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Tag Archive for: child custody

Athletes Post - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Professional Athletes and Seasonal Custody Schedules

September 29, 2025/in Collaborative Divorce, Custody, Custody Law //Tags: child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorce, gay and lesbian parents, LGBT family law rights, parental responsibility, parenting plan, paternity, same sex couples, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, time-sharingby Adam

For professional athletes, your life does not follow a standard calendar. Half the year may be spent training, traveling for games, or living in another city during the season. The other half may finally bring you back home with more flexible time. That rhythm is part of your career, but it also brings unique challenges when it comes to raising children. If you are going through a divorce, paternity matter, or otherwise establishing parenting rights or a time-sharing schedule, you need a process that respects your schedule, your privacy, and your children’s well-being.

Why Florida’s Standard Parenting Plans Often Fail for Professional Athletes

Typical custody schedules assume both parents live in the same area with relatively predictable routines. They rarely account for long stretches where one parent is away for work. For athletes, sticking to a week-on, week-off plan is impossible when games, travel, and training dominate half the year. Further, generic parenting plans don’t take into account what happens if you are traded or when you retire from professional sports.  Without flexibility and anticipation of future changes, you risk missing meaningful parenting time and leaving your children caught in the middle of scheduling conflicts.

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Special Needs Children Collaborative Divorce - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Special Needs Children and Collaborative Divorce

April 27, 2025/in Kids, Collaborative Divorce //Tags: child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorce, parental responsibility, parenting plan, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, time-sharingby Adam

Going through divorce is never easy. But when you are raising a child with special needs, the challenges — both emotional and financial — can feel overwhelming. You need a process that protects your child, respects your family’s future, and helps you work through the difficult moments with dignity.

That’s where Collaborative Divorce can make a world of difference. At Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, we are here to guide you through this private divorce process with care, compassion, and expertise.

A Collaborative Facilitator Can Tailor a Parenting Plan for Special Needs

In a traditional Florida divorce, parenting plans often focus on basics like overall decision-making, weekly schedules, and holidays. But if your child has special needs, you already know that their world is more complex.

In Collaborative Divorce, a neutral Collaborative Facilitator — a licensed mental health professional — works with both parents to develop a parenting plan tailored to your child’s specific requirements. Some examples include:

  • Coordinating medical treatments, therapies, and specialized education
  • Managing transitions between households in a way that supports emotional regulation
  • Planning for transportation and access to services that may not be available in every community
  • Creating ways for both parents to participate meaningfully in decisions about your child’s care and development

Instead of battling over who gets “more time,” the Facilitator helps both parents stay focused on what your child needs most to thrive.

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Img 0942 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

St. Petersburg Divorce Lawyer Review: “[Sped] Up The Process…Eased the tension”

April 21, 2025/in Family Lawyer Reviews / Testimonials //Tags: child custody, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorceby Adam

I recently received a review from a divorce client on our St. Petersburg Google Page.  Please note that every case and circumstance is different, and I can’t promise the same or similar results in your matter.

It was a blessing to partner with Adam and Jennifer to help navigate me through the divorce process. They both were responsive, thorough and professional throughout the highs and lows of the process.

I found Adam’s advice to be logical, [rational] and while he certainly represented and protected my interests, he was also considerate and mindful to my ex-wife which was important to me. I believe this certainly [sped] up the process and eased the tension/relationship with her throughout the proceedings. He also took also took an intense interest in the protection and wellbeing of my son.

I will always be grateful to Adam and his team.

Five Stars.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0942.jpg 628 1200 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2025-04-21 09:12:392025-04-21 09:12:39St. Petersburg Divorce Lawyer Review: “[Sped] Up The Process…Eased the tension”
Collaborative Divorce Control Your Own Destiny - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Collaborative Divorce: Control Your Own Destiny

January 26, 2025/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: alimony, child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, equitable distribution, florida divorce, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, parental responsibility, parenting plan, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, time-sharingby Adam

When you’re facing the difficult decision to divorce, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. And when you are used to making high stakes decisions, the feeling of powerlessness is just unacceptable. Decisions about your family, finances, and future carry immense weight. The last thing you want is to surrender control of your destiny to a judge in a public courtroom. That’s why many C-Suite executives, doctors, business owners, high-ranking military officers, and other professionals in Florida choose Collaborative Divorce.

What Is Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative Divorce is a unique and private approach to family law that puts you and your spouse in charge. Instead of battling it out in court, you work together with a team of professionals to craft agreed upon solutions tailored to your family’s needs. Each of you have your own separate lawyers to provide you with independent legal advice.  The Collaborative Lawyers are there solely for the purpose of reaching an out-of-court agreement, and are prohibited, once the Collaborative Process begins, from being used to fight in court.  Additionally, your Collaborative Team may include a financial expert to navigate tricky financial discussions and a Facilitator (who is a licensed mental health professional) to keep discussion focused on the future rather than the disputes that led to the divorce.

Maintain Control Over Critical Decisions

Unlike traditional litigation, Collaborative Divorce fosters cooperation rather than conflict. You, your spouse, and your lawyers share the same goal: to find resolutions that work for everyone in your family. This approach gives you the power to decide how to divide assets, plan for your children’s future, and address any other issues that arise. Instead of a judge dictating your future, you together with your spouse maintain control over these critical decisions.

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Trauma Hurricaneandrew - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

8 Tips For Co-Parenting After a Hurricane

November 19, 2024/in Blog, Custody, Divorce, Kids //Tags: child custody, collaborative divorce, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorce, parental responsibility, parenting plan, time-sharingby Adam

Co-parenting during a divorce is challenging under normal circumstances, and dealing with the aftermath of a devastating hurricane adds another layer of difficulty. Here are some practical tips to navigate this situation effectively.  As a preview, many of these tips can be best accomplished within a Collaborative Divorce.

1. Prioritize the Children’s Well-Being

Keep routines as consistent as possible, such as school, meals, and bedtime, to provide stability.  Be honest with your children in an age-appropriate way about what’s happening but reassure them they are safe and loved.  Avoid speaking negatively about the other parent in front of the children.

2. Communicate Effectively

Use clear, respectful, and focused communication to coordinate on parenting issues.  Consider using co-parenting apps like OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents to document agreements and streamline communication if direct interaction is too challenging.

3. Develop a Flexible Parenting Plan

A hurricane might have disrupted your previous arrangements, so work together to create a temporary plan that accounts for housing, transportation, and other logistical challenges.  Be prepared to adjust custody schedules based on access to safe housing and resources.

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Collaborative Jewish Divorce - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Collaborative Jewish Divorce

May 5, 2024/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: alimony, child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, equitable distribution, florida divorce, Jewish divorce, Jewish Law, parental responsibility, parenting plan, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorceby Adam

In these uncertain times, if you are Jewish and considering divorce, you may wonder where you can safely turn.  I have watched in horror at the chants of “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville in 2017, the massacres of Israeli civilians on October 7th, and the more recent intimidation of Jewish students on campuses across the U.S.  I have personally experienced people telling antisemitic jokes to me, apparently not realizing that I was Jewish.   If, with this as a backdrop, you are facing the upheaval of divorce, let us help you and your family through a Collaborative Jewish Divorce.

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Collaborative Facilitator 1 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Collaborative Divorce: What Does A Facilitator Do?

April 14, 2024/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: child custody, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, parenting planby Adam

In a Collaborative Divorce, the Facilitator plays a crucial role in keeping everyone on task, aiding communication, managing emotions between you and your spouse, and, where applicable, tailoring a parenting plan for your children. A Facilitator is a professional who is licensed under Chapter 490 or 491, Florida Statutes.  Here are some specific tasks they might undertake:

1. Project Management:

Facilitators are the project managers of the Collaborative Process.  Without a clear direction, divorce negotiations can get off track real fast.  The Facilitator keeps you and your lawyers focused on your interests rather than positions, works so that we are making the most efficient use of your time and money during team meetings, and checks in to see whether everyone has completed the tasks assigned to them.

2. Emotional Support:

Facilitators provide emotional support to both you and your spouse throughout the Collaborative Process. Divorce can be a highly stressful and emotional experience, even under the best of circumstances, and having a trained professional to talk to can be invaluable.

3. Communication Facilitation:

They help facilitate communication between the you and your spouse, ensuring that discussions remain productive and respectful. This can include helping each each of you express your needs and concerns effectively and ensuring that you both feel heard and understood.

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Create Path Collaborative Divorce - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Create Your Own Path with Collaborative Divorce

March 24, 2024/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: alimony, child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, equitable distribution, florida divorce, parenting plan, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, time-sharingby Adam

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either going through a divorce or know someone who is. And let’s face it, divorce isn’t exactly a walk in the park. But what if I told you that in Florida there’s a way to navigate this challenging time while still preserving your self-determination and sanity? Enter: Collaborative Divorce.

Picture this: instead of duking it out in a courtroom with lawyers battling it out, Collaborative Divorce brings everyone to the table – you, your soon-to-be ex, and a team of professionals (including separate attorneys to provide each of you with independent legal advice) dedicated to finding solutions that work for everyone involved. Sounds pretty good, right? Here’s why it’s worth considering:

Collaborative Divorce Puts You in the Driver’s Seat

One of the biggest perks of Collaborative Divorce is that it empowers you to take control of your own future. Instead of leaving decisions about your life in the hands of a judge, you and your soon-to-be ex get to work together to find solutions that meet both of your needs. From dividing assets to co-parenting agreements, you have a say in it all.

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Child Support In Florida - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Child Support in Florida

January 4, 2024/in Child Support, Collaborative Divorce, Divorce Process //Tags: child custody, child support, child support guidelines, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorce, Florida Statutes, paternity, time-sharingby Adam

Child support in Florida is the financial obligation aimed to provide a fair and consistent means of sharing the costs of raising a child between separated parents. There’s a Collaborative Law process that offers an alternative way to address child support matters. This approach emphasizes cooperation, open communication, and prioritizing your child’s well-being. In this post, we’ll take you through the fundamentals of child support in Florida and the benefits of pursuing child support solutions through the Collaborative Process.

CALCULATING CHILD SUPPORT

In Florida, you’ll find child support guidelines laid out in Florida Statutes §61.30. You’ll notice that the calculation takes into account key factors like your income and your partner’s income, the number of children involved, and the time each of you spends with them. It’s essential to understand that the state utilizes a specific formula incorporating these elements to calculate the exact amount of child support owed.  Though you may deviate from these calculations under certain circumstances, the child support guidelines determine the default amount you can expect to pay or be paid.

CONSIDERING YOUR INCOMES

Remember, both your incomes play a pivotal role in calculating child support. It’s worth noting that not all types of income are straightforward (for example, income from a private business). Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that if either of you is voluntarily unemployed or not fully utilizing your earning capacity, income may be attributed to you based on your potential earning capacity.

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Discount Virtual Divorce - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Can I Get A Discount For Virtual Divorce Legal Services?

December 28, 2023/in Divorce Process //Tags: alimony, child custody, child support, dissolution of marriage, divorce, equitable distribution, florida divorce, parental responsibility, parenting plan, time-sharingby Adam

If you are facing divorce and have done your research, you probably realize how expensive divorce can be.  Not only are you charged for your attorney’s time spent engaging in the actual legal work, but it is also common practice for you to be charged for travel time to go to hearings, mediation sessions, or Collaborative Divorce meetings at the lawyer’s regular hourly rate.  Further, firms that practice mainly in person incur additional expenses including leasing larger office space, renting additional equipment, and purchasing additional office snacks, drinks, and supplies.  And, of course, those expenses get passed on to you, the client.

But what if you were comfortable working with your lawyer through Zoom, telephone calls, e-mails, and other virtual means, and you did not feel the need to meet in person?  Since it ends up costing less for the law firm, shouldn’t you get a discount for virtual divorce legal services?

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