Florida no longer has custody orders. They are called Parenting Plans. The change was made in 2008 based on the recommendations of a Family Law Committee. The Committee is made up of attorneys and professionals who work in the family law field. The reason for the change is to move away from common problems seen … Read more
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to ensure that your Holiday Time-Sharing goes smoothly. This is not a problem with many divorced couples, but it’s best to resolve issues now. The number of different Time-Sharing schedules people use is as diverse as the number of couples themselves. Many people equally divide the Thanksgiving … Read more
Putative Father’s rights changed last year when Florida’s highest court held that a putative father can file for paternity. This can be done over the objection of the wife and her Husband. Until then, a putative father had no right to file. Several cases have now been filed using this change as a basis, and … Read more
Adoption is a great alternative for many grandparents and step-parents. Many grandparents and step-parents find themselves thrust into being a parent. Most relish the chance, but not everyone starts by considering adoption. Many adoption cases have come into our office recently. They all have one major thing in common – a parent who is missing. … Read more
Father’s Rights took a nice step in the right direction recently. The Florida Supreme Court held that unmarried dads can pursue their rights, even if the mother was married to someone else. This set aside a decades old approach that was long overdue. Before this ruling, unmarried dads could not pursue such rights. Children whose … Read more
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
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
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
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
It’s Back to School time here in North Central Florida. Meet the teacher is here, and schools are getting ready to start. In Marion County, classes resume on Wednesday, August 10th. In Alachua County, school starts on Monday, August 15th. Each school provides a list of what materials your students will need. Check their websites … Read more