Child Custody & Child Support Lawyers in Sarasota, FL
Protect Your Parental Rights & Your Child’s Best Interests
Reaching a custody or child support arrangement for your children can be an emotional and challenging task. Raising children is stressful enough without also trying to manage the complex details of a legal dispute. Working with a compassionate attorney can relieve stress and is your strongest asset in pursuit of the best outcome available to you.
At Schipani, Norman & McLain, P.A., we can work with you and your co-parent to reach the custody and child support arrangements that fit the best interests of your child. At the same time, we will advocate for your rights, striving to achieve the solution that you desire. If private negotiations fail or are not possible, our experienced trial attorneys will proceed to court on your behalf. Our firm has focused all of its practice on divorce and family law for well over a decade and you will have access to the superior knowledge and training of one of the state’s few attorneys Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar.
Need legal representation in a child custody or support matter? Reach out to Schipani, Norman & McLain, P.A. at (941) 499-8154 for capable and compassionate advocacy.
Custody & Support in Florida
At our firm, we assist parents and other family members with all aspects of custody, including:
- Jurisdictional custody
- Out-of-state relocations
- Post-decree modifications
- Extended family custody
- Parental abductions
- The Hague Convention and international abduction
Child Abduction
The prospect of losing a child strikes fear in any parent’s heart. If your child was abducted by the other parent and relocated within the United States or somewhere abroad, you must act swiftly to locate the child and bring him or her back.
Our legal team has reunited multiple families whose children were wrongfully abducted. We know the requirements of the Hague Convention which mandates the repatriation of children wrongfully taken from their nations of origin. We know how to apply this law to your case to establish that an abduction took place and help you regain your child.
Child Custody Issues in a Same-Sex Divorce
With the recognition of same-sex marriages comes the reality that not all marriages last. Same-sex couples who divorce have the same rights and protections in Florida courts as partners of different sexes. However, when children are involved in a same-sex divorce, determining who has legal and physical custody and whether the other partner has visitation rights can be complex.
Your rights will depend on when and how the child joined your family, which could be through:
- A prior heterosexual relationship
- Assisted reproduction
- Adoption
If the child was born or adopted before the marriage, only one partner may be the legal parent. In that case, the other partner may not have custody or visitation rights. However, if the other partner adopted the child during the marriage, he or she may have a right to a continuing relationship with the child after a separation or divorce.
Helping You Fight for the Custody or Visitation You Deserve
If you do not have parental rights with a child, you must proactively seek custody or visitation. An attorney with experience establishing custodial rights for same-sex couples can help you in this mission. Our Sarasota child custody and child support attorneys represent gay, lesbian, and transgender parents in child custody disputes related to divorce.
If you are concerned about your rights as a parent entering a divorce, we invite you to call us to schedule a consultation. We represent individuals and families in Sarasota, Bradenton, and communities throughout Southwest Florida
Contact us at (941) 499-8154 to set up a time when you can discuss your case with one of our capable legal team today.