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Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Black, White, Whoever you are . . . we All do things we regret, including breaking Florida law. However, there are often times when gay or lesbian people are judged and convicted for none other than just their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. No one deserves to be judged in this way.

Whether your crime is a minor infraction or something more serious, you deserve an experienced criminal defense attorney who will not judge you for who you are but will counsel you for what violation you have committed. Review our Criminal Defense Blog which will provide you with interesting articles about criminal law.

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Debt.jpegGay, lesbian, and same-sex couples living in Jacksonville, Florida, know that they receive little, if any, benefits afforded to husband and wife. No benefits and no legal breaks, even when filing for bankruptcy. If you are a member of the LGBT community and need to file a Florida Bankruptcy, the bankruptcy laws do not provide equal protections.

The federal law DOMA (1996 Defense against Marriage Act) does not recognize same-sex marriages. Bankruptcy laws are federal laws, and therefore, the bankruptcy laws don’t benefit same-sex couples who must file for bankruptcy. For example, bankruptcy laws allow heterosexual married couples to keep enough property to support both husband and wife, but not for same-sex marriages. Same-sex couple are unable to file jointly with their partner, which causes additional expenses and complications for them.

If you live in Jacksonville, are in a same-sex relationship, and are contemplating filing bankruptcy, contact a Bankruptcy Attorney who will provide you with the guidance needed to direct your through the bankruptcy maze. To view various bankruptcy articles please visit our new Bankruptcy Blog site.

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Elderly-People_web.jpgA fact of life is that we all age. A fact of life in Florida is that there is a large population of elderly. A sad but real fact is that Florida Elderly are susceptible to, and are real victims of elderly abuse.

Some interesting information as provided by a recent article in the Miami-Dade Herald, reports that Florida currently has over 5 million licensed drivers over the age of 55; and 19 percent of Florida’s population is over 65, making our Sunshine State No. 1 in the nation for its over-65 percentage.

Florida Elderly abuse is the result of neglect and exploitation. Abuse encompasses a broad range of actions including a caregiver’s failure or omission to provide an elderly person with the care, supervision, and services needed for the well-being of their physical and mental health.

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divorce papers.jpgI recently received an inquiry from an individual who wanted to know if he could proceed with a divorce without knowing his Wife’s whereabouts. He informed me that he and his Wife have been married for nearly 10 years yet have not seen nor heard from one another since a month after their wedding.

In short, a divorce can be completed without knowing where one’s spouse is. However, the Petitioner must make a “diligent search and inquiry” into their estranged spouses whereabouts in order to serve them the Divorce Petition. Only after such search can the service of the petition be made by publication.

To learn more about what the Court requires when filing for divorce without knowledge of the other spouses whereabouts contact a Jacksonville Divorce Attorney today.

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Having a family member with a developmental disability who is now an adult may cause some future obstacles. Although you may be the natural parent, when your child becomes an adult, you are no longer able to make health care or financial decisions for him or her.

The Florida Guardianship Statutes allows for a Guardian Advocate to be appointed as a less restrictive form of guardianship.

A Guardian Advocate can be appointed for a person who has been diagnosed with a developmental disability. The Guardian Advocate will then be given certain powers and legal authority to act on behalf of and in the best interest of the person with a developmental disability.

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graveyard.jpgSometimes as a family law attorney in Jacksonville, Florida, I get people who inquire about obtaining an annulment in Florida.

What exactly is an annulment? It is a way to formally terminate a marriage.

Marriages can be terminated by either a divorce in Florida or an annulment in Florida. Annulments are mostly sought for religious reasons and are accompanied by an annulment procedure from a church. An annulment is based on the argument that the marriage never legally existed in the first place. There are many reasons why a marriage may be deemed legally void or voidable. Please contact a divorce lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida if you are considering a Florida annulment or a Florida divorce.

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chicago_penthouse_with_copper_roof.jpgAs a Jacksonville, Florida divorce lawyer and Florida child custody attorney, I have a lot of clients who have not married but have lived together and have a child together. When these relationships come to an end, many times the couple has acquired some property together. The property acquired during the relationship can be a home or car or credit card debt, etc. Florida law states that when parties are not married, the courts do not have the authority to address the division of assets or liabilities. To properly ensure protection of items acquired during the relationship, you should contact a Jacksonville, Florida custody lawyer or a Florida paternity attorney.

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asset paperwork.jpgWhen going through a divorce in Jacksonville, Florida, it is so important to hire a Florida divorce lawyer because spouses have to deal with so many issues such as child custody, child support and alimony in Florida. Those issues do not address the division of assets and debts in Florida which the parties will have to address. This division can be especially difficult when a spouse is hiding assets. Many times in a Florida divorce, one spouse is the primary money manager, and the other spouse has very little or nothing to do with the finances in the marriage. But in divorce in Jacksonville, Florida, both spouses have to know about all of the assets and liabilities as this will affect how the parties’ property is divided and determine the amount of alimony to which a spouse may be entitled. You should contact a Florida divorce attorney to ensure proper reporting of all assets and debts so that the final outcome is truly fair and equitable for you.

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jail.jpgIn Florida, if a parent does not pay their court ordered child support they could likely find themselves behind bars. However, to put a non-paying parent in jail the court must:

(1) Find that the parent is willfully failing to pay the ordered child support amounts, (2) make the affirmative finding that the non-paying parent possesses the ability to comply with the purge amount and (3) put the above two requirements in a written order.

Contact a Jacksonville Beach Divorce Lawyer today if you are worried you may be found in contempt of court for non-payment of child support.

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love my rainbow family.jpg
Florida same-sex couples that want to adopt, the movement is on. The Arkansas Supreme Court recently ruled that the state’s ban on adoption and foster parenting by any person cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of marriage is a violation of the Arkansas Constitution.

As in Florida, the best interest of the child criteria was the focus. The Plaintiffs in the
Arkansas case involved:• a lesbian couple adopting a special-needs child;

• a lesbian grandmother wanting to adopt a grandchild, currently in state care;

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