Adoption
The predominant types of adoption are private domestic, foster care, step-parent, and international adoption. Our Florida attorneys can help guide you through these adoption processes. Whether you are a single adult, married, step-parent, or grandparent, we can consult you through:
- Who can adopt a child?
- Who can be adopted?
- What is the oldest age to adopt a child?
- What are the costs to adopt a child?
- What are the DCF home study requirements?
- How long does it take to process an adoption?
- Any other questions you may have.
If you are ready to embark on the adoption journey, we are here to answer all of your questions and guide you every step of the way (we do not work with families out of the state of Florida).
Bankruptcy
The average American has access to so many different types of debt today:
- Credit Cards
- Mortgages
- Student Loans
- Auto Loans
- Medical Bills
- Overdue Bills
- Utility Bills
- Taxes
- The list goes on…
It’s no wonder financial strain can become overwhelming. If debt has become unmanageable, filing for bankruptcy may be the best way to consolidate, repay, or eliminate debt. We can discuss wether bankruptcy is the option for you individually, jointly, or for your business. Our attorneys specialize in Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy to help with all kinds of debt.
Collaborative law
Dissolution of a marriage and family legal disputes can be messy. Divorce is cutting ties, the Collaborative process is more like untying a relationship and maintaining privacy. Our Florida attorneys can help advocate and guide you through:
- Conflict Resolution
- Asset Distribution
- Co-parenting
- Time-sharing
- Alimony
- Child Support
- Pre-nuptial Agreements
- Mutually Acceptable Resolution(s)
- And more…
The collaborative process seeks to problem-solve by utilizing a team approach with both parties. This can take the litigation out of the divorce process, and save time, money, and stress while protecting both parties and keeping their personal lives private.
Criminal defense
If you have been charged with a crime or received a summons to appear, it is important to act quickly and determine the best strategy for your defense, including but not limited to:
- Alibi
- Protecting Your Constitutional Rights
- Self-Defense
- Defense of Others
- Defense of Property
- Insanity
- Juvenile / Criminal
- False accusations
- First time offenders qualifying for diversion programs
Our Florida attorneys will go the distance to protect your constitutional rights and dedicate our time and attention to resolving your case, whether it is a misdemeanor, criminal traffic, or a felony.
Dependency
We aim to help make families stronger by ensuring your child’s safety and welfare. Our attorneys can guide parents and third parties (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) through reunification processes and protect minors. Our attorneys work on cases that are filed through the Department of Children and Families, or by filing a private petition, if that is required. The court will consider the best interests of the child(ren) to maintain their safety by reunifying the chidren or terminating the parents’ rights. Our attorneys can represent the adults or the children in various matters within Dependency Court. Our Florida attorneys can help guide you through the following:
- Valid/Non-Valid Claims of Abuse or Neglect
- Parental Rights
- Establishing Parental Fitness for Care of a Child
- Parenting Skill Classes
- Social Service Regulations and Determinations
- Case Planning
- Reunification
- Grandparents Caring for the Children
- Termination of Rights
Dissolution of marriage (divorce)
“Dissolution of marriage” is the legal term used for divorce within the state of Florida. The ultimate result is still the legal separation of two legally married individuals. A dissolution of a marriage can be stressful and messy but it does not have to be that way. We can consult you through:
- Requirements for Divorce in Florida
- Time-sharing / Parental Responsibility (Custody)
- Alimony
- Child Support
- Modifications
- Relocations
- Equitable Distribution of Real Property, Assets and Liabilities (Simple or Complex)
- Mediation
- Collaborative Law
Whether you and your spouse can make agreements and compromises or if cooperation and communication seem unattainable, our licensed professionals can guide you through a collaborative divorce or help you with a complex litigation divorce.
Guardian ad litem
Children do not have much of a voice in our legal system, and they are the most vulnerable and undervalued participants in the legal arena. A guardian ad litem looks after the needs of the child and the child’s best interests. Our Florida attorneys have more than a decade of experience providing children a voice in our legal system in areas like:
- Time-sharing & Parental Responsibility (Child Custody)
- Dependency (abuse, abandonment, or neglect- Attorney Schwam-Wilcox is certified by DCF regarding the sexual abuse of children)
- Personal injury settlements for minor children
- Criminal child victims
Family Law
Our attorneys are here to listen, advise you about your options, and educate you about your chances of success through this challenge. As “Counselors at Law,” we provide full-service family law services these areas:
- Complex Asset Litigation / Property Division
- Fathers’ Rights
- Paternity
- Adoption
- Mediation
- Temporary / Concurrent Custody (Extended Family / Grandparents: Chapter 751)
- Alimony and Child Support Cases – including Time-Sharing (Custody) and Parental Responsibility
- Dependency
- Marriage Dissolution (Divorce)
- Domestication of Foreign Judgments
- Domestic Violence
- Guardian Ad Litem
- Injunctions
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Relocation
- Uncontested Divorce (also simplified divorce)
- Modifications
- Same-Sex Marriage Dissolution
Mediation
Our mediator can assist in facilitating options and discussions toward a reasonable, equitable, and livable resolution for both parties when looking to resolve disputes in a Family Law matter; These include:
- Joint Discussions
- Private Discussions
- Negotiation Assistance
- Option Building
- Conflict Resolution
- Settlement of All or Some of the Pending Issues
This can take place with all participants in the same room or with each party with their attorney (if not pro se) in another room to deescalate stress and conflict. Our mediator is here to guide you through dispute resolutions through in-person and/or virtual meetings whichever the parties prefer.
Parent Coordinator
When parents need assistance with understanding their Parenting Plan or reducing conflict and obtaining peace between themselves, a parenting coordinator may be able to assist. Learning how to communicate with the other parent when you are no longer in a relationship can be a challenge, but it is crucial to the life of the child(ren) in common to those parents. Learning parenting skills and communication skills can facilitate relationship between parents in order to co-parent the children and to achieve a higher success for the minor children to not feel “stuck in the middle” after their parents separate.
Wills
Sometimes bad things happen and planning for those “what-ifs” in the future is one of the most important things you can do for your family. Family members get sick unexpectedly, become disabled due to a freak accident, have a disabled child, or even pass away. Our attorneys can assist with:
- Simple Wills
- Living Wills
- Durable Power of Attorneys
- Revocations of Power of Attorneys
- Health Care Surrogates
Plan for your future, your family is counting on you. Establishing beneficiaries and guardianship over these takes time and careful thought. We will discuss and guide you through the process of setting up a will or trust and the benefits behind each to continue to care for those you love.
