We are here to help you reach the best possible results in your family law case through caring and attentive service.
Serving the Acadiana community in family law matters.
Welcome to Southern Oaks Law Firm, your trusted partner in navigating the complex terrain of family law in Lafayette, Louisiana. We understand that family law issues can be emotionally draining and overwhelming. Our dedicated team of highly skilled Lafayette family law lawyers are here to provide you with the support and guidance you need during these challenging times.
Dealing with family law matters can be an anxious and confusing experience, but you don’t have to face it alone. Southern Oaks Law Firm is committed to helping you start anew by offering the knowledge, understanding, and resources required to overcome these hurdles and move toward a brighter future.
Whether you are going through your first divorce, need assistance with child custody or child support matters, or seek legal solutions for your blended family’s future, we are by your side. We understand the unique challenges that come with family law issues, having experienced them ourselves.
Our Lafayette family law attorney takes the time to listen to your story because we’ve walked in your shoes. We recognize the physical, emotional, and financial toll that divorce, child custody battles, and property division disputes can take on your personal and professional life.
Southern Oaks Law Firm delivers tangible results to individuals on their family law journeys. We understand that every step you take from this point forward is critical, and because it matters to you, it matters to us. Together, we can transform your family law matter into a positive experience and help you and your family start anew.
Contact us today to learn more about our process. Rest assured that all your questions will be answered, and we will work tirelessly to provide solutions. Your family’s future is too important to delay any further, and we are here to help secure it.
Our Practice Areas
Our Louisiana family law attorneys offer tailored legal solutions to Louisiana residents, irrespective of age, race, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Our comprehensive practice areas include:
Family law matters impact every facet of your life, from the initial stages through negotiated or court-ordered resolutions. At Southern Oaks Law Firm, we recognize that until your legal matters are resolved, nothing else can take precedence. Our Lafayette family law attorneys firmly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue a favorable outcome for their unique case because your future success, happiness, and well-being depend on it.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today. Your family’s future is our top priority, and we are committed to helping you secure it without delay.
At Southern Oaks Law Firm, we provide full-service family law representation, meaning we offer comprehensive legal advice, guidance, and solutions for all aspects of your family law case.
In most cases, our fellow Louisiana residents are unsure what their family law needs entail, which is exactly why we are here. We will work with you to identify and strategically outline each aspect of your case that needs to be addressed – including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, the division of community property, and other issues that may arise in your case – without leaving a single detail to chance.
Allow us to give your story the voice it deserves to pursue real results inside and outside the courtroom, so your future begins now.
The costs associated with your Louisiana family law case are unique to your legal representation needs. Since family law is an all-encompassing category, someone who is pursuing a contested divorce after a long-term marriage with multiple children, significant assets, and complex future needs will require a potentially more involved legal approach than someone who is pursuing an uncontested divorce with no children or shared assets.
No matter the intricate details of your case, our skilled Lafayette family law attorneys focus on resolving your matter as quickly and efficiently as possible through preparation and skilled negotiations when appropriate. This approach is two-fold: First, it allows you to keep more of your hard-earned money, instead of spending it on legal fees. Next, and more importantly, it allows you to start your new life without further delay.
Our Lafayette family lawyers believe in taking a “settlement first” approach to resolving family law issues. That means we will make every reasonable effort to settle contested matters without the emotional and financial burden of trial. Simply put, we believe in less fighting, and more moving forward, whenever possible.
The problem is, the other side may not have the same sense of urgency to resolve the issues outside of the courtroom. In some cases, legal negotiations stall because the issues are far more comprehensive than either party could have imagined. In others, the inability to compromise — or, unfortunately, general spite — can prolong legal resolutions.
To ensure our clients are achieving the results they deserve, we explain how our Louisiana family laws and statutes apply to their circumstances, so they can make informed decisions about the direction of their case. This may mean outlining the defining details of your case, so together we can present an intelligently crafted settlement to the opposing party for review and negotiation with their attorney, or attending mediation sessions to help ensure your rights are protected from the start of your case.
If your case cannot be wholly managed and finalized outside of the courtroom, rest assured we will be fully prepared to litigate your position at trial. At Southern Oaks Family Law, we prepare each case as if we will be arguing before a judge, so we are ready to enter the courtroom at a moment’s notice.
To remain focused on our commitment to representing all Louisiana residents, no matter their marital status, gender association, or sexual orientation, our Lafayette family law attorneys and support staff pride ourselves on continued education with an emphasis on evolving legislation and family law statutes that impact our Louisiana LGBTQ+ communities. This allows us to represent all Louisianans using the experience, skillset, and resources necessary to pursue customized solutions for all their family law needs.
Current and past LGBTQ+ services we provide include:
While our Louisiana family lawyers only view our clients through a solution-focused lens, we know our laws have not fully evolved to provide the protections everyone is entitled to. Nonetheless, we are dedicated to expanding all of our clients’ legal options, so they can pursue the futures they deserve.
The short answer is, yes. No law says you must partner with an experienced family law attorney in Lafayette, Louisiana to proceed with your case. However, family law matters are inherently emotional. This means your personal feelings may cloud your judgment, which could mean you are overlooking important legal details, or forfeiting legal rights you did not know you had.
This is common in some relationships, where one party may try to convince the other that he/she/they can “oversee all the details,” so “all you have to do is sign.” This is not in your best interest. Even if your divorce or other family law needs are straightforward, it is imperative that your rights are protected from the beginning. We can help ensure this is true, starting with an initial case assessment.
At Southern Oaks Law Firm, our Lafayette-based family law attorneys focus exclusively on providing advice and services regarding Louisiana family law issues. We stay informed about the latest legal developments in the field of family law, which allows us to provide our clients with the highest quality of service during this difficult time.
We have successfully handled hundreds of family law cases. Because of that, we know that no two families are alike, nor do they have the same family law needs. Although we may not all look alike, we understand that partnering with the right Louisiana family lawyer is an important decision that will help shape your future.
Our team shares some of our clients’ personal experiences, including those of an unmarried dad navigating and enforcing child custody rights, a married father solidifying the well-being of a blended family, and a mother that has been through the divorce process. These real-life experiences allows us to directly connect with our clients and provide compassionate client service and tailored solutions meant to secure a fresh start for their future.
Our Lafayette Parish family law attorneys and support staff use both our personal and legal experience, and the resources available by Louisiana law to present calculated, real-time advice that produces long-term, sustainable solutions for our clients. Contact us today to learn more.
When it was time to revisit an outdated court order, I leaned on Taylor to get us through the process quickly and with the least possible amount of stress. Thanks to his patience and ability to diffuse a room-full of tension, we were able to come to a fair agreement that spared everyone an ugly court battle. He was attentive and informative throughout the process, and did a great job of putting my mind at ease. Looking back, I can truly say that Taylor saved a very special day for our family and I’m forever grateful for everything he did to resolve all of our concerns.
– Melody W
I met Taylor about a year ago for a custody modification issue i had been dealing with for quiet a few years. I had been thru the courts several times with no resolution. I didnt know which way to turn any longer. I contacted his office and made an appointment to meet with him. After speaking with him, i was confident and instantly knew what I had to do. I hired him immediately. He is courteous, honest and professional. He listened, he researched the history and he got me a resolution that i was comfortable with. I am so grateful for Taylor Fontenot.
– Tracy R
Great people, they keep in contact and act promptly with real information and answers.
Best of all you feel like a person when you’re in contact and they offer reasonable prices for serious consultation.
– Jacob B
It was not a hard decision to use this law firm. Taylor is a great attorney and I am glad I used him for my legal needs.
– Suzanne B
After researching attorneys for several weeks, we decided to go with Taylor Fontenot and can say it was the best decision we made. Taylor is professional yet down to earth, he is knowledgable and resolved our matter in an amazingly quick amount of time and kept in touch with us throughout the entire process.
– candy B
I could not ask for better lawyer!! Taylor took time to get to know my fiancée and I and the whole situation. It did not feel like going with a big company to where you feel like you’re just another pay check to them. He was very understanding and definitely worth it. Definitely recommend Taylor to anyone who needs an attorney. Highly recommend!
– BRANDON F
From the initial consultation, Taylor was very helpful with our situation. Every phone call and email was returned promptly and he was very helpful throughout the entire process. Being out of state, I wasn’t expecting the best service or even an easy outcome but I was wrong. I hope we never need this service again but if we do, we know exactly who to call.
– NICOLE B
At Southern Oaks Law Firm, we understand that if you are looking for a Lafayette family law attorney, you are seeking a trusted team of professionals who will handle your case with the compassion, care, and professionalism that you deserve.
We also know that you are looking for a fresh start, and would like to get there as quickly as possible so that you can heal, recover, and move on with your life in a positive direction.
No matter your unique family law circumstances, our Louisiana attorneys and support staff are here to provide a confident legal path forward, so you can finally feel relieved knowing a fresh start is on the horizon.
We are committed to developing personalized legal solutions for individuals and families, no matter where they live or work in Louisiana by:
We achieve our clients’ legal objectives through open and honest communication, individual case planning and preparation, and systems designed to produce consistent, quality results for you and your family. We believe positive outcomes come from partnerships based on trust, loyalty, respect, and determination — not combative, unproductive talks with the other party that prolong the process. How can we help you move forward with confidence?
After clerking for the 20th Judicial District Court, Taylor began his career working for some of Lafayette’s largest and most respected personal injury law firms. In March 2016, he left the world of high-volume legal practice to start his own firm, with the idea of providing exceptional service to individuals, families and businesses in Acadiana. After having his first child and going through a highly contested custody proceeding, he decided to dedicate the firm solely to the practice of family law. Now, he uses his personal and professional experience to help others navigate the Louisiana family law process by providing world-class legal services and a signature client experience.
At Southern Oaks Law Firm, our forward-thinking Lafayette family lawyers and support staff know where you are in life right now is hard. No matter who you are or what your legal journey entails, we are here to help you pursue a positive outcome for you and your family. We take a sincere approach to helping our clients move forward as smoothly as possible with sustainable legal solutions that fit their unique needs.
You need a Lafayette family law attorney for a reason. No matter what it is, we are here to create customized solutions that fit your unique needs, so you can start anew without delay. Contact our family law attorneys in Lafayette, Louisiana today by calling 337-704-7255 or online to discuss your legal journey with someone who cares about your future.
Nobody benefits from staying in a toxic marriage riddled with irreconcilable differences.
Read moreThe paramount consideration in any child custody determination, i.e., in the initial setting of custody.
Read moreAre you concerned about how you will provide for your child’s health, education and welfare
Read Morenews & articles
Latest Blog PostsIt can be very difficult for children to weather their parents’ divorce. They may not fully understand the factors that are causing the divorce, and it may be hard for...
read morePedestrians face a high level of danger when walking near traffic. In fact, some reports have shown that this risk level has increased source in recent years, with pedestrian fatalities...
read moreChild custody can be heavily contested during a divorce or separation. It can be heartbreaking to learn that the court will determine how much time you will spend with your...
read moreAcadiana has a vibrant Mardi Gras scene that is very different from the atmosphere in New Orleans. While it shares many of the same elements – masking, parades and big...
read moreSome people think that it is crass to request a prenuptial agreement, but that attitude is no longer the predominant one. Many people now view prenuptial agreements as a common-sense form...
read moreSometimes, foster children can add so much meaning to your life that you want to give them a home and lots of love for the rest of their lives. Adoption...
read more