Lafayette Family Attorney
Many people move to Lafayette to give their children a better life. Organizations like the Lafayette Parish School System are important for both children’s well-being and family incomes. However, some families go through turmoil that requires legal intervention. If you are facing such a situation, a Lafayette family lawyer can prove indispensable.

Experienced Family Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
Longman Jakuback has experience with complicated family law cases. We’ve seen how difficult these situations can get. Our goal is to provide compassionate representation for clients involved in serious family law cases.
What Is Family Law?
Family law is a legal area that encompasses a wide range of cases, including:
- Divorce: This is one of the most common types of family law cases. They can be simple or extremely complicated. Divorce cases involve dividing property, which can be difficult if the couple was married for a long time. Divorces with minor children almost always take longer due to custody arrangements.
- Child custody: Although the 15th Judicial District Court prefers both parents to have custody when possible, this might not be feasible. It is important for the courts to have as much information as possible to determine custody, as it can fundamentally change the relationship that children have with their parents.
- Child and spousal support: While not always needed, child support is helpful for parents with different income levels, as it allows their children to develop in a stable financial situation. Spousal support, otherwise known as alimony, is meant to provide assistance for the lesser-earning spouse until they can become financially independent.
- Modifications: Sometimes, agreements that were settled during the initial divorce process do not serve the people involved anymore. If spouses experience changes in income or family situation, they may need to make modifications to existing agreements. This can be difficult without professional legal help.
- Adoption: While welcoming a new family member can be exciting, it does not come without its challenges. Louisiana requires adoptive parents to go through various checks and procedures before an adoption can be formally recognized. The process can be drawn out even further without legal representation.
The average family size in Lafayette is 2.95 people. It is important for the family members in a household to feel supported. Sometimes, this takes legal action, like divorce or seeking child custody.
Why Hire a Family Lawyer?
Many people do not think they need an attorney for a simple divorce. Proceedings in which both spouses are willing to cooperate with each other are generally called uncontested divorces. Although both spouses might reach an agreement, this agreement might not be approved by a judge under the state’s family laws.
In contested divorces, spouses do not agree on important parts of the divorce and require legal assistance to move forward with the process. These situations can get even more complex if children are involved.
Courts generally try to act in the interests of any children involved. A Lafayette family attorney can attempt to create agreements that benefit their clients and that the court approves. This can save time and prevent the back-and-forth it might take without legal help.
Even without children, the court might not approve a divorce agreement. Specific requirements must be met before the couple files. An attorney can fill you in on the details and work through them before filing to keep your case from being rejected.
Certain issues often come up, especially when two spouses are against each other. An attorney can find hidden assets that might reduce the amount of marital assets their client receives.
In some family law cases, accusations are made about one spouse that are simply untrue. Being accused of something like domestic violence is serious, even if it is only being done by a vindictive spouse. An attorney can prove that the claims are unfounded to prevent any issues from happening.
Sometimes, attorneys can even keep the case mostly out of court. Alternative dispute resolution methods, like mediation, can resolve problems and reduce your dependence on a backlogged court system.
Why Choose Us?
There are many steps to a family law case. At Longman Jakuback, we work hard to inform our clients of any updates as soon as possible. This helps our clients feel confident about the process and enables their cases to go smoothly.
FAQs About Lafayette, LA Family Laws
Family lawyers are worth it to many people in Lafayette. They can make legal issues take less time. Even if there is an upfront cost, a family lawyer can save money overall by working to reduce red tape and duplication. They can even help the family avoid court, which can save money and improve emotional health.
A wife is entitled to half of community property in a divorce in Lafayette. Community property is considered any property that was obtained while the couple was married. It usually does not include property obtained outside the marriage or as a gift to one person. The details of property division in a divorce might need professional legal attention.
When choosing the right family lawyer in Louisiana, it is important to consider whether the attorney has taken on any other cases similar to yours. Their previous experiences can be put to good use in your case. It’s also important for a family law attorney to communicate well and treat everyone involved in the case with respect and dignity.
A family law case does not necessarily have to go to trial in Lafayette. If the couple uses an alternative dispute resolution method, like mediation or arbitration, they might come to an agreement before needing to go to court. However, complicated child custody or support claims might still need court intervention.
Contact Longman Jakuback Today
18.9% of Lafayette residents are children. These are the individuals most affected by family law cases. To reduce the toll a family law case can leave on families, schedule an appointment with Longman Jakuback today.