The Basics Of Hiring Divorce Attorneys Tampa FL

By Kathleen Kennedy


Ending your marriage is a major life decision. It entails legalities about which you may have not been aware when you first got married. While it may have been relatively easy to tie the knot, it takes a lot more work to end that union. The state law requires that you follow a precise process that can take weeks or months to complete. When you retain one of your local divorce attorneys Tampa FL residents like you could make that process simpler and follow the law as it is written.

If you are a parent, your foremost thoughts probably revolve around your children's well-being. You are already changing the family structure. You do not want your kids to be traumatized anymore than they already might be. A lawyer can help you retain or get custody of the children. This decision will be based on your emotional and financial capabilities to care for them, however.

A long-held precedent typically sees the mother get primary custody and the father joint or shared custody as long as both parents are deemed fit and safe. If the mother is not safe or fit to care for the kids, custody could be awarded to the father. Judges also typically allow children to remain in the marital home and award ownership of the house to the parent who will be the primary custodian. These orders are rendered to allow the kids to maintain a sense of stability in their lives.

Additionally, state law says children under the age of 18 are entitled to monetary support from both parents. In divorces, the support usually comes from the parent who is not awarded primary custody. The support payments are paid to the custodial parent. That parent likewise may receive spousal support if he or she has not worked during the marriage or does not have the monetary means to keep up the household expenses.

One of the more urgent reasons that people will put a lawyer on retainer immediately involves protecting themselves and their families from harm. In cases of domestic violence, the abuser often threatens the safety of the other spouse and his or her kids and loved ones. The lawyer overseeing the case can file for restraining orders and make emergency motions in court for your protection.

Some women also like to file for the reinstatement of their maiden names. A name change is a legal proceeding that can be incorporated into the case. The judge can reinstate the maiden last name to the former wife at the same time as when the case decision is rendered.

Paying your legal fees may be a worry for you as well. You wonder how you can pay the thousands of dollars that it sometimes takes to file. Lawyers understand that everyday people do not have that kind of money sitting in their bank accounts. They work out arrangements like working for pro bono or by having you consent to a lien on some type of asset like an upcoming tax refund from the IRS.

Getting a divorce is many times an extensive legal process for which lay people are not prepared. The cases have to be decided in precise manners for the best interests of all involved parties. When you are not sure how to file on your own, you could get the outcome you want and the protection you need by putting a qualified attorney on retainer.




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