Family Law

Fort Lauderdale Family Law Attorney

Going through a divorce is very stressful, even when your goal is to build a new and happier life. Attorney Patric Jones and our staff are there to support you through each step of the legal process and to protect your interests in divorce and family court. We serve clients throughout Broward County, Florida, from our office in Fort Lauderdale and our satellite office in Coral Springs.

Patric Jones has more than 10 years of experience as an attorney in Broward County, and our offices are friendly, comfortable places to discuss your concerns and move your divorce or other family law problem forward. Our firm helps people deal with a broad range of family law issues, such as:

Divorce

An important question in any divorce is how willing you and your spouse are to try reaching an agreement. A divorce can go one of two ways: an uncontested divorce, which is quicker, less expensive and less painful; and a contested divorce, which is slower, more expensive and more painful.

Paternity

In a way, a paternity action is like a divorce for parents who are not married. Just like a divorce, a paternity action results in an enforceable court order for child custody, visitation and child support. The first step in a paternity action is establishing parentage. If the father was named on the child's birth certificate and the parents agree who the father is, this step can go quickly. If there is a dispute, paternity will be established through a DNA test, and the case will move forward based on the results.

Child Support

Child support in Florida is determined by a statutory formula. While the calculation is complex, it's fairly easy for your lawyer to plug some numbers into a computer and give you an estimate of what your child support amount will be. Once child support has been determined by the formula, there is very little room for negotiation. When child support is not paid on time or at all, there are many ways to enforce your child support order. Also, depending on your circumstances, it may be possible to raise or lower the child support amount after the initial court order.

Restraining Orders

In Broward County, restraining orders (also known as no-contact or protective orders) are routinely issued in cases of domestic violence. However, they can also be ordered in cases where the two parties are not married or involved in a relationship. If you have a realistic fear of another person—a co-worker, a stalker or anyone else –you can apply a restraining order against that person.

Free consultation with a lawyer by phone or in person: To discuss your family law or domestic violence case with attorney Patric L. Jones, call 954-779-1994 or contact our law firm by e-mail. We serve clients throughout Broward County, Florida, from our office in Fort Lauderdale and our satellite office in Coral Springs.