Movie stars, millionaires and other VIPs work very hard to keep their personal details private – especially when it comes to divorce. They claim they have a greater need for concern about identity theft. For business executives, the business itself can intervene to protect confidential company information that might come…
In Florida, the courts in Miami overturned the ban on gay adoptions in August 2009. Judge Cindy S. Lederman wrote in her opinion that excluding gay couples defeats Florida’s mission to provide all children permanent families. The state has claimed that gays are more likely to suffer from psychological imbalances…
Many clients need immediate help when they first start going through a divorce. The idea that a divorce can take many months to finalize is very upsetting for most people. But there are temporary motions that can be filed to address issues such as temporary child support, custody, possession and…
John Marcotte, the backer of a California ballot initiative that would ban divorce in California was authorized to begin collecting the signatures required to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot. He will need to collect the signatures of 694,354 registered voters before March 22, 2010. The amendment would eliminate…
Military divorces are subject to certain laws that are not applicable to civilian divorces. As an example, those active in the military are entitled under federal legislation in some cases to delay a divorce or to take advantage of court-appointed counsel. Additionally, military pensions are subject to different rules than…
by Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. wlonker@woodatter.com I get a lot of calls in my Jacksonville, Florida divorce law practice asking if a new step-parent’s income can be used when calculating or modifying a child support obligation. The answer under Florida law is “no”. Only the gross…
For parents going through a divorce, keeping things civil can be difficult. Not keeping things civil can be difficult for the children involved. As divorcing parents are starting to look for alternatives to fighting over and in front of the kids, co-parenting classes are gaining in popularity. Co-parenting classes are…
by Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. wlonker@woodatter.com In my family law practice in Jacksonville, Florida, where I have been practicing for almost 10 years, I see so many casualties of divorce especially when there are children involved. More often than not, the parties are so hurt that…
When Karin Seruga and Richard Zinn got married, Seruga owned the trademark to an appliance called the Artofex triple-action – an industrial mixer that stands six feet tall and weighs over two tons. When the two divorced, it sparked a dispute over the US trademark that has lasted over 12…
by Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. wlonker@woodatter.com In September 2009, new census reports came out showing that the divorce rate in Florida is higher than any other state in the nation! Indiana came in a close second. The counties that had the highest number of divorces in…