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Experienced Florida Attorney for Same-Sex Family Law Matters in Orlando

Since January of 2015, same-sex marriages have been legally recognized by the courts in the State of Florida. Many Florida couples have waited a long time for the right to legally marry in their home state, and many are rushing to the courthouse to exercise a right long denied to them. But marriage is a legal status with many legal consequences, and no marriage is something which should be entered into lightly or without due consideration. And while the rate of divorce among same-sex couples is far less than the divorce rate in the general population, this statistic may naturally rise as more same-sex couples enter into marriage.

At the law office of Thomas E. Rhodes, Esq., attorney Thomas Rhodes represents individuals in the full range of family law matters that same-sex couples may encounter, including issues related to marriage, divorce, child custody, and the ownership or distribution of joint or marital property.

Same-sex couples who marry in Florida enjoy all the rights and privileges of opposite-sex married couples. In the event of a divorce, Florida divorce law will apply as well. The issues may be more complicated for couples who married in another state and are seeking a divorce in Florida, or who married in Florida but are seeking a divorce in another state. As an experienced Florida family law attorney, Thomas E. Rhodes can provide you with effective advocacy and capable representation in all the issues relevant to your divorce, including child custody timesharing and parenting plans, child support, spousal support or alimony, and the division of marital property.

If you are living with another person in a long-term relationship but choose not to marry, we can help you protect your rights through a property agreement, also sometimes known as a domestic partnership agreement. When two people move in together, each person brings assets (and debts) into the relationship, and the couple then begin acquiring assets (and debts) together. A joint property agreement establishes in writing at the outset what separate property is being brought into the relationship and how that property will be treated, along with property purchased by the couple during their relationship, in the event of a break-up. Debts which may be incurred by either partner separately or jointly (such as the purchase of a house), can also be dealt with in the property agreement. Domestic partnership agreements can also address other matters besides joint property, including partner support, child support and visitation.

Deciding these matters upfront in a legal document can help avoid any disputes down the road and allow the parties to set out their rights and expectations in what might otherwise be a complicated and unsettled area of the law for a judge to determine in court.

For practical legal advice and effective assistance with the full range of family law matters in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, contact Thomas E. Rhodes in Orlando.