Where to Get Answers to Your Florida Child Custody Questions

Child custody matters are arguably the most serious challenges that arise between two contending parents, or even step-parents and grandparents. After all, the top priority of all parents is the well-being and happiness of their children. If you are wondering what your child custody options and expectations are, you must consult with a seasoned Florida family lawyer for professional advice that is customized to your unique situation.

Continue below to learn exactly what you need to know and how to get started.

Orlando Child Custody Attorney
Orlando Child Custody Attorney 407-887-7058

Child Custody Basics

Physical and legal custody are the two types of child custody recognized by Florida Law. Physical custody denotes the actual residence of the child, and legal custody refers to who can make major decisions regarding a child’s upbringing. Applying these two primary categories of custody, there are several different custodial arrangements that can be made depending on family’s particular circumstances. For instance, both parents can share legal custody while one maintains primary physical custody and the other has visitation rights, or one parent can have sole legal and physical custody.

Helpful Child Custody Links:

Frequently Asked Questions About Kids and Divorce
Learn What You Need to Know About Legal Guardianship in Florida
Are Child Custody, Visitation and Timesharing the Same?
Who Gets Custody After a Divorce?

Florida Child Custody Legal Guidance

When it comes to children, legal disputes and differences among parents and guardians can have a dramatic impact on their mental and physical well-being. For this reason, it is best to resolve your child support and child custody matters through professional family law mediation. Here at the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert, we take the time to learn our client’s unique situation, walking through all objectives and prioritizing their goals so that we may find a workable resolution to their child support and child custody matters as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

Whether you are looking to readjust child support payments, make modifications to your visitation agreements, or fight for custody of your children, Attorney Shane T. Herbert and his team can help. We handle a wide range of child custody and child support cases, from modifications and mediation, to paternity, contempt, enforcement, violations, termination, and even support from estates of deceased parents. You can trust that our teams are working your case with the best interests of you and your children in mind at all times.

Contact Attorney Shane T. Herbert Today

Call our office directly at 407-887-7058 to learn what you need to know about child custody and support in Orlando, Florida. Our seasoned family law firm is based out of Orlando, and conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. However, office visits are not required for initial consultations, so you can inquire about your legal needs in the comfort of your own home. We can provide initial information over the phone or via video conference, such as Skype.

Shane T. Herbert Law Has the Florida Family Legal Advice You Need

Here at Shane T. Herbert Law, we are well-versed and seasoned in all areas of Family Law. We use a careful and focused approach to ensure your legal needs are being met with an unparalleled level of attention and achievement, making us your trusted source of professional legal advice and guidance. Whether you are considering divorce, curious about marital agreements, or confused about child custody, our family law firm has the knowledge to obtain the best possible results for your case.

Continue reading to learn more about us and how we can help you navigate your family legal needs, effectively and in a time frame that’s convenient for you.

Orlando Family Law Attorney
Orlando Family Law Attorney 407-887-7058

We Practice All Areas of Family Law in Florida

Family Law is an umbrella category of civil law that reflects a wide range of family and marital matters, including marriage, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, and mediation. Here at Shane T. Herbert Law, our practice areas are comprehensive, ranging from basic family law matters, like name changes and mediation, to more complex ones, such as prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, same sex marriage, annulments, divorce, legal separation, child custody, timesharing, foreign judgments, paternity, step-parent adoption, and much more.

We Have What it Takes to Prevail For You

Regardless of the size or scope of your legal matters, we are fortified with the knowledge, resources, and motivation necessary to deliver the best possible results for your case. You see, we are an Orlando-based, client-focused family law attorney with a deep commitment to providing meaningful and helpful legal services for all types of families here in Central Florida, as we ensure that your family’s legal needs are protected and preserved. We take a focused approach by developing impactful, personalized legal strategies that best meet the needs of our client’s unique legal situation. After all, we strive to be your anchor through all of life’s legal ebbs and flows.

Contact Us Today!

Contact the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice from a seasoned family lawyer in Orlando, Florida. Our family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. And for your added convenience, office visits are not required for initial consultations! You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed.

Orlando Family Lawyer 407-887-7058
Shane T. Herbert Law 407-887-7058

10 Questions You Should Ask When Choosing a Family Lawyer

Hiring a lawyer for any legal need is a careful task that requires the utmost attention. But when it comes to your family legal needs, the duty to ensure you choose the right lawyer is even more serious. Before hiring a family lawyer, it is important to ask them questions that will help you better understand their work experience, qualifications, ethics, and more.

Continue reading to review the top 10 questions you should ask a family lawyer to help you decide if they are the right fit for your case.

Orlando Family Lawyer
Orlando Family Lawyer 407-887-7058

❶ How Long Have You Practiced Family Law in the State?

It is helpful to choose an experienced lawyer who focuses solely on family law. You wouldn’t want a criminal defense attorney representing your divorce, after all. Anywhere from eight to ten years of experience as a licensed attorney in family law is a good starting point.

❷ Can You Provide Client Testimonials?

A lawyer who can and will provide past client testimonials and case results is a good sign of integrity. It is wise to read through what other clients have to say about your potential lawyer in order to get a better perspective of how they work their cases.

❸ Do You Personally Handle Every Client’s Case?

Ask your potential lawyer whether or not they personally handle client cases, and if they will be handling yours personally as well. Although it is common for law firms to appoint more than one attorney to a case, or delegate certain duties to legal staff, it is comforting to know how much time they will be working your case themselves.

❹ How Many Cases are You Currently Handling?

Lawyers take on more than one case at a time, all the time. But some lawyers tend to overload themselves. As a result, they cannot put in the same level of attention to each case. If your potential family lawyer has handfuls of active cases, you may want to consider whether or not that matters to you, and whether or not it can affect the outcome of your case.

❺ Do Your Cases Typically Settle In or Out of Court?

Be sure to ask lawyers about their case results. It is helpful to know whether or not their cases usually settle out of court, or if they tend to go to trial. Lawyers who have experience with both are a good choice, but you don’t want to choose a lawyer that is “litigation happy”, meaning they opt to go to trial too often.

❻ What is Your Payment Rate and Procedure?

Your potential family lawyer should have full transparency when it comes to how and how much they charge for their services. First, ask if they require a retainer, or if they charge by the hour. Then be sure to ask if there are any other fees you need to know about, upfront, such as filing fees, court costs, and similar expenses.

❼ Do Your Rates Change if Someone Else Works My Case?

After you have a full understanding of how much your possible family lawyer charges and how they charge it, you want to ask them whether or not that payment arrangement changes if someone else works on your case. This might include secretaries, assistants, paralegals, and other legal staff members.

❽ How Do You Communicate With Your Clients?

As a legal client, you want convenience and consistency when it comes to communicating with your lawyer. So feel comfortable asking a potential attorney how and how often they communicate with their clients. Some lawyers don’t always require office visits, and instead, can carry out consultations and meetings over the phone or via Skype.

❾ How Do I Contact You During My Case?

After learning the communication efforts and practices of your potential family lawyer, ask them how you will personally be contacting them during your case. Optimally, you want them to provide a phone number and email address. If using a phone, you may want to ask them if text messaging is an acceptable form of communication.

❿ What Do You Expect From Your Clients?

When working with a lawyer on a family-related legal case, you are a team. For this reason, a family lawyer might have certain expectations for their own clients. It is good to know these expectations ahead of time to gauge whether or not the lawyer is a good fit.

The Orlando Family Lawyer to Choose

Contact Attorney Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice from a seasoned family lawyer in Orlando, Florida. You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed. If you choose an in-office visit, our family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. We look forward to helping you resolve your family legal matters!

Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law
Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law 407-887-7058

Are Child Custody, Visitation and Timesharing the Same?

Terminating a marriage that involves mutual children can bring about a lot of anxiety and uncertainty related to litigation when it comes time to decide where the children will live and under what circumstances they will see the other parent. Fortunately, a divorce decree is a helpful tool that sets in place certain child custody limitations and allowances for both custodial parents, all in the best interests’ of the children.

To help relieve such stress and confusion regarding your child custody divorce decree, it is helpful to understand the current and accepted terminology surrounding child custody cases. Many couples use the terms child custody, visitation, and timesharing, interchangeably, but these are not all current nor universally-accepted terms in the area of law.

Continue reading to learn the difference among child custody, visitation, and timesharing, as well as, where you can request personalized guidance for your family legal matters.

Orlando Child Custody Attorney
Orlando Child Custody Attorney 407-887-7058

Child Custody Legalese

Any type of legalese, or law-related jargon, can be confusing to the average person. So it is no surprise the parents find themselves in a panic when trying to understand the difference between visitation and timesharing. Are they the same thing? Is child custody different from visitation? These are all relative and pertinent questions you should be asking yourself when facing a divorce that involves sharing (or not sharing) child custody. That is because it is important to learn more about Florida child custody before entering into any agreement so that you can be better prepared for your hearing’s outcome.

Florida Uses the Term, Timesharing

Here in Florida, the accepted legal term is timesharing. The terms custody and visitation are no longer used by the courts. Instead, the Florida Statutes require that Courts implement a Parenting and Timesharing Plan for divorcing or separating married couples. There are two types of child custody that the state of Florida recognizes: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody refers to the actual residence of the child, whereas legal custody refers to who can make major decisions regarding a child’s upbringing. A Parenting and Timesharing Plan is intended to govern how a child’s time will be distributed between two custodial parents, as well as, how important decisions regarding a child’s life will be made.

Variable Custodial Arrangements

Although there are two primary categories of custody, there are several different kinds of custodial arrangements that can be made depending on family’s particular circumstances. For instance, both parents can share legal custody while one maintains primary physical custody and the other has timesharing rights, or one parent can have sole legal and physical custody. It is strongly encouraged to seek professional legal advice for your particular child custody legal matters in order to obtain the best possible outcome for you and your children.

Florida Child Custody Advice You Can Trust

Contact the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice regarding Florida child custody and related family matters. Family attorney, Shane T. Herbert, specializes in divorce, including collaborative divorce and child custody time-sharing. You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed. If you choose an in-office visit, our Orlando family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking.

Orlando Family Lawyer 407-887-7058
Shane T. Herbert Law 407-887-7058

Learn What You Need to Know About Legal Guardianship in Florida

Guardianship can refer to the legal custody of a non-biological child, disabled adult child, or an incapacitated adult. This generally becomes a litigious matter when a parent (or current caretaker) passes away or fails to meet the legal standards for guardianship. Common forms of establishing guardianship include adoption, foster care, and guardian ad litem (GAL), which is a court-appointed volunteer who represents the interests of a child. In other circumstances, individuals are looking to relinquish guardianship, emancipate themselves from guardianship, or protect themselves in cases of surrogacy and child reproductive rights.

Regardless of whatever guardianship matters come your way in life, it is wise to retain legal counsel from a seasoned Orlando family lawyer you can trust for intelligent and practical solutions that work for you.

Orlando Child Custody/Child Support Lawyer
Orlando Child Custody/Child Support Lawyer 407-887-7058

Who to Trust for Family Legal Advice

Here at the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert, we provide comprehensive guardianship legal representation for families of all types here in Orlando, Florida. From general guardianship actions and modifications, to adoption, foster care, emancipation, reproductive rights, surrogacy, custodial rights, and more, we are your trusted source for preserving your family’s best interests. Whether you wish to adopt your step-child, enter into a foster care initiative, or obtain guardianship for a senile parent with Alzheimer’s, our law firm retains the knowledge and means to ensure your case is as successful as possible.

Our primary guardianship practice areas include, but are not limited to, adoption, step-parent adoption, second parent adoption, same sex couple adoption, foster care, emancipation, guardian ad litem, reproductive rights, surrogacy, and more.

Get In Touch Today

Contact Shane T. Herbert Law, LLC at 407-887-7058 to learn what you need to know about child custody and support in Orlando, Florida. You may also submit a free email, and we will get back to you shortly after. For your added convenience, office visits are not required for initial consultations, as we are happy to provide them over the phone when scheduled.

Orlando Family Lawyer 407-887-7058
Shane T. Herbert Law 407-887-7058

Will Filing for Bankruptcy Affect My Divorce?

No one ever says divorce is easy. That is largely because the process of ending a marriage takes a toll on most people, both emotionally and physically. But divorce can also impact other vital aspects of a person’s life, such as finances, especially if a divorcing couple is already in the midst of financial struggles or rehabilitation. One such example is bankruptcy.

Continue reading to learn how filing for bankruptcy might affect the outcome of a divorce, as well as, where to get trusted legal advice on protecting your assets following a dissolution of marriage in Florida.

Orlando Divorce Attorney
Orlando Divorce Attorney 407-887-7058

Filing For Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy cases will affect assets and liabilities of a divorcing couple. It will also affect child and spousal support orders, and much more. For this reason, it is vital to hire a seasoned divorce lawyer who can help you understand what to expect from the overall dissolution of marriage process if you are facing bankruptcy.

There is more than one type of bankruptcy filing. The type a couple chooses for their financial recovery mostly depends on how much disposable income each spouse has left after paying all expenses. The type of bankruptcy filing chosen is further influenced by a divorce since such factors might be included in the filing.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

When a couple does not have enough disposable income to pay off their debt, and they do not own a business, they will likely file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. This process can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months, or longer, depending on the unique circumstances of a couple’s finances. When divorcing, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can be completed either before or during the proceedings. However, it is strongly encouraged that each spouse finalize their bankruptcy filings separately, before filing for divorce, so that financial debts do not complicate the divorce settlement.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is another type of bankruptcy filing option, which can take several years to complete; usually between three and five years. In such cases, it is wise to finish all Chapter 13 filings before starting the divorce process because it can drastically complicate and prolong the divorce proceedings. For instance, if a spouse, or both, own a business, filing bankruptcy prior to divorcing can ensure that the debts of the company are managed separately from the interests of the divorcing spouses.

Where to Get Divorce Legal Advice in Florida

Contact the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to speak with a seasoned family lawyer about getting a divorce in Orlando, Florida. From marriage and divorce, to alimony, child support, child custody, and everything in between, we can navigate all aspects of your family legal matters from start to finish. For your convenience, office visits are not required for initial consultations, as we are happy to provide them over the phone or even video conference, if needed.

Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law
Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law 407-887-7058

The Do’s and Don’ts of Divorce

Not all divorces are guaranteed to be easy. However, you can do your part to ensure the best possible outcome of your divorce by avoiding negative choices and taking positive steps in the right direction. To help understand how to achieve this resolve, continue reading to learn the most important do’s and don’ts of divorce.

Divorce Attorney Orlando, Florida
Divorce Attorney Orlando, Florida 407-887-7058

What You Should Never Do During a Divorce

Making bad or impulsive decisions during a pending divorce can render a long list of challenges for both you and your divorce lawyer. Not only can it increase your personal stress, it can make it more difficult for your lawyer to represent you and it can displease your presiding judge.

To ensure you do not make any mistakes or poor choices when legally terminating your marriage, follow these important DON’TS of divorce:

❌ Do not make any large purchases, such as a house or car.

❌ Do not hide property or other assets.

❌ Do not give away property or assets as gifts.

❌ Do not withdraw cash for unauthorized purchases.

❌ Do not move out of the country.

❌ Do not withhold information during the discovery stage.

❌ Do not post about your life or divorce on social media.

❌ Do not remove your spouse off of your insurance policies;

❌ Do not turn off utilities to spouse’s home.

❌ Do not bad-mouth your spouse to, or in the presence of, your children.

❌ Do not violate any custody arrangements or court orders.

❌ Do not make threatening remarks to your spouse or anyone else.

❌ Do not get in trouble with the law.

What You Should Do

In addition to avoiding certain errors of judgement or impulsive behaviors, you can take the initiative to do things that will improve the divorce process. These tips will help speed up the timeline and get more of what you want out of a divorce.

✅ Hire a divorce lawyer to represent your case.

✅ Understand all the options for dissolution of marriage in your state.

✅ Ask your attorney many questions to fully understand your situation.

✅ Fully disclose all information regarding assets, income and finances.

✅ Be reasonable and fair with your spouse;

✅ Cooperate with court orders and mediation;

✅ Communicate respectively and effectively with your spouse pertaining to kids’ schedules and visitation times.

✅ Support your children as much as possible through the process.

✅ Stay off of social media.

Not Quite Ready to Get a Divorce?

If you are not ready to file for divorce just yet, there are some other options that might be a better fit for your family. Talk to a licensed divorce attorney who can provide trusted advice and guidance on all your family legal matters related to marriage and separation. They have the knowledge and experience to represent the best interests of both you and your family, regardless of your definitive decision.

Contact Our Florida Divorce Law Firm  

Call Attorney Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice from a seasoned divorce lawyer in Orlando, Florida. You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed. If you choose an in-office visit, our family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. We look forward to helping you resolve your family legal matters.

Orlando Family Lawyer 407-887-7058
Shane T. Herbert Law 407-887-7058

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Divorce Lawyer?

When making the decision to file for divorce, one of the main concerns is finances. As a result, the first question couples tend to ask themselves is how much it’s going to cost to hire divorce lawyers. But like the decision to end a marriage, the answer to this question is complicated. There are many variables that influence how much it will cost to have an attorney represent your divorce filing.

Continue reading to learn some facts that might help you better understand what to expect in terms of paying for a divorce lawyer.

Orlando Divorce Attorney
Orlando Divorce Attorney 407-887-7058

The Cost of Divorce

Divorce alone can put a financial stress on a family. So the concern about paying for a lawyer, especially if each spouse is retaining their own counsel, is a common one. The amount of money ultimately spent for a divorce lawyer depends on several factors unique to a client’s case. This means that divorce lawyer costs will vary from client to client. Factors that commonly influence the total cost of a divorce lawyer include, but are not limited to, the law firm’s payment rate business model, your place of residence, the relationship with your spouse, whether or not the divorce is being contested, and more.

For instance, if you are on friendly terms with your spouse, you have no children, nor own any property, a divorce should be relatively quick and inexpensive. In contrast, if you are in contention with your spouse and you have children and shared owned assets, it could take more time and effort to complete a divorce.

Here are Some Facts You Can Rely On

According to forbes.com, the average cost of divorce in the United States is around $15,000, most of which is allocated to legal fees. Keep in mind that this is just the average. After all, the American Psychological Association confirms that virtually 50 percent of marriages in our country result in divorce. Some couples pay as little as $1,000, while others have paid millions.

Attorney fees play a large part in how much you pay for a divorce, but they are not all the same. Divorce lawyers can charge anywhere from $75 an hour to $500 an hour. A lawyer can charge more for more complex and challenging divorces, or less for turn-key divorce solutions. On average, you can expect a divorce lawyer to charge around $250 an hour, but this varies among law firms, and from state to state.

For instance, a divorce lawyer on Rodeo Drive will likely charge more than one in Bowling, Ohio. Furthermore, it is important to know that most lawyers charge in increments of six minutes or less, which means that any simple lawyer-client interaction will cost you money. This includes phone conversations and possibly emails. Always ask your divorce attorney about their billing model to know exactly what and when you will be billed.

Cost-Saving Divorce Alternatives

There are several ways a couple can divorce in a cost-efficient manner. Two popular approaches are collaborative divorce and mediation. See our blog, “The Difference Between Mediation and Collaborative Divorce” to learn more about both options. Also, being more agreeable and making more compromises with your spouse helps make a divorce faster, which in turn makes it cheaper. Talk to your divorce lawyer about payment plan options, and advice on how to budget a divorce expense.

Ask a Trusted Orlando Divorce Lawyer

Contact the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice from a licensed divorce attorney in Orlando, Florida. You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed. If you choose an in-office visit, our family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. We look forward to helping you resolve your family legal matters.

Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law
Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law 407-887-7058

The Difference Between Mediation and Collaborative Divorce

In last week’s blog, we discussed the various benefits of divorce mediation, including how it serves as an alternative to divorce court. As assured, in today’s blog we will discuss the difference between divorce mediation and collaborative divorce. Many divorcing couples are confused about these two legal processes, so clarifying some pertinent facts about each divorce option is an important step to making the right choice for terminating your marriage.

Continue reading to learn the difference between mediation and collaborative divorce, including advice on how to choose which route is right for you.

Orlando Collaborative Lawyer
Orlando Collaborative Lawyer 407-887-7058

Divorce Mediation

Mediation is a method used in the dissolution of marriage to negotiate all facets of legally terminating a marriage. Such facets might include money, assets, spousal support, property division, child support, child custody, and more. Normally, mediation involves a group effort that includes each spouse, both of their private divorce attorneys, and a mediator. A mediator is a neutral third party that is hired to discuss, negotiate, and resolve all matters related to a divorce. Your divorce attorney can refer a certified mediator, or you can hire one personally. To learn more about mediation and divorce, review our aforementioned blog, “The Benefits of Divorce Mediation.”

Collaborative Divorce

So how does mediation differ from collaborative divorce? Well, there are many aspects of collaborative law that separate its practices and methods from divorce mediation. Rather than hiring a mediator and two separate divorce lawyers, collaborative divorce is an approach in which divorcing couples hire a solitary collaborative divorce attorney who is specially-trained and experienced in collaborative practice.

Similar to a mediator, a collaborative divorce attorney will work with both couples simultaneously to resolve all aspects of a divorce and reach a settlement agreement. In contrast to a mediator, a collaborative divorce lawyer can also handle all legal processes of divorce as well, and set all agreements and settlements into motion. It is somewhat like hiring a divorce lawyer and mediator in one. Couples who are divorcing amicably or wish to divorce with full cooperation are well-suited for this option.

Where to Get Legal Advice for a Dissolution of Marriage in Florida

Contact Attorney Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice from a seasoned collaborative divorce lawyer in Orlando, Florida. You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed. If you choose an in-office visit, our family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. We look forward to helping you resolve your family legal matters.

Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law
Shane T. Herbert, Attorney at Law 407-887-7058

Can I Legally Separate From My Spouse in Florida?

Life is ever-changing, and so are people. When it comes to married couples, the same principal applies. It is common for married spouses to doubt or reevaluate their relationship at some point in a relationship, regardless of how long they have been together. But during times of reconsideration, not all couples are ready or willing to jump straight into a permanent decision like divorce. Instead, many married spouses opt for separation as a more progressive, yet less permanent, alternative to divorce.

If you are considering parting ways from your spouse, it is important to first understand the basics behind separation agreements and legal separation in order to determine whether or not it’s right for you. Continue reading to learn what you need to know about legal separation in Florida, and where to find trusted legal advice for marital and divorce matters.

Divorce Attorney Orlando, Florida
Divorce Attorney Orlando, Florida 407-887-7058

Legal Separation

Legal separation is an alternative to divorce that results in a married couple living separately from one another while still remaining married under law. This scenario involves creating a legally-binding arrangement or agreement between each spouse that is unique to their relationship. The details and scope of such legal arrangements vary from couple to couple, but all legal separations prohibit either spouse from remarrying or entering into a domestic partnership unless they terminate the marriage legally via divorce or annulment. Other standards commonly set forth in separation agreements might include legal recourses for property division, dating, child custody, spousal support, and similar relationship basics.

The State of Florida

Legal separation is a helpful alternative to divorce because it allows couples more time to determine if divorce it right for them, or if they want to work it out instead. On the other hand, not all states recognize legal documentation or marital separation; and Florida happens to be one of those states. This means that if you and your spouse choose to separate, Florida law will not support any legally-binding arrangement made between the two of you if you decide to divorce down the line. Any type of separation agreement between spouses will not be taken into account when it comes time for the court to rule on child support, alimony, property division, and custody. Other states that do not acknowledge legal documentation of separation include Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Georgia, and Delaware.

Alternatives to Legal Separation

If you are married and reconsidering your relationship, but are not ready to file for divorce, you may still have other legal recourses. Talk to a licensed Florida divorce attorney who can provide trusted advice and guidance on all your family legal matters related to marriage and separation. They have the knowledge and experience to represent the best interests of both you and your family, regardless of your definitive decision.

A Florida Divorce Lawyer You Can Trust

Contact the Law Office of Shane T. Herbert at 407-887-7058 to get trusted legal advice from a licensed divorce attorney in Orlando, Florida. You can choose to have your first appointment over the phone or even video conference, if needed. If you choose an in-office visit, our family law office is conveniently located in the Metro West area, within the Offices of Veranda Park, which offers free parking. We look forward to helping you resolve your family legal matters.

Orlando Family Lawyer 407-887-7058
Shane T. Herbert Law 407-887-7058