The family law area of practice covers a large part of an individual’s personal life, and because your family life matters just as much if not more than your professional life, Boyer Law Firm, P.L has a section devoted to family law matters to assist you in the different family situation that anyone can face at some point in life, whether a U.S. citizen or not. Our skilled family law attorneys have extensive experience in handling issues such as divorce, child support, child custody, and drafting domestic contracts.

Dedicated Legal Representation in Florida Family Law Matters

silhouette of family in the sun holding model house in air, divorce, florida family law, domestic contractsFamily law matters can be complex and overwhelming to face alone. The situation can become even more complicated and frightening when children are involved. Therefore, you deserve the support of a trusted and experienced team to protect your interests and achieve the best possible outcome.

Continuing reading for more information on the family law services offered at Boyer law Firm, such as:

  • Devise comprehensive Domestic Contracts (Cohabitation, Prenuptial, Antenuptial, and Separation agreements)
  • Divorce: simplified, contested or uncontested
  • High asset divorce and Complex Asset and Property Division
  • Child Custody and Visitation
  • Child Relocation
  • Establishing Child support obligations and enforcement
  • Establishing Alimony or spousal support and enforcement
  • Paternity suits
  • Parenting Plans and time-sharing issues
  • Post-divorce Actions such as modifications (child support or custody)
  • Annulments
  • Guardianships
  • Legal separation
  • Florida Divorce with Immigration Status Implications
  • Florida Divorce with International Implications
  • Enforcement of Out-of-State or Foreign Country Judgments
  • Enforcement of Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreements
  • Foreign Birth Registration of U.S. Citizen
  • Assisting in the Proper Documentation for U.S. Citizens Getting Married Abroad

The Family Law attorneys at Boyer Law Firm, P.L. routinely handle complex cases across the state of Florida representing clients in every aspect of family law, using top-notch negotiation and advocacy skills. Our team of lawyers are experienced litigators, negotiators, and problem-solvers who areprepared to represent your interests in and out of the courtroom.

Destination Weddings: Getting Married Abroad

Many U.S. citizens and permanent residents get married in exotic places abroad. But they are not always aware that to be legally married there, they must satisfy the host country’s legal requirements to get married. Most countries will request from the non-local fiancé an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry to ensure, for example, that the foreign fiancé is not already married or has reached the legal age to get married in his own country.

Contact our firm to check on the requirements of the country where you intend to get married and obtain—an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry, and have your marriage authenticated by the U.S. authorities afterward.

Domestic Contracts

The term domestic contract refers to the different types of agreements made between couples depending on their relationship status at the time of the negotiation/execution of the agreement.

Domestic agreements can determine specific terms of a relationship. The contract can express agreed parameters of a partner’s rights and responsibilities in case the relationship ends.

wedding rings in foreground, woman signing document in background, domestic contractsIn recent years, more couples have begun living together without marrying. Unfortunately, these couples are not provided the legal protections of marriage. The creation of a cohabitation agreement can provide security and comfort now and in the future.

A cohabitation agreement establishes property and financial rights for couples cohabitating in an unmarried relationship. This document can help identify who gets what if the couple ever ends their relationship and provide additional protections for significant others in cases of incapacitation, separation, or death.

Before getting married and contemplating marriage, couples sometimes enter into agreements intended to control what happens legally and financially in the event of their death or divorce. These agreements are called premarital or prenuptial agreements or, occasionally, ante-nuptial agreements.

Our firm can assist you with:

  • Cohabitation Agreements
  • Domestic Partnership Agreements
  • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Post Nuptial Agreements (also called ante-nuptial agreements)
  • Separation Agreements
  • Enforcement of Domestic Contracts in Florida

Whether married or unmarried, a domestic contract (cohabitation agreement or marriage contract) is important to protect each party’s assets in the event of separation or death.

Domestic contracts bring certainty and predictability regarding the responsibilities of both parties and the division of assets and debts on separation or death.

Filing for Divorce in Florida

woman’s hands, removing gold wedding ring, divorceIn Florida, any type of divorce can turn into an uncontested divorce at any time. An uncontested divorce means the parties agree on all issues related to the divorce.

The parties may not qualify for a simplified divorce because they have children. However, if the parties agree on all issues regarding the divorce and issues related to their children, they can file an uncontested divorce.

In some situations, a divorce matter may move from a contested divorce process to an uncontested divorce process. In the beginning, the parties may not agree on all issues but later reach a mutual agreement. This is very common because many couples can reach an agreement during court-ordered mediation or negotiating a settlement.

The uncontested divorce process is typically less expensive than a contested divorce. When the parties agree, they may not need to leverage lawyers.

Our firm can assist you with:

  • Simplified, Contested, or Uncontested Divorce
  • High asset divorce and Complex Asset and Property Division
  • Florida Divorce with Immigration Status Implications
  • Florida Divorce with International Implications
  • Enforcement of Domestic Contracts such as Prenuptial or Antenuptial Agreements
  • Post-Divorce Matters

If you are contemplating divorce, don’t amplify your stress with the challenges of maneuvering the legal process alone. You deserve caring, personalized attention during this stressful time; our family law attorneys can provide all of that.

Florida Divorce with International Implications

Divorce proceedings in couples who live in different states or countries is called international divorce. These procedures are treated the same as a conventional divorce but with the disadvantage of residing in different areas.

 As a Florida resident, you are entitled to file for divorce in Florida, regardless of whether your spouse and children live in another state or country. The only requirement for filing for divorce in Florida is that for the period of six months prior to filing a petition, you have been a resident of the State of Florida. In this instance, a “resident” does not have the same meaning as “legal permanent resident” used in U.S. Immigration Law. It simply means you have been living in Florida for at least six months, despite your immigration status.

Many foreign nationals who live in Florida fail to pursue a divorce in the U.S. under the mistaken belief that they are not permitted to do so. However, obtaining a divorce, also called a dissolution of marriage, is usually less expensive and much quicker.

From the division of marital property to complex issues of international child custody, individuals pursuing an international or non-resident divorce would be well served by the skilled international family lawyers of Boyer Law Firm, P.L.

Post Divorce Issues in Florida

Once a divorce is finalized, there will often be orders in place that govern various things related to your children, finances, and property. But, unfortunately, circumstances in life can change at any moment and have an impact on those orders.

It is common for issues to occur after a divorce is finalized. Whether an issue with child support or custody, relocation, property division, or something else, it’s important to have a reliable lawyer to help you navigate the situation.

Our firm can assist you with:

  • Relocation and child custody
  • Modifications (Custody, Time-sharing, Child Support or Alimony)
  • Contempt Actions
  • Enforcement of Out-of-State or Foreign Country Judgments
  • Child Support Enforcement and Recovery
  • Estate Planning and Wills
  • Remarriage and its effect on child support, child visitation, and inheritance

A skilled attorney can provide guidance and advice on how to best handle post-divorce situations and represent you in court if needed. If you are facing a post-divorce issue, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Boyer Law Firm. We can help you work through any post-divorce situation and guide you to the best course of action.

Spousal Support / Alimony in Florida

Alimony awards are not a part of every divorce judgment. For a judge to award spousal support, that party must show that a need for alimony exists and that the paying spouse can reasonably make the alimony payments. A spouse can prove there is a need by showing that they will not be able to achieve their former standard of living after considering income and any proceeds from the equitable distribution of the marital assets.

Based on the length of the marriage, the court may determine the type of alimony appropriate for each case. Florida statutes categorize marriages as short-term (0-7 years), moderate-term (7-17 years), or long-term (17 or more years). After considering the length of the marriage, the judge will consider the other factors that affect alimony, such as financial standing, needs, and the type of alimony requested.

Our firm can assist you with:

  • Temporary alimony and bridge-the-gap alimony
  • Durational alimony
  • Rehabilitative alimony
  • Lump sum, non-modifiable alimony
  • Spousal support or alimony modification
  • Enforcement of support orders

Understanding spousal support helps you plan for your post-divorce financial well-being. Estimating spousal support payments allows you to create a personal budget.

There is no standardized formula for determining when and how much spousal support is justified. Therefore, it is in your best interest to retain the services of an experienced spousal support lawyer. Boyer Law Firm’s skilled family law attorneys understand the legal process and evidence that can be used to obtain results for our clients.

Child Support in Florida

Child support in Florida is the financial obligation of both parents, regardless of their relationship status (single/married/separated/divorced/). Florida law recognizes the best interest of the child is best served when both parents are involved in meeting his or her emotional and financial needs.

child stacking coins, child supportChild support is a significant issue when filing for divorce with dependent minor children. In legal separation and divorce proceedings, as well as in post-judement matters, disputes often arise over the amount of child support paid by one parent to the other.

Determining child support can be overwhelming but thankfully, there isn’t as much room for argument often found in other Family Law issues, because the awards for child support are largely controlled by your net income and Federal guidelines.

Chapter 61, section 13 of Florida Statutes establishes that both parents have a duty to support their children regardless of their nuptial or living status. This means that courts can award child support when parents are unmarried, married and seeking divorce, or married and not seeking divorce.

Florida has adopted statutory guidelines for calculating child support and a full understanding of them is necessary to ensure that the amount of child support reflects the true income and expenses of the parents.

Our firm can assist you with:

  • Establishing Child Support
  • Child Support beyond the age of majority for adult dependent children
  • Enforcement of Child Support Orders
  • Child Support Modification

It is recommended to retain an experienced child support attorney to secure a reasonable, fair amount ordered for child support. Whether you are the designated custodial or non-custodial parent, your lawyer can represent you through the complex process of the determination of child support, as well as legal needs in child support enforcement.

The Florida family law attorneys of Boyer Law Firm, P.L. are experienced in complex family matters such as child custody, child support, and modification of current orders.

Child Custody in Florida

father’s hand holding child’s hand, child custodyThe question of child custody can arise from different type of situations (divorce, separation of unmarried parent, as a consequence of paternity recognition, etc…). Because this question will determine the child’s everyday life, future, education, as a parent you want to make sure the judge will grant you child custody.

However, the judge main criteria in deciding on child custody is what is in the child’s best interest. To answer that question, courts will consider inter alia, each parents’:

  • home environment
  • capacity to actually take care of the child
  • financial capacity to provide for the child’s needs (clothes, food, medical care)
  • involvement in the child’s education and extra-curricular activities
  • willingness to maintain or facilitate a real relationship between the child and the other parent
  • criminal history, history of domestic violence, physical and/or substance abuse, of negligence of children

When the parents cannot come to an agreement, it is important for each of them to be represented by an experienced attorney who will demonstrate how his client offers an environment that is in the child’s best interest.

Our firm can assist you with:

  • Paternity suits
  • Parenting Plans and Establishing Time-sharing
  • Time-sharing Disputes or Modification
  • Custody Agreements
  • Child Custody Disputes or Modifications
  • Interstate Child Custody Matters
  • International Child Custody Matters
  • Child Relocation
  • Interstate Parental Child Abduction/Kidnapping
  • International Parental Child Abduction/Kidnapping

At Boyer Law Firm, P.L., our child custody lawyers have years of experience helping clients throughout Florida understand their rights under Florida family law. We also invest time in explaining the legal options available and how our firm can be of assistance in matters involving custody, visitation, and parenting plans.

Solid Legal Representation in Your Family Law Case

Whether you are looking to file for divorce, have been served with divorce papers, require assistance with child support or a child custody issue, or need help preparing a domestic contract, we represent clients on either side of family law matters. Our attorneys have the dedication and experience you seek.

With Boyer Law Firm by your side, move forward confidently, knowing you have retained top-notch Florida divorce representation.

Offices in Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville