Florida Family Law Key Terms

Learn the Florida family law key terms that can help you protect your rights

By Michele Vrouvas

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.

Family self-help programs

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