When to Consider a Family Law Attorney
Many people think of family law and immediately think about divorce. In fact, some simple divorces might not need a lawyer to be involved. Anyone who does online research will discover do-it-yourself resources for filing for divorce. These documents may not be as helpful as people think for a variety of reasons. Disputes over property and child custody are almost certain when the case proceeds. After a divorce, disputes over alimony or child visitation are common. None of those issues are easy to resolve with expert legal counsel.
Complex Divorce Issues
Some marriages end with no minor children involved and with few assets involved. In those marriages where they come in with limited debt and wealth, and leave in the same financial situation, there is less to fight over. Ending a childless marriage means the other major source of divorce-related conflict is absent.
Most divorces are not like though. The couple has minor children and financial assets to argue about. During divorce proceedings, new legal problems can arise, problems that are easier to handle with a lawyer’s help:
- Child custody and visitation rights
- Paternity
- Responsibility for debts
- Ownership of assets
- Alimony and child support payments
You might not want to handle those disputes on your own. Divorce itself is stressful enough without fighting over complex financial issues. Adding emotional disputes over the children makes divorce more difficult. For any but the simplest divorce situation, a Family Law Attorney Tampa can provide valuable guidance.
If abuse provides the main grounds for divorce, additional complexities arise. The spouse who files for divorce may need an order of protection against the abusive partner. Terminating or limiting parental rights may also be necessary. Legal counsel is always recommended in these cases.
Issues After Divorce
When children are involved, both parties tend to hope that everything will be smooth after the divorce. When disputes emerge, usually over custody or financial support. If the individual responsible for child support won’t pay or falls behind, there is little the average citizen can do on their own. Before the divorce is finalized, the couple should have agreed on financial support, child custody, and visitation. Those agreements don’t always survive the legal dissolution of the marriage. Pursuing unpaid child support
Most divorces involve complexities that the person filing for divorce might not recognize until legal problems arise. After the divorce becomes final, childcare and financial support cause arguments and legal problems for the parent with custody of children.