Our Practice Areas

If you are taking the time to read this portion of our website, you may have reached a point in your life where you are contemplating adoption or placing a child for adoption. At The Garmon Law Firm, we have experience with adoption both legally and personally. Let us help you navigate this chapter of your life with compassion and understanding.

One thing is almost certain, you probably have a lot of questions! Please call us seven days a week to discuss the adoption process and any questions you may have. We want to educate you as much as possible while getting to know you on a personal level as well. We believe that building a connection based on trust will help us guide you to the right answer, both legally and personally. Please ask for more information by clicking on the "contact us" menu option. All conversations, in any form, are 100% confidential and 100% judgement free!

At The Garmon Law Firm, we provide counsel and representation to clients in circumstances involving child dependency and termination of parental rights or "TPR". Juvenile Dependency is a unique area of law in Florida and unlike the vast majority of other areas of practice. The courtroom is set up differently, the evidence that can be presented can be foreign even to an experienced attorney, and many rules apply that are special to "Dependency Court." Only a handful of lawyers in the Panhandle make an appearance in Dependency Court on a daily basis. Dependency and TPR cases are not routine child custody cases. Children may be removed from the home and placed in foster care because of abuse, neglect or abandonment, and contact with their parents can be limited or blocked entirely by court order. Knowing each option available and how they can relate or coincide with a "Case Plan" are vital to your family's success in this process.

If you have been contacted by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) or your child(ren) have been removed, you need a skilled attorney that is well versed in this unique area of law.

Representation is provided for:

• Individuals and families facing child abuse, neglect, or abandonment allegations
• Individuals and families seeking court intervention on behalf of a child 
• Children in foster care or involved in a dependency case so that their wishes are properly reflected to the court
• Grandparents seeking rights or custody pertaining to children involved in a Juvenile Dependency case.

For more information, please click on the "Contact Us" menu selection above! 

The Garmon Law Firm is experienced in many legal matters that may involve the family. These include:

Divorce – We provide all the help you need when contemplating divorce, from drafting and reviewing marital settlement agreements to aggressive representation before the court.

Time-Sharing or "Child Custody" – In Florida, child custody is referred to legally as "Time-Sharing." We help develop and draft a detailed plan that works best for the children involved.

Parental Responsibility  – In Florida, decision making as to the child(ren) is a separate issue from the division of time or custody. This can include matters such as: educational and medical decisions, extra curricular activities, and religious training. These items are important and which parent, if any, gets the "ultimate" decision or say-so is an issue that can be addressed by the court if needed.

Property Division – How should the marital property be split and what property is subject to "equitable distribution?" These issues can be complex, and The Garmon Law Firm can help navigate this often confusing and contested area of divorce. Whether you are looking for a 50/50 split or an unequal yet equitable distribution, we can help guide you through the process.

Paternity – Our knowledgeable family law attorney can establish paternity and the rights that follow. We also represent parties who oppose paternity or parental rights and responsibilities in crucial areas such as child custody, visitation and child support.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements – Let us draft or review agreements that determine important issues such as alimony and property division in the event of a divorce. Save time, money and conflict down the line by discussing your expectations in a calm and constructive manner.

Modification of Child Support – When the income of the parents or the needs of the kids substantially change, the amount of child support may need to change as well. 

Contempt – Civil contempt proceedings are powerful tools to compel enforcement with court orders regarding the payment of alimony or child support, or compliance with time-sharing or parental responsibility. Make sure your rights are protected and that you are set up for success by having our firm represent your legal interests before the appropriate court.

In Florida, in a family law case, to include divorce, a Judge can appoint a Guardian ad Litem or GAL. The GAL's job is to represent the best interest of the child, not that of a specific party. Much like a therapist, the GAL is a third party that reports findings and a report to the court. Either party to the case can request that the Judge appoint a Guardian ad Litem, or the Judge on his or her own initiative can make the appointment. 

As the Guardian ad Litem, Attorney Garmon would investigate the facts of the case and report back to the Court. This report is a holistic approach and includes interviews or discussion with both parents, the child(ren) and other important witnesses in the case. The Guardian can also obtain access to medical and other records, can request the court order outside evaluations by other professionals, such as a psychologist or social worker, for the children, parents, or family as a whole.

Because the Guardian ad Litem is a neutral party as far as the two primary parties in the litigation are concerned, judges rely on the reports and recommendation of the Guardian ad Litem. Therefore, the selection of a Guardian ad Litem should be approached with thought and care. The person appointed as a Guardian ad Litem must be either an attorney or someone certified by Florida’s Guardian ad Litem Program or by a certified Legal Aid program (in cases involving founded allegations of child abuse, only a guardian certified by the State program or an attorney may be appointed). The State of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem program trains and certifies volunteers to serve as Guardians ad Litem in dependency cases. 

If you do not have a Last Will and Testament, you are not alone! 

If you have an old or outdated will, you are not alone! 

Let The Garmon Law Firm put your wishes into clear and easy to understand terms that reflect your current wishes, life situation, and postmortem expectations. 

An estate plan is MUCH more than just a will.

An estate plan will ensure that your affairs are properly cared for after your life. These include:

• Providing for your spouse
• Providing for your children
• Distribution of your home
• Distribution of your retirement accounts
• Proper distribution of any life insurance proceeds
• Your long-term care in cases of medical incapacitation to include dementia, a coma or other condition which leaves you unable to care for yourself

Do you care what will happen to your children after your death?

Do you want your minor children to receive their entire inheritance on their 18th birthday, which they can then possibly spend irresponsibly, or do you want a party of your choosing to manage the money for them, and use it to pay for certain expenditures such as their college tuition?

If you found yourself agreeing with the above examples and don't have that plan reduced to writing, chances are that you need a comprehensive Estate Plan.

Contact Attorney Garmon for a consultation to address your Estate Plan Needs!