While the success rate for other defense attorneys edged up only from 12% (2008-09 through 2018-19) to 13% (2019-20 through 2022-23), for public defenders it nearly doubled, soaring from 18% to 35%.
Public Defenders (PD) only represent poor people in criminal cases. Custody and parental rights cases are not criminal cases. For civil cases like custody and parental rights, you would get a legal aid lawyer.
Ing to a 2019 survey conducted by Martindale-Nolo Research, contested divorces take at least 18 months to finalize in California.
You will not be eligible for a public defender unless you cannot afford a private defense lawyer. At the time of your request, you can expect the court to inquire into your finances. The judge may even require evidence of economic hardship for you or your family.
New York's equitable distribution law specifies that you are entitled to a division of all “marital property” assets that were acquired during the marriage. With few exceptions, marital property generally includes both spouses' income, purchases made with that income, and retirement benefits.
About the motions A “motion” is a request you file with the court asking the court to do something—in this case, to change or enforce your order. The three motions are: Motion to Modify. Motion to Enforce. Motion for Contempt.
In Bronx County, NY, the Supreme Court (not the Family Court) is the relevant court to handle divorce cases. The Supreme Court judge is the only one who can grant a divorce. The petitioner (the filing party) has to contact the Supreme Court in the county where either party currently resides.
A divorce decree could be invalid if a judge's decisions were based on incorrect information or if the judge made errors affecting the outcome. If one party concealed assets or debts from the other, that could be grounds for appeal or modification.
What is a Default Divorce in California? If due diligence fails and the spouse successfully avoids the attempts to serve the papers, the process moves into a default divorce process.
The consequences of the motion: A motion to enforce, if approved, inflicts no punishment on the non-compliant party and instead serves as a reminder to fulfill their legal duties. Alternatively, a motion for contempt can result in jail time or fines for not following a verdict.