The State of Florida requires all parents seeking dissolution of marriage to complete a parenting course before granting a pending divorce. Said parenting course is designed to educate parents on the complex and challenging issues that often arise through the divorce process with parents and children alike. In Duval County…
While Hurricane Irene brought minimal damage to Florida, Floridians are well aware of the destruction and disruption such disasters can cause. Despite this, many parents fail to take such disasters into account when creating their timeshare schedule. For example, let’s say you and your spouse split timesharing throughout the year.…
As a Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer, I know that divorce affects people in numerous but often similar ways. Many divorcing clients of mine are affected emotionally, mentally and of course financially. However, WebMD recently posted an article titled, “Marriage and Divorce Trigger Weight Gain.” Therefore, not only are divorcing individuals burdened…
In Florida all parents must contribute to the support of their minor child(ren). A minor child is defined as a child who has not yet reached majority (18 years old). If however, the child is 18 but is still in high school, than child support can be extended until either…
Florida recognizes Five types of Alimony, which include: Permanent Alimony provides for ongoing monthly payments until the death or remarriage of the recipient. Recent changes in the law allow modifications in cases of “cohabitation in a financially supportive relationship,” even without remarriage. Durational Alimony is awarded to provide the receiving…
A Parenting Plan is a document that governs the way divorcing parties relate to one another about the decisions made regarding their children. A Parenting Plan includes a time-sharing schedule that dictates when the parties’ children will be spending time with each parent, including overnights, weekends, holidays and summer breaks.…
In Florida, prior to the point at which a couple actually “files” for divorce, there is usually a breakdown period of time that the couple has gone through that has led to the actual divorce. This breakdown period can be a matter of only a month or may have been…
As a Jacksonville Family Law Attorney, I am often asked whether a child custody order can be modified after a divorce in Florida. In short, yes, parents can change their Florida custody agreement. However, the standard under Florida Law if often difficult to satisfy. In general, Florida courts require a…
Living and practicing as a Florida divorce attorney and Jacksonville family lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida, I have noticed an up surge in people lying to their future spouse during courtship. Many times, the couple gets married based on these lies. It is not until after the wedding that the lies…
The state of Florida has changed its view on common law marriage in 1967 to not allowing it. As a Florida family law attorney, I get many questions from people who have resided together as husband and wife who have never been officially married. Florida will only recognize this type…