Family Law

For more than 3 decades, we have assisted individuals and families with legal representation in a wide range of family law matters.

Our areas of practice include:

• Divorce & Divorce Modification
• Grandparent Rights
• Paternity
• Establishment & Enforcement of Child Support Judgments
• Annulment & Legal Separation
• Adoption
• Child Custody & Visitation
• Guardianship and Conservatorship
• Enforcement of Parental Rights & Visitation
• Protection from Abuse & Protection from Stalking orders

Family law disputes can prove to be some of the most emotionally difficult situations a person may face. At Crane Law, our staff works to compassionately guide you through this challenging time, explaining your rights in easy-to-understand terms and promptly responding to all inquiries. We have achieved successful results in even the most contentious court battles.

Bankruptcy

Many people hate to think about filing for bankruptcy. However, when bills are piling up, creditors are calling, and you can’t make the money last to the end of the month, bankruptcy may be your last resort. When you are facing a mountain of past due bills, it can be easy to feel lost and out of control. Bankruptcy laws have been designed to give people a fresh start.

We will assist you in determining if you qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases move from start to finish fairly quickly. In most cases, you will receive a discharge of debts within 90 – 120 days after the case is filed. The more complete and accurate your paperwork, the more likely your discharge will be entered by the Court in a timely manner. The sooner you are discharged, the sooner you will be able to enjoy the benefits of your fresh start and begin to rebuild your credit. We will work hand-in-hand with you to prepare bankruptcy documents that are complete and accurate so that your bankruptcy case goes smoothly.

Social Security Disability

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs are the largest of the Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different, both are administered by the Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program. SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. SSI pays benefits based on financial need.

The process for obtaining disability benefits is sometimes a long and confusing one. While it is not necessary to have a representative, it can be very beneficial. We will assist you with all stages of your claim, including representing you at administrative hearings. In preparation for your administrative hearing, we will explain what issues are most important and will prepare you for the questions that the Judge is likely to ask.

We will assist you with the routine matters on your claim, such as helping you file your appeals on time and assisting you in completing standard Social Security questionnaires. We will obtain your doctors’ records, as well as reports and medical questionnaires from your doctors concerning your medical condition, symptoms and limitations. We are experienced in reading medical records and understanding the nature of complex diseases and injuries. We know what information is important to obtain from your doctors. We can help the Administrative Law Judge assigned to your claim understand these issues and help you tell “your story”.

Estate Planning

There are many options available when creating an estate plan. However, not every method available is appropriate for everyone. Through our commitment to our clients and our dedication to meeting clients’ estate plan and probate needs, we strive to provide exceptional legal services.

At Crane Law, we intently listen to our clients when creating estate plans. Once we have a thorough understanding of their individual circumstances, we create an individual estate plan drafted specifically to address and meet those goals and potentially to avoid probate. Some estate planning instruments we utilize may include:

• Wills
• Trusts
• Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Decisions
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions
• Living Will
• Transfer on Death Deeds

Creating a Will or Trust allows you – and not the courts – to make the decisions as to how your assets should be distributed after your death. If you have a Will, you have provided the Court with a written set of directions regarding your estate. If you have minor children, a Will becomes an important legal document for the nomination of legal guardians for those children in the event of your death. There are a number of financial, medical and legal issues that must be considered when creating a Will. There may also be some planning tools that may be appropriate for your situation that would eliminate the need to probate your estate after your death.

Should you become incapacitated and unable to make health care decisions on your own, creating a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions allows you to indicate who should make health care decisions on your behalf.

It’s never too soon to start planning for tomorrow.

Appeals

When Shannon started practicing, she worked in ADO's doing nothing but appeals.  She handles all kinds of appeals...domestic, criminal, 60-1507, 60-1501, and child in need of care.  Appeals are a time sensitive matter and you need to take action as soon as possible.  Should you delay, it is possible that your appeal could be time-barred.  If you have any concerns about what happened in your case,  you should contact the office immediately.

Mediation

Mediation is a fair and efficient process to help you resolve your disputes and reach an agreement.  A neutral mediator assists you in reaching a voluntary, negotiated agreement.  Crane Law uses their communication and negotiation skills, as well as their familiarity with the legal system, to mediate and help both parties toward a resolution.