Q. Tell us about yourself and your practice
A. I have been practicing Family Law (exclusively) for almost 10 years. Family Law encompasses divorce, paternity and adoption cases.
Q. Do you offer a free initial consultation?
A. Yes
Q. How long do you take to process a divorce?
A. That depends on the issues involved. An uncontested case takes about 1to 5 months, but a contest divorce can take up to a year (and sometimes longer).
Q. What is your billing and payment procedure?
A. Fees are paid up front. However, I am willing to work with clients on a case by case basis. Clients are also responsible for court costs.
Q. How does one begin the divorce process?
A. By calling an attorney.
Q. How much will it cost to file for divorce?
A. That varies based on the issues (or lack of dispute). Some cases only cost $600, while others could cost in excess of $15, 000 (for attorney fees). The filing fee in Duval County is $409. The filing fee is similar in all Florida counties.
Q. Who receives custody of the children in a divorce?
A. Either party can be awarded the children. The decision making process relied on by the judges is based on the Florida statutes and is quite involved. It is important to remember that there is no preference for the mother (or father).
Q. What happens if one party refuses to sign the papers?
A. Then you have a contested divorce case – which means it will take longer (and cost more) to actually get divorced.
Q. Can a spouse successfully prevent a court from granting a divorce?
A. In limited circumstances the judge could order the parties to counseling. In reality “ prevention” is not very likely for the long term – but the case can be delayed.
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