Terminating temporary custody by an extended relative in Florida

Terminating temporary custody by an extended relative in Florida

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

A petition for temporary custody by an extended relative can be filed in Florida by (a) A relative of a minor child within the third degree by blood or marriage to the parent; (b) The stepparent of a minor child if the stepparent is currently married to the parent of the child and is not a party in a pending dissolution, separate maintenance, domestic violence, or other civil or criminal proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction involving one or both of the child’s parents as an adverse party; or (c) An individual who qualifies as “fictive kin”, defined by the Florida Statutes as “a person unrelated by birth, marriage, or adoption who has an emotionally significant relationship, which possesses the characteristics of a family relationship, to a child.” A temporary custody order was at issue in the case E.L. v. A.L., 2D22-825 (Fla. 2d DCA March 3, 2023).

Florida divorce: treating stock options and bonuses as income versus assets

Florida divorce: treating stock options and bonuses as income versus assets

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

Can equitable distribution and alimony overlap in a Florida divorce? This is possible, for example, when a court awards a party a greater share of marital assets as a form of lump sum alimony. This was an issue in the case Goodman v. Goodman, 6D23-248 (Fla. 6th DCA February 24, 2023).

Deadlines for appeal in a Florida family law case

Deadlines for appeal in a Florida family law case

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

How long do I have to appeal my Florida family law case? The answer depends on many factors, one being whether or not the order being appealed is final or non-final. In most cases, it is important to file a motion for rehearing, and this motion may or may not pause the deadline for appeal. This was an issue discussed in the case Danforth v. Danforth, 6D23-207 (Fla. 6th DCA February 24, 2023).

Florida divorce: distribution of loans taken out for adult children

Florida divorce: distribution of loans taken out for adult children

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

What happens to student loans taken out during the marriage for adult children of a divorcing couple? If the either or both parents co-signed for the loan during the marriage, this is most likely going to be considered a marital debt which is jointly owed by the parents. How does this affect the equitable distribution during the divorce when considering that the loan may also be eventually paid by the adult children? This was an issue in the case Dunkel v. Dunkel, 5D23-55 (Fla. 5th DCA February 28, 2023).

South Florida weekend family fun guide

South Florida weekend family fun guide

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

This weekend, it’s all about celebrating families and parents’ night out with our South Florida weekend family fun guide!

Florida domestic violence injunction: reasonable fear and time

Florida domestic violence injunction: reasonable fear and time

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

How recent must allegations of domestic violence be in Florida to support an injunction? In order to obtain an injunction, one element that must be proven is that the victim has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence. If the last act of domestic violence occurred over a year ago for example, the victim may have trouble proving reasonable case to believe imminent danger. This was an issue in the case Woods v. Woods, 5D22-825 (Fla. 5th DCA February 24, 2023).

Florida divorce: contractual offer versus offer to enter into settlement negotiations

Florida divorce: contractual offer versus offer to enter into settlement negotiations

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

What constitutes a settlement offer versus an invitation to negotiate in a Florida family law case? Sometimes, lawyers will send offers of settlement to each other to try to resolve the case. When correspondence about these offers indicates it is “not an offer”, this may be an indication that it is only an invitation to negotiate. This was an issue in the case Vera v. Toledo, 3D22-0969 (Fla. 3d DCA March 1, 2023).

Joining corporate entities in a Florida divorce

Joining corporate entities in a Florida divorce

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

A corporate entity is sometimes included as a party in a Florida divorce when a spouse has an ownership interest in the entity. This is because the rights of the corporation may be affected by the divorce proceedings. This was an issue in the case Maddox v. Maddox, 2D21-517 (Fla. 2d DCA February 24, 2023).

Florida family law: appealing a general magistrate's recommended order

Florida family law: appealing a general magistrate's recommended order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

A general magistrate is a judicial officer who holds a hearing and enters a recommended order which is ratified by the judge unless either party objects to the recommended order. If there is an objection, the judge must hold a hearing to determine if the objection is valid. This was an issue in the case Edmonds v. Edmonds, 6D23-97 (Fla. 6th DCA February 17, 2023).

Contempt of a Florida parenting plan

Contempt of a Florida parenting plan

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody

Can a parent be held in contempt of a Florida child custody order if there are conflicting orders concerning the exchange of the child? In order to be held in a contempt, the terms of the order at issue must be clear and concise in stating what a party can or cannot do. An unclear or contradicting order may be insufficient to hold a party in contempt. This was an issue in the case Varner v. Varner, 5D23-107 (Fla. 5th DCA February 17, 2023).

Florida name change: When the parents do not agree on a child's name

Florida name change: When the parents do not agree on a child's name

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Name Change

What happens if parents do not agree on a child’s last name in Florida? A parent can petition to change a minor child's name through a petition for name change or as part of another family law case such as a paternity or child custody matter. If a court fails to specify the last name of a child in its order, the Florida Statutes govern what should be done. This was an issue in the case Rios v. Arias, 4D22-2412 (Fla. 4th DCA February 22, 2023).

Appealing a Florida administrative child support order

Appealing a Florida administrative child support order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

What can I do if I am not happy with an administrative child support order entered in Florida? An administrative child support proceeding is handled via mail, but a party can request a hearing. If an order is ultimately entered which a party disputes, there is a process within the administrative rules that allows for appeal. This was an issue in the case Lawson v. DOR, 4D22-1797 (Fla. 4th DCA February 22, 2023).

Florida family law: no-show at contempt hearing

Florida family law: no-show at contempt hearing

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

What happens if a party fails to appear at a hearing on a motion for contempt for failure to pay support? Can a party just send his/her attorney to the hearing? This depends on whether or not the party was ordered by the court to appear. This was an issue in the case Huerta v. Grajales, 4D22-796 (Fla. 4th DCA February 22, 2023).

Florida family law: Standard for successive request for disqualification of judge

Florida family law: Standard for successive request for disqualification of judge

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

How many times can a party ask to disqualify a judge from a Florida family law case? While there is no known limit, once one judge is disqualified, the standard for disqualifying the second judge is more stringent, and thus it may be more difficult to disqualify a successor judge. This was an issue in the case Delgado v. Miller, 3D22-1826 (Fla. 3d DCA February 22, 2023).

Good fortune child support in Florida

Good fortune child support in Florida

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

A millionaire who is ordered to pay child support in Florida may not be subject to the same child support guidelines as cases in which parents earn less money. This is because Florida law states a child’s need is only one factor the court must consider in determining child support. A parent who is wealthy can afford a certain standard of living that the child should be able to share in, according to Florida law. This was an issue in the case A.G.W. v. C.L.C., 2D22-126 (Fla. 2d DCA February 17, 2023).

Extending a dating violence injunction in Florida

Extending a dating violence injunction in Florida

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence

What is needed to extend a Florida domestic violence injunction? The person asking for extension has to show an objectively reasonable fear that he or she will become the victim of imminent violence in the future. Extension of an injunction was an issue in the case Quinn v. Calkins, 4D22-1318 (Fla. 4th DCA February 15, 2023).

Distributing bitcoins in a Florida divorce

Distributing bitcoins in a Florida divorce

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce

Distribution of cryptocurrency in a Florida divorce is becoming more common. Florida Statute 61.075 governs how assets and debts of the parties are divided when there is a divorce. In the case Coe v. Rautenberg, 4D22-510 (Fla. 4th DCA February 15, 2023) an issue arose when the trial court incorrectly distributed bitcoins between the parties after the former husband fell behind on his child support payments.

South Florida weekend family fun guide

South Florida weekend family fun guide

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

The end of spring break doesn’t have to be unpleasant with our weekend family fun guide! Ice skating, a marshmallow drop and more are on the agenda.