Parkland Divorce Attorney
Compassionate Family Lawyer Protecting Your Rights
When facing a divorce case in Broward County, Florida, going it alone may seem economical. However, when the stakes are high, retaining a family law attorney can help you save money over time, preserve your rights, and offer you the best chance for a favorable outcome in court.
A divorce lawyer is especially important in cases where the other party has hired one, and Stuart N. House, P.A., offers the benefit of decades of education and experience. Attorney House knows the intricacies of Florida’s ever-changing laws. He also has decades of experience helping Florida residents navigate a variety of other family law matters, such as child custody, support, alimony, and property division cases.
To receive a free consultation with a divorce attorney who will aggressively pursue your best interests in the courtroom, contact the firm online or via phone at 754-732-7482.
Let Attorney House’s Experience Work In Your Favor
Mr. House has more than 30 years of experience in representing Parkland residents in family court cases. In addition to exceptional representation by a knowledgeable lawyer, his clients receive personalized, attentive service. His skilled staff will help you avoid mistakes that may otherwise negatively impact the outcome of your case. Through the years, he has continued to implement principles into his service that foster a robust attorney-client relationship:
- He establishes and maintains open and honest communication from the beginning of the relationship.
- He respects his clients’ time by acting and responding with an appropriate sense of urgency.
- He treats his clients as individuals and remains sensitive to each situation.
- He maintains compassion and empathy while simultaneously identifying critical elements in the client’s case.
- He works hard to employ solutions that are efficient and cost-effective for clients.
Attorney House understands that emotions are likely to run high in divorce cases, especially in those that involve children. He will balance these emotions by acting as a consistent source of calm, rational, competent legal advice, representation, and support in your critical time of need.
When Is A Divorce Granted In Florida?
Florida states that married parties may only be granted a divorce if one of two conditions is met:
- The marriage must be irretrievably broken.
- One of the parties must be mentally incapacitated.
Florida doesn’t recognize fault-based marriages, such as marriages precipitated by an act like adultery or cruelty. However, the behavior of the parties involved (such as adultery or domestic violence) may impact how the court handles the case since courts take factors such as “moral fitness” into account when making a judgment for child custody or other divorce-related matters.
At a hearing, the parties must present the court with evidence to prove their case meets at least one of the two statutory requirements.
The court will typically order for dissolution of the marriage if the situation does not involve minor children, and both parties agree the marriage is irretrievably broken. Other cases may become more complex as the court weighs further action.
When complexities arise, seasoned divorce attorneys can bring clarity. A family lawyer can adequately assess all viable options and present them to their clients in a clear and relatable manner, increasing the likelihood of achieving their desired outcome. They are better able to analyze complex legal issues and advocate before a judge in a calm, concise, professional manner.
Attorney House also regularly handles child custody proceedings.
What Happens In Custody Proceedings?
Broward County courts have implemented proceedings to encourage frequent and continuing contact between minor children and both parents following a divorce or separation. Both parents can retain full parental rights in most cases. Depending on the unique circumstances of each case, the court may allow both parents to agree on how they will assign parental responsibilities, or the court may assign obligations for specific aspects of child welfare to each party.
Examples of areas of responsibility include:
- Health care
- Dental care
- Education
- Religion
In many instances, parents do not readily agree on how they should divide duties, and that’s when a Parkland family lawyer steps in.
Judge’s Standard: What’s Best For The Child?
In some cases, the court determines which parent should have greater custody of the child. These are situations in which the parents’ comparative ability to care for the child is very unbalanced.
For example, a gainfully employed parent has no history of substance use, no evidence of inflicting abuse, and is, overall, a responsible individual, is more likely to be granted more custody rights than an unemployed parent, who has a history of behavioral issues. Cases in which each parent’s positive and negative characteristics are more closely balanced are often more difficult for courts to resolve.
In cases where both parents have a more equal chance of gaining custody, a more qualified divorce attorney may be the factor that ultimately tips the balance in one party’s favor over the other. Ideally, both parties will obtain their legal counsel to help them properly follow legal procedures and navigate emotional stress and tension that may be involved.
Florida courts also require both parents to attend a parenting class prior to final dissolution to ensure both parties receive training to help them become better parents to the child post-divorce or separation.
Other Determining Factors
While Florida courts apply the best-interest-of-the-child standard to instances involving minors, family court judges still have broad powers of discretion. Therefore, parties must retain professional counsel to help them present their case objectively and in a manner that compels the court on a legal basis.
Fight for Your Rights!
In addition to helping clients tackle contested, uncontested and high-asset divorce (as well as child custody) cases, attorney House also offers clients several other family law-related services. He regularly helps clients navigate the following types of legal disputes:
- Child support
- Child custody
- Alimony
- Property division
- Prenuptial agreements
- Domestic violence
- Parental kidnapping
- Paternity
Feel free to visit the Family Law page to learn more about the different services he offers clients.
Parkland family attorney Stuart N. House has been providing caring, trusted legal counsel to Florida residents since 1991. His firm helps clients understand the legal process while he gathers essential facts to build and support your case.
To set up a free, no-obligation consultation with his team, contact the firm online or at 754-732-7482.