Professional Athlete Family Law Issues

The needs of professional athletes are typically complex and unique, involving various levels of personal and financial concerns. The professional athlete needs a family law firm which is experienced in addressing those needs with expediency, discretion, confidentiality and professionalism. Rudolph & Associates LLP have over 20 years of experience representing professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and on the PGA tour.

Professional athletes either perform under a contract, for example they play for a team, or they perform individually, like professional golfers and tennis players. Athletes who do not perform under a contract with a team usually have an income scenario which is more speculative compared with athletes who play for a team. Athletes who play for a team also have valuation issues with regard to their income. Contracts may contain guaranteed income or mere expectancies. For example, the standard NFL Player's contract has numerous provisions which will allow for termination. Another example: a professional football player may have signed a contract with a signing bonus. However, the signing bonus is not guaranteed but is dependent upon a series of factors. Retention of the signing bonus may be contingent upon the athlete's continued employment and the bonus may be forfeited. Different sports are different. Major League Baseball has a completely different bonus structure compared with the NFL. These are serious considerations which need to be competently addressed.

Professional athletes may also have endorsement income which creates unique and serious issues. For example, what happens if an athlete signs an endorsement contract during the marriage but will receive compensation and have to perform some services after the divorce? The professional athlete needs an experienced attorney to guide him or her through these serious considerations.

Professional athletes with children encounter other unique and challenging issues, including child support and timesharing matters. Child support is typically calculated based on the income of the mother and father using a guideline schedule set forth by law. A professional athlete is in a unique situation as he or she earns a high income for a few years and then after retirement from professional sports, the income is drastically reduced. Does this mean that for an athlete who experiences divorce or a paternity suit, the higher income earned while the athlete is playing is used to calculate child support? What about time with the child? A professional football player is very busy starting in the Summer with training camp and OTA's (Organized Team Activity) through the end of the season in January or - hopefully - February. Timesharing has to be structured around his schedule in order to accommodate this very special situation.

There are numerous issues in connection with a divorce or paternity case which are unique to the professional athlete. Rudolph & Associates LLP have the experience, the knowledge, and the ability to address such needs and to represent the professional athlete competently, expeditiously, discretely and compassionately.