Practice Areas

If you are contemplating a dissolution of marriage or are involved in a paternity dispute, you need legal representation from knowledgeable and experienced legal counsel. You can arrange for a consultation with a Palm Beach divorce lawyer and family law attorney at our offices in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and Wellington, Florida. We care about our clients and strategically advocate on their behalf. We provide a full spectrum of family law services, including:

Division of Property and Assets - Distribution of assets and liabilities in a Florida divorce is a four-step process. The first step is to identify the parties’ assets and liabilities. The second step is to determine which assets are marital and which assets are nonmarital. Assets acquired by either spouse individually or by both spouses jointly are considered to be marital assets. Assets acquired by the parties before marriage are considered to be nonmarital assets. After the trial court has classified the marital assets and liabilities and the nonmarital assets and liabilities, the third step that the trial court must take is to value the marital assets and liabilities. The fourth step that Florida courts must take is to distribute marital assets and marital liabilities. Although there is a presumption that a court shall equally distribute marital assets and liabilities, a trial court may unequally distribute marital assets and liabilities when the court determines that it would be appropriate to do so.

High Asset / High Net-Worth Divorce - We provide sound legal advice and strategic representation to our high asset/high net-worth divorce clients. We possess the financial acumen required to represent our clients in cases involving the most complex financial issues. We provide smart, effective and efficient representation to our high asset/high net-worth clients.

Alimony - There are four types of alimony in Florida. They are bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational and permanent alimony. A court can award one or any combination of these forms of alimony, and a Florida court can order that alimony shall be paid in periodic payments or in a lump sum amount.

Child Custody and Visitation - Two (2) aspects of parenting are decided by courts in Florida divorce and paternity proceedings. They are parental responsibility and custody and visitation (now known in Florida as “time-sharing”). All matters related to parental responsibility and time-sharing are determined in accordance with the best interests of the children. Courts are required to award shared parental responsibility unless they find that shared parental responsibility would be detrimental to the best interests of the children. Courts may award sole parental responsibility when it is in the children’s best interests. In creating a time-sharing schedule, Florida courts evaluate all factors affecting the welfare and best interests of the children, including the factors specifically enumerated in the Florida statutes.

Child Custody Modification - In order to modify a court ordered parenting plan in Florida there must be a substantial, material, and unanticipated change of circumstances that warrants a modification of the parenting plan. In reaching a determination as to whether the modification of a parenting plan is appropriate, the court will also determine whether the children’s best interests are served by the modification.

Child Relocation - In Florida child relocation is defined as a change in the residence of a parent from his or her principal place of residence after a time-sharing order is entered or an action to establish or modify time-sharing is filed. The change of location must be at least fifty (50) miles and it must last for at least sixty (60) consecutive days, excluding temporary absences for vacations, educational opportunities and health care services.

Unmarried Parents - Florida Statutes state that it is the policy of the State of Florida that children should have frequent and continuous contact with both parents, unless it would be detrimental to the best interests of the children. There is no presumption in favor of time-sharing with either parent, and there is no presumption in favor of any particular time-sharing schedule.

Modification of Alimony - There are three prerequisites to obtaining a modification of alimony: First, there must be a substantial change in the financial circumstances of one of the parties. Second, the change in the party’s financial circumstances must not have been contemplated at the time of the entry of the final judgment of dissolution. Third, the change in the party’s financial circumstances must be material, sufficient, involuntary, and permanent.

Divorce - Florida lawyers and judges utilize an acronym known as PEACE to sequentially organize the component parts of a divorce proceeding in their own minds. The “P” in PEACE stands for parenting. The “E” in PEACE stands for equitable distribution of the parties’ assets. The “A” in PEACE stands for alimony. The “C” in PEACE stands for child support. The “E” in PEACE stands for everything else, such as partition of property, interest, and attorney’s fees. When courts issue a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage in Florida, it will be organized in this manner.

Same-Sex Divorce - In Florida, same-sex divorce is treated the same way as heterosexual divorce. The issues that are involved are: time-sharing, parental responsibility, the division of assets, alimony, and child support.

Representing Professional Athletes - Professional athletes need a divorce lawyer and family law attorney in their corner who will protect their financial interests and their relationships with their children. We work with sports agents, business attorneys, forensic accountants and financial advisors to ensure that our clients privacy, relationships and financial wellbeing are protected.

In order to arrange for a consultation with a Palm Beach divorce lawyer and family law attorney who is dedicated to protecting your financial future and your relationship with your children, call our office at: (561) 363-3400, or contact us online. Our offices are conveniently located in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and Wellington, Florida.