Miami family law attorney blog
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Child Support
When parties have more than one child in common, it is important that a Florida child support order include provisions which specify how much child support is to be paid as each child turns 18 or otherwise emancipates and is no longer eligible for child support. This issue arose in the recent Florida family law case Stout v. Stout, 4D18-2296 (Fla. 4th DCA May 1, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When circumstances change after a final judgment is entered, either party may be able to petition for modification of the order. When child support payments are at issue, the court must determine whether or not there has been a substantial change in circumstances which was not contemplated at the time the final judgment was entered. In the case Johansson v. Johansson, 4D18-2112 (Fla. 4th DCA May 1, 2019), the former husband appealed an order denying his petition to decrease child support.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In most cases, Florida family law judgments cannot make rulings based on future circumstances or events. This is because life changes and circumstances change frequently, so it is impossible to know in present-time whether or not a ruling made today is just or equitable when applied in the future. The recent appellate case Du Perault v. Du Perault, 4D18-1226 (Fla. 4th DCA May 1, 2019) affirms this concept.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida family events**
As June winds down, keep cool with our South Florida weekend family fun guide!
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
As parties who hire lawyers in their Florida family law cases soon realize, in addition to attorneys’ fees, there are costs associated with a case that must be paid as well. From process servers to filing fees and beyond, Florida family law litigation can be expensive. Most lawyers will tell you a court reporter is worth his or her weight in gold, and the appellate case Padgett v. Padgett, 1D17-2217 (Fla. 1st DCA May 2, 2019) tells us why.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
If a party does not agree with a trial court’s decision in his or her Florida family law case, he or she may have the right to appeal the decision. The party must ensure that he or she has followed the appropriate steps to preserve the right to appeal, and this is usually best done through an attorney. As the recent appellate case Browner v. Browner, 1D19-0556 (Fla. 1st DCA April 22, 2019) indicates, knowing something as basic as whether or not it is possible to appeal an order is crucial.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony
A party who wants alimony without having to file a petition for divorce can seek it under Florida Statute Chp. 61.09. This is referred to as a Petition for Support Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage. The recent family law case Levy v. Levy, 4D18-3535 (Fla. 4th DCA April 17, 2019) involves this type of petition.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A petition for protection against domestic violence can be filed on behalf of a minor child who is the victim of abuse. When filing such a petition it is important to follow rules regarding the submission of evidence to the court to avoid the loss of important protection for a child. We see this play out in the case Hussey v. Lara, ex. rel., 3D18-259 (Fla. 3d DCA April 10, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida family events**
Happy Summer Solstice! Celebrate the first official days of summer with our South Florida weekend family fun guide.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony
When a party falls behind on Florida support payments, he or she may be held in contempt of court. When this happens, usually the party is ordered to become current on support payments within a certain amount of time. Additionally, an amended income withholding order may be entered which allows for extra amounts to be taken from the obligor’s paycheck to satisfy any arrearage and/or attorneys’ fees amounts. This is what happened in the recent Florida family law case Moore v. Holton, 2D18-2672 (Fla. 2d DCA April 12, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In a recent Florida family law case, the former husband appealed the trial court’s determination of a parenting plan, retroactive child support, and ongoing child support. The case Johnson v. Johnson, 5D17-4093 (Fla. 5th DCA April 5, 2019) sheds light on what could be considered common mistakes with regard to these issues.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When a parent is unemployed at the time Florida child support is calculated, the parent may be imputed to minimum wage or a level of income consistent with his or her earning history and capacity. However, there are some instances in which a parent is unable to work at all on a temporary basis. In such cases, the parties may agree to postpone the implementation of a child support order pending the parent’s employment. Such was the case in Paulette v. Rosetta, 5D18-264 (Fla. 5th DCA April 5, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
Florida Rule of Family Law Procedure 12.540 allows a party to file a motion to set aside a judgment based on fraud, mistake or excusable neglect. In alleging fraud, a party must point to specific acts and show that the opposing party knowingly committed fraud. In the case Corrigan v. Vargas, 5D18-2158 (Fla. 5th DCA April 5, 2019), the appellate court reviewed a trial court’s decision to set aside a final judgment as to child support based on the father’s representation that fraud was committed in determining his income at mediation.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida family events**
Happy Father’s Day weekend! Celebrate your favorite guy(s) with our weekend family fun guide.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
When a party fails to follow a Florida child custody order, he or she can be held in contempt of court. Sanctions may include community service to be performed by the parent not in compliance and make-up time-sharing for the other parent. However, time-sharing cannot be modified as a sanction absent certain factors as stated in the case Andre v. Abreu, 3D17-1747 (Fla. 3d DCA March 27, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
What does it take to dissolve an injunction in Florida? Essentially, the movant must show there has been a change in circumstances such that the underlying situation which gave rise to the injunction no longer exists. We see this concept analyzed in the case Trice v. Trice, 2D17-3673 (Fla. 2d DCA March 20, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When a parent fails to pay child support in Florida, he or she can be held in contempt of court. The consequences of this may include incarceration, fines and suspension of a driver’s license, among other punishments. Before a parent is held in contempt, Florida law contains certain safeguards that promote a fair process. This is evident in the case Seaman v. Seaman, 5D18-2020 (Fla. 5th DCA March 22, 2019).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is a parent supposed to do if a child refuses to go with the other parent during a court-ordered visitation exchange? This situation arose in the case Akre-Deschamps v. Smith, 2D17-4837 (Fla. 2d DCA March 20, 2019) after which the mother was held in contempt when the parties’ daughter refused to board a plane with the father during a time-sharing exchange.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida family events**
School is out for most of South Florida, and it’s National Doughnut Day! Could Friday be any sweeter? Yes, with our weekend family fun guide, of course!
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony
What is enough to overcome a presumption for permanent alimony in a long-term marriage? An analysis of the factors listed in Florida Statute Chp. 61.08 is what the court must consider in determining how much alimony to award and for how long. In the case Gilliand v. Gilliand, 5D17-4100 (Fla. 5th DCA, March 15, 2019), the former wife appealed the trial court’s decision to award her durational alimony rather than permanent alimony based primarily on her age, good health and work history.
