Florida same-sex family law: relocation and standing

Florida same-sex family law: relocation and standing

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

Child custody issues in Florida same-sex marriage cases face undeveloped law sometimes. This means, the court is left to sort out how to apply statutes to situations that likely were not considered when the statutes were originally drafted. A recent case sheds light on how child custody arrangements involving a same-sex marriage are evaluated when relocation is sought.

Florida child custody: Modification of a parenting plan for alienation

Florida child custody: Modification of a parenting plan for alienation

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

Parents who cannot get along usually find themselves in court repeatedly after a final judgment is entered in a Florida child custody case. As always, the court must sort through the parties’ disagreements to arrive at decisions which are in the best interest of the children involved. Sometimes this involves referring the children to therapeutic services. This was an issue in the case Logreira v. Logreira, 3D21-0915 (Fla. 3d DCA September 21, 2022).

Florida family law: due process when a party fails to appear at a hearing

Florida family law: due process when a party fails to appear at a hearing

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

If a party refuses to appear at a hearing in a Florida family law case, can their consent to have matters heard by the court in their absence by implied? Due process is an important and required part of any family law case, and if a party is not on notice about what will be decided at a hearing, that party may have a claim for violation of due process. This was an issue in the case Athienitis v. Makris, 2D21-2376 (Fla. 2d DCA September 16, 2022).

Florida family law: setting aside a consent final judgment

Florida family law: setting aside a consent final judgment

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

When parties sign a settlement agreement in a Florida family law case and then ask the court to ratify the agreement by order, the parties are voluntarily asking the court to uphold an agreement they reached. What if a party feels there was a mistake in the agreement? Can that party file a motion to set aside the agreement and subsequent order of ratification? This was an issue in the case Gjokhila v. Seymour, 1D21-1613 (Fla. 1st DCA October 6, 2022).

Florida family law: When a judge's oral ruling conflicts with the written order

Florida family law: When a judge's oral ruling conflicts with the written order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

What happens when a Court’s oral ruling is different from the written order in a Florida family law case? Sometimes, a judge will rule one way orally at a hearing and ask the lawyers to prepare an order memorializing what the judge said. The order signed by the judge therefore may be different from what the judge said. According to a recent appellate case “When a trial court’s written order is inconsistent with its earlier oral pronouncement, the oral pronouncement generally controls and the written order must be reversed.” Johansson v. Johansson, 4D21-3343 (Fla. 4th DCA September 21, 2022).

Florida income withholding order for alimony payments

Florida income withholding order for alimony payments

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

What is an income withholding order in Florida? This is an order that obligates someone’s employer to withhold money from his/her paycheck and pay that money to the State Depository. The State Depository then disburses this money as child support and/or alimony on behalf of the person whose paycheck was garnished. Entry of this type of order was an issue in the case Carlson v. Frengut, 4D21-1600 (Fla. 4th DCA September 14, 2022).

Florida family law: reservation of jurisdiction for attorney's fees

Florida family law: reservation of jurisdiction for attorney's fees

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

When attorney’s fees are awarded to one party in a Florida family law case, the next step is to determine the amount of fees to be awarded. This requires testimony or evidence of the amount of fees expended in order for the court to make a determination of reasonableness. This was an issue in the case Fetchick v. Fetchick, 5D21-1722 (Fla. 5th DCA August 26, 2022).

Recipes for your weekend

Recipes for your weekend

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

Today, we celebrate National Guacamole Day! What a great day for some fresh, tasty recipes. Find them in our weekend guide.

Florida family law: Challenging a general magistrate's findings and recommendations

Florida family law: Challenging a general magistrate's findings and recommendations

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

When a matter is heard by and ruled on by a general magistrate in a Florida divorce case, there are certain procedures that must be followed to challenge the general magistrate’s findings and recommendations. These must be raised within a certain period of time. Failure to challenge the general magistrate’s rulings correctly and timely may result in relief being denied. This was an issue in the case Edwards v. Alphonse, 4D21-2910 (Fla. 4th DCA August 31, 2022).

Non-appealable orders in a Florida family law case

Non-appealable orders in a Florida family law case

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

Can you appeal any order entered in a Florida family law case? Not all orders are appealable at every stage of a case. Certain non-final orders cannot be appealed. This means orders that are entered before a final judgment is entered in a case, may not be appealable until the final judgment is entered. This was an issue in the case Shavers v. Shavers, 2D21-3190 (Fla. 2d DCA August 31, 2022).

Attorney's fees in a Florida divorce

Attorney's fees in a Florida divorce

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

Attorney’s fees in a Florida divorce can be awarded based on the relative financial circumstances of the parties or misconduct in litigation. When they are awarded based on financial circumstances, a court must consider the need of the spouse asking for fees to be paid as well as the ability of the other spouse to pay. Misconduct can also be considered in awarding fees based on financial circumstances. This was an issue in the case Rich v. Rich, 2D19-2721 (Fla. 2d DCA August 31, 2022).

Recipes for your weekend

Recipes for your weekend

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

National Grandparent’s Day is this Sunday. What a wonderful day to show appreciation in the form of food! Here are some recipes to help celebrate.

Florida domestic violence injunction reversed

Florida domestic violence injunction reversed

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

A Florida domestic violence injunction must be supported by appropriate allegations. Often, yelling at someone, although unpleasant, is not enough to support an injunction. “In determining whether a petitioner’s fear of domestic violence is objectively reasonable, trial courts ‘consider the current allegations, the behavior of the parties in the relationship, and the history of the relationship.’” Stevens v. Hudson, 1D21-3142 (Fla. 1st DCA August 31, 2022).

International travel costs to effectuate Florida parenting plan

International travel costs to effectuate Florida parenting plan

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

How are travel costs taken into account when parents do not live in the same state, or even the same country, in a Florida child custody case? Travel costs to effectuate time-sharing are part of child support considerations and the court must apportion the same appropriately. Exorbitant travel costs were an issue in the case Hiatt v. Mathieu, 4D22-1198 (Fla. 4th DCA August 24, 2022).

Denial of Florida name change petition requires articulated factual basis

Denial of Florida name change petition requires articulated factual basis

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Name Change

What are some reasons a name change petition can be denied in Florida? Some issues a court may consider in determining if a name change can be granted are if a person is changing his or her name to escape a criminal record or to defraud creditors. This was an issue in the case In re: Steven Benton Aubrey, 4D22-231 (Fla. 4th DCA August 24, 2022).

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Holidays

According to History.com: “Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.”

Recipes for your Labor Day Weekend

Recipes for your Labor Day Weekend

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

Happy Labor Day Weekend! Whether you are grilling or just relaxing this weekend, our recipe guide has something for you.

Modification of Florida parenting plan depends on competent, substantial evidence

Modification of Florida parenting plan depends on competent, substantial evidence

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

Modifying a Florida parenting plan requires the showing of a substantial, material, and unanticipated change of circumstances, according to the Florida Statutes. If a party appeals a trial court’s decision to modify a parenting plan, an appellate court will analyze whether competent, substantial evidence supports the trial court’s decision. This was an issue in the case Miedes v. Ideses, 3D21-1112 (Fla. 3d DCA August 24, 2022).

Florida alimony modification and discharge of debts in bankruptcy

Florida alimony modification and discharge of debts in bankruptcy

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

Can a discharge of debts in bankruptcy lead to a modification of alimony in Florida? According to the case Kraus v. Kraus, 3D21-740 (Fla. 3d DCA August 24, 2022), it can. This is because the debt discharge could lead to better ability to pay by the payor.