My firm is frequently involved in child custody matters, whether they be in connection with the initial divorce of the parents, in the process of paternity proceedings, or subsequent to a divorce where there has been a change in circumstances since the original determination as to custody was made.  

     Child custody can include the establishment of a parenting plan, including a time sharing agreement and the sharing of parental responsibilities.  I will help you establish a parenting plan that reflects first and foremost the best interests of your children while protecting your legal rights as a parent. 

     I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any custody issues or concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Visitation and Time Sharing with Your Child

     Developing a time sharing schedule for quality time with your children is one of the most important decisions you will have to make in the event of a divorce.   In my family law practice, the agreement you reach in this regard and seeking what is in the best interests of your children is my top priority.  The family law courts provide us with various models of parental time sharing schedules in divorce and paternity actions.    

     Ultimately it is in the best interests of children for their parents to agree upon a mutually convenient time sharing schedule, taking into consideration work and school schedules as well as other factors that may be unique to a particular family situation.  I will work diligently to assist you in resolving issues relating to your children in an effort to avoid costly litigation, including representing you at court-ordered mediation.   However, in the event the parties cannot agree in this regard, I will bring the matter before the Court on your behalf, presenting all relevant evidence, statutory and case law in the interest of protecting your legal rights and the best interests of your children.   Protecting your legal rights as a parent and seeking that which is in the best interests of your children is always my top priority. 

     I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any visitation or time-sharing issues or concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency sitation arise.

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Child Support

     Following a divorce or judgment of paternity, most parents are simply unable to provide for their child or children on their own, no matter how hard they try.  However, children need financial assistance in order to live healthy and happy lives.  Child support is a legal mechanism designed to provide custodial parents with supplemental income they need to raise the parties' children.  Under Florida law, courts must award child suppport according to the statutory child support guidelines.  However, there are exceptions and deviations are possible based upon certain circumstances of the parties, including the time sharing agreement.

     I represent clients in proceedings involving the initial establishment of child support, whether in a divorce action or paternity action, modification of child support orders, child support enforcement, and contempt actions.  I also defend parents against the Department of Revenue to ensure all relevant evidence is considered and that my client is not being required to pay more than legally obligated to the custodial parent.

     If your case involves the Department of Revenue, it is important that you contact a lawyer promptly if you find you are unable to meet an existing child support obligation.  The Department of Revenue can seek to have your driver's license suspended should you fall too far behind in your child support payments, and they usually will do so.

     At the Law Offices of Amy E. Skelton, P.A. we represent both parents seeking child support and those parents who are responsible for the payment of child support as well as modifications and enforcement of existing child support orders.  I will assist you with correcting mistakes in the child support registry that could also result in your driver's license being suspended.  

     I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any child support issue you may have, whether you are the custodial or non-custodial parent.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Alimony/Spousal Support

     Many factors are considered in a court's decision to award alimony, or spousal support, as it is otherwise known. However, as there are only guidelines that the court must consider in awarding alimony, each divorce is ultimately decided on its own unique set of circumstances. Factors the court may consider when awarding alimony include the length of the marriage, the parties' standard of living, a spouse's age, education, and health, among others.   Before a court will award alimony, it will first divide the marital property.

 

     I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any alimony/spousal support issues and any concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Asset and Debt Division (Equitable Distribution)

     Equitable distribution is the term courts use to describe how marital property is divided. First, marital and non-marital assets and liabilities are set aside, and then the court will consider several statutory factors in equitably distributing marital assets and liabilities, including the contribution to the marriage by each spouse, the economic circumstances of each spouse, the contribution by one spouse to the personal career or educational opportunity of the other spouse and the intentional dissipation or waste of marital assets by one spouse up to two years before the filing of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

 

     I invite you to contact me at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any property or debt division issues or concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.
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Paternity

     Paternity cases involve legally establishing the identity and legal rights of the natural father of a child in instances where the parties are not married.  In such proceedings, all aspects of that relationship are determined.  This includes a parenting plan/time sharing arrangement that reflects the best interests of the child or children, parental decision-making, and the care and support of the child or children.

 

      I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any paternity issues, including custody, time-sharing/visitation, and child support issues or concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Disestablishment of Paternity

     Disestablishment of paternity involves cases where a legal determination as to paternity has been established but the alleged father is not the biological father of the child.   If paternity is successfully disproved, the former father may be exempt from making any future child support payments and his name may be removed off of the child's birth certificate. These proceedings have only been allowed since a new statute was enacted in 2006. 

     I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any paternity or related child support issue or concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Name Changes

     Legally changing your name involves specific procedures governed by Florida Statutes and is limited by court criteria.   Your name may also be changed in the context of a divorce proceeding.    If you wish to change your name as a result of a divorce, it is important that you do so at the time of the divorce; this is a simpler procedure and will not cost you any additional money if done properly in a Final Judgment.

 

       Generally, name changes are possible, but there are instances involving children of non-married parents wherein a name change may be difficult.   Additionally, courts may be reluctant to order a name change if the person requesting such a change has a criminal record, has a civil judgment against him or her, is filing bankruptcy or is seeking to avoid creditors.

     No matter what your situation may be, I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any questions or concerns you may have regarding a name change issue.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Parental Relocation

     Florida has a relatively new law that governs the relocation of minor children in the absence of a prior court order permitting such relocation.  There are specific notice requirements that must be complied with in addition to factors the court will consider in determining whether or not the relocation of a child away from the non-custodial parent is in the child's best interests.  

     I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any relocation issues or concerns you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should an emergency situation arise.

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Alimony and the Supportive Relationship

 

       If your former spouse is unmarried, but living in a supportive relationship, the Law Offices of Amy E. Skelton, P.A. may be able to help you reduce or terminate spousal support payments.  You have options under the law. At the Law Offices of Amy E. Skelton, P.A., we represent clients whose ex-spouses are skirting the law through a “de-facto” marriage.  We also represent spouses whose former spouse is attempting to skirt his or her obligation to pay alimony based upon this relatively new development in case law.

     The Florida Legislature has enacted new laws to address the supportive relationship between a former spouse and a new boyfriend or girlfriend who are living together but are not married. Prior to the statutory revision, since alimony is typically only terminated upon the recipient’s remarriage or either party’s death, alimony recipients were taking advantage of this loophole by living with their new partner without the benefit of marriage in order to prevent their alimony from terminating. 

     If your former spouse is financially interdependent with another person, is commingling assets, and/or is in a relationship that is substantially similar to a marriage, you may have grounds for an action to modify or terminate your alimony obligation.  We will review all aspects of the co-habitation, including financial records and the relationship that the couple has with one another.  Do they have children together?  Do they own assets together? Do they hold themselves out to be “husband” and “wife” or the equivalent by friends and family?  Or are you the victim of a spouse attempting to skirt his or her alimony obligation by erroneously relying on this new law?

 

       I invite you to contact me by phone at 863-438-0280 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment regarding any concerns you may have regarding the relatively new supportive relationship law and the facts of your specific case that you may have.  I offer a free initial telephone consultation.  Remember, should you hire me, you will always have my cell phone number to contact me should.