Manatee County Family Law Attorney

Every couple who is planning to get married has a vision of what the future might look like. For many, it can include raising a family, homeownership, and eventually retiring together. Unfortunately, for some couples, those plans don’t always work out. There are many reasons why a marriage can become fractured. When that happens, it should come as no surprise that one or both partners want to end the marriage and begin the next chapter in their lives.

New beginnings are equal parts exciting and scary, but before they can begin, you must dissolve the marriage, divide the assets, and create a parenting plan for the children. This is where things can get complicated and why you’ll need the services of a skilled family law attorney to help sort everything out.

Titan Law is the exact type of family law attorney that can help with all the legal matters pertaining to your family. Our attorneys have considerable knowledge and experience working in that court. We have helped many families get back on track after a divorce.

We understand the kind of support and guidance that is necessary to navigate these emotionally charged issues. We’re proud to provide counsel for all matters related to family law. The following categories are what our Manatee County family law attorney can help you with:

Manatee County Divorce Attorney

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the marriage rate in Florida is 7.1 marriages per 1,000. That is higher than the national average of 6.2. As you might expect, the divorce rate in Florida, at 3.1 divorces per 1,000, is also higher than the national average of 2.4 divorces per 1,000. That means that, despite what you might have heard, half of all marriages do not end in divorce. However, for those couples who experience irreconcilable differences in their marriage, divorce is a viable option.

The legal representation we can provide as your Manatee County divorce attorney will cover all aspects of the proceedings, including the equitable distribution of any marital property and debts. This includes homes, boats, cars, and other investments acquired after the marriage, as well as credit cards and outstanding loans. In a divorce, everything has to be on the table to decide who gets what and who pays for what.

Whether you’re the petitioner who files for divorce or the respondent who needs to address the issues raised in the filing, Titan Law can provide you with strong advocacy to protect your best interests and those of your children.

Manatee County Alimony Attorney

Alimony is often referred to as spousal support. These are court-ordered payments that one spouse pays to the other as a form of financial support. Ideally, this should be the same level of financial support provided if the couple is still married. It is important to note that spousal support is not automatically granted. You can make the request, and the judge will determine an equitable amount based on the following factors:

• How long the couple had been married
• The established standard of living during the marriage
• Each spouse’s age
• Financial resources and future earning potential
• Contributions to the marriage

Your Manatee Count alimony attorney will conduct a thorough financial analysis of each spouse’s situation. It is important to note that alimony is separate from child support. Those are two different elements to consider.

Manatee County Child Support Attorney

Every parent wants what is best for their children. And every parent knows how expensive it is to raise a child, let alone more than one. Child support is intended to maintain the standard of living that the child has come to expect. It covers the basics, such as food, clothing, and entertainment. It is also designed to assist with health insurance costs, doctor visits, dental appointments, and orthodontic expenses. There are also potential costs associated with tutors, after-school sports, and specialized equipment. It adds up fast.

To determine the amount of child support, a family court judge will take into account the combined income of both parents. If the father makes 60% of the household income and the mother makes 40%, that will be the division for 100% of the child support amount. In order to get there, your Manatee County child support attorney will gather all the relevant documentation from the petitioner and the respondent to present to the family court judge for their ruling.

Once the court order is established, there may be a change in the income status of one parent that necessitates a modification. There could also be issues with missed payments. Those are both matters that have to be brought back to the court for a ruling. We will be happy to take up the cause and be your advocate to protect the best interests of the children.

Manatee County Child Custody Attorney

When a couple with children decides to divorce, the needs of the children outweigh the needs of the parents. In other words, the best interests of the children should come first. On an emotional level, a child needs to know they have a stable living environment, even if that means they now have two homes to call home.

There are many options for parents when developing a time-sharing arrangement. Both parents can share legal custody, which means they jointly decide on all major issues related to their child, such as schooling, health, and religion. Parents will also need to decide whether they want joint or sole physical custody.

With joint custody, a parenting plan must be submitted to the court that details the child’s schedule for living arrangements, including holidays and vacations. A Manatee child custody attorney can help you come up with custody arrangements that will always put the best interests of the child first.

Manatee County Domestic Violence Attorney

Experiencing domestic violence can be emotionally and physically traumatic. Incidents like these can quickly escalate and lead to tragic consequences. When an incident occurs, it is essential to contact a Manatee County domestic violence attorney immediately, such as the team at Titan Law. We will act swiftly and discreetly to secure your safety and the protection of your children. That could begin with obtaining a court order of protection.

We know how complex domestic violence incidents can become. That is why we offer compassionate but aggressive legal representation that defends you in and out of court.

Manatee County Paternity Rights Attorney

With most new births, parentage is established before you even leave the hospital. The mother and father will sign the appropriate forms attesting to the child’s identity. However, that is not to say that there aren’t births where questions are raised as to who the biological father is. Establishing that paternity matters for the child’s well-being, both emotionally and financially.

If there are questions, a Manatee County paternity rights attorney can help clarify them, starting with requesting that the court order a paternity test. Once the results of that test come back, you’ll be able to work out the other issues, such as child support and visitation. A paternity test can also mean that someone who has been paying for child support is no longer legally obligated to do so if they are not the father of the child.

Manatee County Prenuptial Agreement Attorney

Planning for a wedding is an exciting (and potentially stressful!) time for couples. There are many details to work out as you set out to create the perfect day. There are also genuine issues about your future that you need to consider. Each person in a marriage comes into that marriage with specific assets. Those can include property, inheritance, and other valuable items.

Those assets should stay in your name unless you decide otherwise. There are also financial considerations that affect your future. This is where the issue of a prenuptial agreement comes into play.

A prenuptial agreement is a lot like an insurance policy. You aren’t planning to get divorced before you’re even married, but you’re formalizing what will happen to those assets and your finances if something does go awry in the marriage. Once you sign it, the agreement can be tucked away and hopefully never used. However, it is better to put that security in place to protect both interests of the couple.

Manatee County Cooperative Divorce Attorney

Nothing makes a family court judge happier than when couples come before them with all their issues worked out and agreements in place. That is what a cooperative divorce is all about. When couples agree it would be better to divorce and move on, they still need to work out issues pertaining to child support, alimony, custody, and the division of assets. Formalizing those agreements is aided by a compassionate Manatee County cooperative divorce attorney.

It is much better to proceed with a non-adversarial divorce. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some potential contentious issues. With the support of your attorney, these issues can be resolved, and you can begin your new life.

Family Law FAQs

When a couple decides to separate, there will be a lot of issues raised about what happens next. The following frequently asked questions can provide a starting point for understanding what you’ll be dealing with.

How do the courts divide assets and debts in a Florida divorce?

Unlike the states that divide marital assets with a 50/50 split, Florida applies the principles of equitable distribution. That means the division of assets should be fair, but it might not always be equal. If the couple cannot decide on the division, their assigned judge will consider the following factors when determining how to divide the assets.

• The duration of the marriage
• Individual, premarital assets
• Each party’s contribution to the marriage
• Each party’s debts
• The division of child custody
• Tax considerations

All of those issues can be resolved independently of the court. That is where your divorce attorney will be a huge help.

What is the difference between a contested and an uncontested divorce?

The main difference between a contested and uncontested divorce is who will make the decisions about your future. If you can work out those decisions with the support of your lawyer and your spouse, you will have an uncontested divorce. However, if you can’t come to an agreement, your attorney will present evidence in court that advocates for your position. In that scenario, the judge will have the final say. For some, a contested divorce never ends the way they thought it would. That is why it is always better to strive for an agreement before you get to court.

How long does it take to get a divorce in Manatee County?

The time it takes to get a divorce in Manatee County depends on how many issues you need to work out. If you’re in agreement, an uncontested divorce might only take six weeks from start to finish. However, if there are complications, the process can extend to several months or even years.

Do I need a reason to file for divorce?

Everyone has a reason for why they choose to divorce, but you don’t have to necessarily share those reasons with the court. You can state that your marriage is irretrievably broken, and you don’t need to provide any other details.

Can court orders about child custody be changed?

Yes. It is not uncommon for life changes to result in modifications to child custody agreements. A new job schedule or move to a different community can be presented to the court in a request for a modification. Those same modifications can be made with regard to child support and alimony if there is a change in financial status.