Blog | LaFrance Family Law

Top 10 Things To Know If You’re Getting Divorced

May 1, 2017

Top Ten Things to Know About Getting Divorced

Tips for Navigating Divorce

Whether you have already started the divorce process or believe divorce is in your future, it is important to be as prepared as you can be for such a life-changing event. With over 40 years of combined experience with divorce law, we understand navigating this new chapter can be hard.

To make it easier for couples looking for help, we’ve compiled the most important things to keep in mind to avoid common mistakes when you’re going through this transition.

Why Do I Need a Divorce Lawyer?

December 7, 2016

Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney in Florida

It can be tempting to forego consulting a lawyer when preparing for a divorce, but representing yourself in any legal matter is not as easy as it may sound. Those who choose to represent themselves in legal procedures without the aid of an attorney are known as “pro se”.

Although you have the right to represent yourself in a court of law, many do not understand that choosing to do so means that the courts will expect you to follow the same rules and procedures that an attorney must follow.

What happens to the house in a divorce?

December 1, 2016

What Happens to the House in a Divorce

Learn Who Keeps the House in Divorce

Courts in Tampa and throughout Florida apply the principal of equitable distribution when dividing the assets and debts between husbands and wives during a divorce in Florida. Before the assets and debts are equitably divided, it is necessary to first determine what assets and debts are nonmarital and which are marital.

Generally, any asset and debt acquired during the marriage is considered marital and subject to equitable distribution between spouses. Under certain circumstances there can be exceptions in equitable distribution, these can include inheritance, gifts received by one spouse from someone other than their spouse and assets or debts that existed before the parties were married.

3 Things Not to do When You Get a Divorce

August 1, 2016

Divorce Advice: Avoiding Common Mistakes

Most people that have been through a divorce will tell you that during the divorce process they made many mistakes. Some heart-wrenching and some financially costly. The good news is that you can easily avoid many of the most common mistakes that people make.

Here are our top 3 mistakes to avoid:

5 Things To Look For In a Divorce Attorney

July 19, 2016

Top Five Things to Look for in a Divorce Attorney

Learn the Best Qualities Every Attorney Should Have

There are so many good divorce attorneys in a given county that are all working hard to help people navigate through the laws of their country and state. When you are going through a divorce, it can be overwhelming to determine who is going to be the best lawyer for you.

There are several things to consider when choosing a divorce attorney. Below are our top qualities we think all the best attorneys should have to help their clients get the most out of the divorce process.

5 Important Financial Tips for Divorce

June 15, 2016

Financial Divorce Advice You Should Follow

How to Keep your Finances in Check During Divorce

One of the biggest concerns of both parties going through a divorce is what their financial future will look like. Moving from a marriage where assets, bank accounts and debts were shared to a world where it is split in two can be extremely stressful. To ease the financial stress, you must analyze your present finances and also estimate your future living costs.

We’ve compile dthe best tips on how to keep your financial worries at a minimum.

5 Steps for Filing for Divorce

June 8, 2016

Five Important Things to do When Filing for Divorce

What to do When You’re Ready to File for Divorce in Florida

Ending your marriage is not a decision you enter lightly. The dissolution of marriage in Florida has not just legal repercussions, but emotional side effects as well.

However, if you are thinking about filing for divorce, there are steps you can take to better prepare you for the divorce legal proceedings that will follow.

Military Divorce In Florida

May 16, 2016

Military Divorce

Finding a Divorce Attorney for Military Families in Florida

Living in Tampa, many of our clients are in the military personnel on assignment at MacDill Air Force Base. We understand the unique challenges that face our military families. While moving every two years might feel exciting at first, after six or seven moves, a marriage can become strained.

Deployment and the stress of a military career can take its toll on even the strongest of marriages. In these cases, a military divorce attorney will help you navigate the laws associated with a military divorce — especially if you have children together.

Moving After Divorce

May 2, 2016

Moving after a Divorce

Can You Move After Getting Divorced in Florida?

If you have children who still live in your house, moving after a divorce can present some unique challenges. While there is a desire to start fresh in a new place, this may not be in your child’s best interest or even possible due to child custody regulations.

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act regulates which state has jurisdiction over custody issues if a child moves and in addition, each state has their own individual child custody laws as well. In general, you have to prove that a move would benefit your child more so than staying in his or her hometown/home state.

Communicating with Your Ex

March 21, 2016

Communicating with your Ex If you are co-parenting after a divorce, communication with your ex is going to be a necessary part of raising your family. Many people had communication issues during the marriage and will still feel those same frustrations in the discussions they have with their exes. Remember when you are talking to your ex that you are communicating to help your children. It is important to maintain calm and focus on conflict-free communication.

We love this helpful list from the HelpGuide on how you can initiate and maintain effective communication:

- Use a business-like tone. Mentally try to look at your relationship with your ex-spouse as a business partnership and your “business” is ensuring the children’s well-being. So, in all your communications treat them as you would a work colleague.
- Ask, don’t tell. Instead of telling your ex what you want, which when emotions are running high, can be construed as a demand, try rephrasing as much as you can as a question like, “Are you open to trying…?” or “Would you be willing to…?”