A crisis within a family such as a divorce or a child-custody dispute can be the most stressful and heart-wrenching event any person or family can endure. Frequently, financial issues and support matters aggravate the anger and pain. The courts have a huge amount of discretion in dealing with these issues. The attorneys at Law offices of Alma C. Defillo are able to present these complicated issues to the courts in the best possible light so that clients can move forward with their lives in a satisfactory manner after the proceedings.
Our mission is to provide quality, ethical service, and to obtain the best and fairest results possible for our clients. We have experience and represent clients in the following areas:
- Divorce
- Child Support
- Visitation Rights
- Child Custody
- Modifications
- Domestic Violence
- Restraining Orders
At our firm, we understand the difficulties and challenges of people who are divorcing or are involved in any other family law dispute.
Divorce
For most people, a contested divorce is the most difficult and life-changing event they will ever have to endure. Divorce and everything related to it are traumatic experiences, and most people going through a divorce have never had an experience like it before. With so much at stake, you need an advocate you can trust to help you explore your options and make good decisions.
We pride ourselves on listening to our clients' concerns and answering their questions. It is important to us that we give personalized legal representation to our clients based on their backgrounds, unique needs and objectives.
We strive to provide clients with knowledgeable and compassionate representation. Though we are caring and understanding of our clients and their situations, we work aggressively to resolve disputes and achieve our clients' goals.
We provide complete representation in all areas related to divorce, including child custody, child support, parenting time, paternity, legal separation, spousal support, modification, division of property, adoption and other issues.
Divorce, also known as Regular Dissolution of Marriage, typically requires representation by an experienced attorney. If a dependent minor child is involved, the wife is pregnant or if one spouse is not in agreement with the decision to divorce representation is required.
If the above conditions do not apply, the spouses may agree to a procedure called a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage. This type is usually faster than a regular dissolution. The type of dissolution you pursue will depend upon the details of your individual circumstances.
Divorce May Affect Your Immigration Status.
Every year almost a half million citizens of the United States marry foreign-born persons and petition for them to obtain permanent residence in the U.S. Spouses of U.S. citizens are considered ''immediate relatives'' under the immigration laws, and are exempt from usual limitations. Marriage to a U.S. citizen is considered a fast track to a green card.
A divorce creates immigration issues relevant to you or your spouse that need to be addressed. The time period after admission to the U.S. and your immigrant status can determine whether full permanent residence is granted. In some situations if the marriage is dissolved, the immigrant spouse will lose his or her immigrant status and become deportable.
Call today and allow our experienced attorneys help you during this difficult time.
Child Custody and Visitation
Child custody and visitation decisions are usually the most important aspects of a divorce proceeding. We strive to help clients determine custody and visitation schedules that are in the best interests of the children and serve our clients' needs.
If you are seeking custody and visitation our firm can provide the guidance and information that you need in order to make educated decisions about your case.
We encourage clients to resolve custody and visitation matters through negotiation and mediation. Only through reaching a voluntary agreement can clients be a part of the decision making process. If the parties cannot agree, custody and visitation will be decided by the Court and the parties will have to live with it whether it works for them or not. In instances where an agreement cannot be reached, we are skilled and effective at presenting issues and arguments relating to child custody and visitation to the Court in an effort to promote an outcome that meets the best interests of our clients and their children.
Child Support
When parents separate prior to divorce, they both remain responsible for supporting their minor children. This is also true for unmarried couples who have a child together. Every parent has an obligation to provide for their children. Failure to do so can have severe legal consequences that will affect virtually every aspect of your life.
The guidelines used to determine child support in Florida consider each parent's individual income and the specific needs of the child. As with child custody, the court’s decision will always reflect the child’s best interest. The purpose of support is to allow the child to enjoy a standard of living similar to that enjoyed when the parents were together.
One aspect of a child support case that is often overlooked is the fact that the amount of child support being paid belongs to the child or children. Parents do not have the right to waive it on behalf of the children. Support shall be paid; however consideration can be given if there is substantial parental contact. These situations can affect the amount and to which parent the child support is paid.
Child Custody Modifications
A significant change in circumstances may warrant the modification of an existing child custody order. Existing child custody and visitation orders may be modified at any time, so long as the parent who wishes to modify the order can prove a significant change in circumstance. Child custody and visitation rights may be changed by either parent, but the Court has the ultimate decision as to whether the child's best interests are being served.
Call us to learn more about the modification process.
"We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship and please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Although we attempt to provide quality information, we make no claim, promise or guarantee of availability or outcome in any particular case."