The process of ending a marriage or deciding how children will be cared for can be a stressful and difficult experience for both the spouses and children involved. An experienced Jacksonville family law attorney can help ease some of the stress and strain by guiding you through the legal process and help you resolve issues without big court battles.
Every Jacksonville family law attorney at Douglas Law Firm help people throughout the surrounding community navigate the divorce process and resolve a wide range of legal matters such as;
- Property division
- Alimony
- Child support
- Child Custody
- Paternity
We combine decades of legal experience to ensure our clients’ rights and interests are protected and make every effort to reach an agreement between spouses rather than leaving those issues for a judge to decide.
Our firm has significant success for our clients by pursuing informal negotiations and mediation between parties. We are experienced litigators who stand ready to fight for our clients by creating a personalized strategy specific to our client’s case.
Our lawyers have dedicated their professional lives to the local community. We are humbled and honored to stand by our neighbors across Florida in their time of need.
How Can a Jacksonville Family Law Attorney Help Me?
Whether it is how to divide assets in a divorce or child custody questions, family law cases can raise a number of complicated legal issues. A Jacksonville family law attorney can provide invaluable guidance throughout the legal process and take the stress away from you.
At Douglas Law Firm we start by helping clients identify the likely issues involved in their case, discuss the outcome the client desires, then design a personalized legal strategy to achieve the best desirable outcome. Our attorneys also explore every opportunity to save clients the stress and cost of litigation by resolving some or all issues through a negotiated settlement.
How Long Do Family Law Matters Take to Resolve?
The timeline for resolving family law issues varies significantly based on the issue, the factual circumstances, and whether the people involved are willing to work together to reach an agreement.
For example, an uncontested divorce - in which both spouses have agreed on financial matters (such as child custody, property division, or alimony) and both have agreed to a divorce - could be obtained as soon as three months. A contested divorce, at least in some cases, may take two years or more to fully resolve.
Even if the opposing parties in a legal matter cannot agree on all of the issues, resolving some of the issues can save a lot of time and stress.
What Should I Expect in My First Meeting with a Jacksonville Family Law Attorney?
At Douglas Law Firm, we offer free initial consultations for family law cases.
During this first meeting with a Jacksonville family law attorney at our firm, a lawyer will listen attentively to your description of the situation and ask many questions to get a better understanding of your circumstances. You should bring any relevant paperwork - like court documents - to this meeting.
A family law attorney at our firm will give you a brief overview of your rights and options, explain the next steps in the legal process, and describe how he or she can help if you. We offer both virtual and in-office consultations.
How Does Alimony Work?
Alimony – or spousal support - is a payment or series of payments from one spouse to another after a divorce. It is generally designed to help divorcing spouses maintain a certain level of financial stability when a couple goes their separate ways.
Your Jacksonville family law attorney can work with you to order alimony on a temporary or permanent basis, depending on the circumstances. It can also be modified over time if a judge determines that there has been a sufficient change in circumstances to justify an increase or reduction in support.
What Happens to the Family Home and Other Assets?
The home and any other assets obtained by one or both spouses during the course of a marriage is generally considered marital property under Florida law.
The state’s equitable distribution system requires judges to divide property in a way that is reasonable, based on the circumstances. That regularly means a 50-50 split, although other arrangements may also be warranted depending on the situation.
What Happens to the Children in a Florida Divorce?
“Timesharing” is the general term that Florida lawyers and judges use to describe issues and matters commonly involving child custody. Any experienced Jacksonville family law attorney knows, child custody can be the most difficult issue to resolve because parents often have very different ideas on how to best share time with their children.
The common theme in these cases can be boiled down to one question: What is in the best interest of the child? When two parents split up, the family courts regard shared parental responsibility as the preferred arrangement. When parents aren’t getting along, this can present a problem especially if they cannot come to an agreement on shared parental time. Our family law attorneys will fight for your rights and provide legal guidance to make sure your child custody arrangement is fair.
Can A Jacksonville Family Law Attorney Calculate My Child Support?
Child support is generally intended to ensure a certain level of security for the children involved.
The amount that one parent is ordered to pay in support is based on a formula to gauge the needs of the children and the parents’ ability to pay. Courts consider various factors, including the custody arrangement, both parents' incomes, and their current contributions.
What If I Don’t Want a Judge to Decide What Will Happen to My Kids and My Assets?
There is good news! Family law disputes are best resolved when the divorcees or parents work together - often through their lawyers - to come to an agreement. Although you may not get everything you want, a negotiated settlement can save significant time, cost, and stress for everyone involved including the children. Our Jacksonville family law attorneys will represent you with compassion and efficiency and do everything in our power to reach an agreement.
Connect with a Jacksonville Family Law Attorney Today
Call today, 1-800-705-5457, or connect with us online to schedule a free consultation and learn how our Jacksonville family law attorney can help you.