Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Is a party allowed to cash out his or her retirement plan to pay off debts while a Florida divorce is pending? This situation arose in the case Welton v. Welton, 4D18-1516 (Fla. 4th DCA March 6, 2019) in which the former husband appealed a trial court order that found he committed intentional misconduct when he depleted his retirement account to pay marital and separate debts. The former husband also appealed the trial court’s valuation of his stock and the amount he was to receive from a trust.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A recent appellant case in which child support, equitable distribution and attorneys’ fees were appealed sheds light on interesting issues that may arise when a final judgment is entered. The case Mattison v. Mattison, 5D18-304 (Fla. 5th DCA March 8, 2019) involved a less than three-year marriage with two minor children.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Many Florida marital settlement agreements contain a clause that states each party will pay his or her own attorneys’ fees and costs. How far does this attorneys’ fee waiver go? One recent appellate case explores whether the waiver covers future litigation such as modification or enforcement proceedings.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
What is the correct venue for a Florida divorce? According to Florida law, it is the county in which the parties last resided during the intact marriage. There is an important distinction between incorrect venue and inconvenient venue as stated in the case Knapp v. Knapp, 1D17-2869 (Fla. 1st DCA February 28, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When a non-party to a Florida divorce is subpoenaed to provide information relevant to the case, the non-party usually must comply. However, if the non-party objects, a hearing should be held to determine if the objection is valid and/or whether the scope of the subpoena should be more limited.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A party who disagrees with a court ruling in a Florida divorce has the right to challenge that ruling in various ways. One method (which is often required before the party can appeal to a higher court) is to file a timely motion for rehearing and/or reconsideration after a final judgment is entered. With this motion, a party can ask a court to “fix” mistakes the court may have made in entering the final judgment, such as overlooking certain evidence, not applying the correct standard of law, not making required findings, etc. As one recent appellate case shows, it is important to ask for certain relief that extends beyond a motion for rehearing in order to preserve a claim to that relief.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can property a spouse owned before marriage be transformed into marital property? Yes, in some instances, but usually the transformation is intentional, such as a gift to the other spouse. In instances in which it is not intentional, however, the spouse claiming that non-marital property has been transformed has the burden of proving this to the court.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Throughout a marriage, one spouse or the other may gift substantial money to family members. Can these gifts be held against the spouse who gave the money away when it is time to divorce? What about monetary gifts received from family members - can these funds be used to determine a spouse should not receive alimony or an award of attorneys’ fees in a Florida divorce? The recent appellate case Sarazin v. Sarazin, 1D17-5237 (Fla. 1st DCA February 5, 2019) examines these issues.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
If one spouse pays the mortgage while a divorce is pending, is that spouse owed a credit in equitable distribution for one-half of the mortgage payments made? This was a question answered in the recent appellate case Matthews v. Matthews, 2D17-2834 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019 February 8, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Divorcing spouses no longer want to be in a marriage together, and they may no longer want to be business partners in a jointly-owned corporation. Thus, Florida law favors not forcing ex-spouses to continue to jointly operate and own a marital business. Instead, the court is required to fashion a remedy that takes into account each spouse’s share of the business.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Sometimes parties hide assets in a Florida divorce. This results in a spouse not receiving his or her fair share of the marital estate. In the case Rowe-Lewis v. Lewis, 4D18-1982 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019), the former wife appealed an order denying her motion to set aside the final judgment based on the fraud of the former husband in not disclosing all of his assets. The former wife also appealed the court’s denial of her alimony claim.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Marriages that end in divorce after decades usually involve substantial assets and an alimony claim. Such was the case in Dorsey v. Dorsey, 1D17-5375 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019). Both parties appealed aspects of the trial court’s final judgment concerning equitable distribution, alimony, child support and attorneys’ fees. Many of the issues appealed allow for judicial discretion, which means the trial court has a choice in choosing between certain remedies for parties.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Parties are understandably emotionally invested in the outcome of their divorce case. Sometimes this leads to erratic and unpleasant behavior which can negatively affect both parties. In the case Rawson v. Rawson, No. 1D17-1413 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019), we see how such behavior can affect a judge’s ruling on issues such as alimony and equitable distribution.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Are wedding and engagement rings subject to equitable distribution in a Florida divorce? These assets can hold significant value, so it is no wonder couples seek division of them in a Florida family law case. A recent appellate case, Moody v. Newton, 5D17-1967 (Fla. 5th DCA 2019) answers this question.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Discovery in a Florida divorce refers to a process in which each party is entitled to request documents and other evidence to explore the issues in the case. This is the time when each party investigates issues raised in the petitions. One way to investigate is to send subpoenas for information from third parties such as banks, employers and the like. But what limits are imposed on the information that can be obtained by third parties?
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Florida family law allows for the payment of attorneys’ fees and costs based on need and ability to pay. So even the “winner” of a family law case may be required to pay the other party’s attorneys’ fees and costs based on principles of equity. The playing field is leveled in this way so that one party does not have the ability to hire a lawyer while the other must proceed without counsel. However, before attorneys’ fees and costs are ordered to be paid, there must be findings as to a party’s need for them and the other party’s ability to pay them.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
The terms of a Florida marital settlement agreement are enforceable and subject to interpretation like any other contract. So when terms of a marital agreement are clear, a court will enforce them. This is illustrated in the recent appellate case Rector v. Rector, 2D17-3651 Rector v. Rector (Fla. 2d DCA 2019) in which the former wife appealed an order denying her motion for temporary fees to enforce the final judgment.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
It is important for parties to bring court reporters to their Florida family law hearings as a type of insurance. This is because if you want to appeal a family court ruling, you usually cannot do so without a transcript of the proceedings. This is illustrated in the case Joyner v. Worley, 1D17-3540 Joyner v. Worley (Fla. 1st DCA 2019) in which the former husband appealed an order but did not provide a transcript of the proceedings.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
The year in appellate cases started off strong with the case Julia v. Julia, 4D17-2261 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019) in which the former husband appealed an array of issues in his Florida divorce ranging from equitable distribution to child support to alimony. Ultimately, the former husband prevailed on appeal on the issues raised.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can a party subpoena all medical records in a Florida divorce? The answer depends on what is at issue in the case, and whether or not the party requesting the records has a good reason for being entitled to them. Take the case Brooks v. Brooks, 239 So.3d 758 (Fla. 1st DCA, 2018) in which the wife subpoenaed the husband’s medical, psychotherapist, pharmacy and employment records based on her allegations of domestic violence and the husband’s angry tirades during custody exchanges.
