Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Attorney latter@woodatter.com Florida laws regarding divorce, alimony and child support are defined in Chapter 61 of Florida Statutes. To file for an action of divorce involving alimony and child support, or simply a dissolution of marriage, you have to file a petition entitled, “In re…
First, it is no longer called child custody but “timeshare”. Each parent is entitled to a share of the child/children’s time. Usually, one parent has the majority share in order to provide stability to the minor children instead of bouncing day to day or week to week between homes after…
Florida Statute 61.502 explains the primary purpose of the UCCCJEA, which include: (1) avoiding jurisdiction competition and conflict with courts of other states in matters of child custody; (2) promoting cooperation with the courts of other states to the end that a custody decree is rendered in the state that…
Florida courts make a plethora of decisions regarding children. These decisions range from timesharing and decision making, safety and permanency planning, and proceedings for termination of parental rights. Whenever courts make such decisions, it must consider whether its decision would be in the “best interests” of the child. Most States…
There are many reasons why a grandparent may need to care for a grandchild for an extended period of time in Florida. Obtaining a Florida court order placing the child in the grandparent’s custody would allow the grandparents to obtain medical attention for the child, the right to enroll the…
Parental kidnapping affects families across the nation. According to The United States Department of Justice, 200,000 children are victims of family abductions per year. Sadly, most people do not realize that domestic violence is the underlying cause in many cases. When Jacksonville parents/ parents nationwide take their children in domestic…
Jacksonville Florida parents who go through a divorce can write a parenting plan to decide how they will divide their children’s time after a divorce. The plan provides a roadmap for the child’s future, and is the most important document in a Florida divorce with children. A parenting plan approved…
Historically in Florida and other States, adultery and divorce were much more closely correlated than they are today in the eyes of the law. In order to get a divorce in the past, the innocent party had to prove that their spouse committed some significant wrongdoing in order to seek…
The “best interest of the child” standard in a Florida Family Law Case generally refers to the deliberation that courts undertake when deciding what type of services, actions, and orders will best serve a child and for determining who is best suited to take care of a child. “Best interests”…
When you are facing a divorce in Jacksonville, Florida, there are many issues that must be resolved in order to obtain a final decree of divorce. The issues may include enforcement of a premarital agreement, division of property and debts, and alimony. For families that involve children, the most controversial…