Best Child Custody Lawyers in Florida
Name of lawyer | Experience |
Richelle Marsico | 18 years |
Debra Ferwerda | 25 years |
Johnny DeGirolamo | 10 years |
Vera Bergermann | 41 years |
Full Answer
Where Do I Start?
Top Columbus Child Custody Lawyers - Ohio
How much does a custody lawyer cost? Attorney fees can range anywhere from $85 to $400 or more per hour depending on the experience level of the lawyer you hire, their reputation, and their track record of success in litigating child custody cases. Some lawyers will require an upfront payment, called a retainer.
You do not need to have an attorney for a custody dispute in most states. Representing yourself in court is your right and can have pros and cons. The obvious pro is that you will save money on legal fees. However, going to court generally means the parents cannot find a solution.
On average, child custody lawyers cost between $1,200 and $4,500.
Under Florida law, the courts may award attorney's fees and costs in marital dissolution, child custody and support, and enforcement or modification proceedings. Specifically, the court may order one party to pay these amounts on behalf of the other where the parties are in unequal financial positions.
The national average hourly cost of a Family Law attorney if between $150-$550, once again, this is an average and can vary depending upon other factors. Narrowing down even further, we can look to the state of Florida, who's average cost for a Family Law attorney is between $260-$330.
In Florida, the age a child can choose a parent to live with will depend on the child's overall maturity. Unlike other states, in Florida, there is no particular age when courts must consider a child's preference. Instead, a judge will decide whether: the child is intelligent enough to make a choice.
According to the 2020 study, the average divorce in Florida costs $13,500, including $11,600 in attorneys' fees. Attorneys' fees make up a large portion of the cost of divorce because the average hourly rate for attorneys in Florida is $295.
Fortunately, Florida law recognizes the inequity this would present to a divorcing couple, and allows a court to award attorneys' fees as part of a divorce award. The court considers requiring one spouse to pay for the other's attorney's fees only when a request or petition is made for the fees.
There is no standard time frame and it can take between 6 to 12 months to achieve a final order. In most cases, it will take around six to eight weeks from when you first apply for the preliminary court hearing (step 4 above) to take place.
For example, in a company or corporation, a general retainer fee would include charges for contract drafting, board resolutions, certifications, and the likes. Retainer fees vary greatly depending on the client's situation and most lawyers require a retainer agreement or contract.
For the first question, the answer is no… it's not a scam. Unlike some shadier MLM type schemes like 30-Day Success Formula and Impact Mailing Club… Legal Shield is a legit company with a real product. Having said that, the way in which some Legal Shield consultants market or sell the opportunity, may be a scam.
Mental and Physical Well-Being of Parents Parents' mental well-being is of great concern to a judge in a child custody case. Psychological disorders, overwhelming stress, drug or alcohol abuse, and mental health crises can prevent a parent from acting in their child's best interests.
How do I get full custody? Florida law does not give any preference to mothers or fathers when deciding child custody matters. Instead, the judge's primary focus will be to find what is in the best interest of the child. Therefore, you will need to prove it is in your child's best interest for you to have full custody.
You likely have questions about child custody, and how often you will be able to see your children. You may have heard Florida is a 50/50 child custody state, but there is no statutory requirement that mom and dad will split 50/50 parenting time – in fact, nowhere is this mentioned in Florida custody law.