Miami family law attorney blog
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
Attorneys’ fees can be awarded in a child support case, including modification matters. In the case Scire v. Hoffman, 4D18-1606 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019), the father appealed an order awarding attorneys’ fees and costs to the mother in a modification of child support. The court awarded over $16,000 in fees to the mother, payable to the father in equal monthly installments over a 5-year period.
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 Child Custody
Drug and/or alcohol abuse can be taken into account in Florida child custody cases. If it is not in the best interest of children to have unsupervised visits with a drug or alcohol addicted parents, the court may order supervised visitation until there is improvement with the parent’s problem. When a parent shows that he or she is managing the addiction, the court can modify a parenting plan, as seen in the case McLendon v. D’Amico, 1D18-2648 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Name Change
Unmarried parents who are involved in a Florida paternity case may dispute a change in the child’s name. In Bowman v. Hutton, 1D18-3400 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019), the parties disputed a change in the child’s last name. The court hyphenated the child’s last name using both parents’ last names and the mother appealed.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida family events
Egg hunts are plentiful this Easter weekend and we found a variety of locations to report to help you maximize your egg gathering! Check out this Easter weekend edition of our South Florida family fun guide.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A Florida child custody order must be based on a consideration of the best interest of the child, giving weight to the factors listed in Florida Statute Chp. 61.13. Even if a parent’s behavior causes prejudice to the other parent, that behavior cannot be the basis for a court to order a child custody arrangement. This rule of law is exemplified in the case Parris v. Butler, 2D18-1932 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony
While it is important to know what you want in your Florida divorce case, it is equally important to know how to ask for it. Your petition for dissolution of marriage in Florida frames the issues in the case and puts the other party on notice regarding what relief you are seeking. Usually, if you do not include something you want in your petition, you cannot get it at trial. The case Lizzmore v. Lizzmore, 1D17-1734 (Fla. 1st DCA, 2019) sheds light on this.
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 Child Custody
Sometimes, children reside with caregivers other than their parents such as grandparents, aunts and adult siblings. In these cases, the caregiver usually needs a document that authorizes the caregiver to take actions on behalf of the child such as enrolling the child in school, obtaining medical information, etc. These petitions are most easily granted when the parents agree to the custody arrangement, but they are also possible when the parents do not agree.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida Family Events
This week’s edition of our South Florida family fun guide features a chance to meet the Easter Bunny, fun for kids with special needs and more!
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When a parent is self-employed or working for a family-owned business, it can be difficult to determine the parent’s true income for purposes of calculating child support. Much more scrutiny is required to make an accurate determination than the level of scrutiny required to assess a parent who earns W-2 income.
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 Family Law Procedure
If a party to a Florida family law case wants the other party to undergo psychological testing, specific steps must be followed. The rule guiding these types of evaluations is found in the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. Generally, the party seeking such an evaluation must show that good cause exists for one and that the condition subject to examination be in controversy. Such evaluations are most commonly requested in cases involving a child custody dispute.
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 South Florida Family Events**
April is here, and as Easter approaches, we have some egg-cellent activities for you and the family to enjoy in our weekend family fun guide!
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 Domestic Violence
Injunctions for protection against domestic violence in Florida are civil restraining orders that are entered if evidence of certain acts have been established. In the case of an injunction against repeat violence, the Florida Statutes define repeat violence as two incidents of violence or stalking committed by the respondent, one of which must have been within 6 months of the filing of the petition, which are directed against the petitioner or the petitioner’s immediate family member (Fla. Stat. 784.046).
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.
