Tampa Bay Child Custody Attorneys
The Attorneys at Nilo J Sanchez & Associates are top-rated, experienced and aggressive Tampa Bay child custody and timesharing attorneys. Representing parents in child custody matters in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County and Pasco County, FL.
Minor Children and Florida Family Law
If you are divorcing, or if you are unmarried with minor children our attorneys have the experience to represent you in the following areas:
Child Custody & Divorce
Establishing Legal Paternity
Timesharing/Visitation
Modify Child Custody & Timesharing
Child Support
Parental Relocation with a Minor Child
These are typically the types of cases Nilo J Sanchez & Associates handles. Committed to protecting your parental rights in Tampa Bay, our attorneys are compassionate, yet aggressive. Child custody remains one of the most contentious areas of family law. We have the knowledge and skill that you’ll need when high conflict child custody matters arise.
Tampa Child Custody Litigation Attorneys
Although most child custody matters can be resolved in mediation, your case may go to trial. Tampa Bay Family Law Judges have an enormous amount of discretion when making a ruling on child custody matters. We represent clients who require experienced child custody lawyers to represent them in several jurisdictions in Tampa Bay including the 6th Judicial Circuit in Pasco and Pinellas and the 13th Circuit Court in Hillsborough County, FL.
Substance Abuse & Effect on 50/50 Timesharing in Florida In Florida, the courts look to FL Statute 61:13 as it applies to and to determine child custody and timesharing. The standard is to look to the best interests of the child as it relates to parenting plans (timesharing) and parental responsibility. In Tampa Bay’s family courts, there is a presumption towards 50/50 timesharing which has been solidified by the recent change to child custody laws in Florida. Overcoming this presumption…
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Safe Exchange of Minor Children & Parenting Plans Effective July 2024 In 2022, a Florida woman was killed after she agreed to a last-minute custody exchange. She and her 4-year-old daughter met the father in a restaurant parking lot. Soon after, Carli’s body was found buried in a shallow grave in Alabama. The father of the minor child has been charged. The incident sparked proposed legislation crafted in part by the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar initially died…
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Substantial Change of Circumstances & Custody Modifications Many things can change when you’re co-parenting. Situations in timesharing often ebb and flow. Some parents who share time can do so seamlessly, while others may have minor, unexpected situations that although are frustrating, do not warrant legal action. But what happens when a timesharing or custody situation becomes the new normal or has financial implications? Major (substantial) unanticipated changes in timesharing schedules and obligations can cause significant issues for the parent who…
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Parental Rights in Florida & House Bill HB 775 Under current Florida law, if a child is born to unmarried parents, the rights of natural guardianship defaults to the unmarried mother. This is called sole parental responsibility and makes the mother responsible for all decision making issues involving the child unless and until a court decides otherwise after establishing legal paternity. Doing so, however, did not automatically provide equal responsibility to both parents. Although not presumed in the Statutes, most Tampa…
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Tampa Bay Divorce & Family Law Modification Attorneys Divorce Modifications – In Florida, once parties are divorced either party can seek a post divorce modification. Before doing so, you are required to prove that there has been a substantial, permanent and unexpected change in circumstances. Florida Statutes specifies that when modifying a post judgement order, the change must be material in nature and unanticipated at the time of your divorce. What Constitutes a Substantial and Material Change of Circumstances in…
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Tampa Child Custody Attorney Donald L Gilbert on Co-Parenting Communication Applications At Nilo J Sanchez & Associates Divorce & Family Law Attorneys, we strive to provide the very best legal counsel and representation. For over 30 years, parents have relied on us to represent them in high conflict child custody matters that require the expertise and knowledge of a seasoned Tampa child custody lawyer. Shared Parenting & Child Custody, Florida Although equal custody or timesharing is not presumed in the…
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How Long Does a Father Have to Establish Legal Paternity in Florida? Frequently, men in Tampa Bay do not discover that they’re new dads until well after the child is born. In Florida, unmarried mothers are under no obligation to disclose the birth of a child to the father. Unmarried moms’ in Florida have full custody until legal paternity is established. Florida statutes recognizes this and provides dads with “fathers’ rights” beginning with the ability to file a paternity action.…
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Relocating vs. Moving with Your Minor Children in Florida Parents are moving and relocating now more than ever for a variety of reasons. What’s the difference between moving and relocating? If you’re co-parenting, the difference between moving and relocating is moving in excess of 50 miles from your current home. If you have shared parental responsibility in Tampa Bay and you wish to move in excess of 50 miles from the address listed on your last order, consulting with our…
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Holiday Timesharing & Visitation Conflict With the holidays approaching, we understand that it is not always a happy occasion for parents and children who share time. Conflicts can be expected for some co-parenting moms and dads, but even parents who otherwise share time with their minor children amicably, the holidays can spur strife. Any prior, ongoing timesharing struggles bring a greater amount of stress, frustration and strife for all involved but particularly the children. Although parents struggling with parental rights…
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How Gaurdian ad Litems Evaluate Child Custody Gaurdian ad Litems (GALs)are frequently used in Florida child custody cases to help the courts evaluate and to make decisions in custody litigations. Once requested by either party, and appointed to your case, a Guardian Ad Litem has been appointed to your case they will begin their investigation into areas that help them to advocate for the best interests of the child(ren). They are not attorneys for either party. A GAL typically will…
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Losing Custody or Timesharing with Your Children in Florida In Florida, the laws that governs child custody reflects a belief that it is in the best interest of the child to have a relationship with both parents. In most cases, and although not absolute, equal timesharing or close variations to 50/50 timesharing is considered advantageous. This is true even when there are minor conflicts or when co-parenting is less than amicable. In short, the courts will usually err on the…
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Establishing Paternity in Tampa Bay & Why it Matters Many unwed parents in Tampa Bay wonder why establishing legal paternity is necessary, especially if they are co-parenting successfully without court intervention. The recent pandemic has brought to light the importance of establishing legal paternity and why it is in the best interest of the children. If a parent falls ill or if they suffer another catastrophic event, if legal paternity has not been established, the biological father has no rights…
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“Ex Parte” Hearings in Florida Family Courts There are certain situations when a person needs to ask the Florida courts for temporary relief without the other person being present. When a person seeks such relief in Family Courts in absence of the other spouse or parent, it is called an “Ex Parte” hearing. Tampa Family Law Attorneys Nilo J Sanchez & Associates have specialized in Florida Family Law for over 3 decades. If you believe you have a situation that…
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Parental Relocations & Your Long Distance Parenting Plan As a parental relocation and Tampa child custody attorney, we have represented parents who have needed to relocate in their jobs and for other reasons due to changes in our economy. In Florida, it is important that you get permission from the courts to relocate and part of that process will be coming up with an agreeable long distance parenting plan. In Florida, many divorced and unmarried parents who share time do…
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Florida Law & Legal Remedies for Timesharing No-Shows In Tampa Bay and Florida, time-sharing is not only designed to help children foster a relationship with both parents, but it also serves to reduce the expenses of divorced or unmarried parents who substantially share time with their children. Depending on what your parenting plan indicates, a child support order is likely part of your final order. This order will be based in part on the amount of timeshare between the two…
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