Divorce, Custody, Paternity, Support, and Dependency Attorneys and Lawyers | The Divorce Center

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FLORIDA Divorce, Custody, Alimony, Paternity, and Dependency Attorneys  

800-469-3486

Florida Divorce attorneys Howard Iken, Alberto Ayo, Allison Belcher, Cheri Hobbs, Kristal Knox and Erin Duncan are here to help you through this difficult time in your life. We put together this website to provide you with complete information on Florida family law and divorce. Please take the time needed to thoroughly read all about divorce related issues. A good divorce lawyer should be willing to educate you on all the issues you will be facing. We believe knowledge is power. Knowledge and preparation take away the fear and allow you to face any challenge. We look forward to giving you that knowledge and helping you as your divorce attorney.

 The Law Firm of Ayo and Iken   Serving Hillsborough Pinellas Hernando Pasco Polk Osceola

Orange and most Florida Counties

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Attorney Howard Iken
Divorce Attorney Howard Iken

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At The Divorce Center, we give you more information for free than most lawyers give you for compensation. The philosophy is simple: expertise should never be proven by hiding facts. Family law in Florida is complex, but the average person can understand the law. This is your case and you deserve to know all the steps to a successful divorce. We believe the best clients are knowledgeable clients. That’s why this website is packed with free online divorce information. There are approximately 225 pages of focused, informative, and current information about family law in Florida, divorce practice tips, and common sense advice – all written by a family law attorney. Our divorce attorneys want to earn your business by showing you what we know. We hold nothing back. I hope you enjoy reading and learning the twists and turns of family law. Knowledge is power. Good luck in your pursuit of knowledge.

Attorney Howard Iken

 

Free Seminar on Divorce, Custody, and Bankruptcy- June 29th – Details

 

Our Services

Divorce

Our divorce attorneys – lawyers can file your case and help you all the way through trial. We also provide representation in mediation.

Child Support

A child support attorney can help you make sure that support is set to the correct amount. We can also reopen a case for child support modification.

Dependency Court

Dependency Court is where cases are conducted when Child Protective Services gets involved. It is also a unique court where grandparents can act to protect their grandchildren. We can provide representation for Dependency Court and also can defend parents caught up in that process.

Alimony

Our alimony attorneys can help you enforce a prior award of alimony, or help defend against enforcement. We also routinely file alimony modification cases when your income or needs have changed.

Paternity

If you were never married but have a child, your case would be called a Paternity Case. These types of cases establish rights for fathers of children born out of wedlock, or help define the duties and obligations of the mother. Child support is also typically granted in a Paternity Case.

Jurisdiction Disputes

If there is a question of where your case will be heard, you need a consultation from a jurisdiction attorney. The dispute can involve two states or two Florida counties. It is essential you consult with us before you answer a petition or other court filing. There are also critical time limitations on these types of disputes. We can also work with your out of state attorney to coordinate the jurisdiction case.

Enforcement of judgments

Enforcement of a previous agreement or court judgment is accomplished by filing a Motion for Enforcement or a Motion to Compel. One hearing is normally needed and is held where your case was previously filed. We can quote a flat fee on many enforcement cases.

Custody Modification

Our custody attorneys can help you reopen a prior case with the goal of changing custody, parenting time, and with relocation issues. A custody modification case in Florida is normally conducted in the same courthouse, in the same previous case number. A Supplemental Petition to Modify is filed and the case goes through similar steps as a Divorce.

Mediation

We can provide mediation services for divorces, paternity, and other situations. Please let us know if you are looking for a lower stress way to settle your case.

Bankruptcy

We also help clients file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Sometimes it is very advantageous to coordinate a bankruptcy filing with a divorce.

Our Locations

Tampa, Florida - Hyde Park

813-774-4529 Hyde Park – South Tampa 703 W. Bay Street Tampa, Fl 33606

Wesley Chapel, Florida

813-774-4529 For Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, and Tampa Palms clients Summergate Professional Center Seven Oaks – near Wiregrass Mall – off Hwy 56 27642 Cashford Circle Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Clearwater, Florida

727-844-7676 3000 W. Gulf to Bay Blvd Wilder Building Clearwater, FL 33760

Orlando, Florida

407-901-4507 Ashley Park – in Metrowest area, Near Dr. Phillips 7651 Ashley Park Court Suite 411 Orlando, FL 32835

New Port Richey, Florida

727-844-7676 West Pasco County 7623 Little Road Suite 200B New Port Richey, FL 34654

Lakeland, Florida

863-248-1151 1102 South Florida Ave Lakeland, FL 33803

Osceola County

Our Kissimmee / Osceola County clients see us in our Orlando office. Call us to set up a free consultation

Sarasota, Florida

We provide representation to clients in Sarasota County. Please call us for information.

Other Florida Counties

We also service a variety of counties in Florida. Please call us for information on your particular area.

Seminole County

Attorney Erin Duncan is available to help you in Seminole County divorce, custody, paternity, and dependency cases. Call her at 800-469-3486 for a free consultation

Seminole County Divorce Attorney

Brevard County

Attorney Erin Duncan is available to help you in Brevard County divorce, custody, paternity, and dependency cases. Call her at 800-469-3486 for a free consultation

Lake County

Attorney Erin Duncan is available to help you in Lake County divorce, custody, paternity, and dependency cases. Call her at 800-469-3486 for a free consultation

Featured Article

Modification of Alimony

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By Attorney Howard Iken

If your case has gone to final judgment and you are paying or receiving alimony, there is a possibility of modifying the amount or end date of alimony.  Every type of alimony has slightly different rules and there are many twists and turns to alimony modification. But alimony can be modified if you have the proper reasons and if your situation has no legal roadblocks.

 

Types of alimony that cannot be modified

 

Final judgments or agreements that have no alimony awarded:  If your case reaches final judgment and there is no agreement or provision for alimony then you can never go back. Of course there are several things you can do right after a judgment such as an appeal or a motion for rehearing. There are also ways to attack your final judgment and have it set aside (very complex). But if your final judgment has been in place for a while and there is no alimony – you cannot get a traditional modification. Alimony will be off the table forever.

Non-modifiable alimony: No matter how you slice it, non-modifiable alimony is non-modifiable. We have a standard warning before people agree to non-modifiable alimony. If you become a bum and must move into a cardboard box; you must still pay your alimony. If you are receiving alimony and become completely disabled; you cannot increase alimony.  Non-modifiable alimony terms have valid uses.  But you should forget about modification if it is in your judgment.

Limits on Modifications of certain types of alimony:  Normally you cannot modify the term of Durational alimony. But you can modify the amount.  Bridge-the-gap alimony cannot be modified in amount or duration.

 

Types of alimony that can be modified

 

Permanent Period Alimony: This is what people call Permanent Alimony. Unless your agreement specifically said the words non-modifiable alimony then permanent alimony is will be modifiable when the proper circumstances are present.

Durational Alimony: You can modify the amount of Durational Alimony as long as you have a valid reason. The term of durational alimony may be modified but it would be extremely difficult. And if you succeed you are limited to the length of the marriage.

Rehabilitative Alimony: You can modify Rehabilitative Alimony as long as you have a valid reason. You can modify both the length and amount. If you have sufficient reasons, rehabilitative alimony can be modified into permanent alimony.

 

Valid Reasons to Modify Alimony

 

Income Change: this is the most common reason why people want to modify alimony. The person paying alimony and/or the person receiving alimony may have experienced an increase or decrease in income.  Some typical events we argue over include big promotions, loss of employment, sickness, injury, or retirement.  Notice we used the term “argue.” Because with any change that negatively affects one former spouse – there will be accusations the change was purposely made.  A couple of really common terms used in those arguments are “voluntary underemployment” and “in-voluntary underemployment.”  All that means is that a person either had no choice when the change came about or “engineered” the change to support a modification of alimony.  These are complex issues and take a lot of work to prove.

 

Child support termination: If a court feels alimony is needed but money to pay alimony is lacking, a smaller-than-needed amount may be in the judgment. If there is child support and that support terminates, the availability of money may be a good reason to modify alimony. Florida law has been evolving and new statutes may restrict this type of modification. Talk to us first before doing a lot of thinking about this.

 

Retirement: This is one of the most contested type of modification cases. Both spouses do have a right to retire. And Florida appellate courts have implemented some definitions about retirement and when it would be appropriate to modify alimony.  Early retirement normally does not justify a modification.  But if one or the other spouse does retire it will be obvious that income and living expenses will change. And with that change the gates open to file an alimony modification case.

 

Change of Heart:  This reason is included because it is one of the most common reasons why someone wants to modify alimony. The answer is short and sweet: fa get about it.  Talk to us first.

 

Cohabitation: We saved the juiciest issue for last. In Florida the statutes calls this situation a “supportive relationship.”   But the concept is really simple. Cohabitation consists of two people shacking up, living together, sharing a residence, sharing money, co-paying bills, or co-owning assets. The cohabitation statute targets people living as a married couple, acting as a married couple, and being a married couple in all ways except for the formality of being married. Cohabitation is obviously a very contentious issue. The Florida law on cohabitation seems to be targeted at terminating alimony awards for a spouse that cohabitates. At least that is the way it reads. In practice, the cohabitation law has supported modifications of alimony rather than termination. The theory is that a supportive relationship reduces the financial need of an ex-spouse.  A cohabitation case requires a lot of proof. And we are not talking about a set of pictures.  You need a lot of evidence that money is flowing between the two people. That makes for a difficult, frequently mean case.

 

The Practical Side of Alimony Modification

 

Modification of Alimony requires a Supplement Petition to Modify. The petition is filed under the original case number, in the same court. Sometimes there is justification to the modification proceeding in a different county or a different state. The case is long, difficult, and costly. But any modification achieved is effective back to the date of filing.  The case proceeds in a way that is similar to the original divorce case. There will be disclosure of finances, mediation, interim hearings, and a final trial. Alimony modification is not for the weak of heart. It is a difficult type of case. But whether you are receiving or paying alimony, a modification case can help you improve your life.

The attorneys at Ayo and Iken are experienced in filing and conducting alimony modification cases in Florida. Call us to schedule a free review of your situation.

 

 

 

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