Nestled on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico along Southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast is the charming city of Naples. This is a destination known for its sugar white sandy beaches, world class culture, high end shopping, delicious cuisine, and championship golf courses. Named after the coastal Italian city, Naples, Florida offers the perfect blend of glamorous and casual.  The area is home to nearly 22,000 permanent residents and plays host to countless snowbirds and tourists every year.

The U.S. News & World Report has ranked Naples

Naples is also on the 2016 Conde Nast Traveler readers’ choice list for “Best Big Cities” in the U.S. and came in at #8.

Naples by the Numbers

  • Unemployment: 4.7%
  • Median Household Income: $61,222
  • Median Home Price: $431,100
  • Cost of Living: 14.9% above the national average
  • Crimes per 100,000 residents: 2,515

*Moody’s Analytics; Sperling’s BestPlaces; U.S. Census (2016)

Naples Economy

The Naples economy is largely driven by tourism, real estate development, and agriculture. The citrus industry also makes up a large part of the local economy. Some of the largest employers in the area include Arthrex, a medical equipment manufacturer, and Neighborhood America, a technology company, Health Management Associates, a Fortune 1000 company, and the NCH Healthcare System.

Naples is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. It has the sixth-highest per capita income in America. It is a hotspot for rich retirees and Fortune 500 executives. Real estate on the “Platinum Coast” is among the most expensive in the country, with houses selling for more than $40 million.

Life’s A Beach

Southwest Florida’s Collier County, also known as the “Paradise Coast,” is comprised of Naples, Marcos Island and the western Gulf Coast portion of the Everglades. Together, they boast more than 30 miles of beautiful beaches, many of which are consistently ranked on “Best Beaches” lists.

Naples was recently the top choice for “Best Beach Towns to Live in” in a 2017 ranking by WalletHub. Marcos Island came in at #7.

Siesta Key Public Beach

Ideal for swimming, volleyball, and watching stunning Gulf sunsets. The nearby Siesta Key Village has restaurants, bars and mom-and-pop shops, all accessible via a trolley and “free ride” taxis.

  • America’s Best Beach, 2011, Dr. Beach
  • No. 2 Beach in America and No. 16 Beach in the World, 2013, TripAdvisor

Barefoot Beach Preserve

Located just north of downtown Naples, Barefoot Beach is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida’s southwest coast. It’s a popular area for fisherman to catch a variety of species of fish and a primary spot for sea turtles to nest.

  • Ranked #2 of the Top 10 Beaches in America, 2014, by Dr. Beach

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is the northernmost beach in Naples. The 199 acre park is great for enjoying a variety of recreational activities like swimming, fishing, beachcombing, picnicking, kayaking, and snorkeling.

Boaters can launch their vessels into Water Turkey Bay and travel to the Gulf of Mexico to fish for saltwater or freshwater fish in the Cocohatchee River. Kayakers can paddle through mangrove estuaries and snorkelers and scuba divers can explore one of the only hard-bottom reefs in the Naples area.

  • No. 10 of the Top 10 Beaches in America, 2014, Dr. Beach

Naples Beach is a favorite among locals and tourists who take advantage of the iconic 1,000 foot long Naples pier, which is perfect for fishing, bird and dolphin watching.

Vanderbilt Beach County Park

Stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling, bird watching, and shelling are some of the fun activities that take place at Vanderbilt Beach County Park.

Clam Pass Beach Park: 35-acre park 6 miles north of Naples known for its 3,000-foot boardwalk and mangrove trees

 

Eco Adventures in Naples

Naples’ proximity to the Everglades is a gateway to an exotic wilderness and vast array of natural wonders. 80 percent of Florida’s Paradise Coast is made up of parks and nature preserves.

The Everglades National Park is the biggest wetlands ecosystem in the U.S., spanning across 1.5 million acres. The park preserves mangrove forests which serves as a crucial habitat for rare and endangered species like the manatee, crocodile and Florida panther. Close to the Everglades National Park is the Big Cypress National Preserve — 729,000 acres of protected swamp where tropical plants, black bear, and a variety of wading birds can be found.

30 miles east of Naples is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, home to alligators, white-tailed deer, otters, and red-bellied turtles. Visitors can hike the 2.3 mile Boardwalk through an old-growth cypress forest and catch a glimpse of a nesting colony of endangered wood storks.

At the junction of Route 92 and Highway 41, one can discover the 7,271-acre Collier-Seminole State Park, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world.

The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is also a popular nature and wildlife attraction featuring favorite animals like lions, tigers, and bears and also rare species like the fosas of Madagascar or Asian deer.

Shop, Dine, and Stroll in Downtown Naples

Historic downtown Naples offers the ultimate experience in shopping, dining, culture and entertainment. Stretching over five miles of palm tree lined streets and landscaped promenades, one can find trendy clothing boutiques, sidewalk cafes, ice cream parlors, waterfront restaurants, spas and salons, theaters, museums, and art galleries. Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South serve as the two bookends of the downtown area.

Third Street South and the Avenues has more than 100 shops and restaurants within walking distance to the beach. Also featured is three square blocks of traditional and contemporary fine art houses and galleries known as “Gallery Row.”

A few blocks away is Fifth Avenue South which extends from Tamiami Trail to the Gulf of Mexico in Old Naples. Aside from having more than 30 restaurants and countless other shops, Fifth Avenue is also a business center and residential neighborhood. In the heart of all the action is the city’s only luxury hotel, the Inn on Fifth and Club Level Suites which was recommended by Forbes Travel Guide.

Within walking distance from Fifth Avenue South is the historic Tin City which is reminiscent of Naples’ nautical past. Tin City has over 40 stores and popular waterfront eateries like The Riverwalk Fish & Ale House and Merriman’s Wharf.

Other shopping venues in the area includes the upscale luxury retail at Waterside Shops and Village at Venetian Bay.

Performing Arts & Museums in Naples

The Artis Center or Philharmonic Center for the Arts has been a cultural mainstay in Naples for more than 22 years offering more than 400 performances annually in dance, opera, classical and popular music, and Broadway musicals. The arts center also houses a resident orchestra and the Bakers Museum which features 15 galleries of modern and contemporary art. Other performing arts venues in Naples include the Naples Dinner Theatre, the Gulfshore Playhouse and Sugden Community Theatre.

For those who want to learn about the local history of Naples, the Collier County Museum at the Government Center is the place to go. The museum is made up of 10,000 square feet of exhibits showcasing prehistoric mastodons, artifacts from the now extinct Calusa people, a World War II Sherman tank and more. In addition to the Collier County Museum, history buffs can also check out the Museum of the Everglades, Naples Depot Museum, and Marco Island Historical Historical Museum.

 

 

 

Naples Family Law Attorney

The Law Office of Kevyn Noonan Hayes P.A counsels families in Naples, Florida through some of the most challenging times in their lives. Whether you’re facing a divorce, child custody dispute, or other family law matter, we can develop a customized solution that provides the closure and peace of mind you need to move forward with your life.

We understand that family conflicts can be stressful and emotional but having a compassionate and competent family law attorney by your side can make all the difference. You can count on Kevyn Noonan Haynes to be your advocate, voice, and confidante throughout this time of transition. She can help you navigate the Collier County family court process and interpret the law in terms that you can understand.

Call today 239-591-6248 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Ms. Hayes encourages her clients to find common ground whenever possible. In fact, not every divorce needs to be ugly and contentious. When you and your spouse make a good faith effort to work through your issues, it allows you to take control of the process rather than having a judge decide your future. In the end, this will save you time, money, and stress.

Whether through negotiation, mediation or trial, Ms. Hayes will safeguard your financial interests and fiercely protect your parental rights and relationship with your children.

Comprehensive Family Law Services

The Law Offices of Kevyn Noonan Hayes has extensive experience and specialized knowledge handling all facets of family law, including:

-Dissolution of Marriage
-Financial issues, such as alimony and equitable distribution
-Children’s issues, such as child support and parenting plans
-Contempt and enforcement
-Post divorce modifications and enforcement
-Other services such as annulments, relocation, paternity, name change, income deduction orders, and annual guardianship plans and accounting

Naples Family Courts

The 20th Judicial Circuit Court, Collier County Family Law Division hears family cases in Naples. Florida’s family courts, including in Collier County have adopted the “one family, one judge” model which means you will have the same judge from the beginning of your case until its conclusion. 

Naples Court Location:

Collier County Government Complex/Family Law Division, 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, Florida 34112

Circuit Civil Court Fees

  • Dissolution of Marriage: $408
  • Paternity, Child Custody, Child Support: $300
  • Family Court Counter Petition: $295

At the Law Office of Kevyn Noonan Hayes, we handle the proper and timely filing of all required documents to make the process as smooth as possible for our clients. This may include:

  • filing a petition for the dissolution of marriage with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Collier County
  • filing a counter petition or response to original divorce petition
  • drafting and submitting a parenting plan
  • drawing up and submitting financial disclosure documents
  • drafting and submitting property settlement agreement
  • drafting and submitting a marital settlement agreement

 

Mandatory Parenting Classes

In Naples, parents who are divorcing are required to take “a “Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course.” For a list of courses pre-approved by the Department of Children and Families, go here.

Parental Time Sharing 

When children are involved, difficult decisions are made regarding custody (parenting-time/time-sharing) and child support. Family courts in Naples and throughout Florida want both parents to fully remain in their children’s lives and generally favor shared custody arrangements with shared parental responsibility unless there is some mitigating factor

This means both parents will participate equally in making decisions related to the children’s upbringing. Even though one parent is granted physical custody, the other parent receives generous visitation rights.

At the Law Office of Kevyn Noonan Hayes, we can help negotiate a custody arrangement that you and your children feel comfortable with and can also help craft a parenting plan that is in your children’s best interests and that demonstrates a commitment to shared parental responsibility.

A typical parenting plan outlines:

  • time each parent spends with children including birthdays, vacations and holidays
  • medical decisions
  • educational decisions
  • religion
  • extracurricular activities
  • child support

Property Division

In Naples and throughout the entire state, marital property is divided based on the concept of equitable distribution. An equal division doesn’t necessarily mean a 50/50 split however. A judge will divide property based on what is deemed fair. The judge will weigh certain factors such as your income relative to your spouse’s, length of your marriage, contributions to the marriage, etc.

At the Law Offices of Kevyn Noonan Hayes, we help

  1. identify all your assets and liabilities
  2. perform a valuation of assets
  3. negotiate a property settlement agreement

Alimony & Child Support

Whether you anticipate having to ask for or having to pay alimony or child support in your divorce, we can perform the calculations to make sure the payment amount is fair and reasonable.

If you plan on seeking alimony in your divorce, you must demonstrate a financial need. Conversely, if you are asked to provide spousal support, a judge won’t order alimony if you would become financially strained or if the receiving spouse has more net income.

Child support is calculated using specific variables, which are entered into a worksheet. Some of these variables include:

  • Net incomes of each parent
  • Number of children from marriage
  • Total number of overnight visits each parent has
  • Daycare and after-school care costs
  • Health insurance costs