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(563) 583-9101

1635 Associates Drive, Suite 102
Dubuque, Iowa 52002

info@pioneerlawoffice.com

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Family Law and Divorce

Any major life change is going to be stressful for your entire family. While the attorneys at Pioneer Law Office are experienced, skilled legal professionals, they remain ever mindful that legal issues concerning your family are life-changing. As parents and spouses, the attorneys and staff at Pioneer Law Office will treat your legal issue with the care and dignity we would expect in the same situation.

Divorce is more than just the dissolution of a marriage. It affects your financial future, living arrangements, schedules, and relationships with your family and children. We have the knowledge and expertise to help you find your way through this trying process, reducing your stress and giving you a sense of security.

Pioneer Law Office knows that divorce proceedings can be complex, frustrating, and emotional. Our experienced attorneys can untangle the confusion and explain your rights in a divorce case. We can help you understand what you are entitled to with regards to child custody and visitation, child support, the division of property, and spousal support or alimony. This can help you prepare for laying a foundation for your future.

Our attorneys can also help with adoptions, paternity actions, prenuptial agreements, guardianships and conservatorships, and domestic violence and no-contact orders. We also provide Mediation services.

Call today and schedule a consultation with one of our family law attorneys or our family law mediator: (563) 583-9101.

Pioneer Law Office

Main Office
1635 Associates Drive, Suite 102
Dubuque, Iowa 52002

Appointment Only
4711 Brady St, Suite 22 S,
Davenport, Iowa 52806

Free Case Evaluation: (563) 583-9101

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Free Consultation

  • Social Security Disability Resources
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  • Frequently asked questions
    • Should I apply for disability?
    • How long does the disability process take?
    • When should I apply for benefits?
    • Should I use an attorney to help me apply?
    • When do you suggest I hire a lawyer?
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    • What happens if my disability appeal is late?
    • What is the most common disability mistake?
  • Your disability hearing
    • Advice for your Social Security disability hearing
    • Answers to 14 common questions
    • The Hearing
    • Your Testimony
    • Lay Witnesses
    • Vocational Issues
  • The Disability Evaluation Process
    • Answers to 9 common questions
    • Examples of who Is and is not disabled
    • The sequential evaluation process
    • The role of the treating doctor
    • A large bureaucracy
    • Glossary
  • Applying for disability benefits when you have:
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  • Disability Appeals
    • The appeal process
    • Good cause for late appeals
  • After a favorable decision
    • Answers to 25 questions
    • Delayed benefits
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  • Legal issues
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    • Severe impairment definition
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  • Disability Forms
    • Employment questionnaire
    • Monthly headache diary
    • Monthly wage information
    • Activities questionnaire
  • Weathering The Storm
    • The Basics
      • 10 Common Divorce Mistakes
      • Initial Divorce To-Do Checklist
      • Books Related to Divorce and Children of Divorce
    • The Emotional Aspects of Divorce
      • Tips for Minimizing Conflict During a Divorce
      • Divorce Communication Plan
      • Grief and Anger Associated with Divorce
    • Protecting The Children
      • Protecting the Children During a Divorce
      • Damage to Children from Parental Conflict During a Divorce
      • Children-Contact Guidelines After a Divorce
      • Developing a Contact Schedule With Children After a Divorce
      • Divorce Parenting Plans for:
        • Divorce Parenting Plan for Children Up to 2 Years Old
        • Divorce Parenting Plan for Children Ages 3 to 5
        • Divorce Parenting Plan for Children Ages 6 to 8
        • Divorce Parenting Plan for Children Ages 9 to 12
        • Divorce Parenting Plan for Children Ages 13 to 18
      • Successful Shared Parenting After a Divorce
      • Worksheet for Assigning Parental Decision-Making After a Divorce
  • Anticipating Problems
    • Prenuptial Agreements
      • Full Disclosure and Defensive Drafting of Premarital Agreements
      • What Needs to Be Disclosed Before Creating a Prenuptial Agreement
      • What Can Be Negotiated In a Prenuptial Agreement?
      • Sample Prenuptial Agreement
      • Attacking the Prenuptial Agreement
  • Money
    • What Is the Marital Estate in Divorce?
    • Valuing and Allocating or Selling the House After Divorce
    • Dividing Personal Property After a Divorce
    • Assigning Vehicles After a Divorce
    • Valuing Businesses During a Divorce
    • Dealing With Loans from Relatives During a Divorce
    • Unsecured Debt After a Divorce
    • Secured Liabilities After a Divorce
    • Tax Consequences During a Divorce Settlement
    • Retirement Benefits
      • Retirement Plans After a Divorce
      • Issues With Retirement Plans In a Divorce
      • Other Retirement Benefits After a Divorce
      • Dividing a Pension Plan During a Divorce
    • Exclusions from the Marital Estate
      • Assets In a Divorce
      • Liabilities In a Divorce
    • Budget Process
      • Developing a Budget During a Divorce
      • Guidelines for Estimating Overall Expenses During a Divorce
      • Estimating Housing Expenses During a Divorce
      • Estimating Food and Clothing Expenses During a Divorce
      • Estimating Transportation Expenses During a Divorce
      • Estimating Medical Expenses During a Divorce
      • Estimating Miscellaneous Expenses During a Divorce
      • How a Budget Helps Divorce Mediation
    • Alimony and Maintenance
      • Key Variables In Alimony Calculations
      • Reduction In Lifestyle Following a Divorce
    • Hidden Assets and Income
      • Uncovering the Possibility of Hidden Assets In a Divorce
      • Focusing the Divorce Investigation Into Hidden Assets
      • Interview the Accusing Spouse About Hidden Assets
      • Documents Needed for a Divorce Investigation About Hidden Assets
      • Reviewing Credit Card Records in the Divorce Process
      • What Is a Balance Sheet?
      • Sources of Balance Sheets During a Divorce
      • Examining a Balance Sheet for Hidden Assets During a Divorce
      • Valuing Assets During a Divorce
      • Investigating Closely-Held Business Income During a Divorce
      • How to Encourage Disclosure of Business Assets During a Divorce
  • Litigation
    • Likely Deposition Questions
      • Divorce Depositions
      • Role and Connection with the Children
      • Spouse’s Cohabitation
      • Employed Spouse’s Job
      • Unemployed Spouse
      • Real Estate and Personal Property
      • Bank Accounts, Investments, and Retirement Accounts
      • Family Business for Owner-Spouse
      • Family Business for Uninvolved Spouse
      • Debts and Lifestyle
      • Child Custody Concerns
      • Spouse’s Bad Behavior
    • Post-Divorce Parenting
      • Preparing for a Child Custody Evaluation
      • Joint Parenting Agreement – Equal Time, Alternating Weeks
      • Joint Parenting Agreement – Alternating Weekends Visitation
      • Sole Parenting Agreement
      • Mediating Child Custody Disputes
    • Trial
      • The High Cost of Divorce Litigation
      • Divorce Case Issues Checklist
      • Building the Divorce Case Around Themes
      • Providing Effective Testimony In a Divorce Trial
      • Avoiding Common Witness Mistakes In a Divorce Trial
      • Ten Tips for Testifying In a Divorce Trial
      • Common Documentary Evidence In a Divorce Trial
      • Family Law Glossary of Common Divorce Terms
  • Settlement
    • Mediation and Collaborative Divorce
      • What Is Divorce Mediation and How Does It Work?
      • What Is Collaborative Divorce?
      • Criticisms of Collaborative Divorce
      • Differences Between Collaborative Divorce and Mediation
      • Judicial Settlement Conferences In Divorce Proceedings
      • Finding Common Ground During a Divorce Mediation
  • Arrest, Appearance and Bail
    • Typical Arrest Procedure
    • Typical Criminal Investigation Procedure
    • The Initial Appearance in Court
    • Credit for Pre-Trial Custody
    • When the Initial Appearance is Delayed
    • Types of Bail
    • How Is Bail Determined?
    • Preparing for Bail Hearings
    • Presentation at the Hearing
    • Conditions of release
    • Bail and Conditions for Specific Offenses
  • Search and Seizure
    • Does Your Case Have a Search and Seizure Issue?
    • Intrusive or Overbearing Police Action
    • Requirement of Expectation of Privacy
    • Attacking a Search Warrant
    • Types of Searches
      • Auto Stops and Searches
      • Plain View Searches
      • Search of Computers
      • Consent Searches
  • Interrogations, Confessions and Statements
    • Suppressing a Confession
    • Failure to Give Miranda Warnings
    • Assertion of Right to Counsel
    • Coerced Confession
    • Challenging the Voluntariness of a Confession
    • Attacking the Confession at Trial
    • Cross-Examination on Recorded Confession
    • Prosecution’s Use of Defendant’s Silence
    • Using the 5th Amendment
    • False Exculpatory Statements
  • Line-ups, Photo Arrays and Show-ups
    • Criminal Identification Procedures
    • Right to Counsel at Line-Up
    • Problems With the In-Court Show-Up
    • Suppressing Identification Testimony
    • Attacking Identification Testimony at Trial
    • Identification Jury Instructions
  • Forfeiture
    • How Forfeiture Works
    • Should You Litigate?
  • Grand Juries
    • A Powerful Investigative Tool for Prosecutors
    • Are You a Target, Subject, or Witness?
      • When You Are a Target
      • When You Are a Subject
      • When You Are a Witness
    • If a Subpoena Seeking Your Testimony is Coming
      • Obtaining Protection for a Prosecution Interview
      • Preparing for the Hearing
    • Responding to a Document Subpoena
  • Discovery
    • The Discovery Process
    • You Are Entitled to Certain Documents
      • Prosecutor’s Obligation to Disclose Exculpatory Evidence
    • Your Discovery Obligations
  • Plea Bargaining
    • Two Types of Bargains
    • Special and No Contest Pleas
    • When to Enter a Guilty Plea
    • Consequences of a Guilty Plea
      • Immigration Consequences
      • Cooperation With Prosecutors: Consequences and Procedures
    • Alternative Dispositions
    • How to do time (PDF download)
  • Related Civil Litigation
    • How It Works
    • When an Organization or Multiple Defendants Are Involved
    • Responding to Civil Pleadings and Discovery
    • Tactics and Tips
  • Trial
    • Defense Theory
    • Trial before a Jury or Judge?
    • Dressing for Court
    • How the Jury is Selected
    • The Defense’s Opening Statement
    • Keeping Out Prior Bad Acts
    • Impeaching an Adverse Witness
      • Highlighting the Adverse Witness’s Deal With the Prosecution
    • 7 Common Defenses
    • Neutralizing the Prosecutor’s Cross-Examination
  • Sentencing
    • Sentencing Alternatives
    • Showing the Judge the Real You using Letters of Support
    • Preparing for the Sentencing Hearing
    • Getting Ready for Incarceration
  • Probation and Parole
    • 3 Ways to be Placed on Probation
    • Conditions of Probation and Parole
      • Special Conditions
    • Communication With the Parole Officer
    • Revocation of Probation or Parole
  • Frequently-Asked Questions
    • How will I know when I need to file bankruptcy?
    • What common mistakes do debtors make before bankruptcy?
    • How does bankruptcy work?
    • Which debts are relieved by bankruptcy?
    • Which debts are not discharged in bankruptcy?
    • Can I lose my job if I file for bankruptcy?
    • Which type of bankruptcy should I file?
    • Is the credit counseling requirement difficult to fulfill?
    • What steps can I take to repair my credit rating after bankruptcy?
  • Overview
    • Types of bankruptcy cases
    • Actions not halted by bankruptcy
    • Meeting of creditors
    • Notices you must receive from attorney or debt relief agency
    • Evolution of bankruptcy laws
    • How to use Voice Case Information System (VCIS)
    • How to use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records)
    • Glossary of bankruptcy terms
  • The debtor’s estate
    • What assets are included?
    • Excluded assets
    • Debts not dischargeble in bankruptcy
    • Priority claims
    • Voiding of preferential transfers
    • Is a transfer fraudulent?
  • Creditors’ proceedings
    • 3 types of creditors and their requirement to negotiate in good faith
    • Notice to creditors
    • Reaffirmation of debt
    • Creditor’s proof of claim
    • Obligations not blocked by automatic stay
    • Automatic lifting of stay for non-performance
    • Objecting to discharge or confirmation
    • Checklist of creditor’s proceedings
    • Dismissal of case
  • Selected forms
    • Reaffirmation agreement cover sheet
    • Reaffirmation agreement
    • Notice of objection to claim
    • Proof of claim
  • Chapter 7 straight bankruptcy
    • Frequently asked questions
    • What is the difference between a Chapter 7 and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
    • How difficult is it to qualify for Chapter 7?
    • What other steps must I take?
    • What happens after I file?
    • Will I need to go to court?
    • What problems can arise at the creditor’s meeting?
    • What other problems can occur?
  • Details
    • Summary of the proceedings
    • Required documents
    • List of creditors
    • Practical tips
    • Checklist and timetable of Chapter 7 tasks
  • Selected forms
    • Chapter 7 means test
    • Chapter 7 petition
    • Chapter 7 petition instructions
    • Debtor’s certificate of completion
    • Chapter 7 Discharge of Debtor
  • Means test
    • Needs-based bankruptcy
    • The 6 steps of the means test
      • 1. Debtor’s current monthly income
      • 2. Necessary expenses
      • 3. Additional expenses
      • 4. Secured debt expense and priority claims
      • 5. Disposable monthly income
      • 6. Presumption of abuse
    • Special circumstances rebutting a presumption of abuse
    • Requirement of financial counseling
    • Means test checklist
  • Chapter 13 wage earner’s adjustment of debts
    • Frequently asked questions
    • What are the advantages of a Chapter 13 filing?
    • The disadvantages?
    • How does a Chapter 13 repayment plan work?
    • What are the most common objections to repayment plans?
    • What is considered a reasonable expense during the life of a repayment plan?
  • Details
    • Summary of proceedings
    • Required documents
    • Trustee’s duties
    • Requirements of the plan
    • Trustee objections to the plan
    • Creditors’ claims
    • Confirmation hearing
    • Modification of plan or suspension of payments
    • Annual reporting requirements
    • Discharge
    • Checklist and timetable of Chapter 13 tasks
    • Conversion from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7
  • Selected forms
    • Chapter 13 means test
    • Chapter 13 plan
    • Chapter 13 discharge before completion of plan
    • Chapter 13 discharge after completion of plan
    • Debtor’s certificate of completion
  • Chapter 12 family farmer and fisherman bankruptcy
    • Who may file for Chapter 12
    • Summary of proceedings
    • Required documents
    • The trustee’s duties
    • The plan
    • Creditors, claims, and priority claims
    • Confirmation hearing and discharge
    • Checklist and timetable of Chapter 12 tasks
    • Conversion from Chapter 12 to Chapter 7

Pioneer Law Office

Pioneer Law Office is an innovative, full service law firm. With over 50 years of experience, the attorneys at Pioneer Law Office are seasoned professionals, distinguishing them from other legal firms. As your advocate, Pioneer Law Office will explore, prepare and lead…because that’s what Pioneers do.

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Connect With Us

Main Office
1635 Associates Drive, Suite 102
Dubuque, Iowa 52002

Appointment Only
4711 Brady St, Suite 22 S
Davenport, Iowa 52806

Free Case Evaluation: (563) 583-9101
Email: info@pioneerlawoffice.com
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