Family Law Attorneys in Clearwater, Florida

Child Custody & Time-Sharing Plans

Florida custody law recognizes that children generally benefit from frequent contact with both parents, so neither parent holds an automatic advantage going into a custody proceeding. Every custody determination in Pinellas County family court is governed by the child’s best interests, evaluated through a set of statutory factors a judge weighs based on the specific family.

Those factors include:

• Each parent’s willingness to foster the child’s relationship with the other parent;
• Each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs;
• Each parent’s physical and mental health;
• Each parent’s moral fitness;
• Each parent’s ability to provide the child with a consistent routine;
• Geographic viability of the parenting plan and the travel the time-sharing schedule would require;
• The child’s adjustment to home and community;
• The reasonable preference of the child, if of sufficient age and maturity;
• Evidence of domestic violence, if any;
• Each parent’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment; and
• Any other relevant factor.

Alimony in Florida Divorces

Alimony isn’t awarded in every Florida divorce. A judge grants it when the requesting spouse demonstrates a financial need and the other spouse has the ability to pay. In deciding whether to award alimony and how much, a judge considers:

• The length of the marriage;
• The standard of living established during the marriage;
• Each spouse’s age and mental and physical health;
• The tax effects of any award on each spouse;
• Each spouse’s financial resources, monthly expenses, and debts; and
• Any other relevant factor.

Florida recognizes several types of alimony. Temporary alimony may be awarded while the divorce is pending. Bridge-the-gap alimony helps a spouse transition to single life and is limited to two years. Rehabilitative alimony supports a spouse working toward self-sufficiency, such as completing a degree or reentering the workforce. Durational alimony provides support for a set period tied to the length of the marriage. Under Florida’s 2023 alimony reform, permanent alimony is no longer available for divorces governed by the updated law. Alimony may be paid periodically or in a lump sum.

Child Support in Florida

Florida calculates child support using income-shares guidelines set by statute. The calculation accounts for both parents’ incomes, the number of overnights each parent has with the child, and costs such as health insurance and childcare. We handle child support establishment, enforcement, and modification matters for clients throughout Clearwater and Pinellas County.

Child Relocation

When a parent wants to move with a minor child more than 50 miles from the current residence for more than 60 days, Florida law requires either court approval or written agreement from the other parent. Child relocation cases turn on the same best-interests standard that governs custody, and the relocating parent carries the burden of showing the move serves the child. We represent both parents seeking to relocate and parents opposing a proposed move.

Modifications & Enforcement of Existing Orders

Circumstances change after a divorce is finalized, and existing custody, support, or alimony orders can sometimes be modified when they do. Florida courts require a party seeking modification to show a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances since the original order was entered. We also handle enforcement proceedings when an existing order isn’t being followed, representing clients in post-judgment matters throughout Pinellas County.

Domestic Violence Injunctions

Florida courts can issue injunctions for protection against domestic violence that restrict a respondent’s contact with the petitioner. When children are involved, those injunctions can affect custody and time-sharing arrangements, making them directly connected to the broader family law case. Evidence of domestic violence is also a statutory factor in Florida child custody determinations. We represent clients in Clearwater who are seeking or responding to domestic violence injunctions.