Florida divorce: Most issues not raised on trial level cannot be appealed

Florida divorce: Most issues not raised on trial level cannot be appealed

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

Sometimes mistakes can happen in your Florida final judgment of divorce. These mistakes can usually be corrected via a motion for rehearing and ultimately, an appeal to a higher court. To protect your appellate rights, it is important to take the correct steps on the trial level to preserve arguments for appeal. This was one issue in the case Gupta v. Gupta, 5D20-536 (Fla. 5th DCA October 1, 2021).

Recipes for your weekend

Recipes for your weekend

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida Family Events and Recipes

It’s National French Dip Day, but if that’s not your thing there are also National Pickle Day and National Spicy Guacamole Day this weekend. Between these three, you’re sure to find something interesting and tasty in our recipe line-up!

In Honor of Veterans Day

In Honor of Veterans Day

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Holidays

According to Va.gov: “In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: ‘To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…’”

Florida Family Law: Attorney's Fees under Florida Statute 57.105

Florida Family Law: Attorney's Fees under Florida Statute 57.105

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

When a party seeks attorney’s fees on Florida Statute 57.105 against the other party in a Florida family law case, a court generally examines whether a motion filed is frivolous or without merit. This type of fee award can be granted upon request by one party or by the court’s own initiative. This was an issue in the case Pomelli v. Pomelli, 3D20-1029 (Fla. 3d DCA October 6, 2021).

Florida Family Law: Disqualification of a Judge by Substitute or Additional Counsel

Florida Family Law: Disqualification of a Judge by Substitute or Additional Counsel

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

Disqualifying a judge in a Florida family law case is a serious consideration which should be handled with care. A party can seek to remove a judge from presiding over his or her case if he or she can show the judge is biased in some way and that the party has a reasonable fear that the party will not receive fair consideration in the case. In the case Vialva v. Nunez, 3D21-1292 (Fla. 3d DCA October 6, 2021), the appellate court considered this issue.

Application of UCCJEA in Florida child custody case: Deciding which state has jurisdiction

Application of UCCJEA in Florida child custody case: Deciding which state has jurisdiction

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (known as the UCCJEA), a Florida court follows certain guidelines to ensure that its orders do not conflict with actions taken by a court in another state in the same case. When parents allege two different states should take jurisdiction of a child custody case, a Florida court usually must analyze the allegations presented by both sides as to the residency of the child leading up to the filing of a petition for child custody. This was an issue in the case Miller v. Mitchell, 3D21-1621 (Fla. 3d DCA October 6, 2021).

Recipes for your weekend

Recipes for your weekend

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida Family Events and Recipes

Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, so don’t forget to set those clocks back one hour! In the meantime before that happens, you can celebrate National Doughnut Day and National Nachos Day with our weekend recipe guide.

Modifying Florida alimony retroactive to a date other than the petition filing date

Modifying Florida alimony retroactive to a date other than the petition filing date

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

When a petition for modification of alimony is filed in Florida, can a court retroactively modify the support amount? A court has discretion to modify alimony dating back to the date of filing the petition for modification or any date subsequent to the filing of the petition. How does the court decide what date is appropriate? This was an issue in the case Franz v. Franz, 2D20-3310 (Fla. 2d DCA October 13, 2021).

Florida child custody: Modification of time-sharing terms of final injunction

Florida child custody: Modification of time-sharing terms of final injunction

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

As part of a Florida domestic violence injunction, time-sharing or child custody can be affected. When a domestic violence court enters a permanent injunction that results in the abuser receiving supervised visits with a child, can a Florida family court modify that visitation? This was an issue in the case Lonsdale v. Elbanna, 2D20-2978 (Fla. 2d DCA October 1, 2021).

Florida family law procedure: Failure to serve parties with a motion for rehearing affects time to appeal

Florida family law procedure: Failure to serve parties with a motion for rehearing affects time to appeal

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

How important is it to serve other parties in your Florida family law case? Service of documents is an essential part of a case because it puts parties on notice of what they can expect. This avoids “ambush” litigation in which parties are caught off guard by allegations raised in court. The importance of proper service was illustrated in the case Chamblee v. Figueroa, 4D20-83 (Fla. 4th DCA October 6, 2021).

Florida child support guidelines must be attached to order

Florida child support guidelines must be attached to order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

How important are child support guidelines in a Florida paternity case? The Florida child support guidelines are used to calculate what is considered an appropriate level of financial support for children in Florida, taking into account the incomes of the parents, health insurance premiums for the children, daycare costs, and the time-sharing schedule, among other matters. The case Minus v. Brockman, 4D21-1615 (Fla. 4th DCA October 6, 2021) involves a missing child support guidelines worksheet.

Recipes for your weekend (Halloween Edition!)

Recipes for your weekend (Halloween Edition!)

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida Family Events and Recipes

The spookiest weekend of the year is here, and along with it, our recipe guide! Fuel your trick-or-treating adventures with some delicious, Halloween-themed eats.

Florida alimony: Separation of children's expenses from spouse's expenses

Florida alimony: Separation of children's expenses from spouse's expenses

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

When alimony is calculated in a Florida divorce, does the court consider the expenses a spouse incurs for children born of the marriage? Generally, expenses for children are excluded from consideration in an alimony calculation because these are separately handled via the child support guidelines. This was an issue in the case Hamilton v. Hamilton, 1D20-1019 (Fla. 1st DCA October 13, 2021).

Payment of Death Benefits after a Florida divorce

Payment of Death Benefits after a Florida divorce

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

When parties divorce and their assets are separated by a Florida court, it is important to also remember to change beneficiary designation forms on retirement accounts and life insurance policies to conform to a divorce judgment. This is because a dispute can arise later if the retirement plan or insurer is bound by the beneficiary designation, and therefore must pay funds to an ex-spouse, even if this was not intended by the deceased ex-spouse. This was an issue in the case Martinez-Olson v. The Estate of Dan Olson, 3D20-1301 (Fla. 3d DCA September 1, 2021).

Acts too remote in time may not be sufficient to support Florida domestic violence injunction

Acts too remote in time may not be sufficient to support Florida domestic violence injunction

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

How recent must allegations of abuse be in order to support a Florida domestic violence injunction? Since a party must show he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of violence, the acts alleged cannot be too remote in time, and depending on the type of injunction sought, one of the incidents must have occurred within 6 months of filing the petition. This was an issue in the case Files v. Hayes, 1D20-3652 (Fla. 1st DCA September 22, 2021).

Prospective Florida time-sharing order reversed on appeal

Prospective Florida time-sharing order reversed on appeal

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

When a parent relocates but their relocation request is denied, can a court create a future parenting plan for if that parent returns to the jurisdiction? These future parenting plans are known as prospective time-sharing, and they are generally disapproved of under Florida family law. This was an issue in the case Jennings v. Fredes, 1D20-3726 (Fla. 1st DCA September 22, 2021).

Recipes for your weekend

Recipes for your weekend

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida Family Events and Recipes

National Food Day is this Sunday - a day to focus on nutritious and healthy eating. Bonus: it is also National Mother-in-Law Day, so why not combine both and impress your other mother with some delicious, whole food from our weekend recipe guide!

Shared parental responsibility vs. ultimate decision-making authority

Shared parental responsibility vs. ultimate decision-making authority

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

Can a Florida family court award shared parental responsibility but also award ultimate decision-making regarding specific matters affecting children? Ultimate-decision making authority gives a parent the right to be the sole decider over issues specified by the court when the parents do not agree otherwise. This was one issue appealed in the case Moses v. Moses, 5D20-2534 (Fla. 5th DCA September 17, 2021).

"Break-up to make-up" relationships and Florida stalking injunctions

"Break-up to make-up" relationships and Florida stalking injunctions

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

A relationship filled with constant breaking up and getting back together may form the basis for a Florida stalking injunction. When one party is ready to make a break up permanent, the other party may not understand the repercussions of continuing with unwanted attempts to contact the party who has moved on. This was the case in the matter of Chiu v. Adams, 5D20-2502 (Fla. 5th DCA September 3, 2021).

Clarification of a Florida family law order

Clarification of a Florida family law order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

When there are inconsistencies in a Florida family law order, a party might decide to file a motion for clarification. A motion for clarification asks the court to clear up any unclear parts of an order so everyone knows what their rights and obligations are under an order. A motion for clarification was the subject of the case Ager v. Berger, 5D20-1545 (Fla. 5th DCA September 10, 2021).