• Do I have to have a lawyer in family court?

    While it is highly recommended that you have an attorney in family law cases, it is not required. You are entitled to represent yourself. When you represent yourself, you are considered acting pro se (representing yourself without a lawyer).

  • Will the court appoint a lawyer for me?

    No, the court will not appoint a lawyer for you. Only in criminal cases where you may be deprived of your liberty, i.e., sent to jail are you constitutionally entitled to a lawyer. Some individuals who are living at subsistence levels, i.e., poverty levels, as well as the elderly (persons over the age of 65 years) may qualify for legal assistance through the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc.

  • How can I pay for services that I receive?

    Ms. Rowe-Linn accepts the following forms of payments for services provided;
    Cash, Cashiers Check, Money Order, Personal or Business Check, along with the following types of credit cards: VISA, MASTER CARD , DISCOVER and DINERS CLUB CARDS

  • What are the charges that I would incur if you were to take my case?

    Ms. Rowe Linn bills for her time in one tenth (1/10) of an hour increments for any time that she is required to spend on your case including the initial consultation.

    An initial retainer fee will be set by Ms. Rowe-Linn prior to her and/or her staff providing any services on your behalf until a retainer agreement is prepared and executed by both you and Ms. Rowe-Linn. Depending on the facts and complexity of the issues of your case, the amount of your retainer may vary and is set by Ms. Rowe-Linn. *All retainers are refundable to the person who paid them and upon the completion of your case.

    All time for office conferences, telephone calls, preparation for and attendance at depositions, hearings, mediation, drafting of letters, memos, motions, notices of hearing, pleadings, proposed orders, memorandums of law, proposed final judgements, etc. are billed for time spent drafting and organizing these documents.
    Costs may include: the hiring of outside vendors, such as, Court Reporters, Process Servers, Copy Services, long distance telephone charges, Legal Research charges, Witness Fee charges for the Witnesses needed in Depositions, Hearings and Trial.  Additional Expert Witness fees to hire experts for your side of the case relating to: Vocational Experts, Certified Public Accountants, Property Appraisers to determine the value of your property both personally and Business if needed, a Business Evaluator for you business if this pertains and both a Personal Property and Business Property Evaluator as needed for the contents of your home and/or business.

    Ms. Rowe-Linn encourages her clients to assist with their case. Have the client (you) finding and locating documents, for us to prepare which may include financial and legal documents that you are required to produce the opposing party and/or counsel. We encourage any client to organize the documents, to help answer financial questions and make extra copies of documents that are required to be produced in an attempt to reduce your overall fees and costs. This will save us a considerable amount of time on your case which in turn will save you a considerable amount of money. You will be not able to or feel that you cannot do these types of tasks, we are ready willing and able to assist you, but keep in mind the more work we do the more money it will cost you. We will keep you apprised of every step in your case so that there are no surprises to you. You will be copied on every document in your case from either us and/or the opposing party and/or counsel. If you are a client that has very limited cash resources but has a parent, other family member, other relative or acquaintance that is willing to front your expenses for this litigation, we would be happy to send them the required documentation that will allow us with your approval to accept money (payment) on your behalf and also to speak to them regarding the case as if they were the client with your permission. Again all retainers are refundable to the person that paid them, some cases if the initial retainer is depleted, we may require an additional retainer or more to conclude the case.

  • How long does it take to get a divorce?

    The time it takes to dissolve your marriage varies on a case-by-case basis. For example, Florida law provides that no one may be divorced until after 20 days have elapsed from the date of filing of the petition for dissolution of marriage. Even litigants who are proceeding pro se may find it difficult to get divorced that soon. It is much more likely that your case will take somewhere between 6 and 18 months to resolve. This is because it takes awhile for people to get together all of their financial documents and exchange them with the other side. Likewise in all cases, you are required to file a financial affidavit and that is not an easy task to complete if it is done accurately.

  • What is the difference between a divorce, a separation and an annulment?

    A divorce permanently dissolves a valid marriage. A separation occurs whenever one party is no longer residing as husband and wife and it generally requires that the parties physically separate. An annulment is a legal action which declares that a marriage was invalid when it occurred generally because one party lacked the legal capacity to marry (for example, he or she was married to another on the date of the subsequent marriage, the parties were intoxicated at the time of the marriage, the marriage was never consummated).

  • Is there a website I could go to find information about how the Family Court works?

    Generally, you can find information about the Clerk's office at http://15thcircuit.co.palm-beach.fl.us/web/guest/cadmin. You can find out the law on dissolution of marriage in Chapter 61, Florida Statutes, which can be found at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.

  • Why choose Peggy Rowe-Linn, P.A., to handle your family law matter?

    Peggy Rowe-Linn began working as a family law/divorce attorney in 1984. Since that time, she has handled over 2,000 cases in marital and family law. She has been recognized as a specialist in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Only a lawyer who is board certified by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education is permitted to advertise that she is board certified or as a specialist on business cards, websites, letterheads, directories and yellow pages.

    Ms. Rowe-Linn is also certified as a Family Law Mediator by The Florida Supreme Court. As such, Ms. Rowe-Linn brings a unique perspective to the practice of family law. She focuses her attention on resolving disputes instead of litigating disputes which, ultimately, saves the client tremendous money over the course of the litigation. Notwithstanding that she is a mediator, she has significant, trial advocacy skills and is not afraid to bring matters which cannot be resolved before the judge.

    Ms. Rowe-Linn is rated as an AV lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. An AV rating is the highest rating an attorney can have in the legal community for skill, experience and ethics. Martindale Hubbell has been rating lawyers since 1868.

    Ms. Rowe-Linn is also frequently appointed to serve as an attorney ad litem in contested divorce cases. An attorney ad litem is appointed to represent children in hotly contested custody cases. As attorney ad litem is ethically obligated to serve the stated wishes of a minor child to the extent that the child can understand the consequences of his or her wishes.

    Ms. Rowe-Linn also serves and is appointed as a guardian ad litem in disputed divorce cases. A guardian ad litem is appointed to represent the best interests of minor children while their parents are struggling with difficult family issues. A guardian ad litem is appointed by the court to act as next friend of the child, investigators or evaluators.