A divorce action, besides terminating the marriage relationship, will divide the property and debts of the parties, make determinations concerning the custody and residency of the children as well as the financial support for those children, and spousal support.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

An action for separate maintenance provides most of the same relief as an action for divorce, however, the marriage relationship itself is not terminated.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Some marriages may be either void, as in situations where the parties are not eligible to be married either due to age or already being married to someone else, or voidable such as marriages that are a result of fraud. An annulment dissolves these marriages and the parties stand in a legal position of having never been married.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir, Joe Huerter, Andy Davidson or Jason Belveal.

Under Kansas law there are basically two forms of custody. Joint custody, which is the preferred form under Kansas law or sole custody. Joint custody is often misunderstood. Under Kansas law, joint custody means that both parents have equal say in making major decisions about their children and their upbringing. What most people are referring to when they discuss custody is actually categorized as “residency” by laws of the state of Kansas. Residency refers to where the child or children will primarily reside.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

While Kansas law still recognizes the legal terminology of “visitation”, that term typically does not apply to parents. When discussing the time that each parent will spend with their children, the statute now refers to “parenting time”. Many of the larger counties in Kansas have adopted their own specific guideline schedules for parenting time, and many other counties will utilize these as well. Parenting time schedules are to be developed in order to meet the best interests of the children and are generally intended to maximize the time the children are to spend with each parent. It should be noted that it is important that these schedules be designed for the best interest of the children, and not to simply do something that is thought to be “fair” for the parents.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

There are Supreme Court Guidelines that set forth a formula from which child support is calculated. Some of the more important factors involve the gross incomes of the parties, the number of children involved, costs involved in work related child care and the costs involved for health insurance. Other factors may further be considered.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Children born outside of the marriage relationship may be subject to actions for paternity. Such cases will establish who is legally the father of the child, and may involve the necessity for genetic (DNA) testing. When paternity is established, issues involving custody, residency, parenting time and support will need to be determined just as they are determined in divorce, separate maintenance or annulment cases.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Our firm handles adoptions by couples and individuals and step-parent adoptions. We also handle adult adoptions.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Children may be determined to be “children in need of care” under Kansas law for a variety of reasons; commonly these involve abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, truancy and the like. Child in need of care actions are typically brought by the county or district attorney, but may be filed privately by any individual who believes that a child meets the definition of a child in need of care and requires the intervention of the court for protection of the child’s health, safety and welfare. We represent individuals filing private child in need of care cases, parents of children who are alleged to be children in need of care and interested third parties such as grandparents, foster parents, other relatives and the like who desire to be granted “interested party” status in child in need of care actions.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

Children may be determined to be “children in need of care” under Kansas law for a variety of reasons; commonly these involve abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, truancy and the like. Child in need of care actions are typically brought by the county or district attorney, but may be filed privately by any individual who believes that a child meets the definition of a child in need of care and requires the intervention of the court for protection of the child’s health, safety and welfare. We represent individuals filing private child in need of care cases, parents of children who are alleged to be children in need of care and interested third parties such as grandparents, foster parents, other relatives and the like who desire to be granted “interested party” status in child in need of care actions.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

Grandparents may be awarded custody of their grandchildren under child in need of care actions, through a determination by a divorce court that there is probable cause that the child may be a child in need of care or they may be granted guardianship of their grandchildren under certain circumstances. Grandparents have a statutory mechanism to obtain visitation rights with their grandchildren if they can meet certain requirements. These requirements include being the actual grandparent, having a prior existing relationship with the grandchild, and providing evidence that continuing or renewing that relationship would be in the best interest of the child. Joe Huerter has been a frequent speaker of the topic of grandparent visitation and has handled cases for grandparents involving both custody and visitation issues across Kansas.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services of the state of Kansas (SRS), receives and investigates reports of abuse and neglect of children. When the agency makes a finding that abuse or neglect has occurred, the alleged perpetrator of this alleged abuse is entitled to appeal this determination first to an administrative hearing and ultimately through the court system.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

An individual may be appointed as the legal guardian for a minor, or for an adult who is unable to care for his or her own affairs. Specific statutory requirements must be met and there are reporting requirements to the court once a guardianship is established. The court may also require the filing of a guardianship plan to indicate what steps the guardian would be taking in order to protect and preserve the health and well being of the ward.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Conservatorship is often confused with a guardianship, and they may both be sought at the same time in the same legal action if appropriate. While a guardianship involves responsibility for protecting and preserving the health and welfare of an individual, the conservatorship involves protecting and managing the person’s income and assets and debts. Conservators generally must post a bond, and they provide accountings to the court for review and approval on an annual basis.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

The only things in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes. Taxes are paid regularly, but the end of life must also be contemplated. Parents of minor children should have a will which designates whom they would want as guardian. Everyone should engage in at least some basic estate planning to be able to designate where property will go when you pass and who will manage your affairs to execute your wishes. Larry Tenopir has drafted thousands of wills and other estate documents over the years. He can prepare wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and living wills. The estate planning consultation involves examination of a client's particular situation, specific desires and concerns and the advantages and disadvantages of particular documents.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir, Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

The only things in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes. Taxes are paid regularly, but the end of life must also be contemplated. Parents of minor children should have a will which designates whom they would want as guardian. Everyone should engage in at least some basic estate planning to be able to designate where property will go when you pass and who will manage your affairs to execute your wishes. Larry Tenopir has drafted thousands of wills and other estate documents over the years. He can prepare wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and living wills. The estate planning consultation involves examination of a client's particular situation, specific desires and concerns and the advantages and disadvantages of particular documents.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir.

The only things in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes. Taxes are paid regularly, but the end of life must also be contemplated. Parents of minor children should have a will which designates whom they would want as guardian. Everyone should engage in at least some basic estate planning to be able to designate where property will go when you pass and who will manage your affairs to execute your wishes. Larry Tenopir has drafted thousands of wills and other estate documents over the years. He can prepare wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and living wills. The estate planning consultation involves examination of a client's particular situation, specific desires and concerns and the advantages and disadvantages of particular documents.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir.

The only things in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes. Taxes are paid regularly, but the end of life must also be contemplated. Parents of minor children should have a will which designates whom they would want as guardian. Everyone should engage in at least some basic estate planning to be able to designate where property will go when you pass and who will manage your affairs to execute your wishes. Larry Tenopir has drafted thousands of wills and other estate documents over the years. He can prepare wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and living wills. The estate planning consultation involves examination of a client's particular situation, specific desires and concerns and the advantages and disadvantages of particular documents.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir.

An individual may be appointed as the legal guardian for a minor, or for an adult who is unable to care for his or her own affairs. Specific statutory requirements must be met and there are reporting requirements to the court once a guardianship is established. The court may also require the filing of a guardianship plan to indicate what steps the guardian would be taking in order to protect and preserve the health and well being of the ward.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Conservatorship is often confused with a guardianship, and they may both be sought at the same time in the same legal action if appropriate. While a guardianship involves responsibility for protecting and preserving the health and welfare of an individual, the conservatorship involves protecting and managing the person’s income and assets and debts. Conservators generally must post a bond, and they provide accountings to the court for review and approval on an annual basis.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Homicide involves charges of first or second degree murder, as well as voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

Any sale, attempted sale, distribution or attempted distribution of illegal drugs can subject the defendant to serious potential criminal penalties, as well as the possibility of forfeiture of property and imposition of drug taxes.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Possession of marijuana, narcotics, or other illegal drugs and controlled substances, subject the accused to prosecution. First time possession of marijuana is generally a misdemeanor, but subsequent prosecution for possession of marijuana or first time possession charges of other drugs are going to typically be prosecuted as felonies.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Kansas law makes it a unlawful to operate or attempt to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. This may be proven by a result of a blood, breath or urine test or by other evidence to indicate that the individual was impaired by drugs or alcohol in their ability to safely operate their vehicle. Driving under the influence can result in serious fines, jail time, suspension or revocation of driving privileges as well as having other significant impacts upon your life.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Felony crimes are the most serious crimes under state law. These are crimes which subject the offender to a possibility of time in a state penitentiary.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Misdemeanor crimes are generally crimes of lesser severity. They subject the accused to a possibility of a fine and/or imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year on any individual felony count.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

We provide services in a wide variety of traffic matters from speeding tickets to driving while suspended or reckless driving and the like.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Individuals under the age of 18 who are accused of committing offenses which would be crimes, either misdemeanor or felony, if committed as an adult, may be prosecuted in the juvenile court. Juvenile court convictions may subject the accused to imposition of a fine, placement on probation, removal from the parental home and placement in foster care or other facility. In more severe cases, the juvenile may be placed in a state juvenile correctional facility (youth center). In certain extreme cases, juveniles may be certified to stand trial and prosecuted as an adult.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Personal injury suits refer to those actions that are brought when an individual has been injured, typically as a result of negligence of someone or due to use of a dangerous or defective product.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

Auto accidents cases are one of the most common types of personal injury cases. Under Kansas law drivers are supposed to have liability insurance. Further, if you check your own insurance you should find that you also have coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorist situations. If you have been injured in an automobile wreck through the fault or negligence of another party, you are entitled to seek damages for your medical bills, lost wages and any other out of pocket expenses as well as for permanent disability, future medical bills, future lost wages, pain and suffering.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

When parties enter into a contract, sometimes one party to a contract fails to live up to their responsibilities. If you are a party to a contract and the other party violates the terms, you may be able to seek damages (financial compensation for losses you suffered as a result of a breach) or specific performance. Specific performance is an order of the court requiring the other party to perform as required under the contract. Specific performance is generally granted in situations where financial compensation will not fully or adequately compensate the harmed party.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir, Joe Huerter or Jason Belveal.

Buyers of real estate sometimes encounter problems with their real estate which the seller appears to have known about but failed to disclose. Depending on the seriousness of the defect, legal action may be merited.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir.

There is a wide variety of civil matters which may need to be resolved through court intervention, mediation or the like.

For more information please call the office to speak with Larry Tenopir, Joe Huerter, Andy Davidson or Jason Belveal.

Cities and counties often adopt zoning regulations to specify what types of activities and development would be allowed on property in various parts of that locale. Property owners or purchases of property that wish to attempt to change the use of the property may need to seek a change in zoning by filing an application and going before their local planning and zoning commission. Property owners near a proposed zoning change will have an opportunity to speak to or be represented in front of the zoning and planning commission to voice their concerns or state any objections or opposition that may have with the proposed changes. Joe Huerter has served as a planning commissioner for the Topeka and Shawnee County Planning Commission and chaired the committee that initially wrote a combined city and county zoning code for Topeka and Shawnee County. He has also worked on zoning matters for other governmental entities.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

Platting is a process that involves establishing the boundaries of property. Often times a larger tract of land may be platted or subdivided into individual lots for development, either residential, commercial or mixed.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.

Property that is being used in a manner not allowed for or under the zoning code may receive a notification that the use is a violation of the law and may be subject to actions to remove structures, stop activities, impose fines and the like. Zoning violations may be defended based upon the factual question of whether or not the activity is being performed, or whether or not the activity is an actual violation. Zoning violations may also be remedied by successfully applying for and obtaining rezoning the subject property.

For more information please call the office to speak with Joe Huerter.