Parrish Divorce Lawyers
Divorces are complicated and can take a toll on your well-being and mental health. There are so many nuances to Florida state law, and a minor mistake during a divorce could prove time consuming and expensive.
Our experienced Parrish divorce lawyers from Luhrsen Goldberg can advise you and just as importantly, advocate for you. for you. Even if you’re on good terms with your spouse and anticipate a relatively simple divorce, hiring a skilled divorce attorney near Parrish, FL will provide peace of mind so you can focus on life after marriage, particularly with regard to your children and co-parenting.
To request a free case review from our skilled family law team, contact Luhrsen Goldberg today. You can also call us at 941.541.3260.
How Luhrsen Goldberg Can Help with Your Divorce
Established in 2016, our women-led law office in Lakewood Ranch has provided strong legal representation to people all over Sarasota County and Manatee County. We are proud to be trusted by so many Floridians experiencing significant and major changes in their lives.
We Have Nearly Five Decades of Combined Legal Experience
Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined legal experience in civil litigation, family law, and estate planning. The team at Luhrsen Goldberg can use our shared knowledge to offer emotional support during the process and anticipate potential hurdles during your divorce.
We Understand the Needs of Military Families and Veterans
In addition to seeking VA compensation for veterans, our divorce lawyers are familiar with the potential issues spouses in the armed forces may face. This includes handling the division of military retirement benefits and working out child custody and visitation arrangements.
We Have Strong Ties to the People of Southwest Florida
Luhrsen Goldberg is a member of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, and the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA). Our attorneys want what’s best for everyone in the area from Parrish to Ellenton to Lakewood Ranch and areas throughout the Sarasota and Manatee County areas.
We Have Great Reviews and Client Testimonials
We encourage prospective clients to look over our dozens of positive Google reviews and client testimonials. The stories are a testament to our legal acumen and our fierce yet compassionate advocacy for our clients.
We Offer Legal Help in Spanish: Se Habla Español
The Spanish-speaking community in Southwest Florida can count on Luhrsen Goldberg for help. We can translate questions and answers to you and your loved ones so you can be fully informed about your divorce and any challenges ahead.
Get a Free Consultation with Our Divorce Lawyers Near Parrish
Luhrsen Goldberg offers free initial consultations. During this confidential case review, you can get honest legal insights from experienced family lawyers. We will give you realistic expectations about your divorce and help you understand what steps to take next.
Don’t go it alone. To work with leading family law advocates for people in Sarasota County and Manatee County, contact our divorce lawyers near Parrish, FL.
Who Can File for a Divorce in Florida?
In order to file for a divorce in Florida, residency requirements must be met. According to Florida Statute 61.021, at least one of the spouses must reside in Florida for six months before filing for a petition to dissolve the marriage.
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. In Florida (per Florida Statute 61.052), that means notes that a dissolution of marriage shall be granted in these situations:
When a Marriage Is Irretrievably Broken – In simple terms, this means that the marriage cannot be saved.
Mental Incapacity of One of the Spouses – This applies to instances in which a spouse is unable to make decisions for themselves for a period of at least three years due to disability, injury, or mental health issues.
Is an Annulment the Same as a Divorce?
No. While a divorce is a dissolution of marriage, an annulment renders the marriage void, meaning that it never legally occurred.
Annulments are usually sought in cases of bigamy, incest, coercion, inability to consent, and misrepresentation of fact.
Same-Sex Divorces in Florida
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Florida since 2015. Our family law attorneys can handle divorces for gay and lesbian couples in Parrish and surrounding communities.
If a same-sex couple is in a domestic partnership or civil union, other considerations will apply. Our team of lawyers will work with you to determine what steps to take to end your partnership or union.
Contested Divorce vs. Uncontested Divorce
There are contested and uncontested divorces in the state of Florida.
Contested Divorce – A contested divorce is when a couple cannot come to agreement as to some or all of the terms of their divorce. In some instances, this can lead to expensive drawn-out court battles that take months or even years to complete. Whenever possible, we work through and mitigate the costs, including the emotional ones, that can occur when spouses divorce.
Uncontested Divorce – An uncontested divorce is when the spouses agree on all of the terms of divorce. These divorces typically resolve quickly, which means spouses save time and avoid difficult courtroom disputes. In instances where the parties do not have minor children and alimony is not being sought, a simplified dissolution may be appropriate.
Whether you’re going through an uncontested or contested divorce in Parrish, our lawyers can offer support, counsel, and fierce advocacy.
Speak with Our Experienced Divorce Lawyers Near Parrish
You don’t need to feel helpless or alone while going through a divorce. To discuss your case with compassionate advocates, contact our Lakewood Ranch divorce attorneys. We are ready to listen.
Types of Property in a Divorce
Many disputes arise over the division and distribution of property in a divorce. Florida aims to equitably distribute assets and debts between spouses.
There are two kinds of property in a divorce:
Marital Property – Marital property refers to any assets or debts that a couple or individual spouse accrued during their marriage. It can also include the enhancement in value of nonmarital property that results from efforts of either spouse or the contribution of marital funds or assets to the non-marital asset. Similarly, marital property includes the paydown with marital assets of nonmarital property.
Separate/Non-Marital Property – Separate property refers to any assets or debts a spouse had before the marriage that are maintained separate during the course of the marriage. Separate property also applies to any gifts or inheritance a spouse is given during their marriage, again so long as it is maintained separately and not commingled with marital property.
What Is Commingled Property in a Marriage?
Commingled property is separate property that eventually becomes marital property. This can occur if a couple merges their funds into a joint bank account or when a home a spouse owned before marriage becomes the couple’s marital home.
Our divorce lawyers can help Parrish couples disentangle their mixed assets, suggesting fair methods of splitting this commingled property.
High-Asset Divorces
Financially successful couples may have more complicated divorce disputes just given how much wealth they’ve accumulated while married. In divorce, whether high-asset or not , a number of other assets may be in play for distribution, including:
Retirement accounts such as a pension, 401(k), or IRA
Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin and hidden digital currency assets
Portfolios and investments in stocks, bonds, and futures
Businesses owned by a spouse or co-owned by the married couple
Real estate property, antiques, and high-value collectables
Given the realities of high-asset divorces, our lawyers near Parrish can also assist with estate planning after a divorce to help amend or rewrite existing wills and trusts.
Role of a Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement in a Divorce
Prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements will specify who gets what in divorce. These legally binding documents can help couples safeguard their finances and avoid prolonged courtroom arguments if the marriage doesn’t work out. Notwithstanding the existence of such an agreement, the circumstances under which it was reached may impair its enforceability. Similarly, there may be issues that are not covered by such an agreement.
Luhrsen Goldberg can help you if you need a prenup and postnup lawyer to parse the language of an existing agreement. Our divorce attorneys can also note any postnuptial agreements that amend the terms of a prior prenuptial agreement.
Our Divorce Attorneys Are Ready to Listen: Contact Us Today
Going through a divorce? Worried about losing it all? Protect your property by hiring our experienced divorce lawyers near Parrish, FL. To set up a free initial consultation, contact our Lakewood Ranch law firm today.
Disputes Over Children During a Divorce
If you have children with your ex, there may be major disagreements about who gets the kids. Florida will always consider what’s in a child’s best interests, but you can count on Luhrsen Goldberg to be strong advocates for your rights as a parent.
Child Custody
Physical custody refers to the parent’s home in which a child resides. Legal custody refers to the ability for a parent to make key life decisions about a child’s upbringing (e.g., education, medical care, religious practice).
Joint custody means that both parents share childrearing responsibilities. Sole custody means that just one parent has the primary responsibility. If parents have joint legal custody, they co-parent and both have a say in how their child is raised. If one parent has sole physical custody, that means their child lives in that parent’s home most of the time. While Florida law favors that time-sharing be equal between the parents, circumstances may exist such that it is appropriate that one parent get majority time-sharing.
For contentious divorces in Parrish, you may need a child custody attorney to ensure that you have the ability to be with your child or to make decisions about how your children will be raised.
Child Visitation Rights
When one parent has sole custody of a child, the other parent can still visit and be a meaningful part of the child’s life. Disputes over visitation could arise because of changes in schedules or problems with the frequency of visits.
If a parent has a history of violence, substance abuse, or other issues that could impact the safety of a child, that parent may only be permitted supervised visitations or have their visitation rights removed.
Our divorce attorneys can help with disagreements over parenting time, visitation schedules, or restrictions on child visitation. We should note that we are a fair-minded women-led law office that understands the needs of men in these situations. You can count on our team if you need a paternity and father’s rights lawyer to advocate for you in Southwest Florida.
Child Support
Child support payments are made to provide for the daily needs of a child. This includes food, housing, clothing, healthcare, and education. One parent may be responsible for paying child support to the other parent in order to ensure a child’s best interests are met.
Our child support attorneys can help address issues involving payments amounts. This includes modifying child support payments to address changes in financial status and seeking backpay for late child support payments.
Will I Get Alimony (Spousal Support) as Part of the Divorce?
Not necessarily. Alimony (spousal support) is awarded to the spouse who may face serious financial needs related to the marriage coming to an end and the other spouse has the ability to pay. In two-income households, an award of spousal maintenance is less likely; by contrast, in families where one spouse stepped away from their career to become a homemaker or stay-at-home parent, some alimony can be appropriate.
There are different types of alimony that can be awarded. These include temporary alimony (which is awarded during the pendency of the divorce); bridge-the-gap alimony to help during the transition period after divorce (for no more than two years); rehabilitative alimony to help a spouse regain or develop skills that will allow them to work; and durational alimony which is support for a specified period of time (determined by the length of the marriage. Permanent alimony is no longer awarded in Florida divorces.
The divorce attorneys at Luhrsen Goldberg can determine if you qualify for alimony and determine what type of spousal support would be appropriate in your situation.
Discuss Your Divorce with Our Experienced Lawyers
You need proven legal advocates on your side when your future or your child’s future is at stake in a divorce. Parrish, FL residents can count on our lawyers for help. To set up a free consultation, contact our Lakewood Ranch law office today.
Not All Divorces End in a Courtroom Battle
Divorces don’t have to be drawn out and painful experiences. There are alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options that can avoid lengthy courtroom disputes. ADR can save both sides time and help avoid hurting each other’s feelings. Negotiating issues outside of the courtroom will also help both sides save on legal costs.
Who Should Consider ADR in Their Divorce
ADR is a good option for couples going through an uncontested divorce. ADR is also helpful for couples who are open to negotiation and making compromises in a contested divorce.
Our divorce attorneys can assess your situation and recommend ADR if it seems like the best solution for you and your ex.
Collaborative Divorce
Collaborative divorce involves direct negotiation between spouses and their respective attorneys. During a collaborative divorce, there is open discussion about the terms of the divorce, who gets what property, co-parenting agreements, and other related matters.
The goal of collaborative divorce is to find mutually agreeable solutions and expedite the divorce proceedings so each person can move on with life after marriage. This also allows exes to remain on good terms, which is especially helpful if they have children they intend to co-parent.
Divorce Mediation
Divorce mediation involves a disinterested third-party (a mediator) who assists in negotiations between spouses and their respective attorneys. Rather than direct discussion, the mediator is the go-between for each side. The mediator will present one side with a proposal and present the other side with a counter proposal. The process continues until a compromise is reached.
Divorce mediation is helpful if both sides have strong and conflicting views about the terms of the divorce but would prefer to find a solution without going to court. The presence of a mediator can also prevent fights between spouses that could lead to hurt feelings and conflicts that jeopardize co-parenting relationships.
Get a Free Case Review from Divorce Lawyers Near Parrish, FL
Whether you need compassionate counsel for a collaborative divorce or a steadfast advocate during divorce mediation, Luhrsen Goldberg is here for you. Our experienced attorneys are ready to help.
To request a free case assessment, contact our divorce attorneys near Parrish. You can also reach our law office in Lakewood Ranch by phone at 941.541.3260.