Areas of Practice

Family Law

Separation and divorce can be stressful and life-altering events for all family members, especially children.  The legal complexities that arise when a family divides often appear overwhelming. 

The Law Office of Justin T. Wayne, LLC handles annulments, divorce, custody and visitation, parent relocation and other change of custody issues, spousal and child support matters, equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities, the preparation of pre-marital and marital agreements, adoption, domestic relations appellate litigation, enforcement of settlement agreements or Court-ordered property and support issues and other post-divorce issues, parental abduction, and related matters.  Most of our clients derive from referrals from current and former clients, opposing parties, former witnesses and other members of the legal profession. 

We pride ourselves on our professionalism, skill, devotion to our clients' cases, sensitivity to our clients' emotions, and our discreet, thorough and zealous representation.  Although we are never shy to litigate when the occasion demands, we also urge our clients to explore alternative dispute resolution avenues, such as negotiated compromise and settlement, marital or co-parenting counseling, mediation or arbitration.

Family law issues generally involve one or more of the following categories: 

     (1) dissolution or annulment of the marriage; 
     (2) child custody and visitation; 
     (3) child and/or spousal support;  
     (4) equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities; and 
     (5) modification and/or enforcement of agreed or court-ordered provisions for custody, support or property distribution. 

Adoption is a subgroup of family law but does not factor into most divorce cases. On occasion, bankruptcy may be an issue, either during the divorce or afterwards.  For those contemplating marriage, it is often advisable to seek a pre-marital agreement defining rights and obligations arising out of the marriage in the event of separation and divorce or the death of a spouse.

Juvenile Law

If you are a parent whose child has become involved in a juvenile crime matter, it is critical to obtain experienced and caring representation as soon as possible.  The stakes are very high, and your child’s future hangs in the balance.  Depending on the offense and the age of the child, a juvenile criminal charge may follow a young person for many years. In addition, some charges may be tried in adult court and require a skilled criminal defense attorney. In either instance, our attorneys can help.

The process of losing a child in a juvenile dependency matter is both terrifying and confusing. It is critical that you have experienced and compassionate legal advocacy to help you get through the process. The stakes are extremely high; the court may eventually refer your child out for adoption and terminate your parental rights entirely.

Our attorneys will negotiate with the prosecution to eliminate or reduce felony strikes that can follow teenagers into adulthood.  We counsel them about successfully completing probation so they can have their records sealed.  Parents and young people alike comment on our experience and our understanding of the long-term consequences of juvenile crime allegations.  We advocate for young people who find themselves in trouble with the law.   Whether our help involves advocacy in juvenile court or a referral to a social service agency, our law firm stands ready to assist.

Will the juvenile be detained?

Any juvenile believed to have broken the law can be detained for up to 24 hours without a court order.  His parents should be notified as soon as possible. Detention means that the juvenile is confined in a juvenile detention center.  The juvenile has the right to know the reason for his detention. In addition, the juvenile has the right to a detention hearing usually within three days, at which time a judge will determine if the juvenile will be released to his parents or another responsible adult or continue to be detained because of concerns about community safety and the safety of the juvenile himself.  The juvenile has a right to be informed of his rights during detention.

Juvenile records are confidential in most cases. However, as they are always available to law enforcement officials, it is important to obtain good advice from experienced lawyers who appear regularly in Juvenile Court before each contact with the court.

Call today for a free consultation to discuss your rights and the legal options you have moving forward.

Disclaimer: Reading information on this website does not constitute the formation of an attorney-client relationship with our firm. Nor does calling us, emailing us, chatting us, or otherwise contacting us. We only enter into attorney-client relationships with people who meet with our firm and sign a formal, written agreement with us. None of the information on this website is intended to be legal advice.