- DivorceThe Law Offices of Edward J.S.F. Smith is one of the few divorce and family law firms in the state of Hawaii with experience in international child abduction cases. If your spouse has taken your child across international borders without your permission, you need a qualified attorney to enforce your parental and custodial rights and protect your child's welfare.
- Child SupportWhether you need assistance in negotiating a property division, litigating a child support order, or arguing for permanent residency before a government bureaucracy, we have the expertise and skills to help you obtain a favorable resolution.
- Child Custody and Visitation
- AdoptionAs a law firm practicing extensively in the field of family law, we are sensitive to immigration issues in the family law context and work tirelessly to bring together families through international adoptions inside and outside of the Hague Convention. We are dedicated to promoting the safety of women through the Violence Against Women Act and Battered Immigrant Women's Protection Act, and ensuring that minor children do not miss out on immigration benefits through application of the Child Status Protection Act and other means.
- PaternityPaternity may be established by through the “Voluntary Establishment” of paternity process. This process began in Hawaii on July 1, 1999. If the biological parents complete the “Voluntary Establishment of Paternity by Parents” form at the birthing hospital or Department of Health and the father’s name appears on the birth certificate, then paternity has been “Voluntarily Established.”
- GuardianshipFrom Oahu to the Big Island, the Law Offices of Edward J.S.F. Smith provides quality legal assistance in Hawaii law focusing on family law and immigration matters. Our practice areas include paternity, adoption, domestic violence, and guardianships. Please see our individual pages for more information on the firm's primary areas of concentration.
- Spousal SupportIn general, the court has wide latitude in determining the major issues in a divorce, such as property division, child support, and spousal support (also known as alimony or maintenance). While the court is given a list of factors to consider, these factors are extremely subjective and can be the subject of much dispute in a contested divorce. Even in the case of child support, where the monthly support amount is calculated according to statutory guidelines, the court may deviate from that amount when "exceptional circumstances" warrant a departure.
- AnnulmentFrom Oahu to the Big Island, the Law Offices of Edward J.S.F. Smith provides quality legal assistance in Hawaii law. We have considerable experience dealing with contested divorces and annulments and can provide you with the advocacy needed to obtain an outcome that meets your needs and help you through this stressful time.
- Restraining Order
- KidnappingThousands of international child abductions occur every year in the context of a divorce or post-divorce custody battle. Also known as parental kidnapping, child snatching, or child stealing, a child abduction is often committed by a noncustodial parent who received an unfavorable custody arrangement or even by a parent in the midst of divorce proceedings who anticipates being shut out of custody or visitation for various reasons. Regardless of the perpetrator's motives, abduction is detrimental to the child, and in violation of family law court orders.
- Citizenship and Naturalization
- Family ImmigrationWhen a relative is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., immediate family members in a foreign country stand a good chance of obtaining a family-based visa and achieving permanent residency themselves. We help parents, spouses, children, and siblings prepare a petition with the greatest likelihood of success, analyzing a host of factors such as the status of the U.S. family member, the relationship, and the preference category to which the petitioner may belong.
- Employment ImmigrationOne of the main reasons people seek entry to the U.S. is to improve their lives through better employment opportunities, and the nation's immigration system offers many different pathways for willing and able workers. Our firm handles petitions for immigrant visas in any of the EB preference categories, from unskilled workers to multinational executives and workers of extraordinary or exceptional ability. We understand the different types of evidence and documentation which may be required to establish eligibility under the different categories. In addition, we work with non-immigrant visas, permanent labor certifications (PERMs), and the many other employment-based visas offered for specific types of workers and occupations.
- Green Cards
- Personal InjuryDomestic violence is not only physical abuse, but can include emotional or mental abuse and psychological intimidation. In any event, domestic violence can inflict fear for your safety and that of your children. Firm principal Edward Smith is dedicated to helping people out of domestic violence situations through every avenue of legal relief that is available. Options include filing restraining orders against the perpetrator of domestic violence and seeking renewals of temporary orders to maximize the duration of the order. If you have been injured by domestic violence, it is also possible to initiate a personal injury lawsuit against the perpetrator, even if he or she is a spouse. Receiving compensation in this situation may provide you with the resources to help you to move forward into a life without domestic violence.