Miami family law attorney blog
Viewing entries tagged
Equitable Distribution Credits
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A change in the alimony statutes in Florida in 2023 eliminated permanent alimony. For that reason, cases which were appealed before the change but were still pending after, had permanent alimony reversed in the appeal. This was an issue in the case Edman v. Edman, 4D2024-0077 (Fla. 4th DCA March 26, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can a court disregard a settlement agreement entered between the parties and require a different result? The answer depends on what is at issue in the agreement. In the case Nicholas v. Nicholas, 4D2024-0214 (Fla. 4th DCA March 19, 2025), the court added a provision regarding additional attorney’s fees and costs even though the parties had already agreed on how to pay attorney’s fees and costs.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
What date does a Florida family court use to value assets in a divorce? Since divorce cases can span years, the value of an asset at the time of filing for divorce may be different from the value at the time of the trial. According to the Florida Statutes, “The date for determining value of assets and the amount of liabilities identified or classified as marital is the date or dates as the judge determines is just and equitable under the circumstances. Different assets may be valued as of different dates, as, in the judge’s discretion, the circumstances require.” Fla. Stat. 61.075(7).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can a text message between spouses establish the value of an asset for purposes of equitable distribution in a Florida divorce? Depending on the context of the message, it may. But settlement negotiations are not admissible in court proceedings, generally. This was an issue in the case Nunes v. Krup, 4D2024-0874 (Fla. 4th DCA February 19, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
If a spouse moves out of the marital home before a petition for divorce is filed in Florida, does that spouse abandon his or her interest in the home? The short answer is no, but depending on how much time passes between the time the spouse moved out and the date a divorce petition is filed, plus that spouse’s contributions to the home after moving out, the other spouse may be entitled to more equity in the home than the spouse who moved out. This was an issue in the case Silva v. Claffey ,4D2024-0269 (Fla. 4th DCA February 5, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A home that is owned by one spouse prior to marriage is that spouse’s separate, non-marital property. But if a mortgage was paid on the home during the marriage with marital funds, the non-owning spouse is likely owed a credit in equitable distribution for the payment of those funds. This was an issue in the case Kerrigan v. Page, 2D2023-2186 (Fla. 2d DCA December 27, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Loans from family members to one spouse or both may be a common occurrence. How are these loans treated in equitable distribution during a Florida divorce? This was an issue in the case McHugh v. McHugh, 5D2023-3130 (Fla. 5th DCA December 6, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Is a Florida divorce court required to apportion to one spouse investment losses as a debt in equitable distribution? This was an issue among others in the case Ouslander v. Ouslander, 4D2023-2479 (Fla. 4th DCA November 20, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In a Florida divorce case, there can be multiple issues regarding equitable distribution, including the chosen valuation date, dissipation and more. These were issues in the case Knott v. Knott, 6D2023-2519 (Fla. 6th DCA September 6, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Florida’s constitution protects a homestead in that most creditors are not permitted to levy upon the homestead if a debt is owed. How does this homestead protection affect division of a marital home in a Florida divorce case? This was an issue in the case Toussaint v. Toussaint, 3D23-0812 (Fla. 3d DCA August 28, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can a final judgment of divorce in Florida reserve jurisdiction on further equitable distribution on some future date? This was an issue in the case Saxon v. Saxon, 2D2023-0117 (Fla. 2d DCA August 7, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A spouse who pays all of the expenses on a marital home may feel he or she is entitled to all equity in the home. However, this may not be the case because of Florida equitable distribution laws. The case Bellegarde v. Bellegarde, 4D2023-3133 (Fla. 4th DCA August 7, 2024) sheds light on this issue.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In valuing a spouse’s goodwill in a business entity, there are multiple ways to approach the issue. Sometimes, future compensation is a consideration when a corporate interest is sold. This was an issue in the case Conde-Berrocal v. Conde, 5D2023-0449 (Fla. 5th DCA June 21, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
If the value of the marital home increases after a final judgment of divorce is entered, can the equitable distribution be reconsidered to grant either party more equity in the home? This was an issue in the case Griffin v. Griffin, 1D2022-3095 (Fla. 1st DCA July 24, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Florida equitable distribution rules require the court to make certain findings. Without those findings, a Florida final judgment of divorce may be reversible on appeal. This was an issue in the case Hinojosa v. Hinojosa, 2D2023-0155 (Fla. 2d DCA May 31, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When marital funds are used to pay down the mortgage on premarital real property, those funds may entitle the non-owning spouse to a credit in equitable distribution even if the property did not appreciate in value during the marriage. This was an issue in the case Escalona Socarras v. Bazan Vassallo, 3D23-1012 (Fla. 3d DCA May 1, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When a Florida divorce case is pending, one spouse might remain in the jointly-owned marital home while the other spouse lives elsewhere. How does the court decide who is responsible for the mortgage or how a spouse is compensated for being excluded from occupying the residence? This is an issue briefly discussed in the case Charbonneau v. Charbonneau, 3D22-1507 (Fla. 3d DCA May 1, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
What justifies unequal division of assets and debts in a Florida divorce? The person seeking an unequal division has a high burden to meet. When parties live separate financial lives throughout their marriage, this may point to the parties’ intent to keep assets and debts separate. This was an issue in the case Price-Lawrence v. Lawrence, 2D22-2605 (Fla. 2d DCA March 27, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Equitable distribution in a Florida divorce can be related to an alimony award. For example, a court might award marital property to one spouse in full as lump sum alimony. The court must also take into account what is awarded in equitable distribution before an alimony amount is awarded. This was an issue in the case Garcia v. Ruiz Moreno, 4D2023-0938 (Fla. 4th DCA February 14, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
The enhancement in value of non-marital property during a marriage may be a marital asset subject to equitable distribution in a Florida divorce. How do we determine if the increase in value of property is marital or non-marital? This was an issue in the case Strickland v. Strickland, 1D21-3894 (Fla. 1st DCA October 11, 2023).
