Child Support

November 10, 2009

Kate Gosselin Says She is Not Sure if She Wants to Remarry

Kate Gosselin, mother of the eight children featured in the TLC reality show, “Jon & Kate Plus 8” has been going through a very public divorce from her husband, Jon Gosselin. On a recent episode of the show, she answered questions from viewers, including whether or not she feels she would like to marry again in the future. Her answer was “I don’t know, I really don’t want to be married again, but I don’t want to be alone. The alone-ness is really alone.”

Many people who go through a divorce feel the same way as Ms. Gosselin. Divorce is very hard emotionally for all parties. A divorce can feel very similar to the death of a loved one, and people need to allow themselves time to heal emotionally. But for many people, divorce is not the end but the beginning of their new, healthier life. And that may very well include a new romance.

If you are considering divorce, please contact our firm for expert, compassionate legal counsel.

November 6, 2009

The Rich and Famous Aren’t Much Different from You and I When it Comes to Divorce

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

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 out in the divorce. Of course, news organizations are fighting to keep everything in the public domain. The controversy pits privacy against the first amendment.

Certainly the same concerns exist for non-famous wealthy couples, who may want to keep their financial documents and dirty laundry out of the public domain. There are ways to keep the divorce settlement confidential in Florida, and we are a law firm that knows the ins and outs of accomplishing the goal of confidentiality in Florida for high end divorce settlements.

If you are considering divorce, and want to keep the details private, contact our firm for expert legal counsel.

November 4, 2009

Temporary Divorce Orders Can Provide Immediate Relief

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

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 occupancy of the marital home and the like. Temporary orders are legally binding guidelines that both parties must follow until the divorce is finalized.

Some common items covered in a temporary divorce order include:

– An agreement not to use the other party’s credit or make a large purchase without advance written notice

November 2, 2009

Military Divorces Require Special Legal Expertise

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

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 private retirement accounts or other types of pensions. Calculating alimony and child support is also affected by federal regulations, as is the location of the actual divorce proceedings.

As a Jacksonville, Florida law firm, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A., specializes in military divorces and is well prepared to deal with the unique issues that a military family has to deal with, such as child custody as a result of deployment as well as how to divide and calculate military pay and pension.

If you are an active service member who is considering divorce, please contact our firm for expert, compassionate legal counsel.

October 30, 2009

Co-parenting Helps Couples Ease the Impact of Divorce on Their Children

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

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 designed to help parents deal with conflicts that come up about the kids after the couple has split. The classes can help parents deal with their anger and frustration in more positive ways, working together to solve issues before they became a fight.

Divorce is a hard time for children, and it is even harder if the parents are not getting along or not speaking to each other. Co-parenting teaches adults much better ways of coping with disagreements, which not only eases the burden on the children, but models positive interactions that they can use in their own lives.

If you are considering divorce, please contact our firm for expert, compassionate legal counsel.

October 30, 2009

Can My Spouse’s New Partner’s Income Be Used When Calculating Child Support In Florida?

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

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 incomes of the mother and father are used in calculating a child support obligation and this does not change if one spouse remarries. Even if one spouse remarries, is not employed and is living on the ocean due to the new spouse’s income level, the courts will only consider the gross incomes of the parents to the child. If you have a child support question or a modification of final judgment issue, please call our firm for sound, caring advice.

October 22, 2009

Utah State Courts Offering Classes for Children of Divorce

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

Children of parents who have filed for a divorce or are already divorced can now participate in free divorce classes in the state of Utah. The classes are for children aged 9-11 and are taught by a mental health professional, who helps the children learn how to communicate more openly with their parents during this difficult process. There are also free classes offered in North Florida through certain church affiliations and also through The Jacksonville Children’s Commission.

Divorce is always hard on children, especially older children and pre-teens. This program from the State of Utah is a commendable effort at easing a difficult time for children in need. Even in the face of economic trouble, it is encouraging to see the state continue to fund support initiatives for children and their families.

If you are considering divorce, please contact our firm for expert, compassionate legal counsel.

October 20, 2009

Florida Parents Can Lock in College Tuition Starting October 19th

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

Starting Monday, October 19th and running through January 31, 2010, parents have the opportunity to lock in the 2009-2010 tuition rates for Florida state universities by enrolling their children in the state-sponsored Florida Prepaid Plan. Under the plan, any child may be enrolled, from birth until they reach their junior year of high school. Parents, guardians or other relatives can pre-pay the tuition all at once or make monthly payments. If the child opts to attend a private or out-of-state school, the money can be refunded or transferred to the chosen school.

In a divorce, the courts do not require either parent to pay for college or to have a child support obligation after high school. But it frequently comes up in the dissolution and settlement process. Locking in tuition rates under the Florida Prepaid Plan is a great idea for any parent, even if they are in the middle of a divorce.

If you are considering divorce, please contact our firm for expert, compassionate legal counsel.

October 20, 2009

Couples Save Financial, Emotional Distress with “Collaborative Divorce”

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

An emerging divorce method, using what is called a “collaborative process,” brings legal, financial and mental health professionals together to help encourage cooperation between the divorcing couple. The method is starting to gain momentum as the Florida Bar has drafted legislation to codify collaborative divorces into Florida state law. The Jacksonville Bar Association recently sponsored a seminar on the topic, which drew a large percentage of mental health professionals.

Currently, collaborative divorce is a voluntary process that is entered into when a couple signs a document stating that they will not take their divorce to court. Financial and mental health counseling is included as part of the process. An added benefit is that a collaborative divorce usually costs significantly less than litigation. It also allows families to structure financial details with more fluidity than is usually the case in traditional divorce proceedings. The process not only eases the divorce process for couples and their families, it also eases the case load on family court.

Any divorce method that cuts down on fighting and animosity is good for both the couple and their children. People who are under the stress of a divorce can only benefit from having a team of professionals help them work their way through all the details amicably.

September 1, 2009

Paying Child Support After Termination of Parental Rights?: Florida Family Law

By Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Family Law Attorney

latter@woodatter.com

Are you paying child support after your rights have been terminated? Child support, according to Florida law, is the right of a child with parents living in separate households. The child support obligation begins at the child’s birth if the parents are not married, even if paternity has not been established. Once paternity is established, the Court can go back two years, within the life of the child, for back child support.