Same-sex marriage in Florida is not recognized, which has posed a number of questions to Jacksonville and other Florida divorce attorneys about how to handle to such matters. The State of Florida originally initiated a statute defining that same-sex marriage would not be considered legally authorized or recognized in the…
Gambling debts, martial affairs, excessive drug use and the like can lead to a divorce in Florida. However, Florida is a no-fault state so these things do not really come into play when determining such things as alimony. As a Jacksonville divorce lawyer, I am often able to get these…
In a divorce or paternity case involving issues with children including time-sharing/visitation, parental responsibility or child support, the court may refer the parties to mediation. Florida law provides for the judge in such a proceeding to send the parties to mediation over disputed matters to determine if such things can…
In a divorce, often one party may have more financial security than the other party, either by income, inheritance, or the like, thus putting the other party in a financial situation that makes it difficult to pay attorney’s fees. When hiring a lawyer for a divorce or modification action in…
Florida recognizes the use of premarital and post marital agreements when deciding the outcome or possible outcome of a divorce. In some cases, during the marriage the parties may find themselves thinking of divorcing and may enter into a marital settlement agreement, but ultimately not have the agreement entered with…
In some circuits in Florida, like Jacksonville, St. Augustine and other surrounding areas, cases involving divorce, paternity, child support or other family law matters may be heard in front of a magistrate instead of a judge, if the parties do not object. The magistrate is given the power to hear…
Florida divorces involving alimony issues have given rise to new legislation over the last few years and will continue into the near future. The alimony debate in Florida is based on a number of factors, including the lack of an alimony calculation that is state mandated in determining the amount…
Retirement benefits are often a combination of employee and employer contributions during ones job. The retirement benefits are normally grown through the length of employment, and if an employee is married during his/her employment, then the contribution he/she is making is actually a marital contribution for purposes of a Florida…
Written By: Lenorae Atter, Attorney When going through a divorce in Florida, it is often difficult to think about separating the things that have been accumulated during the marriage. As a Jacksonville divorce lawyer, I am often asked how items such as the house, cars, debts, retirements and alike will…
In a Florida divorce, the Court looks at a number of factors when equitably dividing the marital assets, including the house. The concept of equitable distribution is to equal the assets and debts of the parties and to equalize said debts in accordance with the ability of the parties to…