Florida Family Law Blog
Divorce and its Impact on Children
Each child is unique, and has a natural desire to please his or her parents. Many of us do our best to raise our kids, but there’s no easy route when a child is caught in the middle of a divorce. For them, this is a life changing event. It turns their world upside down. In … Read more
I’m not ready for a divorce, but my spouse is….
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
Divorce and the Military
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
It’s Back to School Time in North Central Florida
Marion County Florida public schools started August 17th, and schools in Alachua County’s public system start August 24th, 2015. Information for Marion County can be found at www.marionschools.net. The website includes information on things like bus schedules, the school calendar, online meal pay, and just about every other issue that comes up for parents. Similar … Read more
Understanding Probate
Probate cases involve the handling of a loved one’s assets after he or she passes away. In Florida, there are two primary kinds of probate proceedings. They include summary probates, which is a quicker process for smaller estates. And formal probates, which are more involved and require the use of a personal representative. Summary probates … Read more
Should your child testify??
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
Prenuptial Agreements — A necessary evil?
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
Father’s Day — a special day for many of us
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
Wills versus Trusts — A Primer
Many people come to our office with questions about whether they should have a will versus a trust. It’s important to know the distinctions between them. The biggest difference is based on when they take effect: wills do not become effective until the person who wrote the will (commonly called the testator) has passed away. … Read more
Florida Alimony Reform Bill Dead For Now
Leave it to the Florida Legislature. The much anticipated bill to revise our alimony statute, which would have established a formula for determining alimony, and would have ended permanent alimony as we know it, is dead for now. The Florida Senate refused to take up the House of Representative’s version, due to a dispute over … Read more
Custody and Parenting Plans
“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
Autism Awareness 2015, Parenting for a Brighter Future
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