Fort Lauderdale Family Lawyer
Edward J. Jennings, P.A. maintains a dynamic, comprehensive family law practice in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. We are here for you, providing skilled, experienced advice and representation in any Florida family law matter, including divorce, paternity, adoption, dependency and domestic violence. Learn more about our main areas of practice below, and contact our office for immediate assistance or to schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate and dedicated Fort Lauderdale family lawyers.
Divorce
We provide excellent representation throughout the Florida divorce process, ensuring that the grounds for divorce are adequately established and that the other spouse fully complies with required financial disclosures. We are here for you to advise you on your options and protect your interests in an equitable division of marital property, to ensure fair treatment regarding alimony and child support, and to exercise your rights to meaningful parenting and timesharing with your kids.
High-Asset Divorce
When one or both parties to the divorce have a high net worth, divorce proceedings can potentially become exponentially more complicated. Achieving an equitable distribution in a high stakes divorce requires a high level of understanding of complex financial instruments, business valuation methods, and appraisals of property from jewelry and art to real estate and investment portfolios. Our lawyers have the skill and experience required to trace assets and income to their source, to properly identify and characterize marital and non-marital debts and assets, and to challenge or enforce prenuptial agreements as necessary. We additionally advise our clients on the tax implications of the property division, alimony, child support and other aspects of their divorce.
Whether negotiating or mediating a resolution out of the public eye, or dealing with complex litigation in court, count on Edward J. Jennings, P.A. to handle your high-asset divorce case with the utmost in discretion, confidentiality and professionalism.
Paternity
If the parents were unmarried when a child was born and there has been no voluntary declaration of parentage by the father, it may be necessary to go to court to establish paternity. Genetic testing is only part of this process, and parties seeking to establish or challenge paternity need to be ready to fully litigate the matter in a courtroom hearing. If paternity has not been previously established, it may become a central feature of a divorce or child custody dispute. A child’s legal father can assert rights to parenting and timesharing, and can also be required to provide financial support. Establishing parentage can also be important to secure a child’s right to inherit or receive government benefits through the father’s social security or VA benefits, and it is important for a child to know his or her family medical history and cultural identity.
Either the mother or a putative father can bring a paternity suit, with life-changing results for all family members. We represent mothers and fathers seeking to establish or challenge paternity in Florida courts in Broward County.
Domestic Violence
Victims of domestic violence are able to obtain domestic violence injunctions or temporary restraining orders, including emergency protective orders. These orders can be very broad or very specific and can severely limit the activities of the person subject to the order, including having no contact with the alleged victim. Domestic violence allegations sometimes play a part in the divorce process; an emotional, heated divorce can lead to a domestic violence situation, or past domestic violence may be the reason for the divorce.
Domestic violence in Florida is defined as assault or battery, including sexual assault or sexual battery, stalking or any other criminal offense causing injury committed by a member of the family or household. Additionally, domestic violence may be committed by a former spouse or by one parent against another parent, even if the couple were never married.
A party subject to a domestic violence injunction or restraining order has the opportunity to challenge the order in court and may be represented by an attorney at this hearing. Edward J. Jennings, P.A. provides effective advocacy at these hearings to make sure family members are kept safe and protected from abusers.
Accusations of Abuse
Accusations of abuse are not always made fairly. An allegation of child abuse may be the result of a misunderstanding or miscommunication from a child or other person who misunderstood what they think they saw or heard. Also, it is not unheard of for one spouse to make claims of spousal abuse or child abuse in order to gain an edge in a divorce or child custody dispute. The experienced litigators at Edward J. Jennings, P.A. provide strong, aggressive representation to protect the rights of the accused and ensure they are treated fairly and not harmed by unfounded accusations of abuse.
Comprehensive Fort Lauderdale Family Lawyers
For assistance in divorce or any other family law matter in Broward County, contact the Fort Lauderdale law offices of Edward J. Jennings, P.A. at 954-764-4330 to schedule a visit with a knowledgeable, skilled and experienced Fort Lauderdale family lawyer.
