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Divorce FAQ

  • What Is Equitable Distribution?

    In an equitable distribution case, all of the assets and debts will be taken into account and will usually be divided equally. Any property or assets that were not co-mingled during the marriage will not be part of the distribution. Other factors such as length of marriage and income of both parties are also taken into account.

  • What Is Time Sharing?

    Timesharing in Florida attempts to take away titles like joint custody, sole custody, and primary parent. The idea behind this is to help get the parents to think together since they are both responsible for the children. Veliz Katz Law can help answer all of your timesharing questions.

  • Who Gets the House in An Orlando Divorce?

    One of the big questions with any divorce is who gets the house. If there are children in the household they can be a big determining factor in this issue. The court may decide to award the house to the spouse that will have the children most of the time. If one party wants the house and there is still equity it is possible to buy out the other party. Veliz Katz Law has experience dealing with divorce cases and can help with your specific situation.

  • How Much Child Support Will I Get?

    The amount of child support awarded in a case is based on statute. The net income of both parties is taken into account as well as the number of children, and any costs such as healthcare or daycare. All of these parts are added to a child support worksheet that is then presented to the court.

  • How Much Alimony Will I Get?

    Determining alimony payments is a two-step process. The first step is determining if one spouse has a need for alimony based on their income and expenses. Once there is a need established we need to determine if the other spouse has the ability to pay. In the end, the court will decide the alimony payments based on these factors.

  • How Is Time Sharing Determined?

    The goal in any timesharing case is to allow both parents to be involved in raising their kids as much as possible. The number of overnights is determined and a schedule is worked out that fits the needs of both parents. We try to discuss the determining factors of the timesharing plan and advise on their specific situation.

  • How Are Retirement Accounts Handled in A Divorce?

    A retirement account is handled just like any other asset. The starting point is figuring out when the money was added to the account. In some cases, any money added to the account prior to the marriage will need to be separated from being part of the settlement. Contact Veliz Katz Law today for your divorce case in Florida.

  • Can I Get Alimony of Child Support without A Divorce?

    It is possible to get alimony or child support without actually filing for divorce. A party can petition for alimony or child support without seeking a dissolution.

  • How Long Does a Divorce Take?

    The length of the divorce process depends on the situation. If there is an agreement in place the process could be as short as 6 weeks. If there are property issues or children involved sometimes the parties can’t come to an agreement and the case could last much longer. This process can be very expensive and we advise our clients that we will get to the best outcome with minimal fees.

  • Can I Get a Divorce in Florida if My Spouse Lives in Another State or Country?

    As long as one spouse has maintained contact with Florida you are able to proceed with the divorce. There may be service issues depending on where that spouse lives whether it is overseas or if they are in the military.

 Probate FAQ

  • What Is Probate?

    Probate is the process of transferring ownership assets from an heir to their beneficiaries. When we meet with clients, the first question we ask is if there was a will. If not, we have to follow the statute and file a case with the court.

  • Do I Need an Attorney for Probate?

    In order to probate a matter in Florida people are required to be represented by an attorney.

  • FAQ What Does Probate Cost?

    We normally bill on an hourly basis. The basis is contractual in nature. There are instances where if I believe that the circumstances allow for that, I would do a flat fee depending on the nature and complexity of the case. Again, it depends on the facts of each case and what is involved, and what has to be done.

  • What Do I Need to Handle My Probate Matter?

    After setting up a consultation we advise our clients to bring a death certificate, funeral bill, a list of debts and assets and if possible a will. During the consultation we will explain the probate process, explain the fees and get documents signed to start the process.

  • If There Is a Surviving Spouse Is Probate Needed?

    In most cases, both spouses hold property jointly. In these cases, the property will transfer to the other spouse. If there is a property that is not held jointly then you would have to probate the matter to transfer ownership.

  • Do I Need a Living Will?

    The decision to have a living will is a personal preference. If you know what you want it is best to have one so you are not leaving your family to make those decisions. Veliz Katz Law can help put together your living will.

  • What Happens if There Is No Will?

    If the party does not have a will the first step is to look at the probate statute. The statute will tell you how the property will pass. This could mean the property will go to a spouse, children or to parents.

  • What Are the Most Common Probate Questions?

    Common questions: What is probate? How much time does it take?

    In order to probate a matter, people are required to have an attorney represent them — they are not able to do it on their own.

  • Do Life Insurance Benefits Have to Go Through Probate?

    If anything has a named beneficiary, including life insurance, those will pass outside of probate, and don’t have to be probated. Only items that don’t have a beneficiary, and are only in the name of the deceased, require probate.


  • What Should I Bring to My First Probate Meeting?

    When we set up a consultation for probate we ask for a death certificate, funeral bill, a will of all assets and debts. We can then advise them and explain the probate process. We also provide documents that will assist with the probate.

  • How Do I Know if A Probate Has Already Been Started by Someone Else?

    The easiest way is to check with the clerk and county where the person resided, and it’s usually contained within the public records.

  • If There Is a Surviving Spouse, Is a Probate Necessary?

    It’s about how the property was titled. On the death of a spouse, most of the time, the property will pass to the other spouse. If a spouse passed and the property was held just in their own name, a probate will be necessary to transfer ownership to the other spouse.

  • Does My Probate Attorney Have to Be in The Same Town as Me?

    The party can hire an attorney in the state of Florida. We’ve handled many probate manners throughout the state of Florida. You simply have to file in the county where the person resided.

  • How Long Does Probate Take in Florida?

    Probate usually takes 4 to 6 months from when you file the probate case. Creditors have up to three 3 months to file a claim against the case. After that, you are able to disperse the property.

  • How Long Does Probate Take?

    Probate can take as little as 3 to 6 months. However, it can take years depending on the nature of the estate or what needs to be done for the estate. Estate planning can be overwhelming especially if there was negligence involved and could lead to litigation. Contact an estate planning attorney today at Veliz Katz Law in Orlando, Florida.

  • What Am I Entitled to In a Probate Proceeding?

    It depends if there’s a will. The will prescribes and dictates what that person will get. It’s important to note that in the state of Florida, you cannot disinherit your spouse. Even if you do a will and leave nothing to your spouse, that your spouse can come back and petition the court for at least 50% of your estate. The same thing in an intestate estate, the spouse automatically is entitled to 50% of the estate.

  • Where Does the Probate Proceeding Take Place?

    Probate proceedings are filed normally in the county where the person resided at the time of death and it’s in the circuit court in that county.


  • What Is the Difference Between Testate and Intestate Proceedings?

    A testate proceeding is when a person leaves a Will. That’s pretty straightforward unless there’s some dissension about the actual Will … and that has happened. The Will prescribes what the court should do in terms of distribution of that person’s assets, and the payment of that person’s liabilities. Then you have what we call an intestate proceeding, and that’s where there’s no Will. And in that, it’s mainly statutory as to who the court will appoint as what we call the person representative … Otherwise known in many areas as an executor, and how the assets will be distributed.


  • How Do I Choose an Orlando Probate Attorney?

    Probate cases are usually not complicated and can be fairly routine. If the heirs or beneficiaries are in disagreement the case can get more complicated. In these cases, you need a lawyer who understands the process and has experience with probate cases. Contact Veliz Katz Law to get the results you need.

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