Archives

A knowledgeable, experienced adoption attorney can help explain, simplify, and organize the adoption process and outline your options. The attorney can clarify the relevant adoption laws and regulations in your state. If you are considering adopting or placing a child from another state, your attorney can consult with an experienced attorney who is familiar with the laws of that state, then explain them to you and/or refer you to that attorney. Your attorney can assist you in understanding and weighing the effectiveness of your various options for getting the word out about your desire to adopt. These include: using the…

If you and the other parent can come to an agreement out of court, the process will be shorter and less expensive. If you do end up in court, the judge will have to determine which parent is more willing and able to care for your child and that person will be given primary custody. It’s also possible to share custody if you’re both deemed equally able. A good lawyer will try hard to make sure that the proceedings don’t get out of hand and the outcome is fair.

Child support is a fundamental right of the child (not the parent), and courts take child support seriously. The failure to pay child support can result in severe consequences, including wage garnishment, the loss of your driver’s and professional licenses, and even jail time. So when a court orders you to pay child support, you need to pay it, unless you can show a very compelling reason not to. Child support payments are set by state family law courts. The way the amount is calculated varies from state to state, but typically, it’s based on your income, the other parent’s…

There are a variety of actions that may result in a finding of contempt in a family law case. For example, if one party was ordered to pay certain debts in a divorce action and has failed to do so, he or she may be found to be in contempt. In visitation or custody cases, a person may be found in contempt if he or she refused to allow visitation that was provided in the parenting plan or he or she does not return the child to the other parent at the end of visitation. Contempt may also occur if…

Deciding whether to get a legal separation vs. divorce can be confusing. To make a decision, it is important to understand the legal and emotional effects of both possibilities and weigh the options. Your divorce lawyer is responsible for the division of assets and debt among spouses. If there are children involved, a divorce lawyer helps set the terms for child custody and child support. Thorough research is required in order to gather supporting evidence in each case.

Although state divorce laws have provisions for dealing with issues such as financial support and dividing property, these laws generally apply to married couples or those in a state-sanctioned domestic partnership or civil union. There’s nothing to prevent an unmarried couple from settling their differences on their own. If the breakup is relatively amicable, you can make a list of the assets you need to divide and mutually agree to an arrangement. If you're able to do this, you should put your terms into a written property settlement agreement. You may also address financial support in your agreement as well.…

What can a domestic violence attorney do that might be otherwise difficult for you to do on your own? Here are five ways a domestic violence attorney can help: Get a protection/restraining order in place. Victims of domestic violence can seek a protective order (also called restraining order in some states) which may prohibit the abuser from making contact, coming within a certain distance of the victim, or possessing firearms. In certain instances, a protective order can also require that the abuser move out of a home shared with the victim. File a domestic violence lawsuit. A domestic violence lawsuit…

When a non-custodial parent objects to the move, the court may schedule an evidentiary hearing to decide the fact and factors on whether to give the custodial parent permission to relocate. Florida courts take parental relocation very seriously requiring special attention from a lawyer for relocation with children. Judges generally will not make a decision without testimony and evidence and usually appreciate the services of lawyers to facilitate the trial process. When a parent is divorced or separated and has custody of the child wishes to move out of Florida, it is difficult on the child and the other parent.…

Whether you're seeking to establish or challenge paternity, challenge the adoption of your child, terminate your parental rights, or adjust a child support or visitation order, a fathers' rights attorney can help you through the legal process. Because the procedures in exercising or terminating paternity rights can be complicated and involve confusing paperwork and court proceedings, it may be in a father's best interests to consult with an attorney.

LGBT family issues have grown in prominence with the legal recognition and protections provided by the U.S. Supreme court. Same-sex marriage is now legal in all states and so too same-sex divorce. Each client regardless of sexual orientation, is entitled to competent representation in family law cases. We understand the unique challenges that same-sex couples face and how Florida family law may apply to their unique situation. Whether you are drafting a marital agreement in preparation of marriage or divorcing your spouse, we are here for your family no matter what the circumstances.