Sarasota Family Lawyers

Family law issues often arise during some of the most challenging moments in a person’s life. Whether you are ending a marriage, preparing to adopt a child, modifying an existing court order, or in need of an enforcement action regarding an existing agreement, the legal decisions you make today can have lasting consequences for your future.

At Luhrsen Goldberg, our Sarasota family lawyers understand that no two families are exactly alike. Every client comes to us with unique goals, concerns, and priorities. Some want to protect their relationship with their children, while others are focused on preserving financial security or resolving disputes as efficiently as possible. Our role is to provide practical legal guidance, explain your options, and advocate for solutions that protect what matters most to you.

Because family law cases involve both legal and personal considerations, we believe every client deserves individualized representation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. We take the time to understand your circumstances and develop a legal strategy designed specifically for your family. Reach out to our law firm today to schedule a consultation with a Sarasota family law attorney.

Comprehensive Family Law Services in Sarasota

While many people associate family law with divorce, it encompasses a wide range of legal matters that affect families throughout every stage of life. Our Sarasota family lawyers regularly assist clients with:

Whether your legal matter is relatively straightforward or involves complex financial issues or contested parenting disputes, experienced legal representation can help you make informed decisions while avoiding unnecessary complications.

Divorce/Dissolution Of Marriage

In Florida, a divorce is called a “dissolution of marriage.” Florida is one of the many states that have abolished fault as a ground for dissolution of marriage. The only requirement to dissolve a marriage is for one of the parties to prove that the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” Either spouse can file for the dissolution of marriage. You must prove that a marriage exists, one party has been a Florida resident for six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition, and the marriage is irretrievably broken. The reason for the irretrievable breakdown, however, may be considered under certain limited circumstances in the determination of alimony, equitable distribution of marital assets and debts, and the development of the parenting plan.

Parenting & Child Support

In determining parental responsibility, the court will approve or devise its own Parenting Plan, which includes responsibility for the significant decisions as well as daily tasks of child-rearing, the time-sharing schedule, and decision-making authority relating to health care, school and related activities. The plan can address many common issues related to child-rearing incluidng such things as specifying any technology that will be used for parent-child communication. The parents may agree on a Parenting Plan and submit it to the court for approval, or the court will determine these issues. The statute includes a list of factors for the court to consider in making these decisions.

You and your spouse each have a responsibility to financially support your children in accordance with your income and their needs. Child support calculations account for the number of overnights the children spend with each parent, as well as variables such as child care and health insurance. Ordinarily, the obligation to support your child ends when that child reaches age 18, graduates high school, marries, is emancipated, joins the armed forces, or dies.

Dividing Up Marital Property – Assets & Debts

One of the most difficult and complex areas of dissolution of marriage is the division of assets and debts. Assets may include cars, houses, retirement benefits (pensions and 401(k) plans), business interests, cash, stocks, bonds, bank accounts, personal property, and other things of value. Debts (also called “liabilities”) include mortgages, car loans, credit card accounts and other amounts of money you and your spouse owe to third parties.

There are two types of assets and debts in Florida — non-marital and marital. Generally, any asset or debt acquired during the marriage is considered marital and subject to distribution. The parties also may have assets or debts that are considered non-marital and should be awarded to only one party.  Some assets acquired during marriage may remain non-marital and similarly, some acquired prior to marriage may have a marital component to them. 

Alimony/Spousal Maintenance

After equitable distribution, the court may consider an alimony award. The court may grant alimony to either spouse. For the court to award alimony, the requesting spouse must demonstrate a need for alimony and the ability of the other party to pay. Once the requesting spouse has established a need and an ability to pay, the court must determine all relevant factors to determine the property type and amount of alimony to award.

For purposes of determining durational alimony (Florida no longer allows for permanent alimony), there is a rebuttable presumption that a short-term marriage is a marriage having a duration of less than 10 years, a moderate-term marriage is a marriage having a duration of 10 years but less than 20 years, and a long-term marriage is a marriage having a duration of 20 years or greater. The length of a marriage is the period of time from the date of marriage until the date of filing of an action for dissolution of marriage.

In addition to durational alimony, a party may seek temporary alimony (support during the divorce process); bridge-the-gap alimony (support designed to bridge the transition from being married to singel); rehabilitative alimony (a plan of support allowing a spouse to develop education, training or experience needed to become self-supporting).  Alimony can be paid in a lump sum or over time. 

Same-Sex Marriages

The laws and legal procedures for a Florida divorce apply equally to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. As an initial matter, certain criteria must be met for a Florida court to have jurisdiction over a divorce action. First, the parties must be legally married to each other. A valid marriage certificate issued by any state is sufficient proof of a legal marriage. Second, residency must be established. 

To satisfy the residency requirement, at least one of the parties must have resided in Florida for six months prior to filing the petition for dissolution of marriage. Finally, there must be grounds for divorce. Florida, like many states, provides for no-fault divorce, which only requires one party to prove that the marriage is irretrievably broken. If you meet these qualifications, you can get divorced in Florida.

Tax Considerations

There are important tax considerations and ramifications in any dissolution of marriage, including the dependency deduction for children, taxability and deductibility of child support and alimony in their various forms, and effects of property transfers. In addition, issues as to how tax deficiencies arising from prior jointly filed tax returns will be handled should be considered. In short, it is important to understand the tax consequences of your settlement agreement before finalizing your dissolution of marriage. It may be too late after the signing of a marital settlement agreement or entry of a final judgment to correct mistakes that have been made. You may want to obtain the services of an accountant or other independent tax professional in conjunction with your attorney to become better informed about this part of the dissolution process.

Enforcement & Modification Of Child Support

An order to pay child support can be changed (or modified) by the court or administrative agency that issued the order if the circumstances of either parent change after the order is issued. Until an order is changed, terminated, or vacated, the amount ordered is owed and legally enforceable. The parent seeking to change (or modify) a support order has the burden to prove a change in circumstances. In most cases, before an order can be changed, a parent’s change in circumstances must be substantial, permanent, and involuntary.

If it has been less than three years since the support order was issued, reviewed, or changed, a substantial change means that the change in circumstances would cause a change in the order amount that is at least 15 percent but not less than $50. If it has been more than three years since the support order was issued, reviewed, or changed, a change in circumstances means the change would cause a change in the order amount of at least 10 percent but not less than $25.

Paternity

Under Florida Paternity Laws, if a woman is married when she gives birth to a child, it is assumed that the father of the child is the husband. But that doesn’t mean that fathers who aren’t married to their child’s mother do not have any legal rights.

Many fathers will not discover the paternity of a child until well after it is born. Florida statutes recognize that and give fathers the right to file a paternity action from birth up to eighteen years of age. Whether the child is an infant, elementary school age, or a teenager, fathers have a right to file a paternity action so they can be a part of that child’s life.

To be able to file a petition for paternity in the state of Florida, the person has to be a resident of Florida for at least six months.

Adoption

Adoption is the legal procedure by which a child becomes, through court action, part of a family other than that of the child’s birth parents.

Adoption is a serious matter for all concerned. It determines the future of the child, because it permanently severs ties with birth parents and relatives and transfers the child into a new family where the child will remain permanently. The new family is responsible for providing the care and guidance that will determine the kind of adult that child will become. To the birth parents, adoption usually means relinquishing the child forever without the privilege of seeing the child or being otherwise involved in the child’s life. However, in some types of adoptions, called open adoption, birth parents retain the right to communicate or visit the child. Additionally, the birth parents are permanently relieved of all responsibilities of the child’s care and financial needs. To the adoptive parents, adoption means providing for and undertaking the care of a child to whom they will have the same obligations as to a child naturally born to them.

Any minor (a person under 18 years) present within the state when the petition for adoption is filed may be adopted. Sibling groups may be adopted together. An adult also may be adopted.

Estate Planning After A Divorce

Florida law provides that all provisions in favor of a divorced spouse in a will are to be treated as if the surviving former spouse predeceased (i.e., is already dead) the testator (i.e., the person signing the will). By way of example, if Mark dies following his divorce from Wendy, any provision in Mark’s will naming Wendy may be treated as if Wendy died before Mark died. Fla. Stat. § 732.507(2) states:

Effect of subsequent marriage, birth, adoption, or dissolution of marriage. Any provision of a will executed by a married person that affects the spouse of that person shall become void upon the divorce of that person or upon the dissolution or annulment of the marriage. After the dissolution, divorce, or annulment, the will shall be administered and construed as if the former spouse had died at the time of the dissolution, divorce, or annulment of the marriage, unless the will or the dissolution or divorce judgment expressly provides otherwise.

Personalized Representation From Start to Finish

One of the biggest concerns clients have when hiring a family lawyer is whether they will receive personalized attention throughout the case. At Luhrsen Goldberg, we recognize that family law matters require more than simply preparing legal documents or appearing in court. They require attorneys who will listen carefully, communicate clearly, and help clients understand what to expect throughout the legal process.

From your initial consultation through the final resolution of your case, our attorneys strive to keep you informed about important developments, explain the legal implications of major decisions, and answer your questions promptly. Our goal is to reduce uncertainty whenever possible so you can make confident decisions about your family’s future.

Protecting Your Financial Interests

Financial issues often become one of the most significant sources of stress during family law proceedings. Whether you are divorcing after a short marriage or dissolving a decades-long partnership, it is important to understand how Florida law applies to marital property, retirement accounts, investments, business interests, and debts.

Our Sarasota family lawyers work with clients to identify marital assets, review financial records, and pursue equitable resolutions under Florida law. When necessary, we collaborate with financial professionals, business valuation experts, tax professionals and appraisers to accurately determine the value of significant assets before negotiations or litigation.

By addressing financial concerns early in the process, clients are often better positioned to avoid unnecessary disputes and protect their long-term financial well-being. Our proactive approach to financial issues helps our clients get the best possible outcome.

Helping Parents Focus on Their Children’s Best Interests

Few legal matters are more emotional than those involving children. Florida courts encourage parents to develop parenting plans that promote stability while serving the child’s best interests. Creating a comprehensive parenting plan requires careful consideration of numerous issues, including time-sharing schedules, school responsibilities, healthcare decisions, holidays, transportation, and communication between parents.

Our Sarasota family lawyers help parents negotiate parenting arrangements that work for their families while protecting meaningful parent-child relationships whenever possible. When disagreements cannot be resolved through negotiation, we are fully prepared to advocate for our clients in court while remaining focused on outcomes that support children’s long-term well-being.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Save Time and Money

Not every family law dispute needs to be resolved in a courtroom. In many cases, negotiation, collaborative law, or mediation allows families to resolve disagreements more efficiently than traditional litigation. These approaches often reduce legal expenses, preserve privacy, and allow families to maintain greater control over the outcome of their case.

Mediation is particularly beneficial when both parties are willing to negotiate in good faith, but need assistance working through complex issues. In many cases, parties can work out a mutually beneficial agreement that can then be approved by the court.

Although settlement is not appropriate in every situation, our attorneys evaluate each case individually and recommend strategies that best serve our clients’ objectives. When litigation becomes necessary, we are prepared to advocate aggressively while continuing to seek practical solutions whenever opportunities arise.

Family Law Guidance Beyond Divorce

Many people assume that their relationship with a family law attorney ends once a divorce is finalized. In reality, families often require ongoing legal guidance as life circumstances change. 

Parents may need to modify parenting plans after relocating or changing work schedules. Child support obligations may need to be adjusted following significant changes in income. Former spouses may need assistance enforcing existing court orders when the other party fails to comply.

Our firm continues to assist Sarasota families long after their initial case concludes. We are committed to helping clients navigate life’s changing circumstances while protecting their legal rights at every stage.

Why Choose Luhrsen Goldberg?

Founded by attorneys Jule S. Luhrsen and Christina A. Goldberg, Luhrsen Goldberg is a women-owned and women-led law firm serving clients throughout Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, and Southwest Florida. Our firm combines decades of legal experience with a client-centered philosophy focused on trust, communication, and compassionate advocacy.

We understand that hiring a family lawyer is an important decision. Our clients rely on us because we provide:

  • Personalized legal strategies
  • Responsive communication
  • Compassionate guidance
  • Skilled negotiation
  • Strong courtroom advocacy when needed
  • Honest advice focused on long-term solutions

Whether you are facing divorce, establishing parental rights, modifying an existing family court order, or planning for your family’s future, our Sarasota family lawyers are committed to helping you navigate the legal process with confidence.

Reach Out to Talk to a Sarasota Family Law Attorney

At Luhrsen Goldberg, we believe that every client deserves experienced legal representation combined with genuine compassion. We are proud to help families throughout Sarasota and Southwest Florida move forward with confidence during what can often be a difficult time. 

Whether you are going through a divorce, dealing with a child custody matter, want to establish paternity, or another Florida family law matter, we’re here for you. Contact our law firm at 941-740-6473 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with a Sarasota family law attorney.