-
Family Law
-
Guardian ad Litem
-
Education Advocacy
-
Juvenile Defense
-
Emancipation
-
Professional Licensure Defense
-
Personal Injury Defense
-
Housing and Evictions
-
Protection Orders
-
Complex Civil Litigation
Family Law.
Family law cases are difficult and exhausting, even when they are amicable. When they are less than amicable, they can be completely overwhelming. Having a compassionate and knowledgeable attorney by your side is important to help demystify the system while ensuring that you obtain a fair and just result. Attorney Bissonnette’s extensive experience with the difficult dynamics of interpersonal relationships, including those that involve power and control, is a vital asset when navigating this emotionally-taxing area of law.
Attorney Bissonnette offers representation in a full range of family law services, including divorce, child custody (aka parental rights and responsibilities), child support, spousal support, and efforts to modify or enforce judgments when circumstances change or parties fail to comply with court orders.
Guardian ad litem.
Children are often at the heart of family matters. When parents are unable to come to an agreement about the best outcome for their child, a guardian ad litem can add some much-needed outside perspective about the best interests of the child. Attorney Bissonnette believes that transparency and communication are key to successfully helping a family navigate difficult situations in a manner that will support a child’s health and happiness.
Education Advocacy.
As a former teacher, Attorney Bissonnette understands the day-to-day challenges for students who struggle at school. If your child is struggling, it is important to ensure that proper assessments are completed by the schools, and then necessary services are implemented to help your client be successful.
Juvenile Defense.
The juvenile justice system can be daunting. It is a mix of traditional criminal defense, restorative justice, and creative problem solving. The intricacies of this unique and complicated system are why it is important to have an attorney you can trust by your side from the very first police interview.
Parents often want their child to face consequences for bad behavior, but those consequences do not need to involve the police to be effective. Once a child gets into the juvenile justice system, it can have a dramatic and long-term impact on their life. Parents should not assume that they can adequately protect a child when police get involved, particularly because punishments for juveniles can range from community service to incarceration until the child is 21 years old. Though adults can expect a finite range of punishments for a given crime, a juvenile committing the same crime could face significantly longer incarceration. Always insist on having a lawyer with your child when speaking with police.
Attorney Bissonnette is an experienced advocate for children and teenagers who have been accused of crimes. The juvenile is the client, which means that they make the decisions throughout the case. However, helping parents understand how the system works is an important part of any juvenile matter. Attorney Bissonnette can help families understand what to expect and how to best proceed with these cases. She provides a full range of juvenile services, including representation during police interviews; representation at all court appearances, including detention and adjudication hearings; and in efforts to seal past adjudications. We also represent youth with emancipations, guardianships, and other proceedings affecting their personal autonomy.
Emancipation.
Some teenagers are ready to be on their own before they reach 18. Emancipation gives them the full rights and responsibilities of adulthood. If you are ready to take this step, Attorney Bissonnette can help you prepare and present your argument for emancipation in court.
Professional Licensure Defense.
You have spent years studying and preparing for the career you enjoy. When someone files a complaint that could affect your ability to do what you love, it can feel like the bottom has dropped out of your professional life. Having a trusted advocate by your side can help demystify the process and help you get your feet back on the ground. Attorney Bissonnette can help you collect and review materials to defend against these threats to your career. She can also help you find solutions to address the State’s concerns as necessary.
Personal Injury Defense.
Being sued can be one of the most stressful experiences of one’s life. The prospect of discovery requests, depositions, and motions can be overwhelming, but it is made more manageable when you work with an attorney you trust. Whether you are being sued because someone slipped on your property or because you were involved in an accident, Attorney Bissonnette will help you understand the process and will be right by your side the entire way. Whether it is advocating for dismissal, negotiating a beneficial outcome, or taking your case to trial, Attorney Bissonnette is prepared to fight for your interests.
Housing and Evictions.
Your house or apartment is the place that you rest and relax. It is where you raise your family and spend time with friends. It is your home. The prospect of being evicted from your home can be gut-wrenching, as can learning that there are unsafe conditions in your home. Attorney Bissonnette can help you understand your rights and advocate for you with your landlord or with the court.
Similarly, when you are a small landlord who invested your savings into an income property, having an unruly tenant can put your entire investment at risk. Eviction law is technical and precise, and it has become even more complicated with changes in municipal codes. Attorney Bissonnette knows the process and can help you do things right the first time, so you can protect your income property.
Protection Orders.
Attorney Bissonnette is highly experienced in Protection from Abuse and Protection from Harassment cases and has worked with several communities to address related firearms relinquishment issues. Early in her career, she was invited as one of two representatives from Maine to attend a firearms summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice and has received training on systemic domestic violence issues from Praxis International. She has also been published on the subject. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in these matters.
Complex Civil Litigation.
Many lawsuits do not fit into traditional categories, so it is important to work with someone who has diverse experience to help troubleshoot issues and creatively problem solve in new areas of the law. Attorney Bissonnette’s litigation experience makes her uniquely situated to help you with your civil litigation needs - whatever they may be.