You've seen the commercials for Reverse Mortgages. If you're over 62 and have equity in your home, you tuck it away in case you need it down the road. But if you're considering a divorce, a reverse mortgage can become a useful tool. It could allow one spouse to remain...
THE 5 TYPES OF PERMANENT ALIMONY IN FLORIDA
ALIMONY: Definition according to Dictionary.com: "an allowance paid to a person by that person's spouse or former spouse for maintenance, granted by a court upon a legal separation or a divorce or while action is pending." Florida provides five types of alimony: Temporary, Bridge-the-Gap, Rehabilitative, Durational or Permanent. TEMPORARY ALIMONY:...
ESTABLISHING PATERNITY UNDER FLORIDA LAW
HOW IS PATERNITY DETERMINED IN FLORIDA? If a mother is married, the mother's husband at birth is the legal father of the child. If the mother is unmarried when the child is born, but later marries the child's father, the husband becomes the legal father. But if the child is...
WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN A CO-PARENT BREAKS THE PARENTING AGREEMENT?
Both parties are legally obligated to follow the executed parenting agreement as written. If one party wants to make changes, they need to get the court to issue a Modification Order. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for one parent to choose to ignore what they don't like. If one parent...
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FAMILY PET IN A DIVORCE?
UPDATE 1/18/22: Starting January 2022, Spain will legally recognize all animals as “sentient beings” with emotions rather than “property”, making sure that, in legal fights, the wellbeing of pets is considered above all else. Read more here 1/10/22: For many families, a pet is...
10 DIVORCE MISTAKES TO AVOID
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. Divorce is hard on everyone involved. Spouses or partners often experience feelings of anger, guilt, sadness, and loneliness. Although these emotions are common and are to be expected, they may lead to mistakes that can have potentially long-lasting effects on their...
HOW MUCH TIME WILL I GET WITH MY CHILDREN AFTER DIVORCE OR SEPARATION*
(*IT IS NO LONGER CALLED “CUSTODY” IN FLORIDA) When minor children are involved, whether in a dissolution of marriage (divorce) case or in a paternity case, decisions must be made for how the parents will share time with them. The term “custody” is no longer used in Florida law; the...
Foreign Law Cannot Be Used in Florida State Court
Attorneys who practice in the area of civil litigation are responsible for a myriad of items. For example, an attorney representing a client in civil court must not only be familiar with the relevant state law that is the basis of the impending action, but they must also demonstrate a...
Child Custody Law in Florida: 20 Things You Need to Know
Cases involving parents as opposing parties over the custody of their children present unique issues and difficulties to overcome for everyone involved. Emotions often run high, especially if the custody case is being worked out in the context of a divorce. However, Florida child custody law is set up...
Issues to be Addressed by Florida Legislature in 2014
The 2014 legislative session is upon us in Florida, and there is no shortage of issues expected to be addressed. A recent article highlighted some of the key issues that have arisen in the state recently, and gave some insight as to what sort of action Florida citizens can expect from...