Child Support

February 7, 2011

Child Support In Florida: I Am Laid Off. Am I In Contempt?

With the economic times as they are, in my practice as a Jacksonville child support lawyer, I see so many clients who cannot pay their Florida child support obligation. Often, a motion for contempt will be filed against the non-paying party which prompts the necessity for the hiring of a Florida child support attorney. If you have been laid off due to the economy and not due to something improper that you’ve done to get you fired, then you may have a remedy in court. The law requires that for a non-paying party to be held in contempt of court, the evidence must show that the non-paying party had the ability to pay the obligation and willfully and maliciously failed to comply. Proving that the non-paying party did not have the ability to pay can sometimes be a difficult task requiring the specialized skill of a child support lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida. Do not go into court alone. You most likely wouldn’t take out your own appendix and as such, you should never go into the courtroom without representation.

January 28, 2011

Child Support and Divorce

by David M. Goldman

Child support is always a sensitive topic. I often deal with parents who want to know exactly where their child support money will be going. They want to control how the parent receiving the child support spends the money. Thus, it is important to know exactly what child support is meant to cover.

The term “child support” covers all the economic necessities of life required by a child. These necessities include, but are not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and other day-to-day expenses.

According to the federal Child Support Enforcement Act, each state, including Florida has developed guidelines to calculate a range of child support to be paid, based on the parents’ respective incomes and expenses.

December 28, 2010

Missing Michigan Boys Have Ties In Florida Divorce

by David M. Goldman

This tragic story is one that I see all too often in my practice as a http://www.jacksonvillelawyer.pro/lawyer-attorney-1525907.html and Florida Child Custody Attorney. When couples are divorcing and child custody and child support are in issue, people often feel as if their entire world is collapsing around them and there is no solution in sight. I help those people find the solutions necessary to go forward in their lives. John Skelton, the father of the three missing boys out of Michigan, was born and raised in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He and his wife were divorcing and he took his children from Michigan to Jacksonville Beach without the wife’s permission. The wife came to Florida and took the children home. Mr. Skelton obviously felt he had no more control in his life. The wife was divorcing him and he was going to have to pay child support. I can only speculate as to what occurred next but as of Tuesday afternoon, December 7, 2010, Mr. Skelton was arrested on three counts of parental kidnapping. No divorce or child custody case ever has to get to this point. Please seek an experienced child custody attorney in Florida or Jacksonville divorce lawyer to help you find the right solutions. There is always an answer, even when one feels there is no solution in sight.

December 10, 2010

Divorce Rates On The Rise

by David M. Goldman

As a Jacksonville divorce lawyer, I keep track of trends in the area of divorce and child custody issues. As of December 6, 2010, the divorce rate in Jacksonville, Florida was on the rise. However, there is an even bigger trend for younger couples in having children and waiting to get married. In these cases, Florida child custody issues are addressed in the form of a Paternity case. The main thing that people who are practicing this trend should know is that simply because the father is named on the birth certificate does NOT make him the father by law. It isn’t until a Judge signs an Order naming the father as the biological father that he will have any legal rights to the child. It is imperative to obtain a child custody lawyer or paternity lawyer to petition the court to give the father legal rights and legal obligation such as the obligation to pay child support in Florida.

November 8, 2010

Children of Divorce

by David M. Goldman

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 the required course is the Children First in Divorce Program offered through Hope Haven’s Children’s Clinic. Both parents are required to complete the course but do not have to do so together. Also, many Judges require completion of the above mentioned course in paternity actions. If you are a parent considering divorce in Duval County and have questions regarding what else Florida requires in a dissolution of marriage proceeding contact a Duval County Divorce and Child Custody Attorney today.

July 20, 2010

Child Support Services In Florida

by David M. Goldman

As a Jacksonville child support lawyer, I know it is difficult to find necessary information on child support services in Florida. A Florida child support attorney is necessary to help you collect, modify, or dissolve a child support obligation in Florida. Helpful information can be obtained at the child support enforcement office at 1-800-622-KIDS for information on garnishment of child support, child support guidelines and child support payment status. Because it is a very specialized area of law, a Jacksonville child support attorney will be beneficial in helping you through the child support process. Please call a Florida child support lawyer at 904-685-1200 for expert advice on helping you through this difficult process. It will be worth it to you in the end.

July 16, 2010

Florida Child Support Lawyer & Child Support In Florida

by David M. Goldman

I help many people as a child support paid to them or in getting Jacksonville Child Support Attorney can help you when calculating a Florida child support order can be modified is there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the Jacksonville child support lawyer at 904-685-1200 to help you with your

June 30, 2010

Child Support Modifications in Jacksonville, FL

by David M. Goldman

As a Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer and Jacksonville Child Support Lawyer, I find that in this economy that more people are needing to modify their Florida child support obligation. Many people who have to pay Florida child support are not earning at the level they were when their child support obligation was entered. If this reduction in income is through no voluntary fault of the child support payor then the payor may be entitled to a reduction in child support. Please call a Florida divorce lawyer or Jacksonville child support attorney at 904-685-1200 to assist you with asking the Court to lower your child support payments.

February 25, 2010

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…

by David M. Goldman

As a practicing Florida Family Law Lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida, I deal in divorce law issues on a daily basis. When the client who has never been through a divorce in Florida comes into my office, one of the first things I notice throughout my dealings with the client is that they ALWAYS tend to sweat the small stuff that comes with divorce. Often, when one is entrenched in custody issues and child support issues or relocation issues, people tend to get caught up in the little battles that ultimately mean nothing. A Florida Child Custody Attorney or Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer can help you navigate the legal issues and help you to prepare for the legal aspects of your case rather than sweating the small stuff. Please contact a Jacksonville Family Law Lawyer to help you or call me directly at 904-685-1200.

February 25, 2010

Can I discharge my support obligation in Bankruptcy?

by David M. Goldman

As a Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer I am hearing the question more and more if a child support or an alimony obligation is dischargeable in bankruptcy. When couples divorce, many times, one party files for bankruptcy believing that any financial obligation to the other party will be dischargeable in the bankruptcy. NOT SO! Intrigued? Read on…

A Jacksonville Child Support Lawyer or a Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer can explain that the support obligation can come in many forms such as alimony, child support, money owed to a spouse, or a money obligation incurred during a divorce agreement. A Florida Family Law Lawyer should explain that in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the spouse will still have to pay and will not be able to discharge the debt. When the bankruptcy is over, the spouse will still owe the debt to the other spouse.

If you or your spouse are having to file for bankruptcy, I encourage you to explore the idea of filing a joint case. This may be more beneficial to both of you in the end. If you are considering bankruptcy, you should check with a Florida Bankruptcy Attorney for more information. Please call our firm at 904-685-1200 for more information.