Child Custody

June 30, 2020

Do You Need A Prenuptial Agreement?

There may be some negative stereotypes that are associated with Prenuptial Agreements. Typically, neither party wants to detract from the blissful atmosphere typical prior to a wedding. However, a Prenuptial Agreement can also help preserve a marriage. This is because there is certainty as to how things will terminate should the marriage not last.

The thought alone of creating a prenuptial agreement can cast a negative light upon a wedding. To some, the contemplation of a prenuptial places a negative light upon wedding preparations and the future of the relationship. Having to plan for divorce is an admission that a relationship is not permanent. That said, it is far better to deal with the details of how a relationship is going to end (should it end) while a couple is reasonable and loving compared with being negatively affected by the hostilities and uncertainties of divorce.

In Florida, there are several types of alimony that courts may consider. There are factors that affect the amount of alimony that can be provided for such as, length of a marriage, the equality of earning ability between the spouses, and the assets that a court must divide. Florida law creates a rebuttable presumption against permanent alimony when a marriage is 7 years or less, which under the Florida Statutes is defined as a short term marriage. However, there is a rebuttable presumption for permanent alimony awards in marriages that are long term (greater than 17 years). Moderate term marriages are defined as between 7 and 17 years and no presumption exists.

June 22, 2020

Litigation After Divorce. Do You Know Your Rights?

by Neil Weinreb

It is important to know your rights following a divorce. The final judgment of dissolution and the parenting plan determine the legal playing field for the future. However, most issues are dynamic. Children get older and their schools change and sometimes their relationship with parents change. Incomes change, which can directly impact child support and people sometimes desire to relocate where child custody can be an issue. There are a myriad of circumstances that should be re-evaluated following divorce.

In Florida, the standard used to file an action to modify a final judgment is that a substantial change in circumstances occurred that was not anticipated at the time of entry of the final judgment. It does not always make practical sense to file an action to modify a final judgment just because a party can do so. The relationship that a party has with a former spouse is important, especially where children are involved. Every time a party considers filing a supplemental petition (this is the instrument filed requesting modification of a final judgment), one should consider how such will impact their relationship with their former spouse and other legal consequences. I frequently have parties coming to me that wish to file for a modification. I typically find that they have only evaluated a part of the effect of seeking a modification. For this reason, it is imperative that one review the ramifications of an action for modification with an experienced family law attorney.

Although a divorce is designed to deal with all of the legal issues concerning dissolution, the reality is that there are sometimes issues that are left unresolved. On occasion there are assets that neither party put on their financial affidavits that require addressing post dissolution. One example of such an issue involved a divorce of a long time married couple in which neither party included the child’s prepaid college fund account on their financial affidavit. The fund was cashed out by the Father/Former Husband after the divorce without permission from the court or the Mother/Former Wife. Since the asset was not listed on either party’s financial affidavit, the judge considered the asset marital property and ordered the Former Husband to pay back one half of the funds post dissolution.

June 14, 2020

Is An Uncontested Divorce In Your Best Interest?

by Neil Weinreb

An uncontested divorce is a proceeding to return two married persons to the status of being single in which all of the details of the divorce are reached with an out of court agreement. As a practicing family law attorney for more than 15 years, it is my opinion that overly optimistic litigants frequently find that an uncontested divorce may be more difficult to achieve than first thought. Sometimes both spouses agree that a divorce is the correct thing to do in their circumstances. If a couple contemplating a divorce can agree on all of the important issues then an uncontested divorce will typically benefit the family. The critical issues that people spend the most effort fighting about are child custody, child support, spousal support, and property distribution.

Litigants sometimes find that dealing with the mechanics of settlement are challenging when they attempt to memorialize their intentions in writing. The process of getting to a consented to outcome involves some negotiation in most cases. A self-represented individual will benefit substantially by consulting with a qualified family law attorney prior to signing a marital settlement agreement or a consented to final judgment. This author believes that people are much more likely to honor orders created by negotiation, as opposed to orders emanating from a contested final hearing before a judge. A litigant that is being guided by qualified counsel is more likely to negotiate a favorable outcome over a Pro Se Litigant, since an understanding of the legal issues is necessary to negotiate knowledgeably.

Many of the issues that one has to deal with during a divorce are complex when dealing with custody and financial issues. Parties that are able to amicably settle their divorce in writing typically have fewer post judgment problems. Prior to negotiating a marital settlement agreement, it is important to consult with an experienced family law attorney to help draft the legal documents required to accurately reflect the agreement.

June 5, 2020

In Florida, When Does Child Support End?

by Neil Weinreb

For some, child support is an ongoing obligation that holds no light at the end of a long tunnel that can extend over 18 years. Every situation is different and the answer as to when child support will end depends on your individual situation. An experienced North Florida Family Law Attorney can review your circumstances and help you obtain the best result for you under the law.

The answer to when child support ends is far from a black and white question in Florida. Conceptually, child support is the right of each child. Therefore, courts are reluctant to enter an order that does not provide for child support. As a practicing Family Law Attorney, I have encountered many individuals that believe that parents can simply agree that child support will not be provided for in a final judgment of dissolution or paternity. In Florida, a statutory guideline exists to determine what is presumptively reasonable for a parent to pay for child support. The court can depart from the statutory amount by up to 5%, but there must be specific findings of fact enumerated in the order to justify any departure beyond the 5%, up or down.

Under current law, when two or more children are provided for in a support order, that order must include provisions detailing when the support obligation terminates for each child. There should be a modification of the income deduction order to reflect the changes. There are circumstances that allow child support to continue past the age of 18. If a child is still in high school at age 18 with a reasonable chance of graduating before age 19, child support may continue through graduation. Where a child graduates high school prior to his or her 19^th birthday, support ends at age 18. If a child becoming an adult has a disability that would result in the child continuing to be a dependent, child support could continue indefinitely. There are other less conventional reasons that child support might end, the death of a child, the emancipation of a child, or a situation where a child is earning enough money that no support is required (this would be a rare occasion, but there are numerous child stars that have earned more than their parents). Under Florida Law, the only circumstance where one would be obligated to support a healthy adult child beyond the age of 19, would be where an Obligor agrees to such a duty in a contract (i.e. marital settlement agreement).

May 29, 2020

Cam Unemployment Lower Your Child Support?

by Neil Weinreb

There are cases where a non-custodial parent is unemployed and has little or no income. Even a person with little or no income can still have an obligation to pay child support. This is because a parent’s child support obligation can be calculated based upon his or her imputed income, as opposed to actual income. Imputed income is income that the court determines an individual should be making with a reasonable effort.

When child support is calculated a number of factors are used to determine each party’s obligation. The parents’ income, the number of children, and insurance expenses are the major elements in determining one’s obligation. It is not infrequent that a parent will manipulate the system in an attempt to lower his or her income which is aimed at reducing that parent’s child support obligation. This is accomplished in a number of ways. People that own their own business have found numerous ways to receive what would otherwise be income through creative accounting. One way that the court system counter’s this is through the use of imputed income. Sometimes this involves imputing minimum wage. Other times, it is much more complicated and a vocational evaluator may be used.

Although unemployment can no doubt affect one’s income adversely, it may not necessarily affect his or her child support obligation. The courts do not always use imputed income to determine one’s child support obligation. Most situations where it is used involve a parent that is unemployed or underemployed voluntarily. In my practice, I have primarily seen imputed income used where a parent is unemployed and the court will impute minimum wage. There are situations in which much higher income has been attempted to be imputed. In one divorce case with no children that I handled, a Wife of an attorney, requested a vocational evaluation to determine the attorney’s true earning capabilities. A court will usually inquire as to why a parent is unemployed or underemployed and whether or not there is justification for it. A case in which unemployment is caused by an accidental injury would be a likely example of one that may be justifiable. A layoff or company downsizing could also account for why an Obligor is unemployed. Trying to prove that someone is underemployed can be difficult and expensive. One has to prove that there is work available and that the Obligor turned it down. Most of the cases I have handled involving the Dept. of Revenue are examples of situations where it is impractical or not economically feasible for the Dept. of Revenue to pay to have a vocational evaluation. One example of a recent case I came across where there is little doubt that a father has a legitimate excuse (arguably) for not working is where a father must stay home to care for a young child with Cerebral Palsy.

May 22, 2020

What Can Happen When a Parent Violates a Parenting Plan?

by Neil Weinreb

Florida requires parents who are divorcing or are subject to a paternity action to have a parenting plan in place. A parenting plan can be agreed to or simply entered by the court. However, once the plan is entered into the court as an order, it is enforceable through the court system. Violations of parenting plans can be insignificant, or they can lead to great interference with the rights of a parent and a child.

In Florida, timesharing is taken into account in calculating child support for a parent that exercises at least twenty percent of the overnights with a child. Florida’s child support guidelines specifically account for such. However, not every parent takes advantage of all of the overnights that they are awarded. Normally, you cannot retroactively adjust child support. However, failure for a parent to exercise substantial timesharing can have a serious economic impact on that parent, as the Florida Statutes authorize retroactive adjustments.

A parent’s failure to regularly exercise the time-sharing schedule set forth in the parenting plan, a court-ordered time-sharing schedule, or a time-sharing arrangement exercised by agreement of the parties not caused by the other parent which resulted in the adjustment of the amount of child support pursuant to subparagraph (a)10. or paragraph (b) shall be deemed a substantial change of circumstances for purposes of modifying the child support award. A modification pursuant to this paragraph is retroactive to the date the noncustodial parent first failed to regularly exercise the court-ordered or agreed time-sharing schedule. F.S. 61.30(11)(C).

May 15, 2020

HOW IS CHILD SUPPORT TIED TO TIMESHARING?

by Neil Weinreb

Child support is essentially a payment from the higher income parent to the lower income parent. Child support and timesharing have an interesting relationship. The law values the child and parent relationship. A parent’s right to timesharing is not dependent upon being current in child support. It is a frequent mistake among individuals to assume that timesharing can be denied if an Obligor parent fails to keep up with his or her child support. Such has no such relationship to Florida law.

Another misconception is that child support must go to the child specifically. However, it is a general purpose reimbursement which covers the cost of living in a household with children. The amount of child support paid by each parent is dependent upon the amount the Florida child support guidelines determine. The number of overnights the child or children spend with each parent is one of the factors used to decide a parent’s child support under Florida’s guidelines. There is a chart that is published within the Florida Statutes that shows the amount of child support a child is entitled to.

Florida law requires that generally, where there are minor children then child support should be paid. The principle behind this general rule is that entitlement to support belongs to the children and parents cannot decide not to pay support. There are situations in which a parent does not have a child support obligation. In Florida, this must either be because the amount of support owed is very minimal, as determined by the guidelines, or the specific reasons must be enumerated in the child support order. The law allows up to a 5% deviation from the guidelines without further enumeration. Florida has a form known as a Child Support Guideline Worksheet which is required to be filed in every divorce and paternity case where child support is determined. The guidelines account for some of the specific costs of supporting a child, such as health insurance and uncovered medical expenses. As long as a parent is awarded at least 20 percent of the overnights, overnights are a specific factor used to determine a parent’s support. Items like rent, electricity, water, and food are essential items that are not specifically accounted for in the guidelines. Other items that are specifically accounted for under the guidelines are taxes, daycare, and medical costs.

May 9, 2020

WHAT SHOULD AN UNWED FATHER KNOW ABOUT OBTAINING CUSTODY?

by Neil Weinreb

Unwed fathers may believe that it is unlikely or impossible to gain custody of their child when they were never married to the child’s mother. Fathers with this attitude should think again, as the courts and society have realized that fathers can be every bit as responsible as mothers in rearing a child. The court system may still have a few vestiges of what was known as “The tender years doctrine”. Such is the idea that a young child should primarily be cared for by their mother. However, most judges today that I have encountered no longer display any indication that this philosophy still exists. The reality is that a caring father can be every bit as nurturing and responsible as a caring mother.

In Florida, paternity is established by filing an action in the Circuit Court. The action is known as a paternity action. The petition should be titled a Petition for Paternity and Related Relief or a similar name. There is no legal presumption for or against a father obtaining what used to be called primary custody. The court’s have changed from using the term custody to using the term timesharing. It is supposed to promote the idea of the children being shared between parents. I personally do not believe that much has changed because of the change in terminology. That said, the law has changed regarding child support in that the non primary residential parent (the parent that has minority timesharing) can now receive a reduction in child support if he or she has the child for at least 20 percent of the overnights. The prior rule required the non majority parent to exercise at least 40 percent of the overnights to get a reduction in child support.

In a paternity suit, a father attempting to obtain timesharing must request either shared parental responsibility or sole parental responsibility. Sole parental responsibility is exactly what it sounds like and so is shared parental responsibility. Even people with serious criminal histories frequently are awarded shared parental responsibility. Florida has enumerated the factors that it considers important and that a judge must take into account in deciding custody issues between parents. They can be found in Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes. In short, they equate to the best interests of the child.

April 19, 2020

Will the Coronavirus Affect Your Children’s Custody?

by Neil Weinreb

Can Child Custody be modified because of COVID-19?

What temporary and permanent changes are inevitable?

With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, life has changed. Some changes are temporary, and some may be permanent. Almost every American’s travel plans have been affected by limitations placed on travel, shopping, and many other aspects of our lives. In addition to all of life’s other complications, many of us share custody of children. I have been practicing in the area of family law in North Florida for over 17 years. A thorough parenting plan will account for numerous contingencies. To date, I have yet to see a parenting plan that addresses custodial complications parents are likely to experience during the current pandemic. I find that the two most litigated issues in family law are:

April 7, 2020

Should Children be Allowed to Testify in a Florida Divorce Case?

by Neil Weinreb

SHOULD CHILDREN BE PERMITTED TO TESTIFY IN A CUSTODY CASE?

One of the most common questions we get is if children can or should be allowed to testify in a divorce or child custody case. Self-represented litigants in Florida occasionally come to court with a child in anticipation that the child will testify for them. However, there are specific prerequisites that must be followed under the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure before a party is permitted to bring a child to court to testify. Often clients ask “At what age can my child testify in a Florida divorce case?’ Why maturity can be an issue, age itself is not the main factor use to determine if a child can testify in a divorce case. It is not prudent for a party to bring a child to court unless authorized previously by court order. Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.407 applies to the testimony of children in Family Law Cases. It reads as follows:

(a) Prohibition. Unless otherwise provided by law or another rule of procedure, children who are witnesses, potential witnesses, or related to a family law case, are prohibited from being deposed or brought to a deposition, from being Family Law Rules of Procedure August 28, 2019 99 subpoenaed to appear at any family law proceeding, or from attending any family law proceedings without prior order of the court based on good cause shown.

(b) Related Proceedings. In a family law proceeding held concurrently with a proceeding governed by the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure govern as to the child’s appearance in court.

(c) Uncontested Adoption. This rule does not apply to uncontested adoption proceedings. Florida Family Rules of Procedure 12.407.