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Representing Men

A study presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association found that women initiated 69 percent of all divorces. Even when a divorce is not a man's original idea or desired outcome to a marriage, it remains critical that he take all necessary steps to preserve his rights and avoid oversights that may have unforeseen long-term consequences.

While some men may be perfectly capable of representing themselves in certain uncontested divorces involving little to no disagreements, many other men sign legal paperwork without fully considering the possible financial or familial sacrifices they may be agreeing to.

It is important to remember that a divorce decree becomes a legally-binding contract after it has been signed and notarized, and it can be extremely costly for a man to modify the terms of said decrees.

Lawyer Representing Men in Divorce in West Palm Beach, FL

If you are a man whose spouse is planning on filing for divorce in South Florida, it is in your best interest to make sure that you have legal representation. Quality Family Law represents men in communities all over Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Miami-Dade County, such as Wellington, Jupiter, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and many others.

Our West Palm Beach divorce attorneys will be by your side the entire time to ensure that you achieve the most favorable possible resolution to your divorce. You can have our lawyers provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case when you call (561) 557-8686 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Palm Beach County Men in Divorce Information Center

• How does alimony work in Florida?
• What is "equitable distribution"?
• What child custody rights do men have?
• Where can I learn more about men and divorce in West Palm Beach?

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Representing Men in Florida Alimony

Alimony, also known as maintenance or spousal support, is the legal obligation of one spouse (typically the one with the higher income or greater financial resources) to provide financial support to the other spouse after the divorce.

Historically, women have been the more common recipients of alimony, and some men have been reluctant or completely opposed to providing alimony to their spouses after learning of the spouse's intention to fall for divorce.

It is important to remember that alimony may be awarded to either party, regardless of gender. Alimony is awarded based on a party’s earning capacity and resources, and in the 21st century marriage, the spouse with the most resource may, in fact, be the woman.

Failure to provide spousal support can be very detrimental to men in other court appearances. Under Florida Statute § 61.08, a court can grant either party the following forms of alimony in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage:

• Temporary Alimony;

• Bridge-the-Gap Alimony;

• Rehabilitative Alimony;

• Durational Alimony; or

• Permanent Alimony.

Alimony awards are also determined by the duration of the marriage. In Florida, a marriage is classified as being either short-term (less than seven years), moderate-term (greater than 7 years but less than 17 years), or long-term (17 years or greater). Failure to pay alimony can constitute contempt of court, but a skilled divorce attorney can help you modify the terms of alimony if you are having difficulty making alimony payments.

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Representing Men in Division of Property in West Palm Beach

Dividing marital property can be one of the most contentious issues in any divorce. In certain cases, the types of property that are in dispute have enormous financial value while other cases may involve very passionate arguments over items of value that is more personal than monetary.

Florida is considered an "equitable distribution" state. Equitable distribution is the process by which a court divides assets equitably or fairly at divorce based on the specific state's set requirements. Florida Statute § 61.075 establishes that "the court shall set apart to each spouse that spouse’s nonmarital assets and liabilities, and in distributing the marital assets and liabilities between the parties, the court must begin with the premise that the distribution should be equal, unless there is a justification for an unequal distribution based on all relevant factors, including:"

• The contribution to the marriage by each spouse, including contributions to the care and education of the children and services as homemaker;

• The economic circumstances of the parties;

• The duration of the marriage;

• Any interruption of personal careers or educational opportunities of either party;

• The contribution of one spouse to the personal career or educational opportunity of the other spouse;

• The desirability of retaining any asset, including an interest in a business, corporation, or professional practice, intact and free from any claim or interference by the other party;

• The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition, enhancement, and production of income or the improvement of, or the incurring of liabilities to, both the marital assets and the nonmarital assets of the parties;

• The desirability of retaining the marital home as a residence for any dependent child of the marriage, or any other party, when it would be equitable to do so, it is in the best interest of the child or that party, and it is financially feasible for the parties to maintain the residence until the child is emancipated or until exclusive possession is otherwise terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction. In making this determination, the court shall first determine if it would be in the best interest of the dependent child to remain in the marital home; and, if not, whether other equities would be served by giving any other party exclusive use and possession of the marital home;

• The intentional dissipation, waste, depletion, or destruction of marital assets after the filing of the petition or within 2 years prior to the filing of the petition; and

• Any other factors necessary to do equity and justice between the parties.

Division of marital and non-marital property can be extremely complex and frequently involves some very important assets. A divorce lawyer can help men in Palm Beach County retain the property that is most valuable to them.

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Representing Men in Palm Beach County Child Custody Disputes

Unfortunately, too many men assume that they are not entitled to the same amount of time and parental rights as their spouses. In truth, however, courts in Florida believe it is critical to make sure that both parents have equal time with children in most cases.

Child custody can become a major issue for some couples, and it is not uncommon for one spouse to attempt to use children for some kind of leverage in other disputes. Judges in Florida do not take kindly to children being used as pawns for ulterior motives, and men should avoid engaging in such activity.

Whether you are a man who believes that he needs more time with his children or you need your spouse to take on greater parenting responsibilities, a West Palm Beach divorce attorney will be able to help you reach a fair and equitable child custody agreement.

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Divorce Resources for Men in Florida

Who wants the Breakup? Gender and Breakup in Heterosexual Couples | Stanford University — View the full text of an academic paper in which the author uses Stanford’s longitudinal study of relationships in the United States, How Couples Meet and Stay Together, to examine the gender of who wanted the breakup for both marital and nonmarital heterosexual relationships. The results show that only in marriages are the majority of breakups wanted by the female partner, and wives reported lower relationship quality than husbands whereas men and women report more similar relationship quality in nonmarital relationships. The author provides three possible explanations for why women are more likely to want divorce: sensitivity to relationship issues, marriage as a gendered institution, and power differentials within relationships.

FastStats | Marriage and Divorce — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services that is also the nation's leading public health institute. On this section of the CDC website, you can find all kinds of informaiton and statistics about marriage and divorce in the United States. View detailed marriage and divorce tables by state and trends in attitudes about marriage, childbearing, and sexual behavior as well as national marriage and divorce rate trends for 2000-2015, marriage rates by state for 1990, 1995, and 1999-2015, and divorce rates by state for 1990, 1995, and 1999-2015.

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Quality Family Law | West Palm Beach Divorce Attorney Representing Men

Are you a man in South Florida who is preparing to file for divorce? You will want to retain legal counsel for help ensuring that all of your rights are protected and you achieve the most favorable possible resolution to the dissolution of your marriage. Contact Quality Family Law today.

Our divorce lawyers in West Palm Beach represent men in Royal Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Greenacres, Lake Worth, and several other nearby communities in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.

Call (561) 557-8686 or complete an online form to have our attorneys review your case and help you understand all of your legal options during a free initial consultation.

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