Florida Family Law Articles
Child Custody by Extended Families
A hot topic these days is Child Custody by Extended Families. The parents may have a drug problem, or they may be in jail. Parents also ask extended families to help out while he or she is in college, or the military. In all of these circumstances, it’s good to know when and whether you … Read more
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a wonderful program throughout the United States, and here in Florida. Special Olympics is a program with great benefits. Special Olympics began in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Eunice Kennedy Shriver helped create Special Olympics. She organized events for people with intellectual disabilities, and she served on President Kennedy’s panel on … Read more
How Does The Florida Relocation Statute Work?
Relocation is a common event for all of us. Our jobs change. We remarry or enter into new relationships. So it’s important for a custodial parents to know when they can move, and how far. America is a mobile society. We are able to connect with each other via FaceTime, Skype, and other forms of electronic … Read more
Opposite Ideas? Reasons for Choosing Mediation Over a Trial
Mediation is an important step in every family law case. And it’s a better solution than going to trial in almost all cases. More people are satisfied if they have a say in the outcome. Trials are expensive, and you never know how a judge is going to rule. It’s better to control your own … Read more
Guardianships: An Important Bridge Between Parents and Caretakers
Guardianships are an important bridge between parents and caretakers. There are many different types of guardianships. Preneed Guardianships Preneed Guardianships are used to declare who cares for one’s children, if the parents die or become incapacitated. Our office handled of these cases recently, and I think that they are good to use. Simply put, a Preneed Guardian … Read more
Four Practical New Year’s Resolutions Helpful For All
New Year’s Resolutions are fabulous, if you actually follow them. Many people promise themselves that they will lose weight, or spend less money. Here’s four common sense tips that are helpful to all, especially anyone who is divorced or is about to divorce. First, don’t blame yourself for what happened. It takes two to create … Read more
Understanding the Role of Florida Magistrates
The Florida court system uses Magistrates every day. However, many people do not understand their role. Magistrates are appointed by circuit judges to handle a variety of cases. They work directly under the circuit judges, running their courtroom just like a judge. In family law cases, magistrates hear divorces, modification cases, and paternity cases. … Read more
Calculating Child Support in Florida Can Be Complex
Child Support is an integral part of almost all family law cases. But it is also now rather complex to calculate. Back when I started practicing law, we did child support calculations on paper. You took the net income of each parent, the number of kids, and multiplied the non-custodial parent’s income by a percentage. … Read more
Vote Election Day! What’s Important in Florida
Election Day is just around the corner, so make sure to vote! This year, it will be on November 8th, but polls in North Central Florida are already open. Bloggers, social media and the news media give us daily information about the presidential candidates. But there are also many state and local elections which are … Read more
Florida Disabled Kids Still Being Placed in Nursing Homes
A federal judge recently dismissed a case filed under the ADA to stop disabled kids from being placed in nursing homes in Florida. This is a travesty of justice. The ADA refers to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Passed in 1990, this act forbids discrimination against people with special needs. It is modeled after the … Read more
Family Law Modifications – Preparation is the Key to Success
Many customers have come to us lately with modifications being sought in his or her family law case. Persons seek to modify the Final Judgment for a variety of reasons. New jobs are offered in different cities or states. People remarry and need to move away. Someone who is paying child support may lose his … Read more
Self Determination a Hallmark of Mediation
Mediation is a great resource, and all parties should try it before marching into a courtroom. I attended the Florida Dispute Resolution Center’s annual conference recently. It was refreshing to interact with so many other mediators. Without question, we all felt that mediation is a better alternative to trial. Why use mediation? The answer … Read more