Category Archives: Case Stories

“My client had been married to her husband for 23 years.

When they got divorced, my client was awarded only $9,000 of bridge-the-gap alimony, i.e., $500 per month for eighteen months, ‘to assist her in her transition from marriage to single life.’

My client claimed that she is currently permanently disabled as a result of bipolar disorder, diagnosed approximately fifteen years before the dissolution, and can no longer obtain meaningful work. Her claim was supported by unrebutted testimony from her physician.

However, the trial court had ruled that my client ‘will be able to regain some type of employability once the stress of the divorce is concluded,’ and therefore awarded her only bridge-the-gap alimony.

My client argued that the trial court should have awarded her additional permanent periodic alimony because she is permanently disabled and will never be able to return to gainful full-time employment.

I represented my client during her appeal and we were successful in having the appellate court reverse the trial court’s decision, and she was awarded nominal permanent alimony.

Nominal permanent alimony will permit the wife to petition the trial court to pursue a future increase in permanent alimony should she continue to be unable to work, and second, it will preserve the jurisdiction of the trial court to revisit the matter as the parties go on with their new lives.

This case is often cited for other litigants in the State of Florida who have a similar situation.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

Whether you are the spouse requesting alimony, or the spouse being asked to pay alimony, here at The Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, we will put our knowledge and 30 years of experience to work to help protect your alimony rights.

To schedule an alimony consultation with Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family Law in Tampa, Gary S. Dolgin, please call (813) 999-2772, and it will be our pleasure to help you.

Learn more about alimony by visiting:
https://familydivorceattorneytampa.com/service/alimony-lawyer-tampa/

“My client’s husband separated from my client and during the process of their divorce, he was not providing her and their children with adequate financial support.

Further complicating the matter, one of their children had special health needs and extensive medical expenses.

I was able to get an emergency order for my client and she was awarded temporary alimony and child support during the divorce proceedings.

Unfortunately my client’s husband was reluctant to make any agreements and caused the divorce to drag on for years.

I helped my client throughout the entire divorce process, making sure that her husband provided adequate support to her and their children.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

With over 30 years of experience in all aspects of divorce, and being the author of the “Temporary Relief” chapter of the Florida Dissolution of Marriage book, which is published by The Florida Bar, Gary Dolgin has the expertise you need when facing divorce or any type of family law issue.

Gary Dolgin is also a Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator, so he is an expert in dispute resolution and helping parties come to an agreement.

If you are looking for an experienced and knowledgeable family law and divorce attorney in Tampa to represent your best interests, you can count on Gary Dolgin to help you, as he is also a Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family Law.

To schedule a consultation with Gary S. Dolgin, Attorney At Law, call (813) 999-2772 and it will be our pleasure to help you.

To learn more about top divorce attorney in Tampa Gary S. Dolgin and to see what his past clients have to say about his exceptional representation, visit:
Divorce Attorney In Tampa Gary S. Dolgin

“My client’s wife was a citizen of Norway. She told my client that she was taking their five-year-old daughter to Norway for summer vacation.

Unfortunately, she did not return.

It took seven months, but I was able to procure an order requiring the return of my client’s daughter to the United States.

I helped my client retain counsel in Norway and after the trial was held in Norway, my client received majority time-sharing of his then five-year-old daughter and two sons.

This was a very gratifying case because I was able to help protect this parent’s right to be in their child’s life.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

With over 30 years of experience in all aspects of child custody, Gary Dolgin is the Tampa child custody lawyer you can count on to represent you with any type of custody issue, including interstate and international child custody.

At The Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, we will work diligently to protect your child’s best interests and advocate for your parental rights.

To schedule a child custody consultation with Gary S. Dolgin, give us a call today at (813) 999-2772 and it will be our pleasure to help you.

To learn more about how we can help you with your child custody issues, visit:
Best Child Custody Lawyer in Tampa, Florida

CASE STORY:

In Polk County, Florida, a mother appealed a court order that would modify time-sharing of her children in favor of the father.

A portion of a court order modifying time-sharing was reversed by the Second District Court of Appeal for the three reasons argued by the mother:

1. A court cannot modify time-sharing as a sanction for a parent’s contempt of a custody order. Meaning that just because the mother did not adhere to the original child custody order, it does not mean that time-sharing must be modified in the father’s favor.

2. The trial court’s order does not make an explicit finding that the change of time-sharing was in the best interests of the child or otherwise indicate that the best interests of the child had been considered.

3. The modification of time-sharing was made without affording the mother due process.

In this case, the mother’s attorney was able to help protect her child custody rights.

Retaining an experienced lawyer to advocate for your rights as a parent is essential in protecting your child’s best interests, while advocating for your rights.

If you need help with any child custody modification or time-sharing conflict, we are here to help you.

Give us a call at (813) 999-2772 to schedule a child custody consultation with Gary Dolgin, and it will be our pleasure to help you.

Learn more about child custody by visiting:
Child Custody Modifications in Tampa, Florida

“My client came to me for help when her husband removed their two children from their home and took them with him to another state, without my client’s consent.

My client was especially concerned for the safety of her children since her husband had attempted suicide a month earlier.

I helped my client by obtaining an emergency court order here in Hillsborough County which was enforced by the court in the state where her children were.

The children were safely placed back in their mother’s care and returned to Tampa.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

Here at The Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, nothing makes us happier than protecting children’s welfare while representing parents’ best interests, especially in these emergency child custody situations.

To watch this client tell her child custody story, watch the video below:

Emergency Child Custody Case Story

With over 30 years of experience in all aspects of child custody, Gary Dolgin is the Tampa child custody lawyer you can count on to represent you with any type of custody issue, including interstate and international child custody.

At The Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, we will work diligently to protect your child’s best interests and advocate for your parental rights, especially in emergency situations such as this one.

To schedule a child custody consultation with Gary S. Dolgin, give us a call today at (813) 999-2772 and it will be our pleasure to help you.

Learn more about how we can help you with your child custody issues by visiting:
Child Custody Expert in Tampa

“My client came to me with a custody evaluation which recommended that the father of their 2-year-old son should be the primary residential parent because the mother (my client) was not psychologically capable of having shared custody.

Together with my co-counsel, we investigated the case in detail.

We retained a psychologist to spend time in my client’s home observing her with the child, in order to get a full evaluation.

In addition, we interviewed daycare providers, friends and family members about my client’s parenting.

And finally, we prepared my client for her testimony in court and educated her about the importance of shared parental responsibility despite her negative feelings towards the child’s father.

After presenting all our evidence, after my client’s testimony and after my client answered some very important questions from the Judge…she was granted shared custody of her son.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

Here at The Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, nothing makes us happier than protecting children’s welfare while representing parents’ best interests.

If you need help with a child custody issue, Gary Dolgin has over 30 years of experience in child custody, is a Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family Law, and is here to help you.

To schedule a child custody consultation with Gary S. Dolgin, give us a call today at (813) 999-2772 and it will be our pleasure to help you.

Learn more about how we can help you with your child custody issues by visiting:
Child Custody Expert in Tampa

“I had a client who was divorced for over 12 years.

At the time of her divorce, she and her ex-husband agreed that she was to receive permanent alimony from him.

As the years went on the ex-husband kept convincing my client to reduce her monthly alimony because he was struggling financially, and eventually asked her if he could stop paying her altogether.

This is when my client retained me to help her.

Based on financial discovery and negotiation we were able to determine that the ex-husband had the ability to provide spousal support and that my client had the need for spousal support.

Not only were we able to keep the permanent alimony in place for my client, but we were also able to have it increased.

In addition, where the alimony payments were taxable to my client, we were able to modify her alimony to be tax-free.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

At The Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, we are passionate about helping our clients understand their rights when it comes to spousal support and all aspects of family law.

With over 30 years of experience in alimony, Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family, Gary Dolgin can help protect your spousal support rights.

If you are having any type of alimony issue and would like to schedule a consultation with alimony expert Gary Dolgin, give us a call at (813) 999-2772 and it will be our pleasure to help you.

Learn more about how we can help you with your alimony issues by visiting:
Alimony Services

“Ten years ago two grandparents asked me to help them obtain temporary legal custody of their 2 year old granddaughter.

Unfortunately both of her parents were in and out of jail and both had issues with drugs.

These grandparents stepped up to the plate and their 12 year old granddaughter is now thriving.

Now they have asked me to help them adopt her.

While most of my practice involves divorce, I really enjoy helping grandparents.

These wonderful grandparents have protected their granddaughter and provided her with a loving and stable home.

I am happy to help with any child custody or adoption issues anyone may have.”

Gary S. Dolgin, Board Certified Expert In Marital and Family Law

Having helped thousands of parents and grandparents with their child custody issues in Hillsborough County and throughout Florida since 1991, you can rest assured that Tampa child custody lawyer Gary Dolgin will help you resolve your custody issues diligently, with integrity and compassion.

To schedule a child custody consultation with Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family Law in Tampa, Gary S. Dolgin, please call (813) 999-2772, and it will be our pleasure to help you.

Learn more about the child custody services we provide by visiting: Child Custody and Visitation.