Family Law Firm in Winter Garden

Skilled Advocacy and Compassionate Guidance

When your family’s future is at stake, you need a trusted advocate who will stand by your side with compassion, knowledge, and strength. Our Winter Garden family law team is committed to helping families and individuals navigate complex issues. Whether you are facing a custody battle, a divorce, or a post-judgment dispute, we are here to help you protect what matters most.

Why Choose Our Winter Garden Family Law Firm?

At the heart of every family law matter, real people face real challenges. We understand how stressful and emotionally challenging these situations can be. Our family law attorneys take the time to listen, explain your options, and develop strategies tailored to your goals and needs.

Our firm brings years of experience handling a wide range of family law matters under Florida law. As a local firm, we are familiar with the judges, court staff, and local procedures of Orange County and surrounding jurisdictions. Our lawyers are accessible, responsive, and dedicated to keeping you informed throughout the process. We combine negotiation, mediation, and litigation skills to resolve your case efficiently and effectively.

Our Family Law Services

Family law encompasses a wide range of issues, and our attorneys are equipped to handle them. Whether your case is straightforward or complex, we can advocate for you with competence and care. Our family law practice areas include the following:

Divorce

Divorce is never easy, but it does not have to be overwhelming with the right legal support. We guide clients through both contested and uncontested divorces with a focus on achieving fair outcomes. Our experienced divorce attorneys aim to protect your financial interests while reducing stress during this major life transition. Our divorce services include the following:

Filing for a Florida divorce
Division of marital property and debts
Spousal support negotiations and enforcement
Divorce mediation and litigation
High-asset and business-owner divorces

Child Custody and Parenting Plans

Few family law matters are more sensitive than child custody. Florida courts prioritize the child’s best interests and encourage co-parenting when possible. We help parents develop or modify parenting plans that cover physical custody (time sharing), legal custody (parental responsibility), and other essential details, such as holiday schedules and decision-making authority.

Our family attorneys work hard to preserve your relationship with your child while pursuing solutions that work for your family. We handle relocation cases, emergency custody hearings, enforcement of custody orders, and modifications due to changing circumstances.

Alimony

Spousal support, spousal maintenance, and alimony are terms used interchangeably in Florida to describe court-ordered payments from one spouse to another during or after divorce proceedings. Their purpose is to mitigate economic disparities and help the lower-earning spouse maintain a standard of living similar to what was experienced during the marriage. There are several types of alimony in Florida, including the following:

Bridge-the-gap alimony: This provides short-term economic assistance to help a spouse transition to a separate life after marriage. Once awarded, it cannot be modified as to duration or amount, and it may not exceed two years.
Rehabilitative alimony: This support is not intended to last a lifetime. The court is presented with a specific, achievable plan, which may include education or vocational training, on how the alimony recipient can become financially independent within a specified time frame.
Permanent alimony: This type of spousal support may be awarded when a spouse demonstrates a need for ongoing support to maintain the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage. Permanent alimony is usually reserved for lengthy marriages (17 years or more), but it may be awarded in moderate-term marriages under certain circumstances.

Property Division

Florida follows an equitable distribution rule, meaning marital property is divided fairly but not always equally. We take steps to protect your separate property, uncover hidden assets, and ensure a fair division in accordance with Florida law. Our Winter Garden family law attorneys help clients identify, classify, and value property, including the following:

Debts and liabilities
Real estate and homes
Businesses and professional practices
Retirement accounts and pensions

Military Divorce

Military divorce involves legal considerations beyond those of civilian cases. Service members and their spouses must navigate both Florida family law and federal laws, such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This can impact divorce proceedings, timelines, and enforcement. Issues such as custody arrangements during deployment, division of military pensions, and benefits under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA) require experienced legal guidance. We are well-versed in handling the complexities of military divorce and committed to protecting the rights of military families with discretion, clarity, and compassion.

Domestic Violence

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, we can help you seek immediate protection through a domestic violence injunction (restraining order). This legal mechanism to stop ongoing abuse aims to provide safety and peace of mind. When granted by a judge, a domestic violence restraining order can do the following:

Order the abuser to leave a shared home.
Prohibit the abuser from contacting or coming near the victim, including in the home, workplace, or children’s schools.
Restrict possession of firearms by the abuser while the order is active.
Grant temporary custody of children to the victim.
Offer immediate, enforceable legal recourse, including arrest, if the order is violated.

Paternity

Establishing paternity is essential for securing parental rights, access to the child, and child support. Whether you are a father seeking visitation or a mother pursuing financial support, we can guide you through the legal process of establishing paternity through the Florida courts.

Paternity can be established voluntarily through an acknowledgment signed by both parents and through a court order when a child’s paternity is disputed. In cases where paternity is contested, the court may order genetic testing to determine biological parentage. Once paternity is established, the father may gain rights to custody or visitation, and the child becomes eligible for financial support, inheritance, health benefits, and access to the father’s medical history.

Mediation

Mediation is often used to resolve matters such as divorce, child custody, and property division. It is a voluntary, confidential process by which a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach mutually acceptable agreements outside of court.

Mediation offers several important benefits, including reduced costs, faster resolution times, and greater control over outcomes. Working with a skilled mediation lawyer can help you avoid the stress of a courtroom trial. In addition, it fosters cooperative communication, which can be beneficial in preserving amicable relationships, particularly when children are involved.

Modification and Enforcement

Life is subject to changes, and in many cases, court orders need to change with them. If you have experienced a substantial change in circumstances, we can help you petition the court to modify your divorce, custody, or support orders. We can also assist with enforcement actions if the party fails to comply with the existing terms. The following are common issues that may require modification or enforcement:

Change in income affecting alimony or child support
Changes in work schedules or living arrangements
Relocation of a parent
Non-payment of support
Denial of visitation rights

Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement (prenup) is a legal contract established before marriage that delineates the division of assets, debts, and financial responsibilities in the event of divorce or death. Prenups can protect individual assets acquired before marriage, clarify financial expectations, safeguard business interests, and help manage debt liability. By fostering open communication regarding finances, prenuptial agreements can help strengthen relationships and provide peace of mind.

Estate Planning

We recognize that estate planning is a crucial component of safeguarding your family’s future. Our comprehensive estate planning services are designed to address your unique family dynamics, ensuring your loved ones are protected, and your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

By integrating estate planning with our family law services, we provide holistic solutions, including drafting wills, establishing trusts, and creating powers of attorney. This approach clarifies financial intentions, helps prevent potential disputes, and offers peace of mind and security for you and your family.

What Can You Expect When You Work With Our Firm?

We understand that family law can be complicated and emotional, so we take a personal and strategic approach to every case. When you work with our Winter Garden family law firm, you can expect the following:

Compassionate consultation: We begin with a confidential case review to understand your situation, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.
Custom legal strategy: We will craft a strategy that aligns with your personal goals, whether it involves negotiation, mediation, or aggressive litigation.
Clear communication: You will never feel left in the dark when you work with our firm. We will keep you informed of developments, explain legal terms in plain English, and respond promptly to your calls and emails.
Strong advocacy: Whether at the negotiation table or in the courtroom, we advocate fiercely for your rights and interests.

If you are dealing with complex family matters in Winter Garden, contact the Law Office of Erin Morse at (407) 900-7451 for the sound legal guidance and effective representation you need. Our firm was founded to help families and individuals with legal family issues.