estate, even if it was acquired before the marriage, inherited or received as a personal gift. The court uses an equitable distribution standard, which focuses on fairness rather than an automatic equal split. Judges evaluate how and when the property was acquired, each spouse’s financial circumstances, contributions to the marriage and the needs of any children.
Property owned before the marriage is not automatically excluded, but its origin is one factor among many that guide the court’s decision. Vermont’s broad authority allows the judge to divide premarital and separate assets when necessary to reach a fair outcome.
Contact Us
Please call us at 802-864-9811 or send an email to us to arrange for a confidential consultation with a lawyer.