Brandon Divorce
Family Lawyer
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Artful Negotiation Is the Key
to a Successful Divorce in Brandon, FL
When resolving even the most contentious Family Law disputes, “Artful Negotiation” is Marina Taylor’s byword — defusing disputes, reducing confrontation, developing an atmosphere conducive to logical arguments, revealing mutual benefits, and producing successful settlements.
During your initial Free Consultation, Marina will explain the two primary legal paths you can take when seeking a divorce: either an uncontested or a contested divorce. Another option is mediation, which often can avoid emotional confrontation in the courtroom and allow a married couple to settle their differences in a more relaxed environment—a process that Marina is exceptionally skilled in guiding.
The best way to navigate any divorce is with the assistance of a trained and educated professional. Marina R. Taylor, an experienced divorce lawyer serving clients in Brandon, Riverview, and all of Hillsborough County, will help you select the best legal path to your divorce.
Unlike most divorce lawyers, Marina R. Taylor offers set fees instead of charging billable hours in most divorce situations. When a case becomes complicated beyond the scope of her set fee structure, she will inform her client and negotiate an extended fee. See Marina Taylor’s Set Fees pricing schedule.
Divorce
The divorce process can vary significantly from state to state, but Florida is a no-fault divorce state, which means the parties do not have to claim specific misconduct or other reasons for seeking a divorce. The only requirement is that one of the spouses must show Florida residency for at least six months, usually proven by a Florida driver’s license or a notarized affidavit.
In Florida, getting a divorce decree can take as little as several months to more than a year, depending on whether the process is contested or uncontested. The average uncontested divorce takes about six months. The average contested divorce takes a year or more. The amount of time varies according to the judge, the county, and the willingness of the parties to reach a mutual agreement or dispute every issue.
The length of time for a court to approve the dissolution of a marriage also depends on such factors as equitable distribution of property, time sharing, custody and parenting issues, child support, and entitlement to attorney’s fees and costs. Marina R. Taylor is focused on keeping her clients’ divorce cases as uncomplicated as possible.
Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested divorce is when you and your spouse agree on everything and simply want help writing up a court-ready agreement. For those with no expectations of gaining anything out of your divorce other than dissolving the legal ties of matrimony, an uncontested divorce is unquestionably the most affordable option.
Contested Divorce
If you and your spouse cannot resolve issues involving children, money, real estate, or personal property, then Marina Taylor will explain in your initial Free Consultation how mediation can help you avoid lengthy negotiations and lengthy and potentially costly court appearances.
Divorce Mediation
Mediation is a process in which a mediator or neutral party helps to negotiate a settlement agreement. In Florida, the disputing parties are usually required by the court to attend mediation sessions before trial to resolve all or some of the pending issues. Marina R. Taylor is skilled in guiding the mediation process to effectively resolve family law and civil disputes, reduce litigation costs, and empower the parties to resolve their issues without a lengthy and potentially contentious trial.
The biggest advantage of divorce mediation is that you have control over your divorce terms and develop creative solutions that can only be done in mediation and not in court, Marina says.
A divorce mediator facilitates communication so that a husband and wife can freely express their concerns and desires in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The mediator’s goal is to help a couple come to an agreement that satisfies both sides.
Once the parties sign, the mediated agreement is considered legally binding and will be presented to the court to become part of the divorce decree.
Once the parties sign, the mediated agreement is considered legally binding and will be presented to the court to become part of the divorce decree.
But if your case does not settle through mediation or negotiation, Marina Taylor is prepared to fight aggressively for you in court while clearly focusing on solving issues according to your goals through cost-effective tactics and appropriate legal options.
Courtroom Litigation
When a Family Law dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation or mediation, As an experienced courtroom litigator, Marina R. Taylor is an aggressive advocate for her clients, ensuring that they receive the best possible outcome in their case.
Military Divorce
A military divorce is different from a civilian divorce. Military personnel face unique challenges, including dealing with an overseas or out-of-state spouse. However, many common issues can be handled similarly, such as the division of assets, dividing debts, child support, visitation, and relocation. Marina R. Taylor is exceptionally skilled in navigating the military divorce process.
Issues Involving Children
Issues involving children resulting from the marriage can be complex and often emotional. These issues range from which spouse may be granted full custody or whether custody will be shared, financial support to the spouse granted primary custody, visitation or time-sharing, and parental rights.
Paternity Issues
Unmarried male parents of minor children can establish their rights and obligations relating to those children by filing a lawsuit to establish paternity. A paternity ruling establishes a father’s right to share time with his children and participate in decisions that affect their welfare. A ruling on paternity can also be sought by the mother to establish the father’s child support obligation. Florida law also provides for the disestablishment of paternity of fathers, provided that certain requirements are met.
Annulments
Certain marriages can be annulled, depending on the circumstances that existed at the time the parties entered into the marriage. One spouse may have a right to receive support from the other if there is a demonstrated need and the other has the financial ability to contribute. Marina R. Taylor will explain how support may apply in your case during your initial Free Consultation.
Divorce Modification
Divorce decrees may be enforced or modified by a later court order. If one of the parties fails to comply with an existing court order, the court can be asked to enforce the order or issue a new one. Marina R. Taylor has handled many cases that require a change to a prior order because of a change in financial circumstance or involving an existing or pending relocation by filing a supplemental petition for modification.
For example, a divorce decree may prohibit a parent from relocating a child’s residence more than 50 miles from their current residence. Parents who wish to relocate outside of the permissible radius (50 miles) and do not have the other parent’s written consent must file a petition for relocation and comply with the statutory requirements before obtaining a court order allowing said relocation.
Name Change
Changing a marital name is often sought as the result of divorce. Minors and adults may apply to the court for a name change, which is usually granted, except when a person has filed for bankruptcy, had his or her civil rights revoked, or seeks the name change for an inappropriate purpose, such as defeating the right of a creditor.
Schedule a
Free Consultation
with Marina & find out
how those changes may affect you.
Artful Negotiation Is the Key to a Successful Divorce
“A lawyer will be objective and unaffected by emotional issues that can lead to mistakes. Florida divorce law can be complicated, so I strongly recommend that you consult with an experienced Family and Marital Law attorney before you sign any agreement that may leave your legal rights unprotected.”
—Marina R. Taylor
Answers to Your Most Common Questions
If you have other questions important to you, please send Marina a personal message using the form below.
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