By Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.
In my family law practice in Jacksonville, Florida, many many people come to me for advice on divorce, child custody, child support, equitable distribution and alimony issues. All of these issues are quite stressful, and I see many people in their worst state emotionally. One thing I realize is that the pain from divorce is real. As you begin your healing from the divorce, you may experience all of some of the following symptoms of depression:
by Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.
wlonker@woodatter.com
Many times I will get a client in a dissolution case in Florida who has owned property or a business prior to getting married. Once you get the emotionalism out of the way in a divorce, the divorce actually becomes one of the biggest business decisions of your life. Normally, in Florida, whatever property one own before the marriage is considered to be non-marital property and should be awarded to the party who owned the property before the marriage. However, having said that, sometimes the courts will consider if the value of the property or business was enhance during the marriage and if so, the courts will award the other spouse an interest in the enhanced value accrued during the marriage. There are still actions that do not enhance non-marital property. For example, paying real property taxes on pre-marital property with marital funds does not enhance its value, converting some of its equity to marital. Just because some marital funds or labor have been contributed to the non-marital property or business during the marriage does not automatically mean that all enhanced value is marital for equitable distribution purposes. Call our firm for answers regarding how to best protect your non-marital property or business today!
By Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.
The following are some tips to help you eliminate harming your economic interests when dividing the assets in a divorce in Florida. So many of my clients are so emotional about the divorce that they “throw in the towel” so to speak when it comes to dividing the assets. Follow these tips to keep your emotions in check and to help you look at the divorce as a business venture.
Written By Whitney R. Lonker, Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.
wlonker@woodatter.com
Money is a major source of stress for many people especially people who are in the throws of a divorce and who are scared about their financial future after the divorce. When a relationship breaks up and the parties are filled with so many different emotions, money is probably near the top of the list in worries. This is precisely the time to pay attention to your financial future and be very careful not to permit important financial decisions to go unattended in the flood of emotion. A divorce does not have to put you in the poor house. It is supposed to sever the legal bonds and also hopefully the emotional ones. Pursuing this end from a careful consideration of the legal bonds and the emotional bonds, a divorce attorney should be commited to creating successful financial solutions and to understanding how the emotionalism associated with money can disrupt the relationship during and after divorce. If you have a question about a divorce or equitable distribution issue, please call our firm for a consultation at 904-355-8888.
Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Family Law Attorney
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.
Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Florida Family Law Attorney
In a Florida divorce, I realize there are divorce myths, which seem to circulate from Jacksonville to Miami. If you are going through a divorce there are certain myths that people seem to tell.
Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Florida Family Law Attorney
In Jacksonville, Florida, as a family law attorney, I receive questions about terminating parental rights. This is not an easy process since there are many protections in place for parents. I will probably do a series of blogs on this topic in order to cover each area, but we will start with the consent and agreement of both parties.
Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Florida Family Law Attorney
In Florida, many courts have time sharing or visitation guidelines and they can be specific to distance. In Jacksonville, we have the 4th Judicial Circuit Guidelines, which provide for time sharing throughout the school year and holidays.
Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Florida Family Law Attorney
In Florida, there is a relocation statute if you are moving with a child. As a Jacksonville divorce and family law attorney, I realize that not everyone understands that moving may require court action. Relocating for a job, marriage or any other reason? If you have a child and looking to move, then you may have to file a Petition for Relocation with the Court.
Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Florida Family Law Attorney
In a Florida divorce you have to choose whether to hire a lawyer. The divorce and hiring a lawyer can be expensive and you have to determine if it is worth the money. As a Jacksonville, Florida divorce attorney, I find a lot of clients asking this questions. It is one I cannot answer for you, but I can give you the answer I feel explains it best.
Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer Blog