Florida Family Law Articles
Homestead Protection in Florida
Homestead Protection is a fundamental part of most probate cases. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: “Your house is your castle”. Well in Florida, that’s true. There is broad protection for homes, and that protection passes on to your heirs. At the top are surviving spouses and minor children. For them, there are certain types … Read more
Divorce and Income Taxes (Video)
It’s officially tax season, and anyone getting a divorce should know how taxes may affect you. There are several things to consider with taxes, especially with the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. These include how it affects support payments, when to file jointly, and how to claim dependents. Divorce and income taxes … Read more
Martin Luther King Championed Equality for All
We honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this coming Monday. It’s an important day for all of us. Dr. King’s ideas go beyond the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King championed equality for all. He marched to promote freedom and opportunity for all. In his “I have a Dream” speech, Dr. King talked about people … Read more
Summary Probates Offer a Much Faster Alternative
Summary Probate is a quicker format for those with small estates. Probate cases are used after a person has passed away. There are two basic types of probate cases in Florida – Summary and Formal. Formal probate cases involve estates which have more than $75,000.00 in assets, and are a bit more complex. A personal … Read more
Holiday Parenting Time
For many kids, December brings visions of Santa Clause and gifts. For parents, however, it’s a lot of shopping, cooking, and decorating. The Holidays also bring arguments over how to divide Parenting Time. Holiday parenting time is for the kids. As we go about getting ready for the Holidays, let’s remember that time-sharing this Holiday … Read more
Halloween and Parenting Plans
Halloween is a great time. Ghosts and goblins are ready to come out, and kids love to trick or treat. But for many caught in a divorce, it’s also a time when parents argue over who gets to take the kids around the block. Young kids love to dress up, and it’s a fun time. … Read more
Domestic Violence Awareness
This month is Domestic Violence Awareness month. It’s important to recognize this issue. Domestic violence is a serious problem. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women are victims. Ten million people are abused each year by a close partner. These are staggering numbers, and it’s not acceptable. Violence at home … Read more
The Two Types of Contempt of Court
Contempt of court is a common method to enforce judgments. There are two types – criminal and civil. The most common form is Civil Contempt. Unlike criminal contempt, civil is used to compel someone to follow an order. The best known type involves collecting money in child support cases. A custodial parent can file … Read more
Attorney’s Fees
Attorney’s fees is an important issue in many family law cases. Hiring an attorney is expensive, and often people are using the balance of their checking account to hire someone. Worse yet, they have to put the fees on a credit card because the other spouse hired someone already. There are many issues to resolve … Read more
Helping after Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey has left a trail of destruction throughout Texas. The coastline is devastated from the flooding, and that area will need help for a long time. Here are ways you can help. First, the Red Cross is always accepting donations. You can donate anywhere from $10 to $1,000 or more online. And you … Read more
Parenting Plans: A Change In Perspective
Parenting plans are what courts use today to divide time with kids. Until 2008, Florida courts used the terms residential parent and visitation. That all changed when the Florida Legislature replaced those terms with parenting plans. It is more than a change in names – it is a change in perspective. The change reflects the … Read more
Collaborative Divorce Law
The Collaborative Law Process Act is now law, and it’s a great step for families. The Florida Legislature recently passed this new law, which gives people an alternative to litigation. A rather unique approach, Collaborative Law is based on the idea that parties work strictly to resolve things without litigation. Parties must agree to participate, … Read more