Jupiter Family Law Attorney

Hiring a Jupiter family law attorney can help put your mind at ease and answer the many questions and concerns you likely have about child custody, divorce, or prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

At Apfelbaum Law, our Florida family lawyers know that family court concerns can be one of the most emotionally charged areas of law. Individuals may have a wide variety of questions and concerns in this area. Many are worried about child custody, divorce, or prenuptial/postnuptial agreements.

Some have questions about how to establish or disestablish paternity. Others may need to modify or enforce a custody agreement. These situations often cause people a great deal of anxiety, especially if they are unsure what will happen or what laws apply in their situation.

Often, a visit with a Florida family law attorney can help answer their questions and put their minds at ease.

Child Timesharing Plans

Child timesharing is often the biggest concern for divorcing individuals. In the state of Florida, couples seeking a divorce can either agree on a parenting plan to be presented to a judge, or a judge will make one as part of the custody ruling. If at all possible, your Florida family law attorney may try to work out an arrangement on their own, as avoiding a lengthy custody battle can reduce stress for everyone involved, including the children.

However, sometimes it just is not possible for a couple to work things out. In that case, a judge will make a determination based on the best interests of the child or children.

Whether the parents agree on a plan or the judge creates one, a parenting plan must include a detailed division of each parent’s responsibilities. Who will do what for the child? Where will the child live? How often and for how long will he or she visit the other parent? These questions are all answered by a good parenting plan. This plan should also settle the issue of which parent makes healthcare and school decisions, as well as decisions for extracurricular activities.

Division of Assets During a Divorce

During a divorce, people may also be concerned about the division of their assets. This is often easier if the couple had a prenuptial agreement, which explains how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce. Some people think that prenuptial agreements are only for the “one-percenters” who have a large amount of wealth they want to protect. But the reality is that anyone, of any tax bracket, who has assets or property they want to protect, may benefit from a prenuptial agreement.

Without a prenuptial agreement, assets are usually divided into marital property and non-marital property. Non-marital property usually includes assets, such as money earned or property purchased, that were acquired prior to the marriage. Generally, the non-marital property stays with the original owner in a divorce. However, there are some special circumstances that may apply. For example, if your spouse spent time and money improving an asset—like, for example, spending thousands of dollars to upgrade the home you owned before your marriage—the increase in value may be treated as marital property and divided in a divorce.

What is Marital Property?

Marital property usually includes property or assets acquired during the marriage. Marital property is usually divided as equitably as possible during a divorce proceeding. Again, divorcing couples have the option of trying to work out an agreement on their own, instead of leaving it up to a court to decide the most equitable way to divide assets. This can be a good option for many couples, allowing each party to focus on the assets they care most about.

Hiring a Jupiter Family Law Attorney

We strongly recommend seeking the help of a Florida family law attorney when working on such an agreement. He or she can help everyone stay focused on the issues at hand if things become emotionally charged during a meeting. Your lawyer may also ask you about things you forgot to consider as assets. Even if you did not have a prenuptial agreement before getting married, a Florida family attorney can help you draft a similar document called a postnuptial agreement.

If you have questions or concerns about divorce, family law, or other Florida legal services, please contact Apfelbaum Law for a consultation. We can be reached at 772-236-4009, or contactus@alawfl.com.