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Polk County Contested Guardianship Attorneys

Our Polk County contested guardianship attorneys work with you and your family to solve disputes regarding guardian statuses and legal needs of our clients.
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Smiling womanAttorney Kevin O'Flaherty

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

Top 3 Qualities to look for in Your Attorney

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We believe your attorney should not speak in legalese

Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese.  You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand.  You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.

We believe your attorney should be accessible

The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls.  Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails.  An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.

We believe your attorney should be realistic with you about costs and outcomes

Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs.  Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible.  It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.

Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.

Client Testimonials

Christi M.

Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.

Marvin

"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."

Rachel B.

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

More information about our Polk County Contested Guardianship Attorneys

At O'Flaherty Law, we understand that family comes first and is important to you, so our Polk County contested guardianship attorneys will use their experience to make sure you're in the best position in your guardianship litigation case. Get the peace of mind you deserve with our affordable rates and above-and-beyond client service!


Expertise Best Child Support Lawyers in Chicago 201710 Best 2016 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law AttorneysAvvo Clients' Choice 2016 DivorceRising Stars Kevin P. O'Flaherty SuperLawyers.com10 Best Law Firms 2018 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Legal Counsel Attorneys Estate Planning Law40 under forty

Contact Us

Please contact our friendly lawyers to Schedule a Consultation.

(515) 207-2006
desmoines.ia@oflaherty-law.com

What to Expect From a Legal Consultation

The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.

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Location

Office Address

2716 Grand Ave., Ste. 2

Des Moines, IA 50312

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Hours of Operation

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Attorneys

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Meet the Owner

I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team.  Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys.  Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us.  They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates.  We are here to help!

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- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Further Reading from our Polk County Contested Guardianship Attorneys

How to Terminate Guardianship of a Minor and Regain Parental Rights In Iowa

In this video, our Polk County contested guardianship attorneys explain how like nearly every other state there is a pathway to regaining parental rights in Iowa. However, Iowa law is somewhat ambiguous after 30 days have passed since the termination of the original parent’s parental rights. Whether within the 30 day period or outside, when trying to regain parental rights the original parents must prove to the court that they have resolved the issues leading to the stripping of their parental rights. There are four reasons for the termination of guardianship in Iowa:

  1. The child reaches the age of 18;
  2. The child enters the military, marries, or is declared an adult by court order;
  3. The child dies before the age of 18;
  4. The court orders the guardianship terminated.

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How to Remove or Modify a Guardianship in Iowa

In this video, our Polk County contested guardianship attorneys explain how sometimes a guardianship will need to be modified due to a change in the ward’s physical or mental capacity. The guardian may require more powers to make choices for the ward, or if the ward’s physical or mental capacity improves the ward or other interested parties may feel the guardian should have his or her powers reduced.

Changing or modifying a guardianship is more or less the same as the setup process. A “petition for modification” is filed with the court by the interested party, a hearing will be set, and any interested party may present his or her facts at the hearing. Just like in the original hearing, the court will decide what level of guardianship is required. A “limited” guardianship is often the case when it appears that less responsibility needs to be held by the guardian.

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What is the Role of a Guardian Ad Litem in Iowa Custody Cases

In this video, our Polk County contested guardianship attorneys explain how in matters involving custody, such as divorce, the Court may appoint a GAL to represent the best interests of any minor children. The GAL’s duties include:

  • Conducting an initial in-person interview with the child, if the child’s age is appropriate for the interview, and interviewing each parent, guardian, or other person having custody of the child;
  • Maintaining regular contact with the child
  • Visiting the home, residence, or both home and residence of the child and any prospective home or residence of the child
  • Interviewing persons providing medical, mental health, social, educational, or other services to the child prior to any hearing, and attending these appointments.
  • Obtaining knowledge of facts, circumstances, and parties involved in the matter in which the person is appointed GAL
  • Attending depositions, hearings, or trials in the matter in which the person is appointed GAL, and filing motions or responses, making objections, calling witnesses, offering evidence, and questioning witnesses on behalf of the best interests of the child, and propose requested relief.

However, the GAL is not allowed to testify, serve as a witness, or file a written report in the custody matter. The GAL is also not allowed to also be the child’s attorney, or family reporter, in the same matter.

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