During a divorce parties must divide the assets and the liabilities accumulated during the course of their marriage. One of the first things they tend to divide is the personal property items. Parties typically divide this property based out of simple want and desire. But, often times they hit a…
Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer Blog
Why Paying Child Support Alone Will Not Guarantee You Timesharing with Your Child.
Florida statutes require unmarried fathers to establish Paternity. While many parents believe merely signing a birth certificate is sufficient to establish rights to timesharing and parental responsibility regarding the child, it is not. I see many fathers who were never married to the mother of their child(ren) who act under…
An Award of 50/50 Timesharing May Not Eliminate Your Child Support Obligation
In Florida parents are responsible for the support of their children. This support is not limited to just emotional and physical support, but also extends to financial support. This financial support is regulated by Florida Statute 61.30. There is a common misconception that exists amongst many clients regarding the amount…
Keeping Your Children Informed of the Judicial Punishment Associated with Sexting
The rapid growth in communication technology has led to many parents playing catch up. Unfortunately, as with most technological advances, the advent of mobile phones, amongst other things, has led to the almost elimination of home phones and pay phones as the primary means of communication. In an almost domino like…
Divorcing the Adulterating Spouse- Emotions and Tact when mentioning infidelity to the Court.
Divorce is often time filled with emotional turmoil. Spouses are splitting up the property, the conversations can be heated, and at times children are thrown in the midst of this evolving chaotic environment. As an attorney I hear a variety of reasons attributed to the breakdown of a marriage. Often…
Which Spouse Remains in the Home During the Pendency of a Florida Divorce?
“I can’t take this anymore, we must get a divorce!” “Well, I’m not leaving.” This dialogue, to the extent there is any dialogue at all, is common prior to and during a Florida divorce case otherwise known as a Florida Dissolution of Marriage. This conversation then leads to the following question: Which…
Birth Mothers and Adoption in Florida
Adoption laws in Florida sometimes change due to cases that make their way through the court system. Adoptions are often a pleasant legal experience when everyone cooperates from the beginning, but that is not always the case. What results is not just a long court battle when things do not…
Florida Alimony and Proposed Legislative Changes for 2013
Florida marriages lasting longer than sixteen (16) years may result in an award of permanent alimony if the spouses decide to divorce. Over recent years the debate of alimony in Florida has been at the forefront of legislative session. The Florida legislature along with special interest groups and the Florida…
What Is the Harm in Doing Your Own Divorce in Florida?
The world of, “do it yourself,” has become far easier over the years with the invention of the internet. People now walk into doctors’ offices and tell the doctor what their diagnosis is and what medication to prescribe. The same is true for divorces, wills and the like. In a…
Establishing Paternity of a Child in Florida: Establishing Parental Rights and Visitation
In recent years, the rules and laws regarding paternity actions in Florida have changed. Paternity cases generally establishes a father’s parental rights to a child in Florida; however, if the paternity case is brought by the Florida Department of Revenue those rights are limited to, basically, paying child support. In…