Melinda’s divorce was challenging because her ex-husband was not willing to negotiate on several issues and tried to discredit her with expert witnesses in court.

Having a child with autism and multiple sclerosis, Melinda had not worked outside of the home for over 6 years and had no source of income when she and her ex-husband separated.

Gary Dolgin helped Melinda get an emergency court order for alimony and child support during her divorce to help pay her bills and medical expenses for her child.

Through Gary’s expertise and knowledge during court proceedings, Gary was also able to defend Melinda against her ex-husband’s expert witnesses and helped Melinda gain sole custody of her two children.

Melinda is grateful to Gary for all the support and superior representation he provided her during her challenging divorce process.

In this video, Melinda shares what she has to say about Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family Law, Gary Dolgin representing her during her divorce and helping her with child custody, alimony, equitable distribution and child support.

Brian’s children were being put in harmful situations and put in danger when they would visit their mother. So Brian retained Gary Dolgin to help him get sole parental responsibility of his two daughters in order to keep them safe.

Brian is thankful to Gary for helping him ensure the safety of his daughters and allowing them to grow up in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment, where they have thrived.

Brian is grateful for Gary’s guidance and help during his very difficult situation and highly recommends Gary as a family law attorney.

Watch this video to hear what Brian has to say about how Gary Dolgin helped him and his family.

When Amy realized that her children were being put in unsafe situations when visiting their father, she did not know if there was anything she could do protect them.

After working with Gary Dolgin, she realized that she could take legal action to protect her children and get sole parental responsibility of them.

Amy is very grateful to Gary for helping her have the knowledge and confidence to legally protect her children.

Amy was very impressed with Gary’s diligence and caring as her child custody attorney and she highly recommends Gary to anyone who needs help with any child custody issues.

Watch the video to hear what Amy has to say about retaining Gary Dolgin as her child custody lawyer.

Client Tara retained Gary Dolgin to help her get her children back to Tampa safely after they were wrongfully taken.

Tara’s husband removed their two children from their home and took them with him to another state, without my Tara’s consent. Tara was especially concerned for the safety of her children since her husband had attempted suicide a month earlier.

Gary helped Tara 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.

Tara is grateful to Gary for helping to get her children back quickly and safely. Watch the video to hear Tara tell her story, and what she has to say about Gary Dolgin.

With over 32 years of experience in child custody in Hillsborough County, Gary S. Dolgin has the knowledge and experience to help you with your custody issues.

Child custody lawyer, Gary Dolgin can help you with any type of  child visitation or custody issue including specific issues such as:

Child Custody Expert Gary Dolgin Will Advocate For Your Rights and For The Welfare Of Your Child

If you and your child’s other parent cannot agree about where your child should live, how much time they should spend with each parent or how they should be raised, we are here to help you and your family sort out these challenging child custody issues as peacefully as possible.

Child custody attorney Gary Dolgin can present your case and advocate for your rights to raise your child in a healthy, thriving environment.

We Always Encourage Mediation Where Child Custody Is Concerned

While protecting your child’s best interest, Gary Dolgin encourages strategic mediation between parents when child custody or visitation issues arise.

Children are best served when parents maintain a cordial relationship.

Through the structured process of mediation, couples can often set aside hostility and agree on key decisions affecting their children.

Mediation can be a highly effective tool for parents to preserve their children’s well-being and the stability of their lives during the turbulent process of divorce: it takes some of the stress out of child custody conflicts and puts important child-rearing decisions in the hands of the parents rather than the court.

As a Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator, Gary Dolgin uses his expertise in mediation strategies to guide the negotiation process toward a healthy resolution.

In Some Cases Litigation Is Necessary To Protect A Child’s Best Interests

When one parent will not compromise or expresses hostility toward the other parent, negotiations fail.

Sometimes a parent may even pose a danger to the child’s well-being. In these cases, litigation is the most appropriate forum for establishing parental rights.

Gary Dolgin uses a methodical approach to litigation so you can feel confident in knowing that your child will be protected, and at the same time, your parental rights secured.

In either case, whether through mediation or litigation, here at the Law Offices of Gary S. Dolgin, you can rest assured that we will work diligently, with integrity and compassion, to represent your interests and protect your child’s welfare in your custody or visitation case.

Enforcement Of The Time-Sharing Schedule In The Parenting Plan

When one parent refuses to comply with the time-sharing schedule in the parenting plan without proper cause, there are sanctions that the court may impose:

Violations of the time-sharing schedule in the parenting plan, without proper cause, may also be punished by contempt of court or other remedies that the court deems appropriate.

Residency Restrictions

Residency restrictions, sometimes called geographical restrictions, place limitations on where one party and the children may reside.

Those restrictions may be encountered by the attorney in drafting final judgment provisions, marital settlement agreements and parenting plans, or in post judgment modification or enforcement proceedings.

Residency restrictions are usually justified as promoting the best interests of the children by encouraging continued reasonable access by the other parent.

Relocation

Relocation is defined as a change in the principal residence of a parent or other person of at least 50 miles, and for at least 60 consecutive days not including temporary absences for vacation, education, or health care.

Relocation is an important issue because it can significantly affect the continued reasonable access to the child by the other parent.

Relocation must be considered very carefully with regards to the best interests of the child.

Relocation By Agreement

If the parents and every other person entitled to access to or time-sharing with the child agree regarding relocation of the child, they may sign a written agreement that:

– reflects the consent to the relocation;

– defines an access or time-sharing schedule for the non-relocating parent and any other persons who are entitled to access or time-sharing; and

– describes, if necessary, any transportation arrangements related to access or time-sharing.

Petition To Relocate

If an agreement on relocation has not been reached, “a parent or other person seeking relocation must file a petition to relocate and serve it upon the other parent, and every other person entitled to access to or time-sharing with the child.”

The petition to relocate must contain the following information and be signed under oath or affirmation under penalty of perjury:

– the address of the new residence;

– the phone number of the new residence;

– the date of intended move to the new location;

– a detailed statement of the reasons for the proposed relocation;

– a proposal for the revised schedule of time-sharing and transportation arrangements for the child after the relocation.

Relocation Without Agreement or Petition

If a parent or other person relocates a child without a petition to relocate and without following the requirements stated in the Florida statutes, that parent or other person may be subject to contempt proceedings or other proceedings to require return of the child.

The Court may take the attempted relocation into account when:

– making a determination regarding the relocation;

– determining whether the parenting plan or time-sharing schedule should be modified;

– deciding to order the temporary or permanent return of the child;

– deciding to order the parent seeking to relocate the child to pay reasonable expenses and attorney’s fees incurred by the other party;

– deciding to order the award of costs including interim travel expenses incident to access or time-sharing or securing the return of the child.

Temporary Order Prohibiting Relocation

The Court may grant a temporary order prohibiting the relocation of a child or requiring the return of the child, if relocation has already occurred, or “other appropriate remedial relief,” if the Court finds:

– the petition to relocate does not comply with F.S. 61.13001(3);

– the child has been relocated without a written agreement of the parties or without Court approval; or

– from an examination of the evidence at a preliminary hearing there is the likelihood that the Court will not approve the relocation.

Temporary Order Allowing Relocation

The Court may issue a temporary order permitting relocation of a child pending a final hearing if the Court finds:

– the petition to relocate was properly filed and is otherwise in compliance with F.S. 61.13001(3); and

– from an examination of the evidence at a preliminary hearing there is a likelihood that on final hearing the Court will approve the relocation, provided that the findings are supported by the same factual basis as would be required for a final judgment permitting relocation.

If temporary relocation is allowed, the Court may require the person relocating with the child to provide “reasonable security” and to guarantee that court-ordered contact with the child will not be interrupted or interfered with.