Looking for Closure: Divorce Using Service By Publication
For the majority of people, going through the divorce process can be a complex and surreal period in their lives. In some cases, however, even starting the process can be exceedingly difficult. “Starting the process” does not refer to the situation where most people contemplating a divorce find themselves, namely, grappling with the decision of […]
Can You Stop A Divorce From Moving Forward?
In spite of all the bleak statistics everyone has heard about the likelihood of a marriage ending in divorce, people have always entered into marriages full of hope. The newest statistics indicate that in Florida, the marriage rate is increasing while at the same time, the divorce rate is decreasing. Given these different factors, it […]
Who Pays the Mortgage and Expenses During a Divorce?
During a pending divorce in Florida, often, one of the parties will decide to move out of the marital home. (See our post on What Happens If I Move Out During the Divorce?) There are varying rationales as to why individuals involved in a divorce choose to leave the marital home during the process; however, […]
Can I Sue My Spouse or Their Lover for Cheating?
Divorce can involve a chaotic jumble of emotions, leaving most people cycling through feelings of anger, hurt, sadness, and betrayal. For some during this traumatic period of time, this combination of feelings leads to the overwhelming desire for “justice”—-for what has been done to them, for the pain inflicted upon them. Simply, someone needs to […]
The UCCJEA and Florida:
I like to think I stay well-informed regarding current issues in family law. I read new case law; attend continuing legal education seminars; seek out multiple-day conferences; I even read up on new procedural law changes (believe me, that is elevated nerdiness). Further, when the sweeping changes affecting the Florida family law statutes encompassing timesharing, […]
Grandparents’ Rights in Florida
No matter how ideal a family may appear, everyone knows that all family dynamics can be complicated. Those dynamics can become more complicated when children and grandparents are involved. And this is when families are still together. When parents divorce or separate, grandparents’ relationships with their grandchildren can be severely affected. If parents are willing […]
Should I Stay or Should I Go: Florida’s Relocation Laws
In the aftermath of a divorce or separation, there may often be a variety of emotions — perhaps sadness, grief, happiness, even relief. With all these whirlwinds of emotions, a common reaction is wanting to hit the “reset” button and just start over. This prospect of starting over sometimes involves getting as far away as […]
Which Home for the Holidays? : How Divorced Parents Should Handle the Holidays
Oh, holidays! A time for joy and togetherness with the family. A time for making great memories and continuing traditions, like listening to your favorite holiday songs while drinking hot coca before the fire[1]… Yet, in Florida, for divorcing or divorced parents and their children, the holidays may seem very different from the tranquil scene […]
Go Your Own Way: When a Family Law Attorney-Client Relationship Ends
The relationship between a client and their family law attorney is a very different one when compared to other attorney-client relationships. In comparison to other areas of law such as civil law, real estate law, criminal law, etc., family law cases involve much more heightened emotions and the sharing of inherent vulnerabilities. Divorce, child timesharing […]
The Exception, Not the Rule: Emergencies in Family Law and the Consequences of “Crying Wolf”
Family law encompasses many issues – usually issues that are not only complex, but also emotional. Family law clients often deem certain circumstances as an absolute emergency, and understandably, in that person’s life, the circumstances may qualify as an emergency. However, clients should recognize that what they consider to be an emergency often is significantly […]
Understanding Your Advocate: The Challenges of a Family Law Attorney
I realize that the title of this article may seem overly dramatic and maybe even come off as whiny. However, the reality is that family law attorneys face distinctive challenges that can affect them personally and professionally. After close to 18 years of practicing family law, I have come to believe that if our clients […]
How a Parent’s Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) Affects Their Children, and In Turn, Their Time-Sharing
Substance use disorders (SUDs)have been on the rise in every state in America. Yet, the prevalence of SUDs in Florida is higher than in the majority of other states. Clearly, parents with a SUD, weighed down by the disorder and the stigma associated with it, can be deeply affected. However, SUDs not only affect the […]
From High-Conflict to Effective Co-Parenting: Restoring Respect & Trust
During and after a highly contentious case involving children, achieving a healthy co-parenting relationship can seem like a hopeless undertaking. Overwhelmed by anger, hurt, and sadness perceived to be caused by the other parent, the thought of respecting and trusting that person ever again seems laughable. However, respect and trust are the foundations of a […]
Co-Parenting Conflict and Children: What the Research Reveals*
As a family law attorney and a Guardian ad Litem, I have witnessed parents so firmly entrenched in their anger or hurt with each other that, often, they fail to recognize how their conflict affects the children. These parents may be absolutely focused on the resentment and unresolved issues surrounding the breakdown of their relationship, […]
What Your Family Law Attorney Might Not Be Telling You (But Should): Part 2
A previous article, “What Your Family Law Attorney Might Not Tell You(But Should): Part 1,” discussed central truths about family law cases that often go unexpressed by family law attorneys to their clients. With this “Part 2,” we resume the forthright discussion about the realities in family law cases that your attorney may have left […]
What Factors Are Used to Calculate Child Support?
The financial support of children by their parents is a central issue in Florida family law. For the State of Florida, the principle behind child support consists of parents having a duty to provide support for their children. This duty ensures their children’s financial needs are met, and also, ensures these financial needs do not […]
What Your Family Law Attorney Might Not Tell You (But Should): Part 1
Navigating the world of Florida family law can be a surreal, intimidating, and emotional experience. Even if you have a practiced attorney on your side to help you through the legal intricacies of time-sharing, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, etc. there are often very important truths that go unspoken. These important but unexpressed realities […]
The Genuine Article: Hollywood’s Portrayal vs. Real-Life Divorce in Florida
Here is the reality: Your divorce is not going to be like what you see in the movies or TV (and frankly, you really would not want it to be). Movies and shows exploit all the drama and the emotions like hostility, sadness, and disappointment that comes with a divorce. However, an actual divorce in […]