Q. Tell us about yourself and your practice.
A. I am a long time Sanford Florida resident. Graduated from Seminole High School (Sanford) Seminole Community College (Sanford) University of Central Florida (Orlando) and Cumberland School of Law (Birmingham Al). I have been a sole practitioner primarily doing family law together with some criminal defense work as well as a degree of general civil litigation for twenty years. I have served as President of the Seminole County Bar Association Vice President of the Seminole County Bar Legal Aid Society and I am a member of the Vollie Williams American Inn of Court. I am admitted to practice before the Florida State Courts the Eleventh Federal Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. I am married with a fourteen year old daughter.
Q. How do I engage your services?
A. By calling (407) 324-2200 making an appointment and coming in to discuss your case. The choosing of an Attorney is a very important matter. Before an individual hires an attorney they should actually sit down and talk to the attorney. There should be a chemistry between the attorney and client. If attorney and client can’ t communicate then the attorney can’ t properly represent the client regardless as to how good an attorney is or how good a case is.
Q. What are your office hours?
A. Office hours are 9 00 A.M. to 5 00 P.M. Monday through Thursday and 9 00 A.M. to 2 00 P.M. on Friday.
Q. Do you offer a free initial consultation?
A. We do not offer free consultations however our consultation fee is only $75.00.
Q. In case of jointly held debts insurances what can be done?
A. Each and every case is different so it is important to discuss the individual facts of the case one on one with an attorney. That being said however in Florida generally speaking with some important exceptions any asset acquired during a marriage is a marital asset unless acquired by inheritance or gift and any liability is a marital liability unless incurred improperly or unlawfully. Lawyers refer to the division of assets and liabilities as equitable distribution. Generally the parties work this out by either a settlement conference or a mediation. It is very rare that folks actually go to court to litigate over “ stuff.”; Generally speaking it is not cost effective to try a case over “ stuff”; unless you are talking about large sums of money. The costs of lawyers courts and the like are generally too high and equitable distribution is presumed to be equal between the parties.
Q. In order to file a divorce what should be done?
A. A divorce is started by the filing and serving of a Petition for Divorce. In reality though one should not start the divorce process unless one is absolutely sure that one needs a divorce and that is the marriage is irreconcilable and then consult with an attorney about the specifics of their case.
Q. If one party cannot pay the required level of alimony what should one do?
A. Good question! Alimony (and Child Support also) presupposes an ability to pay it. If because of loss of employment or the like a payor of alimony is not paying (in other words as a result of matters beyond their control) it’ s not very likely that there’ s much that can be done. On the other hand if the payor just refuses to follow Court Orders then one can file a Motion for Contempt and ask the Court to put the payor in jail. The issue of course in those types of cases is the willfulness of the failure to pay. Again it’ s always best to consult with an attorney about the specifics of your particular case.
Q. If there are elderly persons under care of the couple what should be done in light of the divorce?
A. Elderly people are not treated the same way as children. Courts do not have the authority to order an individual to help support a non family member.
Q. Can one party refuse to continue with divorce proceedings?
A. A party can refuse to participate in a divorce case but that refusal will not stop the divorce proceedings.
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