A family case starts when one party files a petition — for example, a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or to establish paternity. The other party is formally served and generally has 20 days to file an answer, often along with a counterpetition raising their own requests.

From that point, both sides are part of the case and bound by the court's deadlines and rules until the matter is resolved by agreement or by the judge.

Many circuits automatically enter a standing order when a family case is filed. These commonly restrict both parties from relocating the children, removing them from school, canceling insurance, or hiding, selling, or wasting marital assets while the case is pending.

Violating a standing order can carry real consequences. If you're unsure whether an action is allowed, ask before you act.

In most cases involving money or children, Florida requires both sides to exchange financial information through mandatory disclosure (Florida Family Law Rule 12.285). This includes a sworn Financial Affidavit plus supporting documents — recent tax returns, pay stubs, bank and credit card statements, retirement statements, and more.

This step is not optional in most cases. Complete, accurate disclosure keeps your case moving and protects your credibility with the court.

The Financial Affidavit is a sworn snapshot of your income, expenses, assets, and debts. You file a short or long form depending on your income level.

Because it is signed under oath, accuracy matters. The figures drive child support, alimony, and how property and debts are divided, so it's worth taking the time to get it right.

Cases can take months to resolve. Temporary relief lets the court put interim arrangements in place — temporary time-sharing, child support, alimony, who remains in the home, and who pays which bills — until the final judgment.

These issues are decided at a temporary relief hearing, where each side presents evidence and the judge enters orders that govern the in-between period.

Any case involving children requires a parenting plan describing how parents will share time and make decisions about the children's education, health, and welfare. Florida courts decide these issues based on the best interests of the child.

Parents are generally required to complete an approved parent education course during the case.

Florida calculates child support using a statutory guideline formula. The main inputs are both parents' incomes, the number of overnights each parent has with the children, and certain costs such as health insurance and childcare.

The formula produces a presumptive amount the court generally follows, with limited room to deviate in specific circumstances.

Florida divides marital property and debts — generally those acquired during the marriage — equitably, which usually means equally unless there's a reason to do otherwise. Nonmarital property, such as assets owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance, typically stays with the original owner.

Identifying and valuing what's marital versus nonmarital is often where the real work in a divorce happens.

Alimony (spousal support) may be available depending on one spouse's need and the other's ability to pay, along with factors like the length of the marriage and the standard of living established during it. Florida recognizes several types of alimony with different purposes and durations.

Whether alimony applies, and in what form, is highly fact-specific — this is worth discussing directly with our office.

A case management conference is a status hearing where the judge checks on the progress of your case, addresses any roadblocks, and sets deadlines — including, often, a path toward mediation and trial.

It keeps the case on track and ensures both sides are meeting their obligations.

Most Florida courts require the parties to attend mediation before a contested trial. A neutral, trained mediator helps you and the other side try to reach an agreement. The mediator does not decide anything — any resolution is one you agree to.

A large share of family cases resolve at mediation, which is usually faster, less costly, and less stressful than trial, and lets you keep control over the outcome.

Some matters are referred to a general magistrate — an attorney appointed to hear certain issues and recommend a decision to the judge. Referral generally requires the parties' consent, and you have the right to object to it.

After a magistrate hearing, either side may file timely exceptions asking the judge to review the recommendation.

If the case doesn't settle, it goes to trial, where each side presents evidence and testimony and the judge — family cases are decided by a judge, not a jury — makes the final decisions on the contested issues.

The result is a final judgment that legally establishes your rights and obligations going forward.

Life changes. When circumstances shift substantially — income, relocation, the children's needs — certain orders such as support and time-sharing can be modified. And if the other party doesn't follow the judgment, the court can enforce it.

If you're dealing with either situation, contact us to discuss your options.

Chapter 7 is a "liquidation" or fresh-start bankruptcy. Most qualifying unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills, many personal loans) are wiped out, usually within a few months. To file, you generally must pass the means test.

Chapter 13 is a "reorganization." Instead of discharging debts quickly, you repay some or all of them through a 3-to-5-year plan. It's often used by people who earn above the median income, are behind on a mortgage or car and want to catch up, or have assets they want to protect.

Which chapter fits depends on your income, assets, and goals — that's exactly what we sort out in a consultation.

The moment a bankruptcy case is filed, an automatic stay goes into effect. It legally requires most creditors to stop collection activity — phone calls, letters, lawsuits, wage garnishment, repossession, and (in many cases) foreclosure sales.

For many people, this immediate relief is the first real breathing room they've had in a long time.

Eligibility for Chapter 7 turns on the means test. The first step compares your household income to the median income for a Florida household of your size. If you're below the median, you generally qualify. If you're above it, a more detailed calculation looks at your allowed expenses to see whether you still qualify.

Use the screener below for a rough, preliminary sense of where you fall. It is not legal advice or a guarantee — a full analysis is something we do together.

To prepare your case accurately, we typically gather:

• Pay stubs / proof of income for the last 6 months
• Federal tax returns for the last 2 years
• Bank statements (recent months, all accounts)
• A list of debts — bills, collection letters, lawsuits, judgments
• A list of assets — property, vehicles, accounts, valuables
• Recent statements for any loans, mortgages, or retirement accounts
• Government-issued photo ID and proof of Social Security number

The more complete your documents, the smoother and faster the process.

Federal law requires two short courses from approved providers: a credit counseling course you complete before filing, and a debtor education course you complete after filing and before your discharge. Both are typically done online or by phone and produce a certificate we file with the court.

Bankruptcy doesn't mean losing everything. Exemptions protect certain property so you can keep it. Florida has its own set of exemptions, including a strong homestead protection for your primary residence, along with protections for a vehicle, personal property, and certain other assets up to set limits.

Most of our Chapter 7 clients keep all or nearly all of their property. We review your assets against the exemptions before filing so there are no surprises.

A trustee is a neutral person appointed to administer your case. In Chapter 7, the trustee reviews your paperwork, confirms your information at the meeting of creditors, and would sell any non-exempt assets to pay creditors (in most consumer cases, there are none). In Chapter 13, the trustee receives your monthly plan payments and distributes them.

The trustee is not your attorney and does not represent you — that's our role.

About 20 to 40 days after filing, you attend a 341 meeting — named for the Bankruptcy Code section that requires it. You meet with the trustee, under oath, to confirm your identity and the accuracy of your paperwork. These meetings are usually short and routine, and are often held by video or phone.

Despite the name, creditors rarely attend. We prepare you beforehand and are with you throughout.

The trustee's questions are generally straightforward and predictable, such as:

• Did you review your petition before signing, and is the information true and complete?
• Did you list all of your assets and all of your debts?
• Have you sold, transferred, or given away any property recently?
• Are you entitled to any money you haven't listed, such as a tax refund or lawsuit?
• Have you filed bankruptcy before?

We'll walk through these with you in advance so nothing catches you off guard.

Commonly dischargeable: credit cards, medical bills, most personal loans, and many older obligations.

Usually not dischargeable: most taxes, domestic support (child support and alimony), most student loans, and certain court fines. Some of these have narrow exceptions.

We'll review your specific debts so you know what to expect from filing.

The discharge order is the finish line: a court order that legally eliminates your personal liability for the dischargeable debts. Once it's entered, those creditors can never try to collect from you again. In a typical Chapter 7, the discharge usually arrives roughly 60 to 90 days after the 341 meeting.

While every case differs, a Chapter 7 often looks like this: complete credit counseling and gather documents → file the petition (the automatic stay begins) → attend the 341 meeting about a month later → complete the debtor education course → receive your discharge a couple of months after that. Many cases wrap up in roughly four to six months.

Bankruptcy is a beginning, not just an end. With your debt load cleared, many people are able to rebuild credit steadily — through careful budgeting, secured credit cards, and on-time payments — often qualifying for financing again within a couple of years.

The most important things early on: get medical care and follow your providers' advice, document everything (photos, names, what happened), and be cautious about giving recorded statements to the other side's insurance company before you've spoken with an attorney.

Prompt, consistent medical treatment both protects your health and creates the record your claim depends on.

We gather the evidence that establishes liability (who was at fault) and damages (the harm you suffered): police or incident reports, photos, witness statements, medical records and bills, and proof of lost income. A well-documented claim carries far more weight with an insurer.

It's usually best to wait until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) — the point where your condition has stabilized — before settling. Only then is the full extent of your injuries, future care, and damages clear. Settling too early risks leaving future costs uncovered.

Florida is a no-fault auto state, so after a car crash your own PIP (personal injury protection) coverage typically pays initial medical bills regardless of fault, up to its limits. Beyond that, claims may involve the at-fault party's liability coverage and, where available, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Premises and other injury claims work differently. We identify every source of recovery that applies to your case.

Once your treatment and damages are clear, we prepare a demand package — a presentation of liability and damages with supporting records — and send it to the insurer. Negotiation follows. Many claims settle during this phase, without a lawsuit ever being filed. If the insurer's offers don't reflect the true value of your claim, we're prepared to move forward.

If presuit negotiation doesn't produce a fair result, we file a complaint to begin a lawsuit. Florida law sets strict deadlines — the statute of limitations — for filing, and missing the deadline can permanently bar your claim. Deadlines vary by the type of claim, so it's important to contact a lawyer promptly rather than wait.

Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you're found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault — and if you're found more than 50% at fault, you generally cannot recover. This is one reason the fault investigation matters so much.

Discovery is the formal exchange of information between the parties. It includes written questions (interrogatories), requests for documents, and depositions — sworn, out-of-court testimony. This phase is where the facts get tested and the strength of each side's case becomes clear.

Courts commonly order mediation before trial. A neutral mediator helps both sides explore settlement. Even after a lawsuit is filed, a great many injury cases resolve at this stage, on terms you agree to rather than leaving the outcome to a jury.

If the case still doesn't resolve, it proceeds to trial, where a jury hears the evidence and decides liability and the amount of damages. Trial is the exception rather than the rule, but preparing every case as if it could go to trial is part of how we pursue full value.

Economic damages cover measurable losses — medical bills, future care, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover harms like pain and suffering, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. The mix and value depend on the facts of your injury.

Personal injury cases are typically handled on a contingency fee — you owe no attorney's fee unless we recover for you. Out of a settlement or award, certain medical liens and case costs may also need to be paid. We explain how your net recovery is calculated up front, so there are no surprises at the end.