If you have never been a party to a family-related lawsuit, you may be unaware of concepts and terms that describe your legal rights under Florida law. For example, parents in the midst of a divorce may not realize they can choose an arrangement known as shared parenting as a way to exercise their parental rights once the divorce is finalized. Use the resources below to become fluent in Florida family law key terms that could impact your future.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Family self-help programs

Family self-help programs provide legal guidance to everyday citizens who decide to represent themselves in family-related lawsuits.

I recommend: Go to Florida Lawyers website to learn how family self-help programs help resolve legal disputes. You'll get acquainted with key definitions related to self-help programs and will find out about the legal services these programs offer.

Board Certified Marital and Family Lawyer

Some Florida attorneys have satisfied the requirements to become certified lawyers in marital and family law.

I recommend: The Florida Bar details the kinds of legal problems certified lawyers in marital and family law are qualified to handle. You'll also learn about the stringent requirements an individual must pass in order to get this certification and the time period during which the certification is effective.

Mediation

When parties to a family-related lawsuit are guided through resolution by professional referees, they have undergone the legal process known as mediation.

I recommend: Get answers to your questions about mediation by checking out the Florida Mediation Center. Learn what is involved in the process from start to finish and what specific role the neutral mediator plays.

Power of attorney

Florida citizens can enter into a power of attorney agreement that bestows on one individual the right to make decisions for another.

I recommend: Find out about the different kinds of power of attorney contracts used in Florida and key features of each at US Legal Forms.

Guardianship

Guardianship is closely related to the power of attorney instrument. Guardianship refers to the process of an individual asking a court to appoint them as the guardian of an adult who is unable to care for themselves.

I recommend: The Russell R. Winer site not only defines the legal implications of guardianship, it explains what's involved in the process of declaring that an adult is incapacitated. Find out how to decide whether guardianship may be necessary in certain situations.

Shared parenting

When parents divorce, they sometimes consider the arrangement known as shared parenting. In this arrangement, each parent retains full parenting rights and responsibilities.

I recommend: Troum & Wallsh explain how shared parenting works. Find out how the rights of each parent are exercised under this arrangement and how disputes between parents are handled.

For those living and working in Florida, having timely and relevant information for Florida family law requirements is important. Whether you are an attorney yourself or are a legal services consumer looking for accurate knowledge or resources on Florida family law, it's important to be totally up-to-date on the latest legal developments. Laws and statutes are constantly changing and it's vital to be updated on those changes as years pass.

There are always those in the legal field who seem to be "in the know" on all of the latest updates, those who stay current on relevant Florida rules on family law and make it a priority to keep their clients' best interests at heart when taking on new family law cases. Whether you are a Florida family attorney striving to stay current on relevant laws or you are a consumer searching for Florida family law questions, tapping the right resources will save you much needed time and money. You should:

1. Find up to date Florida family law and statues to aid your case research.

2. Find a Florida lawyer knowledgeable in Supreme Court cases.

3. Seek the advice of a knowledgeable Florida divorce attorney to aid you.

4. Get your Florida family law services listed through Internet resources.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Browse updated Florida family law online

Keeping yourself updated on the latest and most relevant family law in Florida is important to ensure your competency. Sometimes finding updated law statues at state offices can be tedious and tricky so the Internet has become indispensable for quickly locating the law specifics you need and preventing wasted valuable time.

I recommend: The Florida Supreme Court website has full and updated FL family law documents for you to review. For complete divorce law info, the Florida Divorce Law website provides access to a plethora of information you'll need.

Find a Florida family law attorney

Family law attorneys in Florida know the local laws and courts.

I recommend: The Florida Bar Association has an online lawyer referral service to help you find lawyers fit for your particular case needs. Lawinfo.com has a website perfect for those looking for family law in Florida.

Seek advice from a Florida divorce attorney for your particular case

Sometimes the easiest thing for non-legal professionals to do is to seek legal advice from a knowledgeable professional. With so many lawyers to choose from it can be difficult to know who to turn to for honest advice. However there are resources one can tap to ensure the best results for their particular legal needs.

I recommend: Florida Divorce is a searchable database with hundreds of Florida family law attorney listings from which you can choose an attorney or list your own practice. Divorce Source also offers contact information for those searching for family law attorneys in Florida.

Become listed in legal directories as a Flordia family law attorney

If you are a Florida attorney, it is important to make sure that you are accessible to a variety of potential clients looking for legal services. Getting listed on various legal websites will help build your clientèle and establish you as one of Florida's leading legal resources.

I recommend: StateLawyers.com is a resource for clients and lawyers alike, as you can list your Florida family law services as well as check out the competition. AllLaw.com lists lawyers all across the United States who can help to exponentially grow your potential client base.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When searching for divorce lawyers in Florida, word of mouth is often a great way to find an attorney that will suit your personality and particular situation.

Divorce lawyers in Florida, as in the rest of the country, are in high demand. Florida family law can encompass divorce, annulment, adpotion, paternity suits, custody arrangements, and other legal actions pertaining to the family. A Florida divorce attorney could specialize in one of these areas, or to choose to practice general family law in Florida.

It's important to get proper education and schooling to be a Florida family law attorney. This includes passing the Florida bar exam, knowing the Florida rules of family law, and being certified as a Florida family attorney. Make sure your Florida family law education and training includes:

1. Getting educated in Florida divorce law.

2. Learning Florida family law rules and regulations.

3. Being educated in all aspects of family law in Florida.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an education in Florida family law and children advocacy

To become a Florida family attorney or child advocate, you must first attend law school and earn a degree specialized in divorce and family law. It's important to find a law school that specializes in family law in Florida and get an education covering all aspects you will practice. Find Florida law schools that offer degrees in Florida family law.

I recommend: Participate in the University of Miami's Children and Youth Law Clinic to get education in representation of children's rights and advocacy. Nova Southeastern University also offers a Children and Family Law Clinic to help train you in family law that meets the standards set forth by the State of Florida.

Learn mediation training for family law in FL

It's important to get educated in FL family law, as well as in mediation techniques that meet state regulations. Learn to successfully mediate divorce negotiations and the needs of children and dependents.

I recommend: Get training in divorce mediation with the family mediation training course offered by Jaeckle Mediation Training. The Mediation Training Center in Florida offers educational courses to teach you about divorce mediation, Florida divorce law and children's needs and psychological issues during divorce.

Earn a Florida family law education in children's rights and family divorce

Each area of Florida family law has specialized rules and statutes. Divorce, paternity, child custody and family representation are all specialty areas you might opt to study. It's important to get education that prepares you for your chosen specialty field. Find a Florida law school that's right for you and that offers your chosen course of study, such as guardianship, children's rights, or family advocacy.

I recommend: Attend training conferences provided by the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program to get training in children's rights and family divorce issues. Earn certification in the Family Law Certificate Program sponsored by the University of Florida Levin College of Law to further your education in family law and advocacy.