Bennett Wolff

I have dedicated my career to family law and divorce matters. With two degrees in mental health, I have excelled in handling complex custody, relocation and abuse cases. I also have authored several family law statues and have been appointed by the legislature to be a member of domestic relations committees. I am very passionate about my work, my clients, the best interest of the children and what is legally correct. I am also an excellent writer and is often asked to assist other attorneys in taking writs and appeals to higher courts.

As a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, I am recognized as one of the outstanding family law attorneys in Louisiana. I am one of only eight attorneys in Louisiana that has been invited to join this prestigious organization.

I graduated from Cornell University and Cum Laude from Loyola University School of Law where I was a member of the Law Review. I was appointed by the Legislature to be on the task force to revise the child support guidelines in 2004, 2007, 2011, and 2015. I am a member of the Louisiana Law Institute Committee on Family Law.

I believe that complex custody issues can be difficult for the entire family. In these situations, it is important to understand options as well as to be aware of your rights and obligations. As an experienced family law attorney, I can offer knowledgeable advice and counsel as well as guide you through the legal process.

I have specialized expertise in litigating custody matters because of my mental health background and having practiced in that field prior to becoming an attorney. I have been very successful in cross-examining mental health experts if the expert renders recommendations which are adverse to my client’s objectives. I have litigated many complicated and complex custody disputes and get referred these type of cases by other attorneys.

I was the primary author of the relocation statute when it was first enacted by the Legislature. Having written the initial statute and because of my mental health background I have extensive trial experience representing both relocating and non-relocating parents.
Louisiana has enacted child support guidelines which the trial judge is mandated to implement. The statute has a provision which requires the legislature to review the guidelines every four years. The legislation also provides that a child support review committee should be established to assist the legislature and to make recommendations for was appointed by the legislature in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 to be a member of the child support review committee. The committee met at least ten times each review year to obtain information and to make appropriate suggestions as to how the child support guidelines should be modified.

Consequently, because of my active involvement In this committee, I am very familiar with how the guidelines operate and the legislative history regarding any changes in the child support guidelines. Because of this experience, I believe I can provide appropriate representation to any client who seeks to either establish child support or to modify it.

Other issues which confront a divorcing client are spousal support, use and occupancy of the family home and division of community property. I can provide knowledgeable and aggressive representation, if necessary, in these areas. Regarding community property cases in which I have been involved, I have been able to settle approximately 95% of my cases.

Louisiana has two domestic abuse statutes. Domestic abuse includes physical or sexual abuse of a person. A party can also violate these statutes if they commit a crime against the person as defined in the Criminal Code of Louisiana. The plaintiff must prove his/her case by a preponderance of the evidence which is a much easier standard than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” burden required in a criminal proceeding. These statutes provide for serious and severe penalties if a party is found to have committed domestic abuse. The court will issue a protective order and a guilty party may only be granted supervised visitation with his children and his/her name goes into a statewide protective order registry.

I believe that it is extremely important whether you allege that you or your child has been abused or if you have been accused of abuse to hire an attorney immediately. I have tried many cases involving allegations of domestic violence and can provide aggressive, skillful representation.