Expert Guidance for Your Family's Legal Needs

Mentor Law Firm is dedicated to handling family law cases with the utmost care and professionalism. We understand the emotional and financial strain these matters can impose, and we are committed to resolving them swiftly and effectively. Our team, led by Ms. Mentor, brings years of experience and a compassionate approach to every case, ensuring that our clients’ best interests are always at the forefront. We strive to maintain dignity and respect while navigating the complexities of family law, focusing on achieving favorable outcomes without unnecessary legal maneuvers.

Florida Family Law

My family law practice focuses on Florida dissolution of marriage, child custody, time-sharing and child support, paternity, enforcement, and post-judgment modification of marital settlement agreements and custody determinations.

Divorce

The issues surrounding divorce involve equitable distribution of marital property, support (alimony) and, if there are minor children, a parenting plan that addresses parental responsibility, time-sharing and child support. “Equitable distribution” does not necessarily mean a 50/50 split of all assets. If a case goes to trial, the judge will apply the factors outlined in the Florida Statutes to arrive at a determination as to what is equitable. Since the outcome may be unpredictable, many parties opt to settle their differences in a pretrial mediation.

Child Custody

The term “custody” has been removed from the Florida Statutes, and the courts must now make determinations as to a minor child’s best interest in accordance with Section 61.13 as to a suitable parenting plan that addresses time-sharing, child support and parental responsibility. When most parents hear the word “custody,” they think of which parent has been designated the primary residential parent. This determination is an important one, since it will inform other aspects of the parenting plan such as the child’s school district, driving responsibilities, weekend and holiday access, and other issues.

Child Support

Child support in Florida is more or less formulaic, based on the parties’ net earnings and the amount of overnights a child spends with each parent in a calendar year. Several factors may affect the calculation of child support, however, such as payments in kind for day care or health insurance and a parent’s earning or earning potential. An experienced family lawyer can help either the payor or payee in determining the appropriate amount of child support. Since child support orders often result in enforcement or contempt proceedings, it is important to take all factors into account.

Paternity Actions

Paternity actions in Florida may be initiated by either parent to seek a judicial determination of a father’s parentage, as well as a parenting plan that establishes the minor child’s primary residence, time-sharing, parental responsibility and child support. Fathers are frequently the petitioner in paternity or disestablishment of paternity actions. The fact of a man’s parentage is easily established with a DNA test which, if positive, will result in a Judgment of Paternity. As in dissolution proceedings, a court must remain guided by the minor child’s best interest