About Family Law

Family problems are always messy. Whether you’re dealing with divorce, legal separation or a child custody dispute, the process is extremely difficult. With over 60 years of experience between them, the attorneys at the Barnett Law Firm understand the issues surrounding family law disputes and make it their goal is to be your advocate while you work to move on with your life.

Mickey D. Barnett, Sanford H. Siegel and Christopher P. Collins all practice in this area, and Sanford Siegel is a New Mexico Board Recognized Specialist in Family Law. Our experience as draftsmen and negotiators will serve you well.

This area of practice used to be called divorce law, but because increasing numbers of cases involve unmarried parents or third parties such as grandparents, the broader name of family law is used. We represent our clients on a wide variety of issues including divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, name changes, basic divorce taxation, property valuation and division, pensions, domestic violence, grandparent rights and paternity. Where cases involve children, we recognize the special duty we have to protect their best interests.

Our approach to problem-solving is collaborative. The lawyers discuss each new case in order to gain the benefit of each other’s insights on the law and on trial strategy, and we welcome input from our clients in preparing and helping to negotiate their cases.

This gives us a head start in preparing for hearings, trial, and settlement. The preparation needed for hearing and trial is usually the same that is needed to negotiate a settlement. (e.g. an exhibit on the proposed valuation and division of property). Although many cases have hearings before the Judge, ultimately almost all cases are concluded by settlement. In working with opposing parties, we are initially collegial but are tough litigators in cases where the opposing party is not collegial.