McGinnis Law Firm, P.A. ATTORNEY AT LAW & CERTIFIED FAMILY MEDIATOR

Florida Divorce Attorney

Tampa Child Support and Child Custody Modification Lawyer

Going through a divorce can feel scary. Everything seems upside-down. Your emotions are in an uproar. Life feels like one big roller coaster.

Our firm represents divorcing clients. We facilitate the legal process for you, which may include settlement negotiations and court proceedings. We look into the specifics of your case to advise you of the best approach.

Uncontested Divorce vs. Contested Divorce

Our Florida divorce attorney has the experience and knowledge of the law to handle complex divorce issues and contested divorce litigation cases. She also has significant experience in settlement negotiations and contract-drafting, which is essential when representing a client in an uncontested divorce case.

• Uncontested divorce: In an uncontested divorce, almost all issues have been resolved by the parties, typically resulting in a written marital settlement agreement. Our experienced attorney can handle everything from the initial filing, through the drafting of a detailed marital settlement agreement, to the final hearing. She will make sure that all of the important issues in your case are addressed in a clear manner.
• Contested divorce: In a contested divorce, at least one of the issues in the case is disputed (such as custody of the children and property division ) and must be brought before the court for determination. The more issues left unresolved by the parties, the more complicated the case can become.

Other Related Issues

• Custody and visitation : There are two main categories of child custody in Florida: sole parental responsibility and shared parental responsibility.
• Child support: Child support in Florida is calculated pursuant to the statutory guidelines and is based on the net incomes of the parties. Child support cannot be waived by either parent as it is the right of the child. Child support is a separate issue from visitation, meaning that a parent is still obligated to pay child support even if he or she is being denied visitation with the child and a parent cannot refuse visitation to the other parent on the basis of non-payment of child support.
• Modifications of final judgments: Some aspects of a final judgment in family law are modifiable, including custody, child support, visitation, and some forms of alimony. In most cases, you must prove that there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the final judgment was entered.
• Enforcement and contempt actions: If a party is not abiding by the court order, that order may be enforced. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the violating party may be held in contempt by the court and ordered to pay the other party's legal costs.
• Relocation: Florida's strict relocation statute states that a parent, as defined in the statute, seeking to relocate with his or her child a minimum of 50 miles or more away from their current residence must get permission to do so either from the court or in writing from the other parent and every other person entitled to access and/or time-sharing with the child. Serious consequences can occur if a parent who is subject to this statute relocates with their child without abiding by the provisions of this statue.

Contact Us for Experienced Counsel

Contact our Tampa child support and child custody modification lawyer for a free consultation. Our offices are open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

The Tampa Bay law offices of McGinnis Law Firm, P.A., provide legal representation to Florida cities including: Tampa, Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, St. Petersburg, Plant City, Lakeland, Bartow and Winter Haven. We also serve southwest Florida clients in: Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, Highlands County, Hardee County, DeSoto County, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Osceola County and Orange County.