https://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/how-did-alan-graysons-wife-get-approved-public-ass/nhtMk/

A Capable Orland Divorce Attorney Can Straighten any Alimony Concerns

Divorce does not end after an estranged couple finalizes the legal dissolution of their marriage; matters such as alimony and child support need to be maintained long after the case has been settled to ensure that both parties’ interests are protected. A wftv.com news article puts to light just how severe the conflict may be between former couples, and how this dispute can affect even the children’s welfare. According to the report, Orlando congressman Alan Grayson’s former wife is now claiming to be broke, and thus is forced to apply for government support:

But Alan Grayon's attorney, Mark Nejame, said it's no surprise the information is coming out now, one week before Election Day, arguing Lolita Grayson's assistance application is incomplete.

On the paperwork, she only claims $592 per child for her monthly income, but Nejame says Grayson is also paying the mortgage, utilities and phone bill for the home, a total of about $10,000 a month.

"This is abusing the public," Nejame said. "She's going out and asking for support because she can't support herself on $120,000? That's outrageous."

Rep. Grayson does not pay spousal support because his marriage is under the scope of a bigamy claim. His attorneys are claiming the marriage was never valid because Lolita Grayson was never divorced from her last husband.

The stipulations of alimony mandate that one party in a divorce—usually the more financially-able of the two—should provide allowance to the other. It is a precarious thing to settle, especially if one party refuses to provide spousal support (just like the scenario described above). If you are planning to dissolve your marriage with your current partner and you want to ensure that you will receive your financial dues, then you will need the help of an experienced Orlando divorce attorney.

Divorce procedures can get hairy pretty quickly in court when money is involved, and it is not unusual to see estranged couples bitterly fight over their shared finances. When it comes to awarding alimony, the court takes many factors into consideration for a fair arrangement, but it does not always make favorable rulings. A knowledgeable divorce attorney from Orlando firms, such as West, Green & Associates P.L., should be able to straighten things out by helping both parties reach a settlement, or by representing their clients in court to fight for better spousal support arrangements.

(Source: How did Alan Grayson's wife get approved for public assistance?, wftv.com, Oct. 28, 2014)

https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/content/20141118-nba-star-dwight-howard-facing-child-abuse-investigation.ece

A Family Law Attorney in Orlando Can Settle Child Custody Disputes

Couples undergoing a separation or divorce is a challenging scenario as it is. However, when a child becomes stuck in the middle of the feuding parents, then the issue becomes even more complicated. An article on the Providence Journal website published on November 18, 2014 details how a famous basketball player is trying to win custody of his son from his estranged girlfriend amidst allegations of him abusing the child. The article notes that the claims of child abuse were already found unsubstantiated in one state, and that the father hopes that a second investigation proves the same:

“The Florida Department of Children and Families thoroughly examined all of the evidence and determined that the claims of child abuse were not substantiated,” Markus said. “The case was closed in September."

The boy’s mother, Royce Reed, a former star of the VH1 reality show "Basketball Wives," has publicly discussed the allegations on social media in recent days, including an angry message on Instagram stating the investigation continues in Florida.

"Let’s get the facts straight!" Reed wrote Sunday. "THE CASE IS NOT CLOSED AND HE IS/WAS NOT CLEARED!"

Howard is reportedly seeking full custody of his son. Reed’s allegations are an attempt to get money from Howard, his attorney said.

Settling child custody is no easy task, especially when both parties cannot see eye-to-eye on who is in the better position to provide what’s best for the child’s welfare. The court usually awards custody by examining the circumstances of both parties and choosing the one best suited to raising the child. This arrangement might sound fair, but it can overlook the parental rights of the one denied custody. To improve their chances of winning custody, individuals embroiled in a guardianship conflict should hire a competent family law attorney in Orlando.

Child custody is also a serious matter during cases of divorce, and it is not a surprise to find a proficient Orlando divorce lawyer who provides family law help as well. Winning child custody can be an uphill battle, but a good lawyer can, at the very least, help clients enforce custodial rights whenever possible. Individuals currently undergoing the process of divorce might want to secure the services of experienced family law firms like West, Green & Associates P.L. in order to favorably settle child custody matters without burning any relationship bridges.

(Source: NBA star Dwight Howard facing child-abuse investigation, providencejournal.com, Nov. 18, 2014)

Divorces can be difficult, and take a long time to carry out. With a prenuptial agreement already present, divorce can be much cheaper and quicker. Any disputes related to divorce can be worked out ahead of time, preventing long divorce battles that cost large amounts of money and create lifelong stress and anxiety. Issues such as child custody, alimony, property division, and more would be agreed upon ahead of time. The prenup can also allow a person to remove themselves from a bad marriage without worrying that a divorce will result in financial ruin.  It allows a person to have control over their future; it prevents stressful court rulings, and allows a couple to work out plans that are mutually fair and made in each other’s best interests.  For example, when a person gains ownership of a property that is paid off before marriage, such as property passed down by a relative, this property could be taken away in the divorce process if a spouse is granted a percentage of it. Although many inheritance protection laws exist, they could be changed in the future. With a prenuptial agreement, this could be prevented.

As a comprehensive Divorce and Family Law firm, West, Green & Associates, P.L. has extensive knowledge in all matters related to custody and matrimony; including paternity. Paternity, or legal parenthood, allows a father all rights and responsibilities to their child. When a married couple gives birth, United States law assumes that the father is the husband. Because of this, paternity is established automatically if a divorce is obtained. If parents are unmarried, however, paternity needs to be established in order for child support, legal custody, or visitation to be recognized. Even if proven to be the mother or father through biological testing, a person cannot claim any rights or responsibilities to a child without being granted paternity by a court order. Paternity can be established through a voluntary declaration, but when a parent is unwilling to declare paternity voluntarily, a court order can be acquired for this purpose. Once paternity is established, the parent can appeal for custody and visitation rights from a court. Additionally, he will be accountable for providing financial child support. Establishing parentage can be very beneficial for a child, giving them access to family medical records and history, financial support, inheritance rights, and more. Studies show that having established parentage is associated with higher self-esteem and lifelong success for children; it provides them with a sense of complete identity, belongingness, and acceptance from both of their parents. If unmarried, a couple should move to establish parentage as soon as possible in order to avoid any legal issues or consequences that may arise from a lack of certain paternity.

When it comes to being a parent, your most important concern is the well-being of your child. Parenting, first and foremost, requires the cooperation between both parents, and includes a lot of attention and responsibility from both sides. Unfortunately, there are times when a relationship doesn’t work out between two parents and may lead to divorce. Divorce complicates the situation when a child is involved due to child custody and child support. This can raise many disputes between the parents and potentially cause a lot of destruction to the child mentally.

           There are laws put in action to try to prevent the most common problems that arise with a child during divorce. The best way to go about a divorce between two parents is to create an Orlando parenting plan. This plan is put into place during the separation agreement. It creates a schedule and all the other arrangements that involve the child. This includes where the child will be living for the majority of their minor years, when each parent will have the child, the holidays that will be assigned to each parent, the schools he/she will attend, etc.

            Furthermore, a parenting plan is a set plan that helps all parents steer clear of disputes that can emerge in the future.  It prevents a shortage of responsibilities from either of the parents involved. This plan is more or less a guideline for them to follow for the best interest of the child. With every child there is a financial need, and that of course is included in the parenting plan as well. Child support, tax disputes, survivor benefits, and health insurance are all financial needs of the child and it is important for the parents to come to an agreement on them so there is no confusion in the future.       

    In order to create a smooth and reliable agreement, it is in the best interest of the two parents to seek out highly experienced Orlando lawyers. A time-sharing lawyer is someone who will help the parents lay out the parenting plan word for word. By having lawyers, they are responsible for making sure that the parents don’t get out of hand. Also, if the parents can’t come to an agreement on the plan, it will have to be taken to court. If this situation arises, you will need an Orlando attorney, so a time-sharing lawyer is recommended.

            In the state of Florida, it is now considered that parents share time with their child, rather than one parent having custody of him/her. Whether it involves having the court decide the parenting plan, or coming to an agreement amongst each other, it is all about the child. This plan needs to be something that both parents can fall back on and rely on when it comes to raising a child separately. Parenting plans are an extremely important aspect of raising a child through divorce and is something that will create peace of mind for both child and each parent involved!

A prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is a contract created prior to the marriage of two individuals. The prenuptial agreement generally contains provisions for property division (what will and won’t remain under individual ownership), whether spousal support will be provided if a divorce arises, and how property is distributed in the event of a death. In countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, a prenup not only remains viable in the case of a divorce, but also can provide provisions for the protection of some property during the course of the marriage, in cases such as bankruptcy. Postnuptial agreements, similar to prenups, are created after a couple is married. 

At West, Green & Associates, P.L., we are Board Certified in Marital and Family Law.  As Orlando's largest matrimonial Family Law firm, our attorneys have a depth of experience and knowledge to help you make arrangements and carry out a prenuptial agreement quickly and discreetly. Although the word “prenup” conjures up the image of an old, wealthy man and a young trophy wife, prenuptial agreements are actually helpful for any relationship. There are many reasons to consider initiation of a prenuptial agreement, including learning more about each other, managing the business relationship aspect of a marriage, managing alimony for future divorce, managing property, making divorces less expensive and less complicated, having total control over the future outcome, debt protection, business protection, and protection of children. 

A divorce is a legal dissolution, which allows spouses to move forward when they desire an end to their marriage. When a court issues a judgment of divorce, divisions of property and arrangements for child support or time-sharing are established. At West, Green & Associates, P.L., we understand that every family is unique; spousal and family relationships, impact on children and finances all come into question during the process of divorce. Our Orlando divorce attorneys treat every case with equivalent significance and respect, utilizing our experience and utmost attention to detail. Depending on each individual situation, the process may necessitate dealing with the marriage dissolution itself, property distribution, pre/post nuptial agreements, alimony and child support provisions and more. Because of this, it is absolutely vital to hire a divorce lawyer that is dependable, experienced and knowledgeable in all areas of the divorce process. 

When filing for divorce, the first step is filing the petition. Even if both spouses agree on initiating a divorce, one of them will need to file a petition with a court asking for marriage dissolution. This petition states the grounds for the divorce, which can be different based on the jurisdiction. Although jurisdiction universally allows for no-fault justifications like "irreconcilable differences," only some consider fault (like adultery or abandonment) viable grounds for divorce. A West Green Family Law divorce attorney can inform you if fault grounds are obtainable in Orlando, and whether or not it makes sense to file on fault grounds. Before serving, or being served divorce papers, it is necessary to know your assets and liabilities. Keeping record of all financial statements, such as savings, investments and important documents is crucial. Determining your monthly expenses is also important, in regards to children, household, automobile, health and more. If there are any significant issues that could apply to the divorce, such as domestic violence, abandonment, children’s issues, or illegal occurrences, it is important to hold on to evidence of these. If you are filing for divorce and depend on your spouse for financial support, or will petition for custody of the children, it is necessary to ask the court for temporary support and custody orders. These temporary orders can be established within a few days, and stay in effect until the court hearing. The person that filed for divorce will also be advised to file a proof of service. This shows that a copy of the petition was distributed to their spouse. Any issues that cannot be worked out through negotiation or mediation are decided upon at a trial. 

The divorce lawyers at West Green Family Law can deliver the results you desire with the experience and strong reputation you deserve in an attorney. We have one of the best reputations throughout Orlando for litigation and negotiation in divorce law. As one of the three largest matrimonial law firms in the state of Florida, our firm has over forty-five years of experience in assisting couples with a range of divorce situations. Choosing to file for divorce is not an easy decision, and those who serve or are served divorce papers, are usually overwhelmed by the information that is available to them from every different source. West Green strives to answer any and all questions that our clients have to ensure that they understand their legal rights. Although the process of dissolving a marriage can be difficult and tremendous, our divorce attorneys are dedicated to providing clients with the results they’re looking for. 

West Green & Associates P.L. can provide a couple with an experienced, board certified Orlando Paternity Lawyer to guide them through the process with ease. The advice of an expert, Orlando attorney is invaluable for clients wishing to obtain parentage; each case is unique, requiring detailed attention by someone with a depth of knowledge related to such situations. Issues of parentage can be some of the most complicated and difficult cases to navigate, as well as some of the most important. The attorneys at West Green Family law understand how vital establishing paternity is for providing emotional well-being to a child, as well as peace of mind to a parent. Once a parent decides to start the process of establishing paternity, an attorney will walk them through the process and answer any questions they may have. Whether they are looking for child support or custody rights, parents can receive the help they need from an attorney who truly understands the circumstances that they are presented with. Biological paternity is not a guarantee for legal rights; paternity orders should be pursued if a mother requests child support, or if a father wishes to maintain a steadfast relationship with their child. As the largest matrimonial law firm in the city of Orlando, West Green Family Law has many skilled attorneys who specialize in litigating issues of paternity quickly and discreetly. Our staff is devoted to imparting service above and beyond what is expected in helping couples establish parentage.

Every year, Orlando magazine and Woodward/White, Inc., which is a national attorney evaluation firm, conduct an annual Orlando's Best Lawyers list according to attorneys' strong reputation and proven track record. This list presents the names of Orlando attorneys that are nominated by their colleagues in their particular field.  They were asked, "If you couldn't handle a case yourself, to whom would you refer the case to?" 

Richard D. West and Caryn M. Green were both recognized by local attorneys for Orlando magazine's BEST LAWYERS for 2014 in Family Law!  Not only were they recommended for this publication, Caryn was named best lawyer of the year in Family Law for 2014 as well!  They have been selected for the last 10 consecutive years and are highly respected in their field.  Congratulations Richard and Caryn on both your accomplishments!