Photo by Eduardo Schneider
Regardless of what your family portrait looks like, protecting yourself and those you love is vital. If you are looking to start a family and need advice regarding surrogacy, adoption, or insemination, our firm will help you protect your rights and interests.
Among our focus areas is helping LGBTQ+ families legally secure their parental rights. In 2010, the law changed, finally allowing gay people to adopt in the State of Florida. We're proud to have contributed to the legal effort to make that possible, and since that time we have completed hundreds of adoptions for gay families. Whether you are welcoming a new child into the family, or becoming the second legal parent of your partner's child, the law provides the kind of protection and permanence that LGBTQ+ families have always deserved.
Florida courts have the authority to grant name and gender marker changes for adults and minors. Getting a court order will expedite obtaining correct identification from both the federal government (such as passports and social security cards) and state government (including birth certificates, driver's licenses, school IDs). The court process for a minor seeking a name and/or gender marker change is filed by the minor's parent(s) or legal caregiver(s).
It's important to note that not all judges in Florida understand they have the authority to change a gender marker, so outcomes may vary depending on which judicial division is assigned to the case. Elizabeth has engaged in the task of judicial education on the issue of granting gender marker changes and other issues facing the LGBTQ community for many years.
Many people believe that only the wealthy need wills, but unless a will is in place, inheritance laws might interfere with your final wishes. Similarly, you need to prepare for disability or another medical emergency. By preparing a will and other estate planning documents, you can assure that your wishes are respected, your intended decision-makers can care for you in the event of a medical emergency, and also help simplify the probate process for those you leave behind. When it comes time to probate an estate, our firm's years of experience will help make the process affordable and efficient so that more of your assets can pass to your intended beneficiaries without unneccessary delay.
Whether or not you plan to get married or already did, a well-crafted prenuptial, postnuptial or cohabitation agreement will ensure that the understandings between you and your significant other are respected no matter what.
When relationships come to an end, the issues are thorny and it helps to have a zealous advocate who is committed to achieving your goals with as little acrimony as possible. Whether you are dissolving a marriage or a long-term same-sex relationship, emotional and financial costs are minimized by resolving the issues outside of the courtroom. Our firm's focus on Collaborative Family Law will give you the counsel and support you need as you begin a new chapter of your life.
When life presents challenging conflicts, the parties involved often have many issues to untangle. If faced with one of life's twists and turns, heated emotions often impede resolution. It's important that you receive sound legal advice from compassionate, capable counsel to assure that disputes are resolved in as healthy and fair a manner as possible.
Family mediation is a dispute-resolution process which involves the use of a neutral third party to help bring about solutions cooperatively. Mediation involves compromise on each party's behalf. Even when there exist feelings of resentment, anger and fear, it is possible for a mediator to help negotiate an agreement that addresses the concerns of all family members. Elizabeth has a very high rate of success resolving disputes through this process.
Mediation has several benefits: Agreements are reached more quickly that through litigation, and a quicker resolution is usually more affordable for all. Everything from correspondence to what is said in mediation is treated as confidential and can generally not be used in court. And since the solutions come from the involved parties rather than a judge or other third party, the solutions are as unique and flexible as our families themselves.
Please note that mediation is not a substitute for legal advice, as Elizabeth does not serve as the advocate for either party or provide legal information. It is still advisable to consult with a lawyer before and during the mediation process. We also advise those who come to mediation without counsel to have a lawyer review any written agreement before it is signed.
