Crouse Erickson | Coeur d'Alene
Crouse Erickson | Coeur d'Alene
Family law matters are some of the most serious, emotionally charged matters most of us will ever deal with. Your family dynamics, your children, your assets, your income, and your future may all be on the line, pending the outcome of your family law matter. While some people may attempt to handle their family law issues on their own, it is important to remember that there are complex legal rules and protocols when dealing with family law matters.
In many instances, the model for resolving legal disputes is adversarial—full of conflict. While this model certainly protects the business litigants’ interests in civil court, it may not always be necessary for the family law setting. In fact, an adversarial approach can encourage those who might have otherwise been reasonable, to become obsessed with winning, no matter who gets hurt.
This is not to say that there are not times when you have a family law issue that absolutely requires an adversarial, aggressive approach. Many family issues can reach a satisfactory resolution by using only skillful negotiation. The very best family law attorney can guide you through your family law case, reaching out of court settlements, when possible, while vigorously advocating for your interests in court when necessary.
Add in experience, knowledge, and compassion to the mix, and you have a family law attorney that will help you through your problem in the least stressful manner possible, with a goal of the best outcome possible, given your specific circumstances.
Divorce is one of the most emotional issues you may go through in your life, other than a child custody case. Even if both parties are in agreement regarding the divorce, there will still be emotions involved. Many divorces that begin as an uncontested divorce can quickly turn into a hotly contested divorce. Having an experienced divorce attorney by your side can help ensure you are fairly treated in asset division, maintenance, and child custody issues.
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Child custody is often one of the most contentious parts of a divorce. Idaho courts—like those in every state—are most concerned about the child’s best interests. The Crouse Erickson legal team understands the need to present high-quality declarations and oral arguments to the court on your behalf, pursuing the positive outcome that best suits your specific child custody situation.
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Although there is a “formula” for determining child support, there is some leeway from the judge based on individual circumstances and family dynamics. Parents are legally obligated to provide financial support to their children. Idaho child support orders ensure children receive the money they need for basic necessities, including medical care, childcare, housing, clothing, and food.
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If you are going through a divorce, you may require a business and professional valuation for a professional practice, including ownership interests of doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, pharmacists, physical therapists, accountants, and chiropractors. The value of a professional practice may include considerations such as the practitioner’s age, health, past earning power, reputation for judgment, skill and knowledge, and professional success.
Business & Professional Valuations
Domestic violence has, unfortunately, become an all-too-common occurrence. Many victims of domestic violence do not have the financial means, education, or job skills to leave, while many more are too frightened of what their partner will do if they try to leave. Our attorneys will help you obtain a protection order to keep you and your children safe from your abuser.
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When the judge makes a ruling, it is not always the end of the matter. In some cases, the person under the order may choose not to obey the order, or in other cases, when circumstances change substantially, a modification of the order may be necessary. Whatever the issue, your Crouse Erickson family law attorney can ensure the judge’s orders are properly enforced, and that when an order requires modification, it will be handled quickly and professionally.
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Legal separation is an alternative to divorce in some cases, giving the couple a chance to live apart, while handling such issues as maintenance, asset division, child custody, and child support for the interim. If the legal separation becomes a divorce, those decisions can merge into the divorce. Some people choose legal separation for religious reasons, others choose it so one spouse can keep healthcare from the other spouse’s job. Whatever the reason, the Crouse Erickson attorneys can help you through an Idaho legal separation in the best way possible.
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Some couples could benefit from mediation, and, for some, mediation can be quicker and less expensive than litigation. You will definitely want to have your family law attorney involved in all the decisions associated with mediation to ensure your interests are properly protected.
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Paternity issues can be fraught with emotion, yet it is extremely important to prove paternity for the sake of the child. Establishing paternity is critical for determining child support and other benefits for the child, including healthcare and inheritance rights. Our attorneys represent both mothers and fathers in paternity actions, helping establish paternity to resolve custody, child support, and/or visitation issues.
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After your divorce and child custody issues are settled, you may have an opportunity to relocate—perhaps for an employment opportunity, a new spouse, or for an educational opportunity for your child. If the child’s other parent is not on board with you leaving the area, you will have to go before a judge and plead your case. We will help you through the process, arguing on your behalf for the move. If you are the non-custodial parent who does not believe a move is in the best interests of your child, we can help you as well.
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If a biological parent is unable to care for his or her child, a court may award custody to a third party, such as a grandparent, or another relative. This is also known as a guardianship case. These cases are often highly emotional, highly complex, and are likely to be contested. Whether you are a parent contesting a third-party custody decision or the relative of a child seeking custody, an attorney at Crouse Erickson can help.
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When you are considering divorce—or have been served with divorce papers—there are many details that must be worked out. Having a highly experienced divorce attorney from Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys can make all the difference in the outcome of your divorce.
Divorce
When you are dealing with such an important matter as child custody, it is imperative that your attorney is highly experienced and able to present a complete picture to the assigned judge. We are highly client-centric at Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys—your satisfaction is our goal.
Child Custody
If you are going through a divorce, then your divorce attorney will handle the child custody and child support portions of your divorce as well. Having a solid, well-respected, highly experienced child support attorney can make a difference in the final outcome.
Child Support
If you are facing a high asset divorce, a Coeur d’Alene high asset divorce attorney from Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys is ready and able to help you through this difficult time. With an office located in Coeur d’Alene, our firm serves all of Kootenai County.
High Asset Divorce
Because a business and professional valuation can be complex, it is important that you are represented by Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys. We have over 30 years of firm experience in all issues related to family law, including business and professional valuation.
Business & Professional Valuations
Separation between a couple can be either informal or legal. Those that go through a legal separation will face a process that is similar in nature to a divorce. If you decide you want to file for a legal separation in the state of Idaho, it could be very beneficial to speak to a knowledgeable Coeur d’Alene legal separation attorney before moving forward.
Legal Separation
At Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys, our goal is always to secure the most favorable outcome on your behalf. When you are not receiving what you were granted in the divorce or child custody case, we will aggressively pursue enforcement.
Modification of Orders
Whether you are a mother, attempting to prove paternity in order to secure financial assistance for your child, or a father, attempting to prove (or disprove) paternity, you need a solid, highly experienced Idaho family law attorney.
Paternity
At Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys, we can schedule mediation for you to resolve child custody and support issues, determine asset values and appropriate distributions, and resolve any highly contested issues. If mediation is unsuccessful, our highly experienced attorneys are prepared to litigate the issues on your behalf.
Mediation
No matter which side of the issue you are on, having a Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorney to help with relocation can make all the difference in the outcome. As noted, Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys are an exclusive family law practice.
Child Relocation
There is so much on the line in a domestic violence matter including your future, your children, your employment, and even your finances. We are a results-driven law firm and we always want our clients to be glad they chose Crouse Erickson.
Domestic ViolenceWhen you choose Crouse Erickson Family Law Attorneys, you will receive highly client-centric service. We engage in intense case preparation, ensuring we are prepared for anything and everything that could possibly arise in your case. As with many things, the attorney who wins is the one that puts in the necessary time and effort. Our attorneys put in long hours, providing the high-quality work that will make your case successful.
At Crouse Erickson, we have worked with thousands of clients, helping them to a positive resolution with a wide range of family law cases. While we are highly skilled negotiators, when necessary, we are also aggressive litigators. We will handle your case in a way that benefits you. Our legal team has built close relationships over the years with appraisers, counselors, forensic accountants, business valuation experts, and more. Because we are extraordinarily prepared, you benefit.
We are proud of the fact that our firm exclusively practices family law. Other firms our size tend to “dabble” in different types of law. They may handle divorces, DUIs, real estate transactions, and estate planning. We believe in doing one thing and doing it extraordinarily well. With an intricate knowledge of Idaho family law and a myriad of resources, we provide you the highest quality, most personalized representation available.
What Questions Should I Ask My Family Law Attorney?
When you choose a family law attorney you will want to ask several important questions, such as:
The answers to all these questions are extremely important, but in the end, you also have to trust your attorney to do what’s best for you and your family, so do not discount your “gut” instinct.
Do I Need a Family Law Attorney?
There are very specific benefits to having a family law attorney handle your issue. One of the primary benefits is that you receive objective advice during an emotional time. When emotions are running high, it is easy to make rash decisions that can cost you for many years to come. Your family law attorney can help you make decisions based on objective facts. More importantly, your family law attorney can ensure you avoid a quick resolution at the expense of your long-term financial future.
When you hire a family law attorney, you have access to top-notch consultants, including appraisers, physicians, mental health experts, forensic accountants, and more. These experts lend authority to your family law issue. Your family law attorneys have courtroom experience—something there is simply no substitute for when it comes to litigation. Experienced family law attorneys have unparalleled insight into the tactics opposing attorneys will take, as well as how judges will react to specific evidence or arguments.
Each of our team members has received extensive education and training in family law. Since we insist on continuing education, we are never out of the loop on new legislation or industry developments. Our attorneys have been recognized as a Top Lawyer in North America for divorce and family law, have received the highest 10.0 AVVO rating for divorce and child custody attorneys, and have been selected as AVVO’s Client Choice for Child Custody.
Our nearly 30 years of experience has resulted in a results-driven law firm. We want our clients to always be glad they chose us. While we draft documents, file petitions, and attend hearings, we aim higher than that. Our legal team consistently goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction by building solid relationships with each client as we help them navigate potentially life-altering processes with as little stress as possible.
Recognized as a Top Divorce and Family Law Attorney by Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 with many other similar recognitions. We have also been featured in local and national radio and television. In June 2014, Addicus Publishing released the book “Divorce in Washington”, which was authored exclusively by David Crouse.
Over the last three decades, we have helped thousands of families. Read some of our client reviews to learn how we have helped our clients.
We take the time to get to know you, your goals, and how you would like your case to turn out. We focus on the issues that matter most to you and put in the time and effort to pursue your best interests.
Contact our office in Coeur d’Alene and schedule a consultation with one of our family law attorneys. We can discuss your case, answer any questions you have, and help you plan the next steps in the process.
Call us today 208-618-8910 or fill out this form and one of our team members will contact you shortly.
