Experienced Treasure Coast Family Law Attorneys
Last updated on July 1, 2026
When most people think about family law, they immediately think about divorce. However, divorce is only one of the many legal issues that family law covers. At Napier & Rollin, PLLC, our family law attorneys represent residents of St Lucie, Martin, Brevard and Indian River counties in a wide range of family law issues, including child support, alimony, paternity – and divorce as well.
We understand how a family law issue can be especially challenging to navigate, as it involves the people closest to you. The emotional impact of these cases can make it difficult to find a positive solution without the help of an attorney who can guide you through the process. Let us walk you through the steps to find an outcome that works for you.
The Rules About Family Law
While similar to other forms of civil litigation, family law does have its own set of procedural rules, and attorneys are expected to obey additional professional conduct guidelines called the “Bounds of Advocacy.” The very first guideline of the Bounds of Advocacy is that an “attorney should strive to lower the emotional level of family disputes by treating counsel and the parties with respect.”
At Napier & Rollin, PLLC, we believe that this approach is also more likely to lead to a favorable outcome for the client. However, operating with professionalism and courtesy to others does not mean ignoring misconduct or giving up valuable rights without getting fair value in return. We are always capable and willing to enforce our clients’ rights by aggressively pursuing the truth and a just outcome through necessary litigation.
Our Family Law Services
Family law encompasses many legal issues that can impact your family. Our experienced lawyers have the knowledge necessary to navigate these cases and develop a strong strategy that will yield successful results.
We represent Vero Beach clients in any of the following issues:
- Divorce: Ending a marriage isn’t easy. We understand the challenges that often come with resolving issues regarding child custody, property division, alimony and more. Our attorneys are skilled at finding creative solutions that will help you reach a satisfying settlement.
- Collaborative Divorce: If you and your spouse want to avoid the stress of a courtroom divorce, then collaborative divorce may offer you an alternative solution. This process focuses on cooperation and negotiation to resolve conflicts and helps achieve positive solutions more quickly than going to court.
- Property Division: Understanding the differences between marital and separate property is a crucial first step to helping spouses protect what matters most to them. Our family law attorneys are well-versed in handling asset division cases and seeking favorable outcomes for our clients.
- Paternity: The mother of a child born out of wedlock is generally considered to be a “natural guardian” and entitled to sole custody. This may be true even when the father’s name appears on the birth certificate. To establish child support, custody and the father’s parental rights, a paternity action must be initiated.
- Modification: When circumstances have substantially changed since a final judgment was entered, a modification to support or custody arrangements may be necessary. Our attorneys are adept at obtaining and defending against modifications of custody, child support, parental responsibility and alimony awards.
- Relocation: Relocation cases are among the most difficult family law cases because they often involve high-stakes positions taken by both sides concerning where a child will live. The attorneys of Napier & Rollin, PLLC, can be trusted to handle these complex cases.
- Prenuptial Agreements: A uniform statute adopted by Florida in 2007 governs the basic requirements to ensure that a prenuptial agreement will be technically valid and enforceable. Many lower-quality prenuptial agreements fail to address important issues or contain ambiguous language. Without the assistance of a skilled attorney, post-nuptial agreements can result in fatal errors or become totally unenforceable.
- Enforcement of Final Judgments: Unfortunately, the end of a divorce or paternity case is not always the end of family law litigation. When a party disobeys a final judgment or other court order, further proceedings may be necessary to compel the disobedient party’s compliance, collect past-due support, or have the court fashion remedies to attempt to repair the damage caused by the wrongdoer.
Depending on the particular facts of each family law case, a court might be inclined to award make-up timesharing, attorneys’ fees, interest, or even a “child pick-up order.” In other cases, a party’s non-compliance with a Final Judgment or court order could result in criminal penalties.
In many high-conflict cases, it may be necessary to impose restrictions on a party’s communication with the other party or child. Some cases require the appointment of a parenting coordinator to act as a referee between parties. If you’re looking to find a lawyer who can help you address non-compliance or contempt issues in your family law case, allow the family law attorneys of Napier & Rollin, PLLC, to represent you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law
Family law issues often involve changing circumstances and evolving Florida laws. Below are answers to several common questions people ask before making important decisions about their families.
Does adding my name to a home deed automatically make it marital property?
No, not automatically. Changes to Florida law that took effect in 2024 clarified that simply adding a spouse’s name to the deed of a home owned before the marriage does not necessarily convert it into marital property.
Whether a nonmarital home becomes a marital asset depends on how the transfer was completed and whether it satisfies Florida’s legal requirements for conveying real estate between spouses. In many situations, a valid interspousal gift requires a written conveyance executed with the formalities required under Florida law, including the appropriate signatures and witnesses. Courts may also examine the parties’ intent and the surrounding circumstances. Even when ownership remains nonmarital, other issues, such as mortgage payments made with marital funds or improvements completed during the marriage, may create reimbursement or equitable distribution claims that require separate analysis.
Can child support or alimony be changed after losing a job?
Yes, but only after the court approves a modification. A job loss does not automatically reduce or suspend existing support obligations.
Florida law generally requires proof of a substantial, material and continuing change in circumstances that was not anticipated when the original order was entered. An involuntary job loss, long-term illness or another significant financial setback may satisfy that standard, depending on the facts. The paying party must file a Supplemental Petition for Modification and continue complying with the existing order until the court grants relief. Stopping payments without court approval can lead to accumulated arrears, interest and contempt proceedings, even when the loss of income is genuine.
What is Florida’s 50-mile rule for parent relocation?
A parent cannot simply relocate with a child more than 50 miles from their current residence without following Florida’s relocation law. The rule applies whether the move is within Florida or to another state.
Under Florida Statute 61.13001, the relocating parent must either obtain written consent from the other parent or petition the court for permission. The court considers several factors when deciding whether relocation serves the child’s best interests, including the child’s relationship with each parent, educational opportunities, the reasons for the move and the feasibility of preserving meaningful contact with the nonrelocating parent.
Caring Family Law Solutions
Your family law issues shouldn’t take control of your life. We will guide you every step of the way toward reclaiming control over the situation and seeking an outcome that is sure to satisfy you.
Call Napier & Rollin, PLLC, at 772-408-9770 today to discuss your case, or send an email online at your convenience.
We serve people in Indian River, St Lucie, Martin and Brevard Counties from our offices in Vero Beach and Sebastian.