Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Holidays
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity."
- Melody Beattie
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Debts acquired during a marriage are presumed to be marital debts. The spouse claiming otherwise has the burden to show that the debt is actually non-marital and/or that the other spouse should be solely responsible for the debt. The court must make findings concerning the debt and why it is the sole responsibility of one spouse. This was an issue in the case Lapomarede v. Pierre, 4D2024-0037 (Fla. 4th DCA November 27, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
When a party requests to remove a judge from presiding over a Florida family law case, this is done through a motion for disqualification. The rules governing this type of motion have strict deadlines. This was an issue in the case Pekel v. Leyva,3D24-1799 (Fla. 3d DCA November 27, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
What is the effect of voluntarily dismissing a Florida divorce case? Under the rules of procedure, the person filing a petition for divorce is authorized to voluntarily dismiss it at any time before a hearing on a motion for summary judgment or before submission of the case to the court for a decision. Once a case is voluntarily dismissed, the court loses jurisdiction to make any further rulings in the case and it is considered closed. This was an issue in the case Pettineroli v. Pettineroli, 3D23-1555 (Fla. 3d DCA November 27, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
When appealing a Florida family law order, it is important to understand if the order is final or non-final. If it is non-final, it is important to understand if the appellate rules of procedure allow it to be appealed. Understanding these issues can avoid potential waste of money and time in appealing an order that may not be appealed under the rules. This was an issue in the case Gaskins v. Bahour, 2D2023-2617 (Fla. 2d DCA November 27, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Chapter 742 of the Florida Statutes governs paternity cases in Florida. Subsection 742.045 states “The court may from time to time, after considering the financial resources of both parties, order a party to pay a reasonable amount for attorney’s fees, suit money, and the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this chapter, including enforcement and modification proceedings.” Does this include fees when a paternity case is appealed? This was an issue in the case C.T. v. T.G., 6D2023-1771 (Fla. 6th DCA November 15, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Is a Florida divorce court required to apportion to one spouse investment losses as a debt in equitable distribution? This was an issue among others in the case Ouslander v. Ouslander, 4D2023-2479 (Fla. 4th DCA November 20, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Delay in resolving a Florida divorce case can lead to complications which cost both sides a lot of money and potential “headache”. An appellate case which illustrates this is Kranci v. Kranci, 4D2023-1808 (Fla. 4th DCA November 20, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
What is a writ of mandamus in a Florida family law case? This is a petition filed with the appellate courts that requests an order directing the trial court to take action. This was an issue in the case Labriola v. Da Silva, 3D24-1726 (Fla. 3d DCA November 20, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
Florida Statute Chp. 409.2563 outlines the procedure for a Florida administrative child support proceeding. Participation in this proceeding addresses only child support unless the parents agree otherwise. If a parent disagrees with the proposed child support amount, according to this chapter, “The parent from whom support is being sought may, within 20 days after the date of mailing or other service of the proposed administrative support order, request a hearing by filing a written request for hearing in a form and manner specified by the department.”
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Having a court reporter present at a trial in your Florida divorce case may be important to your right to appeal. Many appellate cases have been dismissed or not substantively considered due to a lack of a transcript. As stated in Rojas v. Otero, 3D23-1113 (Fla. 3d DCA November 13, 2024): “Consequently, where, as here, there is no transcript from the bench trial below, we are precluded from reviewing factual issues. [. . .] However, even without a trial transcript, reversal is appropriate ‘where an error of law is apparent on the face of the judgment.’”
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Holidays
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”
‒ Abraham Lincoln
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
Does a Florida court have jurisdiction to modify a foreign child support order? This issue is governed by the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). It has specific provisions that allow (or do not allow) a Florida court to modify a foreign child support decree. This was an issue in the case Bravo v. Johnson, 1D2024-1057 (Fla. 1st DCA November 13, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
Florida administrative child support cases are largely handled by mail, but either the custodial parent or the parent who is to pay support can request a hearing during the process, so long as requested by the deadlines imposed by the process. Failure to request a hearing or otherwise cooperate in the proceeding can result in the entry of a child support order with which a parent may not agree. This was an issue in the case Aguilar v. DOR, 6D2023-2846 (Fla. 6th DCA November 1, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony
When alimony is terminated by the request of a payor because of changed financial circumstances, a court can still award nominal alimony which provides for the possibility that the payor may be able to pay the alimony in the future. Nominal alimony is a small amount which keeps the alimony obligation active for future modification, but is a low or insignificant amount (ex: $1.00 per month). This was an issue in the case O’Brien v. O’Brien, D2023-2446 (Fla. 4th DCA November 6, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Attorney’s fees can be awarded in a Florida family law case based on financial disparities between the parties. If one party earns a lot more money than the other party, and has the ability to also pay fees for the other party, and the other party has a need for fees to be paid, the higher-earning party may be ordered to pay attorney’s fees. Florida Statute 61.16 allows the court to make this determination. This was an issue in the case Ospina-Shone v. Shone, 3D23-0917 (Fla. 3d DCA November 6, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When a parent is alleged to be underemployed, for purposes of calculating child support, the parent can be imputed to a higher income. Imputation is a two-step analysis which requires the court to make findings about (1) whether the parent's underemployment was voluntary (absent a finding of fact by the court of physical or mental incapacity or other circumstances over which the parent has no control), and (2) if so, the calculation of imputed income (which involves analysis of the employment potential and probable earnings level of the parent shall be determined based upon his or her recent work history, occupational qualifications, and prevailing earnings level in the community if such information is available. A.A. v. M.A., 2D2023-0676 (Fla. 2d DCA November 1, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Florida due process rules require that both sides of a case be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard. So a court cannot usually make a decision in the case if only one party has presented his or her evidence and arguments. This was an issue in the case Domnin v. Domnina, 4D2023-0376 (Fla. 4th DCA October 30, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Can I seal my Florida family law case? Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 sets forth the conditions under which court records are determined to be confidential and therefore unviewable by the public. Florida court proceedings are generally presumed to be public records with few exceptions. Disclosure of records in a sealed Florida litigation case was an issue in the case Crouch v. Brumer, et. al., 3D24-0287 (Fla. 3d DCA October 30, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Paternity
Florida Statute 742.10 provides the circumstances under which paternity can be established:
Except as provided in chapters 39 and 63, this chapter provides the primary jurisdiction and procedures for the determination of paternity for children born out of wedlock. If the establishment of paternity has been raised and determined within an adjudicatory hearing brought under the statutes governing inheritance, or dependency under workers’ compensation or similar compensation programs; if an affidavit acknowledging paternity or a stipulation of paternity is executed by both parties and filed with the clerk of the court; if an affidavit, a notarized voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, or a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity that is witnessed by two individuals and signed under penalty of perjury as provided for in s. 382.013 or s. 382.016 is executed by both parties; or if paternity is adjudicated by the Department of Revenue as provided in s. 409.256, such adjudication, affidavit, or acknowledgment constitutes the establishment of paternity for purposes of this chapter. If an adjudicatory proceeding was not held, a notarized voluntary acknowledgment of paternity or voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, which is witnessed by two individuals and signed under penalty of perjury as specified by s. 92.525(2), creates a rebuttable presumption, as defined by s. 90.304, of paternity and is subject to the right of any signatory to rescind the acknowledgment within 60 days after the date the acknowledgment was signed or the date of an administrative or judicial proceeding relating to the child, including a proceeding to establish a support order, in which the signatory is a party, whichever is earlier. Both parents must provide their social security numbers on any acknowledgment of paternity, consent affidavit, or stipulation of paternity.