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Frequently Asked Questions At Reed Law
At Reed Law, we are dedicated to providing clear and effective answers to the most challenging legal problems. Below are some of the common questions that we receive at our office. Feel free to call our office at 850-904-0883 if you would like to learn more about how we can help you with your unique situation.
Why choose Reed Law over another law firm?
One of the great benefits of working with Reed Law is that when you need us, you can reach us. Each time you call us, you can expect to speak with an attorney, client care specialist or legal assistant who is knowledgeable about your case. This is different from other firms who utilize answering service companies where you can only leave a message when you call. You will also find that we have implemented different techniques to help move your case forward to a conclusion as quickly as possible. These techniques are also in place to try to reduce the legal fees and costs you will incur. Additionally, at Reed Law, we listen to you to learn what it is you want out of your case. Many firms will tell you what you are entitled to and then file motions to attempt to get it for you. However, a lot of times, what you want is not necessarily what the law says you are entitled to receive, nor will it be in your family’s best interest. That is why we start out by hearing what you want, then explain the law to you, so that you can decide how to proceed. We do this before any motions are filed, which is also meant to save you money. To learn more about other things that make Reed Law the best fit for you, contact us today.
How is child support calculated in Florida?
In Florida, both parents are required to contribute to the financial needs of their children, and therefore, Florida Statutes outline a formula for determining the child support amount. There are several factors that go into the calculation of child support, and they are as follows: the parents net incomes, childcare costs, health insurance costs for both the parents and for the children, the number of overnights that each parent spends with the children each year, and the number of children that the parents have together. All of this information is added into the child support guidelines calculator to determine the amount of child support that will be paid. To learn more, contact a child support lawyer with Reed Law today.
How long does it take to get divorced in Florida?
The length of your divorce will depend on you and your spouse. The greater the conflict the longer it will take. At Reed Law, we work hard to complete the initial steps in your divorce quickly, so that we will have all of the necessary information to begin serious settlement negotiations without delay. Finalizing your divorce with a settlement agreement, instead of by going to court, enables you to maintain control of your future, instead of handing those decisions over to another person (a judge) that you do not know anything about, and they do not know anything about you and your family. The goal at Reed Law is to assist you in achieving an outcome that you will be happy with, in the shortest amount of time, so that you can move on with your life. A divorce finalized with a settlement can take place as soon as 3-4 weeks, whereas a divorce with a lot of conflict and multiple court hearings can take a year or more to complete. If you want to discuss steps that can be implemented to speed up your divorce, contact an attorney at Reed Law today.
Are there different types of alimony?
Yes, in Florida, there are several kinds of alimony that can be ordered. The different types of alimony are lump sum alimony, temporary alimony, rehabilitative alimony, durational alimony, and bridge-the-gap alimony. Lump sum alimony is a one-time payment, or a distribution of an asset that ultimately leaves one party with walking away from the marriage with more assets than the other party. Temporary alimony is alimony that is paid while your divorce case is still going on. Rehabilitative alimony is an alimony that is paid for a short duration to give a spouse time to acquire a skill that will enable them to be self sufficient after the divorce. Bridge-the-gap alimony is a short-term alimony that is paid to help a spouse initially set up in their new life, and transition from married life to single life financially. Durational alimony is alimony that is paid for longest period of time your divorce, and involves analyzing various factors to determine whether you qualify for it, as well as the amount and length of the alimony. If you want to know more about alimony in your particular case, contact an alimony lawyer at Reed Law today.
How is alimony calculated?
Some of the most significant factors in determining the amount of alimony that can be awarded are the length of the marriage, the incomes of the spouses, the age and health conditions of each of the spouses, and the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage. The length of your marriage may determine what types of alimony are available in your case. Although Florida does not have a formula for calculating alimony, like there is for child support, Florida Statutes do provide parameters for each of the different types of alimony. Therefore, although the statutes provide guidance, there is not a set amount that is ordered in every situation. To review your unique circumstances to determine what alimony can be ordered in your situation, contact the divorce lawyers at Reed Law today.
How much does it cost to get divorced?
It is difficult to say how much your divorce will ultimately cost. However, there are things that will have an impact on how much it will cost. The more conflict that you and your spouse have, the more your divorce will cost, and therefore, being open to different ideas for distributing assets and liabilities between both of you, and thinking outside of the box to develop a Parenting Plan that will work best for your family, will go a long way in keeping the costs of your divorce down. The length of your divorce process can also impact the cost of your divorce, as the longer it goes on, you will inevitably be incurring additional fees. Another thing that will reduce the cost of your divorce is to quickly and efficiently gather the necessary financial information in order to begin settlement negotiations, sooner as opposed to later. At Reed Law, we implement different techniques to try to get your divorce concluded as quickly as possible. To learn more about these techniques, contact a divorce lawyer at Reed Law today.
What will happen to my house in my divorce?
There are several options as to what you can do with your house in your divorce. If one of you wants to keep the house, but both of you are on the mortgage, then the spouse keeping the house can either assume or refinance the mortgage in order to remove the other spouse’s liability from the mortgage. If there is equity to be divided between both of you, and there are no other assets that can be used to offset it, when the mortgage is refinanced, the spouse keeping the house can borrow more money through the mortgage to pay the other spouse. If neither of you want to keep the house, or you will not qualify individually for a mortgage, then typically, the house is sold with the proceeds then being split between both of you. In some circumstances, exclusive use and possession of the residence can possibly be ordered for the benefit of your children. Additionally, depending on your circumstances, one of you can keep the house with all of the equity, without splitting it with your spouse, with the equity being treated as a lump sum alimony payment between you. If you would like to discuss these options in more detail with a divorce attorney, contact Reed Law today.
Can I move to another state with my child?
Florida has a relocation statute that dictates that you cannot move more than 50 miles (as the crow flies) with your child without a court order or written agreement from the other parent. If the other parent does not agree to your relocating with your child, then a hearing will need to be held to determine whether or not the relocation is in the best interest of your child. There are eleven factors that are outlined in the Statute for the Court to consider in making this decision, and therefore, relocation cases are quite complicated. To discuss relocation in more detail, contact a Reed Law attorney today.
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