When family matters become legal matters, they can feel overwhelming. And if you are up against an issue in family court, you need someone who understands. You need someone who cares.
Newlon Law, P.A., understands how to protect your rights, and our family law attorney Brooksville, FL, is here to help families and divorcing spouses. Attorney Jon Newlon has more than 25 years of experience and can help you navigate the complexities of your family law case.
What’s at Stake in a Family Law Case?
Unfortunately, family law issues can bring uncertainty and stress. A family law order can do any of the following:
- It can diminish or increase your financial resources,
- It can diminish or increase your parenting rights,
- It can keep you from moving to a new home,
- It can force you to move to a new home,
- It can limit your ability to find a job,
- It can give you the opportunity to develop new job skills, and
- It can limit or increase your access to new relationships.
If you’re worried about your future, children, or finances, we can help safeguard these matters for you.
At Newlon Law, P.A., we provide experienced and compassionate guidance. We’re your advocates. We can help you understand your rights and options. And we can work diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for you. Our Brooksville, FL, family law services are second to none.
Our Brooksville, FL Family Law Services: How We Can Help
There are many types of family law cases, and we can help with them all. Let’s break down some key areas where we can assist you. Read below for information on the types of family law cases the people of Florida face and how the law handles them.
Child Custody
Child custody involves each parent’s right to make important decisions about their child’s life and each parent’s right to spend time with their child or have their child live with them.
These matters are called parental responsibility and time-sharing, respectively. The court makes decisions about each parent’s rights to time-sharing and parental responsibility according to what is in the best interests of the child.
Factors that the court considers when making custody decisions and determining a child’s best interests include:
- The wishes of both parents;
- Whether either parent poses a threat to the child regarding abuse, neglect, or violence;
- Each parent’s ability to encourage and facilitate a close and continuing relationship between their child and the other parent;
- The length of time the child has been living in a stable environment and the desirability of maintaining that arrangement;
- The child’s needs;
- Each parent’s ability to communicate and cooperate with the other parent regarding the child’s care;
- The geographic location of each parent;
- The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after litigating the case;
- Each parent’s ability to act on the needs of their child and put the child’s needs ahead of their own needs and desires;
- Each parent’s ability to keep the child’s environment free from substance abuse;
- The child’s preferences if the preferences are reasonable and the child has enough intelligence, experience, and understanding to express themselves;
- Each parent’s ability to give the child a consistent routine;
- Each parent’s involvement in the child’s life;
- The child’s history with their school, community, and home; and
- Each parent’s ability to protect the child from the family court litigation.
Custody issues are often the highest priority for individuals in family law court, and we treat them with the utmost care.
You can obtain a custody order by litigation or developing a parenting plan that the court deems appropriate and in the best interests of your child. We can work to develop a parenting plan that prioritizes your child’s well-being.
Child Support
Child support is another essential part of a family court order regarding the care of children. This type of support helps ensure your children’s financial needs are met.
Courts base a parent’s child support obligations on the income they earn, the level of time-sharing rights they have, and the child’s needs. We can help you understand how child support should be calculated in your case and work to secure a fair and appropriate amount.
Establishing Paternity
If you were not married to the father of your child, you will likely need to establish his paternity before you can ask for a child support order. Inversely, a father may have to establish paternity before he can ask for custody. In general, there are two ways to establish paternity:
- Both parents agreeing on who the father is in a legal document, such as an affidavit or stipulation; or
- A legal proceeding identifying the father through genetic testing.
Our Brooksville family law attorney can guide you through the legal steps of establishing the father in your case so that you can seek the proper orders to protect your rights and your child.
Divorce
Divorce is a significant event that can affect the rest of your life, so you want to ensure it’s handled properly. To file for divorce in Florida, you or your spouse has to have lived in the state for at least six months. Once you establish residency to file for a divorce, you can seek a divorce court order that covers the following:
- Property and debt division,
- Child custody,
- Child support, and
- Alimony.
Our family law attorney in Brooksville, FL, has the knowledge and skills to help ensure that your rights are protected and honored during this process.
Property division
A significant part of any divorce is the division of marital assets and liabilities. The court divides property and debts according to what is equitable, taking into account the following factors:
- The economic circumstances of each spouse,
- Any interruption of a spouse’s career or educational opportunities,
- The length of the marriage,
- The contributions each spouse made to the marriage and the marital property, and
- Any actions either spouse took to intentionally dissipate or waste marital property.
Sorting out the property and debts subject to division can be tricky on your own. With several decades of experience and a passion for helping Florida families, our experienced family law attorney can help you receive a fair share of property to help you start a new chapter in life.
Alimony
The purpose of alimony, or spousal support, is to help a spouse with fewer economic resources adjust to single life or develop skills to become self-supporting. Many of the factors the court looks at to determine property division are the factors the court looks at when developing an alimony order.
While alimony is not a given in every divorce case, it can be crucial for some divorcing spouses. We can help ensure you receive what you need and deserve when your marriage comes to an end.
Let One of the Best Family Law Attorneys in Brooksville Help You
Imagine having peace of mind during a family law case in Hernando County. Imagine knowing you have a strong advocate on your side. That’s what Newlon Law, P.A., offers. We are award-winning and have several decades of experience in championing the rights of our clients. Call us or contact us online today so that you can confidently face the future.