Family Law Today
We utilize the latest technology and techniques in representing our Family Law cases, including computerized legal research, online public records for instant access to court dockets, scientific DNA paternity testing, professional mediators, psychological evaluations, expert witnesses, home studies, and custody evaluators. These state of the art techniques, where appropriate, allow us to litigate family law issues using scientific, quantitative, and qualitative techniques rather than legal arguments alone.

Consultations
We offer a free half hour consultation on any of the above family law matters. During the consultation we will review your legal matter, discuss your rights and the options available to resolve those issues. If you have been served with a petition (lawsuit), you are required to file an answer within twenty days of being served. In many cases, it is appropriate to file a counter petition setting forth your side of the case. There are many options to settle a family law case, including mediation prior to trial. During the consultation, we will also discuss the legal fees and costs estimated for your particular case.

Child Support
Child support in Florida is based upon Florida Child Support guidelines contained in Florida Statutes Section 61. Child support is calculated based upon the income of the mother and father, after tax (take home pay), and is arrived at using a “Child Support Guidelines Worksheet” and the child support table contained in Section 61. The Child support calculation may include day care expenses and health insurance if appropriate. There may be reductions in child support if you are already paying child support on another child, or if you have dependent children living in your household, or if the child in questions spends a significant amount of time living with you.

Parental Responsibility and Custody
In Florida, most courts award shared parental responsibility, which means that each parent has a voice in raising the children, in making important decisions pertaining to the children, and in sharing information about the children. The term custody has been replaced with “Primary Residential Parent,” the parent with whom the children spends the most time. The non-custodial parent, or “secondary residential parent,” is the parent with whom the children visit, and whom must pay child support.

Joint Custody
Florida courts are reluctant to award joint custody unless both parents desire this arrangement. Also known as Rotating Custody, the child or children spend an equal amount of time with each parent. If both parents ask for rotating custody, the courts may order it; otherwise, the court will designate a primary and secondary parent. In a rotating custody situation, child support may be significantly reduced; however, each parent owes child support to the other during the time in which the child resides with the other parent.

Pro Se Litigants
Often clients ask for direction on how to represent themselves in their family law case. We do not assist clients in representing themselves, and the free consultation is not intended to give you advice on how to represent yourself.