Extension of a Florida domestic violence injunction

Extension of a Florida domestic violence injunction

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

When a Florida domestic violence injunction is entered, it is usually set to expire by a certain date. The victim can request that the court extend the expiration date if he or she can show another violent act has occurred, or he or she is in reasonable fear that another violent act will occur. This was an issue in the case Cardon v. Halmaghi, 1D20-2314 (Fla. 1st DCA October 19, 2022).

Award of guardian ad litem's attorney's fees in Florida child custody case

Award of guardian ad litem's attorney's fees in Florida child custody case

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

A guardian ad litem in a Florida child custody case can hire an attorney to collect fees due for services. The party who owes the money to the guardian ad litem could be liable for the guardian’s attorney’s fees. The award of fees must be supported by certain findings. This was an issue in the case Tripodi v. Nacer, 3D21-2234 (Fla. 3d DCA October 19, 2022).

South Florida family events

South Florida family events

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

Find ideas for quality time in our weekend family fun guide! This weekend, you can watch movies in the park, find your favorite books and more.

Rejection of confession of error in Florida child support appeal

Rejection of confession of error in Florida child support appeal

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

When a party appeals a Florida family law case, if the opposing party “confesses error”, the appeal is usually granted. This means the opposing party admits the appeal is correct and should be granted. Is the appellate court required to abide by a confession of error? This was an issue in the case Perez v. DOR, 1D22-798 (Fla. 1st DCA October 12, 2022).

Florida divorce: Pre-judgment interest on equitable distribution awards

Florida divorce: Pre-judgment interest on equitable distribution awards

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

Is interest awarded in a Florida divorce when the court divides assets between the parties? Pre-judgment interest refers to interest that may accrue before a final judgment is entered awarding property to a person. This was an issue in the case Iarussi v. Iarrusi, 1D21-0708 (Fla. 1st DCA October 12, 2022).

Standard of appellate review for Florida child support order

Standard of appellate review for Florida child support order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Child Support

When a party is not happy with a Florida child support ruling, can that party appeal? The answer depends on many factors, but an appeal generally must show the court misapplied the law. When reviewing a child support order, the appellate court will review whether competent, substantial evidence supports the decision. This was an issue in the case Duncan v. Franklin, 3D21-1068 (Fla. 3d DCA October 12, 2022).

Requesting a hearing in a Florida administrative child support proceeding

Requesting a hearing in a Florida administrative child support proceeding

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Child Support

Administrative child support proceedings in Florida are handled without hearings unless a party requests one. All information about the case and proposed child support amounts are mailed to the parent requested to pay child support. If the parent agrees with the proposal, the order for support can be confirmed without the parties attending court. If the parent disagrees, he or she can request a hearing within certain deadlines. This was an issue in the case Pellegrino v. DOR, 2D21-2116 (Fla. 2d DCA November 3, 2022).

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day!

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Holidays

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" -- Maya Angelou

Summary denial of request to dissolve Florida domestic violence injunction

Summary denial of request to dissolve Florida domestic violence injunction

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

A Florida domestic violence injunction can be dissolved if the circumstances surrounding entry of the injunction have changed. Due process requires that a party who files a facially sufficient motion to dissolve an inunction be given a hearing before a decision is made on this motion. This was an issue in the case Brown v. Armstrong, 5D22-1125 (Fla. 5th DCA October 3, 2022).

Disqualification of a Florida family law judge

Disqualification of a Florida family law judge

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

What does it mean to recuse or disqualify a judge in a Florida family law case? This means you are asking the court to remove a judge from deciding your case because you can show the judge is biased or otherwise unable to fairly decide a case. This showing cannot be based on your feeling that the judge is biased - there has to be evidence to support it. This was an issue in the case J.R. v. D.C.F., 3D22-1537 (Fla. 3d DCA October 6, 2022).

How much make-up timesharing in a Florida child custody case?

How much make-up timesharing in a Florida child custody case?

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

When a parent wrongfully withholds court-ordered time-sharing from the other parent, the Florida statutes authorize a family court to award make-up time-sharing to the parent who was denied visits. Is a court required to award make-up time-sharing in an amount equal to the time missed? This was an issue in the case Spann v. Payne, 1D21-2323 (Fla. 1st DCA September 21, 2022).

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.