A child’s initial memories revolve around his parents and siblings. To them, their family is their world. All too often, grandparents find themselves filling this role. The reasons for this are plenty. Maybe the parents are out of state. Or maybe the parents are using drugs or are in prison. Sometimes a parent just wants … Read more
Florida has the 8th highest divorce rate in the United States of America. All around, you hear of friends who have decided to dissolve their marriage. I’ve seen people dissolve their marriage after less than one year, and others after 40 years. Either way, it’s always a traumatic experience. No one I’ve ever met goes … Read more
Florida has many military members, with some of the nicest duty stations. These include Key West, Pensacola, and Jacksonville. Military Members and their spouses also settle in Ocala and Gainesville. If you are a member of the military, or if your spouse is a member, you should know your basic rights and benefits. Judgements: The … Read more
One of the harder parts of any custody case is deciding to have a child testify in a family law case. Sometimes, a child may be the best, if not only, witness to certain events. And the statute on parenting time includes, as one of its criteria, the reasonable preferences of the child, if the … Read more
Before the wedding bells sound, many couples today come to our office to have a prenuptial agreement drafted. This is especially common in second marriages, where the husband or wife have children from a prior marriage. For many, it’s a necessary evil. Everyone wants to protect themselves. But who wants to talk about what happens … Read more
As we celebrate Father’s Day this June 21st, I’d like to remind all dads of the special role they play in their children’s lives. It took two people to conceive the child; and it takes two people to raise the child. Children thrive the most when both parents are involved, and our statutes reflect this … Read more
“I WANT CUSTODY!” — I hear this phrase often. But Florida no longer uses that term. Nor do Florida courts use the term, “residential parent.” In 2008, the Legislature changed the language being used, and in a sense changed the way we look at custody. Today, courts develop “parenting plans,” and parents (in a divorce … Read more
April is Autism Awareness month, and April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. Many towns will be lighting up the sky — or buildings — in blue to raise awareness about Autism. For me, it’s very personal, as I have a son on the spectrum. And it’s been a challenge. For years now, we have … Read more
We finished oral argument in an appeal this week, and it occurred to me that many do not understand the appellate process. Appeals are a way of having a judge’s decision reviewed by a higher court. In most family law and civil cases, this involves filing an appeal with the District Court of Appeal. Unlike … Read more
** UPDATE ** See “Alimony Reform Bill Passed in Florida, Now Before The Governor“ It’s only a matter of time before Florida’s alimony statute is finally revised. The last effort came in 2013, but was vetoed by Governor Rick Scott because it would have allowed anyone paying alimony to modify their support obligation retroactively. This … Read more