Ensuring family members have a voice
Wagstaff Law Office, P.A. has earned a reputation for helping children who are in tense and difficult family situations. This reputation extends to helping parents, wives, husbands, grandparents, and other relatives to help children who are in dangerous and unhealthy relationships. Child custody is a critical part of family law matters, and it is important that all relatives involved in the children's lives are heard.
Cases of child custody and advocacy involve many different aspects of family law:
- Parenting plans and shared parental responsibility
- Grandparent issues
- Adoptions for agencies and family members
- Child custody matters
- Dependency
Parenting plans and shared parental responsibility
Once referred to as visitation and child custody, Florida family law has changed to accommodate the varying circumstances of the modern family. In fact, the law requires that children have "frequent and continuing contact with both parents" in the case of marital separation or dissolution. Parenting plans establish the time each parent will spend with their children as well as how the holiday will be spent, who will pick up and drop off, and how the child's clothing, toys, etc. will be handled. Shared parental responsibility includes parenting plans as well as an outline of the main caregiver's duties for the child's welfare and major decisions—
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You may contact Wagstaff Law Office to set up an initial consultation where we can answer your questions.
Grandparent issues
Grandparents are often willing to step in to provide a stable, loving environment for their grandchildren, no matter what the circumstances may be. But Florida law is not as hospitable as some others states. Grandparent rights are often wiped out in favor of biological parents, even if that means the biological parent forbids the grandparents' involvement in their family's lives. Wagstaff Law office can sit down with grandparents, or other relatives, to explore the spectrum of negotiating a stronger relationship with the children in their family to exploring an adoption where appropriate. We listen to you and advise you of your rights and work to uncover options to become more significant figures in your grandchildren's lives.
Adoptions for agencies and family members
Hopeful parents pull out all the stops when trying to complete their families. When these parents are turned down time and again or are rerouted to more time-consuming and complex methods, they can rely on the experience of our law firm. Wagstaff Law Office helps these future families to navigate the adoption process even after potential parents' best efforts have been rejected. Our firm is well-versed in the complexities of the adoption process, and our experience is pivotal in assisting families achieve their dreams.
Representation of children in court
Mary Lou is a Family Law Division guardian ad litem and talks to children to learn their opinions and thoughts in order to evaluate the case and convey those concerns in court. Much of her legal experience has focused on standing up for children's rights and ensuring that they are shielded from the emotional ups and downs of family court legal proceedings. She also endeavors to facilitate a healthy environment which fosters the child's growth and development, and to ensure the child's best interests are considered when family decisions are made.
Additionally, Mary Lou has experience with cases that involve guardians ad litem and works to ensure that while children's rights are protected, her clients' voices are also heard.
Other child advocacy matters
When a family is under stress, children see all. They are often the most affected victims of domestic violence, abuse, neglect, or a parent's alcoholism or drug abuse. Parents fight and argue and children can easily be caught up in or put in the middle of the conflict. With everything that accompanies family disputes, children are often stuck between sides, and those issues must be addressed. Contact us for effective legal counsel today.
When your family's future is unclear
Sensitive issues require a good listener and an experienced advocate. Attorney Mary Lou Miller Wagstaff has the skills necessary to do what is right and see the issues through negotiation, mediation, or court. Call the firm to schedule an initial consultation at 727.584.8182 or contact us online today.
