A Tampa Divorce Attorney Outlines the Concept of Legal Separation | Tampa, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Brandon, Lakeland, Pasco, Polk
While a legal "separation" is a term that many people are familiar with as it relates to married couples, any Tampa divorce attorney will tell you that in Florida, this concept simply doesn't exist. While it may in other states, there is no legal separation defined in the Florida statutes. However, while this concept may not officially exist in the state's legislation, there are still some important factors that can affect a family in which the parents are separated – still married, but not living together.
As your Tampa divorce attorneys will explain, you can still file for child support and/or alimony if you and your spouse are separated, but not divorced, with mixed results. As for alimony, it is rare for a judge to award this type of support in the case of a separation. If you are in need of alimony, actually going through with divorce proceedings is the best way to obtain this support from the other party. However, child support is a different story. Florida places a high regard on parents caring for their children, and therefore judges will often rule for child support payments when the parents are separated. If you live with your children, and are separated from your spouse, you may have grounds to file for child support. However, the expertise of a knowledgeable Tampa divorce attorney may be crucial in such a case, since separation is not legally defined in Florida.
For more information about separation in the state of Florida, and to get any other questions you may have answered by an experienced Tampa divorce attorney, contact family law attorney Brian Arrighi at Yesner & Boss, P.L. today to set up a free consultation. We'll be glad to help you whether you're in Tampa, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Brandon, Lakeland, Pasco, Polk, or anywhere else in Florida.
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