Family Law and Divorce
Divorce and Family Law Cases in Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL
Going through the process of getting a divorce is a traumatic event for everyone in the family especially any minor children. In the beginning the parties do not know what to expect or their legal rights and responsibilities. Contacting an experienced Tampa Family Law Attorney to guide you through the divorce process in Hillsborough County, Florida, early in the process can save you a lot of stress and aggravation in dealing with your questions about child custody, child visitation, child support, alimony, and the division of assets.
Whether you recently decided to file for a "dissolution of marriage," or whether you spouse recently served you with divorce papers, it is important to keep several things in mind. First, keep you emotions in check during this very stressful time by relying on friends and family for support.
Second, begin the process of collecting important financial paperwork that will help you piece together an accurate list of your assets and liabilities. Finally, seek out the help of an experienced Tampa Family Law Attorney for an initial consultation to discuss the particular facts of your case and find out what you may need to do right now to protect your rights.
Issues Decided During a Divorce:
Issues decided during a divorce, annulment or dissolution of marriage action in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, can include:
- Property division, including real estate, vehicles, bank accounts and debts;
- Alimony or spousal maintenance including support issues in high income or high net worth cases;
- Division of a small business or closely held corporation;
- Child custody; and
- Child support.
High Income and High Net Worth Divorce Cases:
In many cases in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida dealing with high incomes or high net worth divorce cases it is necessary to hire a forensic accountant to value certain assets owned by the parties, including a small business or closely held corporation. In a Hillsborough County divorce other assets are subject to equitable division including pension plans, retirement plans, 401K, individual retirement accounts (IRA), Roth IRA, and military benefits.
In many Tampa divorce cases, it is necessary to examine the dissipation of assets during the marriage, or trace the existence of pre-martial property. The division of valuable assets in Tampa, Florida, such as real estate, a small business or closely held corporation, pension, and retirement accounts can often be negotiated between the parties through mediation or an uncontested divorce.
For instance, if you or your spouse owns a business, to obtain the best results your Tampa divorce attorney and business appraiser should come up with a strategy to place a value on the business with the Florida statutes, current case laws, and local rules in Hillsborough County, Florida, in mind.
If you are considering a divorce in Tampa that involves custody or child support issues, custody counselors can advise the parties on schedules that may work best for the children and help them through this difficult transition period.
Family law cases in Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL, including divorce cases, require turning over certain financial documents to the other spouse, including a disclosure of income, liabilites, debts, and other personal financial information. Other family law issues can include drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, paternity actions, and enforcing the terms of a order or final judgment.
Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce Cases:
Divorce actions can be contested or uncontested in Hillsborough County, FL. The parties can attempt to work out many of the issues quickly through their attorneys without ever stepping foot inside of a courtroom. In other cases, lengthy hearings are necessary to sort out issues before the family law judge who will ultimately issue an order to deal with both temporary and permanent issues in the case.
Divorce actions in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for HIllsborough County, Florida are held at the courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street in Tampa, Florida. The family law divisions of the circuit court in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida preside over divorce, child support, child custody, alimony, and paternity actions.
Local rules in for divorce actions and family law cases in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, require that a Case Management Conference is scheduled when the action is filed. The family law judge assigned to the case presides over the Case Management Conferences. Mediation is required before the court will hear temporary issues in the case.
If you have decided to file for divorce, or if your spouse has decided to file for divorce, contact an experienced family law attorney in Tampa to discuss the things you may need to do right now to protect your right to a fair resolution of your case.
Hillsborough County Divorce and Family Links
Parents, Children and Divorce Parenting Classes
Hillsborough County Family Law Information Center - Court's website for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, including the Family Law Information Center which includes information about family law judges, court programs and a complete set of pro se family law forms.
Child Support Enforcement
Website Design for Family Law Attorneys
Bay Area Legal Services
Florida Legal Services, Inc.
Florida State Courts