Family Law

What is Family Law?

Family law pertains to legal situations dealing with adoption, divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence and more. Family law attorneys may represent clients in court, support negotiations, draft legal documents, or provide legal guidance. Most often, family law attorneys will draft court petitions, property agreements, or pre/post-marital agreements. Other areas of family law may include adoption, paternity, alimony, emancipation, or other matters unique to each client. Yvonne Rizzo has several years specializing in family law cases with great complexity. In fact, her background as a Deputy City Attorney has provided an in-depth experience with the family law system.

Most family law attorneys represent clients in divorce proceedings and related matters, however the practice of family law is a wide-reaching field. In addition to handling divorce proceedings, family law specialists may be involved in supporting foster care cases, parentage, reproductive rights, or domestic violence charges. Due to the personal and challenging nature of these topics, it is crucial to choose an experienced and trusted family law attorney to support you with these matters. A reliable family attorney will ensure your loved ones are properly represented and protected throughout the legal process.

Yvonne Rizzo’s legal practice is dedicated exclusively to the area of Family Law. This dynamic and challenging field plays host to some of the most difficult decisions clients ever have to make. Whether negotiating child custody or navigating a complex divorce, Ms. Rizzo is equipped to provide compassionate and competent support in difficult situations. By choosing a family law specialist, you’ll have access to in-depth knowledge of local family law codes and how they might apply to your case.

Yvonne Rizzo Esq began her legal career over 16 years ago working as a civil litigator in the field of medical malpractice defense. Following her experience as a litigator, she pursued an opportunity at the Office of the City Attorney. There she worked in the criminal division and gained invaluable experience in the courtroom and in negotiations. She worked as a Deputy City Attorney in the Domestic Violence Unit and spent several years in trials and complex litigation. After working as a prosecutor, Ms. Rizzo established a private practice focused on domestic abuse matters and all other areas of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, and more. Currently, Ms. Rizzo’s firm provides family law counsel for a range of clients dealing with all areas of legal consideration.

The most common situations where the support of a family law attorney include: 

Divorce: During the divorce process, each party hires their own attorney. The attorney may help file the initial divorce petition, negotiate settlement plans, discuss child custody, or represent their client in trial. Family law attorneys can also help with the division of property, calculating spousal support, and proposing plans for child custody. In addition, Ms. Rizzo offers expertise in the case of domestic violence-related divorce matters.

Child Custody / Child Support: In the case that two parents are not domiciled together, either through divorce or other means of separation, they may negotiate physical and legal custody of their children. Custody may be granted on a joint or sole basis. A family law attorney can assist with court orders, settlement agreements, and child support negotiations throughout the custody establishment process. Over time, child custody and support matters may be revisited due to relocation, changes in health, or financial standing.

Paternity: In some cases, one parent may request confirmation of paternity in order to establish appropriate child support. In other cases, a parent may file for paternity in order to establish custody or a formal relationship with their child. Paternity typically is determined through DNA testing.

States have the right to determine 'reasonable formal requirements' for marriage, including age and legal capacity, as well as the rules and procedures for divorce and other family law matters.