A Firm Offering Skilled Guidance And Support Through Your Florida Divorce
When your marriage is no longer working, and divorce seems inevitable, the help and advice of a skilled family law attorney are crucial. In Fort Myers and surrounding areas of Florida, you can find the help you need at Patrick McLain Law. Our attorneys have more than 20 years of combined experience, and they are well-equipped to help you through all issues related to your divorce. These include property division, alimony, child custody and child support, to name just a few.
You Have Numerous Divorce Options
Traditionally, the only way to get a divorce was through litigation. This is still sometimes necessary, but it isn’t the best option in many cases. It is adversarial in nature and leaves important decisions up to a judge rather than the two parties. Thankfully, there are numerous other alternatives, including:
Mediation: Rather than going to court, the couple meets with a neutral third party (the mediator), and they work to reach agreements on all aspects of their divorce. Each spouse can also consult with their own attorney.
Collaborative divorce: Like mediation, this process involves couples directly negotiating the terms of their divorce. Instead of a mediator, however, each spouse has an attorney sitting with them in negotiations.
Filing uncontested: In this type of divorce, both spouses already agree on all aspects of the divorce. This often includes property division, custody arrangements for your children, and more. When filing uncontested, you may only need limited legal services, but it is still a good idea to consult with a family law attorney to prevent mistakes or oversights in the legal process.
The complexity of your divorce and the resolution method you choose can influence how easy or difficult it is to settle. Complicated divorce cases may involve significant assets and property, as well as disputes over child custody. The three methods mentioned above tend to be significantly cheaper, faster and less stressful than litigation. As previously noted, however, litigation is sometimes the best or only option when agreements cannot be reached through other means.
Your Florida Divorce Questions, Answered
Below, we’ve provided answers to some of the most common divorce questions asked by prospective clients.
How long will the divorce process take?
The length of your Florida divorce will depend on its complexity, how cooperative or contested the proceedings are, and how willing each party is to reach a favorable agreement. Some cases can be resolved in a matter of months, while others take a year or more to complete.
Does my spouse have to pay for my divorce lawyer?
Who pays for the divorce depends on various factors, including the terms of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement (if you have one) and the income disparity between you and your spouse. This is an issue you should raise with your family law attorney early in the process.
How does child custody work in Florida?
If child custody is contested and must be determined by a judge, the court will review each parent’s living situation, ability to provide care and other factors when deciding who should get custody. An experienced attorney will do all they can to ensure that your child’s best interests are at the forefront of all child custody discussions.
What is spousal support?
Spousal support, commonly referred to as alimony, is ordered payments from one spouse or domestic partner to help cover the other’s monthly expenses. It is not awarded in all cases and is not as common as it once was. However, it remains an important tool in certain divorces to ensure that both parties have some measure of financial security after divorce.
What are prenuptial and postnuptial agreements?
These agreements outline how a married couple will divide up their assets in the event of a divorce or separation. Prenuptial agreements are made before the couple gets married, and postnuptial agreements are signed after the wedding, sometimes much later in the marriage.
Both of these types of arrangements are legally binding. Our attorneys can help you understand all of the guidelines and limitations of these agreements and determine how they apply in your divorce proceedings.
Why choose a Fort Myers divorce lawyer?
Divorce can be a very challenging legal, financial and emotional process. Some have described their divorce proceedings as draining and intense. This does not even mention the complexities of property division and child custody. It can be much easier when divorcees can set aside their differences long enough to collaborate. However, when collaboration is not an option, divorces can be even more difficult and emotionally charged.
That’s why Florida family law professionals always recommend hiring an experienced Fort Myers divorce attorney for your divorce proceedings. They can walk you through each step of your divorce and provide emotional support along the way.
Contact Us For Answers To Your Divorce Questions
Patrick McLain Law serves clients in Lee, Hendry, Collier, Charlotte and Glades counties. To schedule your initial consultation with one of our experienced family law attorneys, call our Fort Myers office at 239-737-3735 or reach out online.