Splitting up with your child’s other parent is never easy. Even when you know it is the right thing to do, it is still an arduous process.  Setting up separate households, shuttling your kid back and forth, and trying to co-parent as you negotiate a custody agreement and parenting plan is tough. You and your former partner both want what’s best for your child, but figuring out what that means can be a challenge.  With all this going on, you may be under the assumption that coming to an agreement on child support payments will be another tense conversation. However, calculating child ..read more

Those of us who are a bit more… mature… are often baffled by the slang we hear the younger generation using. We can never remember if “no cap” is good or bad, and we “fr fr” are a bit concerned about “rizz.”  But young people aren’t the only ones with their own language. Lawyers are just as bad — or worse! — about using acronyms, Latin phrases, or words that have a distinct meaning in family law cases, without considering if the people we are talking to know what we are talking about.  At Matteucci Family Law, we go out of our way to ensure our clients in the Albuquerque area fully u ..read more

As children, we were all told the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In case you need a refresher, it’s the one where a young girl named Goldilocks breaks into the home of three bears, riffles through their belongings, then falls asleep in the littlest bear’s bed. When the bears return they either eat her, chase her off, or help her find her way home — depending on which version you are reading. Kids love the story because they like the idea of exploring a bear family’s home, but they also identify with Goldilocks and her pursuit of things that are “just right.” Driven by their innate cu ..read more

If you have business experience, you know the law of supply and demand is not the only regulation you need to be concerned about. There are a number of rules that govern everything from your outdoor signage to what posters you display in the employee break room. We’ve reached the point where running a business actually means running a complex compliance program.  You can take this same paradigm and apply it to New Mexico’s child custody laws. Acting in the best interests of your child is the bedrock principle, but there are a number of laws that have been passed to explain what policymake ..read more

Figuring out how to co-parent with your former partner is never easy. While you both want what is best for your children, you likely will disagree about what that means. Whether you are figuring out who gets primary physical custody, where your child is going to celebrate Christmas, or what sports your kid is allowed to play, having a formal child custody agreement in place is important.  At Matteucci Family Law, Attorney Bob Matteucci helps couples in Albuquerque and across the state of New Mexico negotiate a parenting plan that fairly apportions physical custody of their child and addre ..read more

Changing You Parenting Plan in New Mexico The parenting plan created at the time a divorce is finalized reflects the best interests of the child — and the best intentions of the parents — at that moment in time. But in this world, there is nothing so certain as change. And sometimes changing circumstances necessitate a change to your parenting plan.  Attorney Bob Matteucci has worked with enough families in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Lunas, Rio Rancho, and other parts of New Mexico to identify five common signs it is time to change your parenting plan.  1. One or both parents are hav ..read more

An engagement ring or wedding band is more than a simple piece of jewelry. It is a symbol and a promise. It holds sentimental value, but it also may be worth a decent chunk of change since the average cost of a ring is around $6,000.  No matter how much a particular ring is worth, it may spark a disagreement between former partners during a divorce. Attorney Bob Matteucci of Matteucci Family Law helps couples in New Mexico reach amicable agreements over the future of their engagement rings, wedding bands, and other assets. New Mexico Courts Say Engagement Rings Are Gifts New Mexico is one ..read more

Financial mistakes are often made during the divorce process. These avoidable errors put one or both parties in a worse position than they would otherwise have been in post-divorce. As a former business owner with an MBA as well as a law degree, Attorney Bob Matteucci finds this incredibly frustrating.  Below are six common financial mistakes New Mexico couples make when getting divorced, and how to avoid them.  1. Not educating yourself about your and your ex’s finances.  Many couples have one person who makes the majority of the couple’s financial decisions. This isn’t necessa ..read more

Getting divorced is easy… in theory. It’s a straightforward legal process that hundreds of New Mexico couples go through each year.  But in practice, it is an unfamiliar, emotionally draining, financially straining mess. Knowing some of the hurdles you will encounter as you prepare to file for divorce can help make it less stressful, which is why Matteucci Family Law has put together this divorce checklist for couples in New Mexico.  Residency Either you or your spouse must have lived in New Mexico for the past 6 months in order to get divorced here. Your case will be filed in the co ..read more

In a few weeks, stores throughout the Albuquerque area will put all the pool toys on clearance and set out back-to-school supplies. Kids will debate the merits of different folder designs while their parents hunt down the protractor their child will break or lose months before their teacher gives his or her annual lecture on acute angles. Gathering all the supplies on the list can be stressful, but having that list is also reassuring. You know exactly what you need to get to set your kids up for success this school year. There are only a few other times in your life you will be handed a simila ..read more