When things are falling apart, thinking about the future you want to build seems counterintuitive. But knowing where you want to be, what you want your next chapter to look like, and who will be standing by your side, can help you navigate even the most challenging divorce, child custody dispute, or break-up of your family business.
As a seasoned Albuquerque divorce lawyer, former business owner, and divorcee himself, Attorney Bob Matteucci is better prepared than most to help you figure out what the future holds and how to build a foundation to get you to that point.
With an MBA, a business background, and years of experience handling family law disputes, Bob can help you make things right instead of dwelling on what went wrong. With proper planning, you can take steps today to protect your family and financial legacy.
Your Next Chapter
People often reach out to a family law attorney when life is in transition and the path forward feels uncertain. Common reasons people seek a family law attorney include:
- Considering divorce or legal separation
- Disputes over child custody or parenting schedules
- Questions about paternity
- Navigating the challenges that come with co-parenting
- Child support or spousal support concerns
- Changes in income or circumstances that require modifying existing orders
- Dividing complex assets, investments, or business interests
- Uncertainty about financial security after a separation
- Fear that unresolved issues will resurface later without proper agreements
- A desire for privacy and discretion during a personal transition
Seeking help in these situations isn’t about escalating the conflict, it’s about finding a solution, protecting what matters, and helping you make informed decisions that support your long-term stability.
Bob and the rest of the Matteucci Family Law team are ready to outline your options and help you make a plan that meets your needs.
Choosing the Right Divorce Process for Your Situation
Divorce in New Mexico does not have to mean a bitter courtroom battle. Our state’s no-fault divorce law gives you the flexibility to choose a process that fits your family and financial situation.
- Uncontested Divorce
- Traditional Divorce
- Mediated Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- Military Divorce
- Same-Sex Divorce
Attorney Bob Matteucci can help you weigh the pros and cons of different types of divorce, and find one that fits your family’s needs. This is an especially important decision if you have young children, or you and your former partner share significant assets or own a business.
Child Custody & Support: Co-Parenting That Fits Your Family’s Unique Needs
Every parent wants what’s best for their children. That’s why negotiating a custody agreement, or modifying an existing one, is one of the most sensitive and critical parts of any family law case.
Bob helps Albuquerque parents negotiate child custody agreements and craft custom co-parenting plans that:
- Balance time fairly without relying on rigid formulas, no matter who is awarded primary physical custody
- Recognize that the parents will likely share legal custody of the children and need to collaborate when making major decisions about their child’s education, health care, religion, holidays, and other important matters
- Give families the flexibility they need to support their children’s needs as they grow
- Respect demanding professional or business schedules
- Support children with special needs
Once custody is settled, New Mexico law uses a formula to calculate child support. However, there’s still a little room to negotiate payments based on the parents’ preferences and lifestyle.
Whenever possible, Bob helps parents reach child custody and support agreements outside of court. Judges usually approve reasonable, well-drafted plans, saving everyone time, stress, and money — and sending a powerful message to your children that they are not the reason you’re fighting.
Figuring Out if Spousal Support or Alimony is Appropriate in Your Case
Spousal support, or alimony, is often a key issue in divorces involving business owners, professionals, and high-asset couples.
It can provide stability for one spouse or be used as a bargaining chip in situations where a couple’s assets cannot be evenly split without destroying the value or utility of the assets in question.
Bob helps clients evaluate when spousal support is appropriate, negotiate terms, and consider creative solutions such as:
- Trading reduced support for greater asset division
- Lump-sum buyouts to avoid long-term ties
- Structuring payments around fluctuating business income
Spousal support is not paid in every divorce, but it is something that all divorcing couples must consider. Attorney Bob Matteucci has helped many couples in the Albuquerque area negotiate spousal support agreements that are fair and equitable in their specific circumstances.
Protecting Your Family From Domestic Abuse or False Allegations of Abuse
Domestic violence and abuse impact thousands of New Mexico families, regardless of the age, sex, marital status, or income of the people involved. In fact, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been abused by an intimate partner.
Attorney Bob Matteucci is ready to help if you need to take civil legal action to legally distance yourself or your children from an abusive family member by seeking an Order of Protection (aka restraining order). Any contact you make with Bob will be held in the strictest confidence. Bob handles these cases with the utmost discretion to protect your privacy and keep you safe.
At the same time, Bob understands that not all allegations are made in good faith. In highly contentious divorces, false or exaggerated claims of abuse may arise. That’s why Bob listens carefully to each client’s story and ensures that your voice is heard, whether you’re seeking protection or defending against a wrongful accusation.
Navigating New Mexico’s Asset Division Law
While the personal side of family law gets top billing, the financial and business impact a divorce or other dispute can have on your life is just as profound.
- Any asset acquired during the marriage (think real estate, retirement accounts, art, antiques, investments, and whole businesses);
- Certain assets that increase in value during the marriage; and
- Assets that were owned before the marriage, but were then mixed with, or improved by, marital funds.
At divorce, the value of all this community property must be divided equally between the spouses. This can get messy quickly since illiquid and unique assets cannot simply be chopped in half. Thanks to his past business experience and financial acumen, Attorney Matteucci can step in to help couples hammer out an agreement.
When the alternative is selling everything off and splitting the pot 50/50, everyone has an incentive to work things out.
Keeping Your Family-Owned Businesses Intact During Divorce
Going through the divorce process as a business owner is what inspired Attorney Matteucci to head back to school and become a lawyer.
Before earning his J.D. with a concentration in Business Law from the University of New Mexico, Bob graduated from Tulane University with an MBA and was the fourth-generation owner of a profitable shoe store chain. He then established and grew his own business, which in 13 years generated more than $5.5 million in annual sales.
Bob’s past experiences mean he knows exactly how difficult it can be when family and business disputes become intertwined. He works closely with clients to:
- Avoid forced sales or operational disruptions
- Develop solutions that protect future income streams and family involvement
- Identify ownership interests across generations
- Ensure business valuations reflect reality
- Protect intellectual property and goodwill
- Structure buyouts or long-term agreements that preserve the business while settling the divorce fairly
Whether your business is a local retail shop, a ranch that’s been in your family for generations, or a professional practice, Bob can provide thoughtful legal guidance that keeps the business intact and the future in focus.
Protecting Your Family’s Privacy During This Difficult Time
Privacy is an increasingly valuable commodity in this day and age. Whether you want to protect your family or business from the scrutiny and judgment of others, or fear bad actors will try to take advantage of you during this difficult time, Attorney Bob Matteucci is here to help.
There are steps you and Bob can take to shield your family’s legal issues from prying eyes:
- Settling disputes outside of court
- Putting some carefully crafted confidentiality agreements in place
- Requesting certain court records be sealed from the public
Divorces are part of the public record in New Mexico, so the fact that you are getting divorced cannot be kept a secret. But the details can be private if you and your former partner are willing to work together to keep them quiet.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Mexico Family Law
Every family law situation is different, but many of our clients in the Albuquerque area share similar questions at the outset. The following FAQs provide clarity on common issues and may help you understand how the Matteucci Family Law team could approach your case.
Do I need a family law attorney if my situation seems amicable?
Even amicable situations involve legal and financial decisions that can have lasting consequences. An attorney helps ensure agreements are complete, enforceable, and aligned with your long-term goals.
When is the right time to talk to a family law attorney?
Earlier than you may expect. Getting advice as soon as you suspect an issue may arise can help you avoid missteps and can give you a wider variety of options to choose from.
Does hiring an attorney automatically lead to litigation?
No. Many family law matters are resolved through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative processes. Attorney Bob Matteucci’s job is to guide you toward a solution, not push for a courtroom showdown.
How do you help clients protect their financial future?
Bob’s business background and financial savvy mean he can help clients understand how property division, support, and settlement structures affect long-term stability, cash flow, and future earning potential. He can help you look to the future instead of focusing on the immediate outcome.
What if my spouse and I agree on most things, but not everything?
That’s good! And it’s more common than you might expect. It is still important to work with an attorney so you can quickly resolve any issues that may pop up, draft clear agreements a New Mexico family court judge will rubber stamp, and reduce the risk of misunderstandings or disputes later.
Can you help if my circumstances have changed since my divorce?
Yes. Changes in income, employment, parenting needs, or life circumstances may necessitate changes to your child custody schedule, child support payments, or spousal support (alimony) payments.
What if a family business or professional practice is involved?
Attorney Bob Matteucci is frequently called up to resolve disputes for couples who have complex finances — like business owners, professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs. He puts his MBA degree and business background to work to help the parties reach a fair and balanced resolution.
Serving Families with Dignity & Compassion
When your family and finances are on the line, you need more than just legal advice. You need a trusted advisor who truly understands what’s at stake and is ready to help you plan for the future.
Attorney Bob Matteucci uses his legal knowledge, business insight, and a deep understanding of New Mexico family law to guide clients through complex divorces, custody disputes, and the financial issues that come with them. Contact him today to schedule a consultation and start moving forward.