Jacksonville Family Law Attorney

Practice Areas

Divorce

Many important issues arise during a divorce action including property distribution, children custody and visitation issues, child and spousal support issues.

Florida is an Equitable Distribution State

The court must divide your marital assets and liabilities. This includes bank accounts, stocks, stock options, bonds, mutual funds, retirement accounts, business interests, property, credit card debt, loans, etc. There are many ways to value assets and many ways to effectuate distribution of those assets to maximize the value of your return.

Nonmarital assets must be carefully determined and treated during the divorce process.

Child Custody and Visitation

Florida uses the terms primary residential parent and secondary residential parent when discussing child custody. Both parents stand on equal ground when determining child custody in a divorce action and the court will ultimately decide using a "best interest of the child" standard.

Alimony

Depending on how long you have been married, there may be entitlement to some form of alimony. Many forms of alimony exist and the court will look to the need and ability to pay of the parties in fashioning an alimony award.

Father's Rights

Father's have an equal right to primary residential responsibility during an initial divorce action. Scott R. Ellerin, P.A. fights very hard for Father's custody and visitation rights.

Uncontested Dissolution of Marriage

If both you and your spouse agree on the complete terms of your dissolution, this is uncontested. The cost of an uncontested divorce is much less than a contested divorce. In most cases this can be done for a flat rate.

Contempt and Enforcement

Injunctions

Modification of Child Custody

Modification of Alimony

Modification of Child Support

Modification of Visitation

Relocation Issues

The legislature has enacted a statute regarding the ability of a primary residential parent to relocate and what rights the other parent has against this.

Cohabitation Issues

Formerly controlled only by case law, the legislature has enacted a statute that governs what to do when a spouse cohabitates with another individual yet does not marry that person. This is important to anyone currently paying a modifiable form of alimony as you may have a basis for reduction or termination of alimony.

Paternity Actions

Representing mother's in need of child support and father's needing to establish parental rights and visitation schedules.

Department of Revenue Actions

The Department of Revenue routinely brings actions against individuals for child support initiation and collection as well as Paternity issues. You have certain rights in these situations.

Dependency Actions

Couple Contracts relating to property and support

Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements

Military Divorce

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