Family Law Firm Protecting the Rights of Clients in Miami
Strategic representation throughout Florida and abroad
The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. is dedicated to helping families in transition. We focus on family law issues, divorces, international family matters and domestic violence cases. International family law is very narrow and requires an in-depth knowledge of ever-changing statutory law and evolving case law. With 45 years of experience handling these kinds of cases, you can rely on The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. to deliver high-quality, efficient legal representation in your case.
Compassion for those facing family disputes
Divorces and paternity matters can be life-altering events for parents and children. We understand that every family's situation is different and that every client has specific needs and concerns. We guide clients through the legal system while considering the financial and emotional effects of complex matrimonial matters and explain the Florida divorce process or the laws pertaining to your case. We assist you through this tumultuous time and help you transition into the next phase of your life.
Family law
Divorces can be the most stressful events in our lives, even in the best of circumstances. Many issues can come into play during the course of disentangling spouses' lives. Adding an international family law component only further complicates matters. Some of the facets of family law cases we help clients through include:
-Complex matrimonial matters - Florida law requires an equitable division of the marital estate. We work to ensure that assets and liabilities are divided fairly and in accordance with the law.
-Property, paternity and marital settlement agreements - Property and marital settlement agreements are often reached at mediation. An agreement is a contract that, once signed, is binding on the parties and subject to enforcement by the court. Mr. Katz is a skilled negotiator and mediator who fights for his clients in settlement negotiations.
-Spousal support - Spousal support can include periodic permanent alimony, temporary alimony, bridge the gap, durational and rehabilitative alimony. Courts consider whether spousal support is appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
-Post-judgment enforcement and modification - Obtaining a favorable judgment is only half the battle. Sometimes the only way to enforce a judgment is to take the non-compliant party back to court. The same is true for modifications. Family circumstances can change overnight, warranting a modification of the existing order.
-Child custody and time-sharing - We represent parents seeking parental rights, custody or time-sharing with their children.
-Child support - Our law firm pursues parents who refuse to pay child support and defends those who are unable to pay and need to seek modifications.
-Interstate custody and relocations - It's no secret that Miami is an international hub. We assist clients with getting court permission to relocate to another state or internationally.
-Parental alienation - Our firm understands the long-term, negative consequences parental alienation can have on your relationship with your child. We fight to hold the wrongdoers responsible in these cases and to obtain the requisite mental health therapy for the child.
-Paternity - Custody and child support matters generally cannot be decided until paternity has been adjudicated. We work with our clients to find the quickest resolution to paternity issues.
-Temporary relief - Temporary relief can provide for a spouse, parent and children's financial needs and determine a temporary parenting and time-sharing plan (custody) during the pendency of litigation. In most divorce, paternity and custody situations, we recommend that our clients let us make application to the court for temporary relief.
-International family law
-We have 45 years' experience helping clients with complicated international family law matters. Our dedicated firm provides experienced representation for:
-International custody and support - We assist clients with establishing and enforcing international custody and support orders.
-International relocations - International relocations are seldom simple. We know the law related to international relocations and how to determine which jurisdiction's law governs various situations.
-Interstate and international child abduction - Some of the most satisfying work we do is reuniting families torn apart by interstate and international child abductions. We have extensive experience in these cases, an extremely high success rate and can help you put your family back together.
Domestic violence
The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. has represented clients on both sides of domestic violence cases. Our experience has given us a deep understanding of the issues involved, including strategic complaints. We adapt our representation to the unique needs of each client with compassion and professionalism. If necessary, we assist you in obtaining a restraining order to protect you from further abuse.
Call our Miami, Florida family law firm today
Whether in settlement negotiations, mediations or court proceedings, The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. works to make sure that you and your children achieve a fair resolution. When we meet, we take time to understand your goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Contact us at 786.991.2629 or online to schedule a consultation. We are available by appointment, and our Miami office is accessible from the Miami Dade South Metrorail. Se habla español.
Honors
- AV® Preeminent| Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in America
- Named among the Top Attorneys in Florida by Super Lawyers, 2010-2013
- Selected for Florida Legal Elite, 2009-2013
- Received The First Family Law American Inn of Court award for service, 2008-2010
- Received awards of merit from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the U.S. Department of State Certificate of Appreciation for Extraordinary Assistance to Hague Convention Applicants
- Received Certificate of Recognition from the American Bar Association, Section of Family Law for service as chair of the International Law Committee
- Supreme Court-certified family mediator
Professional associations
- American Bar Association
- Criminal Section: International Criminal Law Committee, 1971-1994; Criminal Defense Function Committee, 1989-1996
- Family Section: Committee on International Law, 1996-present (vice chairman, 2006-2007; chairman, 2007-present); Domestic Violence Committee (vice chairman, 2009-2011)
- International Section: International Family Law Committee, 2005-present; Steering Committee, 2007-present
- The Florida Bar (Narcotics Practice Committee, 1988-1992; Mental Health Professional in Litigation, 1994-1996; Children's Issues, 2006-present; Continuing Legal Education, 2006-present; Domestic Violence, 1994-1996; Legislation, 1996-2005)
- International Society of Family Law
- First Family Law American Inn of Court (president, 2009-2010)
Reported Family and Hague cases
- Hanley v. Roy, 485 F.3rd 641 (11th Cir. 2007) (return to Ireland and held that district court made a "mockery" of Hague Convention by refusing to order the return of children to grandparents or guardians)
- Dallemagne v. Dallemagne, 440 F. Supp. 2d 1283 (M.D. Fla. 2006) (return to France and provides an excellent analysis of burden of proof and defenses)
- Angulo Garcia v. Fernandez Angarita, 440 F. Supp. 2d 1364 (S.D. Fla. 2006) (return to Colombia and held, in part, that consent to travel is invalid if procured by fraud)
- Leslie v. Noble, 377 F.Supp. 2d 1232 (S.D. Fla. 2005) (held that father had rights of custody before, during and after paternity court proceedings in Belize)
- In Re Cabrera, 323 F.Supp.2d 1303 (S.D. Fla. 2004) (return to Argentina and the court found equitable tolling and held that a child should be returned rather than threatened with possible deportation)
- In Re Arison-Dorsman, U.S. Dist. Lexis 9861, 32 Media L. Rep. 1699 (S.D. Fla. 2004) (return ordered to Israel: record should not be sealed)
- Marcos v. Haecker, 915 So.2d 703 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2005) (international paternity case involving Spain, Mexico and Florida where a motion to quash service of process was affirmed on appeal)
- Dyce v. Christie, 17 So.3rd 892 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009) (expedited enforcement of final decree from Jamaica, child abduction, collateral attack of foreign judgment and due process of law)
- Abdo v. Ichai, 34 So.3rd 13 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010) (PCA affirmed order permitting mother to relocate to France, retaining habitual residence in the United States and transferring jurisdiction to California)
- Sarpel v. Eflanli, 65 So.3rd 1080 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (temporary absence and the establishment of "home state" subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to the UCCJEA and anti-suit injunction preventing the former wife from attempting to modify the final judgment from Florida and "mirror orders" entered in Turkey)
Articles Published
- "When the Question Involves an International Move, The Answer May Lie in Retaining U.S. Jurisdiction," ABA Family Law Section, Family Advocate, Spring 2006
Seminars
- "Records and the Abducted Child," Children's Records Law in Florida, 1999, 2000, 2001
- "Economic Injunctions/Freeze Orders Domestic and Foreign," 12th Annual Nuts & Bolts of Divorce, Dade County Bar Association Family Courts Committee, 2005
- "Abduction Factors and Fla. Stat. ß61.45 as It Concerns International Visitation and Child Custody," First Family American Inn of Court, 2006
- "International Child Abduction: Returning Kids Home & Making the Abductor Pay Through Hague or UCCJEA," Family Law Update 19th Judicial Circuit in St. Lucie County, Florida, 2007
- "Cross-Border Family Mediation with an Emphasis on the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction," sponsored by the University of Miami School of Law and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2008
- "From Ferreting to Fetching: How to Find, Freeze and Retrieve Marital Assets Hidden Abroad," ABA Family Law 2009 Spring CLE Conference
- "Moving from Kansas to Oz: Competing Paradigms and Practical Issues in International Child Custody Relocation Cases," Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 46th Annual Conference, 2009
- "Transnational Families: Where International Law and Family Law Intersect," 2009 Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies
- "Mediating International Child Abduction Cases and Other High Conflict Cross-Border Custody Disputes," ABA International Law 2009 Fall CLE Conference
- "Alternative to the Hague by Returning Kids Home and Making the Abductor Pay Through the UCCJEA," U.S. Chapter of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML), 2011 Annual General Meeting
- "Case Study: Application to Remove a Child From the Jurisdiction," IAML 2011 Annual General Meeting, Harrogate, U.K., 2011
- "1980 Hague Convention," Lunch and Learn Seminar sponsored by Family Court Services, 2011"Representing the Abducting Parent," Japanese Symposium, IAML, U.S. Chapter, 2012
- "Enforcement of Mediated Agreements," Japanese Symposium, IAML, U.S. Chapter, 2012
- "International Enforcement of Mediated Agreements: Properly Structuring Your Agreements for Enforcement Success," IAML, U.S. Chapter, 2012
- "Mediating Hague Abduction Cases," Phoenix Symposium, IAML, U.S. Chapter, 2013
Activities
- Participant, ICARA 15 Symposium, Office of Children's Issues, Department of State, 2003
- Attended the Fifth Meeting of the Special Commission to Review the Operation of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 2006
- Member of study group of the Secretary of State Advisory Committee of Private International Law considering the 1996 Hague Protection of Children Convention, 2007
- Observer/attendee on behalf of IAML (NGO) at the Sixth Meeting of the Special Commission to Review the Operation of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the Hague Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforceability and Measures for the Protection of Children, 2011
- Observer/attendee on behalf of IAML (NGO) at the Sixth Meeting of the Special Commission to Review the Operation of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the Hague Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforceability and Measures for the Protection of Children, 2012
