Family law in Gallup and the Four Corners
Family law cases are personal, and they are often the hardest legal matters a person will ever go through. Attorney Kristin Marie Harrington focuses her practice on domestic relations and family law for families in Gallup, McKinley County, Farmington, and San Juan County. She has spent years in the courtroom, first as a public defender in Aztec and later in private practice in Farmington, and she brings that experience to every case.
How we help
- Divorce. New Mexico is a no-fault state, so a marriage can be dissolved on grounds of incompatibility. We handle contested and uncontested divorces, including the division of community property and debt.
- Child custody and timesharing. New Mexico courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child, with a presumption that joint custody is appropriate. We help parents build workable parenting plans and fight for them when agreement is not possible.
- Child support. Support is calculated under New Mexico's child support guidelines. We make sure the numbers reflect real income and real parenting time, and we handle modifications when circumstances change.
- Spousal support. Whether alimony is appropriate, how much, and for how long depends on the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning ability, and other factors the court weighs.
- Paternity, guardianship, and modifications. Establishing parentage, kinship guardianship for relatives raising a child, and changing existing orders when life changes.
- Orders of protection. Help for people who need protection from domestic abuse, and for people who need to respond to a petition.
What to expect
You will get a straight answer about your options, what the process looks like, and what it is likely to cost. Kristin approaches every case with empathy, patience, and professionalism, so clients feel informed, supported, and in control of decisions that affect their families. Where agreement is possible, we pursue it. Where it is not, we are prepared for court.
Family law on and near the Navajo Nation
Many of our clients' families live across state and tribal lines. Which court hears a custody or divorce matter can depend on where the family lives and whether the children are tribal members, and the Indian Child Welfare Act applies to certain proceedings. We help clients understand which forum applies and coordinate when more than one is involved.
Talk to Kristin
Call (505) 722-5608 to discuss your situation. Family law matters are handled on an hourly or flat-fee basis, and we explain the terms in writing before any work begins.
The law behind these cases
- NMSA 1978, Section 40-4-9.1Joint custody standards and the required parenting plan; New Mexico presumes joint custody is in the child's best interest.
- Grant v. Cumiford, 2005-NMCA-058The Court of Appeals confirming the joint custody presumption.
- Sanchez v. Sanchez, 1988-NMCA-028The four factors a court weighs before ordering joint custody, including whether the parents can cooperate about the child.
Each citation links to the statute, regulation, or reported opinion. How they apply depends on the facts of your case.