Business Details
Experienced Family Law Attorney in New Orleans
I am a dedicated divorce and family law attorney serving clients in New Orleans and surrounding areas. With extensive experience in contentious divorces, collaborative divorce, mediation, and LGBTQ+ family law matters, I prioritize personalized legal strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances. My practice focuses on guiding clients through complex family law issues including property division, alimony, child custody, and adoption. As a Tulane Law School graduate and former associate at a prominent local family law firm, I bring both courtroom experience and negotiation expertise to every case.I exclusively practice family law to ensure deep specialization and maintain direct client engagement without delegation to junior staff. My approach balances zealous advocacy with practical solutions, emphasizing client education and informed decision-making throughout the legal process.
Services
Divorce Representation
Collaborative Divorce
Mediation Services
Prenuptial Agreements
LGBTQ+ Family Law
Highlights and features
- Over 40 hours of collaborative divorce training and leadership in local practice groups
- Direct attorney involvement with no delegation to junior staff
- Specialized expertise in LGBTQ+ family law matters
- Proven track record in complex property division and appellate cases
- Balanced approach combining courtroom readiness with cost-effective mediation
Services
Divorce Representation
Providing comprehensive legal representation for contested divorces, including property division, alimony, and child custody matters. The practice handles complex cases involving high-value assets and interstate considerations while maintaining focus on clients' long-term interests through skilled courtroom advocacy and strategic negotiations.
Collaborative Divorce
Offering structured out-of-court divorce solutions through collaborative law processes. This approach emphasizes transparent information sharing and mutual problem-solving with trained professionals to create customized settlements that address financial, emotional, and parenting needs while avoiding adversarial litigation.
Mediation Services
Facilitating negotiated settlements through neutral third-party mediation. The practice supports clients seeking amicable resolutions while maintaining legal compliance and enforceability of agreements. Services include both mediation representation and certified neutral mediation facilitation for family law matters.
Prenuptial Agreements
Drafting customized prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect individual assets and clarify financial arrangements. The practice provides tailored solutions for both prospective and existing marriages, addressing property rights and potential future contingencies through legally sound documentation.
LGBTQ+ Family Law
Addressing unique legal challenges faced by LGBTQ+ families through expert guidance on marriage, adoption, and dissolution matters. The practice stays current with evolving state-specific regulations to ensure proper documentation and protection of parental rights and partnership interests.
People
The Law Office Of Lacy M Smith
Attorney at Law
New Orleans native specializing in family law with Tulane Law School education. Practiced at boutique family law firm before establishing independent practice focused on divorce, collaborative law, and LGBTQ+ family matters.
Questions
What family law services do you specialize in?
I specialize in divorce representation, collaborative law, mediation, prenuptial agreements, and LGBTQ+ family law matters including adoption and marital rights.
How does collaborative divorce work?
Collaborative divorce involves negotiated settlements outside court with full disclosure. Both parties and attorneys work together to create mutually agreeable solutions for custody, support, and property division.
Do you handle LGBTQ+ family law cases?
Yes, I provide comprehensive legal support for LGBTQ+ families including marriage, adoption, dissolution, and parental rights protection under Louisiana law.
What areas do you serve?
I serve clients in Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, St. Tammany Parish, and surrounding Louisiana parishes for all family law matters.
How are child custody decisions made?
Custody arrangements prioritize the child's best interests. I advocate for parenting plans that maintain meaningful relationships with both parents while addressing practical living arrangements.
Can you help with property division?
Yes, I handle complex community property partitions including valuation of assets acquired during marriage and equitable distribution during divorce proceedings.
