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 Florida Supreme Court has recently revised the Florida Family Law Rules. These rules outline how a case proceeds, from start to finish. This includes what is required when you file a case, and how to proceed. The Family Law Rules tell all parties what financial information is needed, and when it is due. For … Read more
Dependency Cases often interact with family law cases. They are filed when parents are alleged to have abused, abandoned, or neglected their children. Dependency cases are usually handled by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). However, anyone with knowledge can file a dependency petition. There are very distinct definitions. Abandoned means a parent, while … Read more
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
A large part of family law involves Juvenile Dependency cases. These cases generally arise when the State has to intervene with a family. There are many different reasons why this may occur. But the general basis for these cases is that the parents have abused, abandoned, or neglected their kids. Parents are often given a … Read more
The Florida Legislature passed an alimony reform bill this week which is now before the Governor. This bill substantially changes the alimony laws, and provides a presumption that children should spend approximately equal amounts of time with both parents. If signed into law, the bill will be a substantial change. It requires courts to make certain … Read more
When Do You Need a Family Lawyer? What comes to your mind when you think of family law? Many would say divorce and/or the courtroom, but that’s the tip of the iceberg. It is natural for people to identify “family lawyers” as someone who only helps individuals get a divorce. Pictures are conjured of lawyers … Read more
Domestic violence is a serious problem. According to a 2013 global review cited by the United Nations, 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced domestic violence. The UN also estimates that half of all women killed in 2012 were the victims of domestic violence. Likewise, the estimated number of children in the world who are 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