Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Many Florida family law agreements have what is known as a “prevailing party clause” which states that if litigation is brought to enforce terms of the agreement, the prevailing party will have his or her attorney’s fees paid by the other party. Does an award under this type of clause require expert testimony as to the reasonableness of attorney’s fees? This was an issue in the case Cohen v. Cohen, 4D2024-1339 (Fla. 4th DCA June 18, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
A party may disagree with the trial court’s assessment of the evidence in a case, but this alone is not grounds for appeal. The appellate court usually will not second-guess the judgment of the trial court judge since he or she had the advantage of reviewing live testimony and assessing witness credibility. This was an issue in the case Tropper v. Corti, 3D24-1320 (Fla. 3d DCA June 18, 2025).
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 court which basically asks the appellate court to direct the trial court to take some action. This was an issue in the case Gooch v. Cowan, 1D2024-3285 (Fla. 1st DCA June 18, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When a court’s oral pronouncement and its written order conflict, the oral pronouncement usually controls. This was an issue in the case Graydus v. Graydus, 4D2023-1213 (Fla. 4th DCA June 11, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A final judgment establishing child custody in Florida must comport with Fla. Stat. 61.13 as it relates to consideration of the best interest of the child. When a transcript of a trial in these cases is not provided, and the case is appealed, the appellate court is limited to reviewing errors apparent on the face of the judgment, including a lack of required findings. This was an issue in the case Salazar v. Blanco, 3D24-1588 (Fla. 3d DCA June 4, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A trial court in a Florida domestic violence injunction case weighs the credibility of witnesses and determines who to believe when there is conflicting testimony. When a party appeals an injunction, the appellate court usually does not second-guess the credibility determinations made by the trial court. This was an issue in the case Lau v. Gonzalez, 3D24-1491 (Fla. 3d DCA June 4, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Can a temporary relocation be granted in a Florida child custody case without a hearing? Statutes require that certain language be included in a petition for relocation, part of which states “IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY OBJECT TO THE RELOCATION, THE RELOCATION WILL BE ALLOWED, UNLESS IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE AND WITHOUT A HEARING.” See Fla. Stat. Chp. 61.13001. This was an issue in the case Lawler v. Lawler, 3D24-1428 (Fla. 3d DCA June 4, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Even when a default is entered against a party in a Florida divorce case or a pleading is stricken, a trial court is still required to make findings regarding equitable distribution pursuant to Fla. Stat. Chp. 61.075. This was an issue in the case Jones v. Jones, 5D2024-2342 (Fla. 5th DCA May 23, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When a large sum of retroactive child support is ordered in Florida, how is the sum paid? Typically, a court will order that it be paid monthly, as an additional sum paid on top of the ongoing child support. When determining the amount, the court must take into consideration the total sum owed and the time it will take to pay it off based on the monthly rate ordered. This was an issue in the case Lucombe v. Lucombe, 5D2023-3185 (Fla. 5th DCA May 23, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony
Under the revised Florida alimony statutes, permanent alimony has been abolished. For long-term marriages (meaning marriages 20 years in length or longer), alimony can be awarded for up to 75 percent of the length of the marriage. The amount of alimony could be 35 percent of the difference in net incomes between the parties or the need of the spouse asking for alimony, whichever amount was less. The award of alimony in a 50-year marriage after the passage of the revised alimony statute was an issue in the case Loconto v. Loconto, 4D2023-3079 (Fla. 4th DCA May 28, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
What is summary judgment in a Florida family law case? This is a judgment by the court that there are no genuine issues of material fact to litigate, and therefore trial is not necessary on a claim, so the court is summarily determining the merits of the case. Summary judgment might be appropriate, for example, where a marital settlement agreement states alimony is non-modifiable, and then a party files a petition to modify. This type of judgment was an issue in the case Meruelo v. Meruelo, 3D24-0992 (Fla. 3d DCA May 28, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
If a party fails to prosecute a Florida family law case, the case can be dismissed. Under Florida Rule of Family Law Procedure 12.420, if there has been no activity in the case for at least 10 months, the court may dismiss the case, but notice must be given in advance. This was an issue in the case Viera v. Viera, 3D24-2208 (Fla. 3d DCA May 21, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Equitable distribution in a Florida divorce case must comply with Florida Statute Chp. 61.075. Can a party be “punished” in equitable distribution for making what the court determines are unsupported litigation claims? This was an issue in the case Pitamber v. Shivbaran, 3D24-0198 (Fla. 3d DCA May 21, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
Judges in Florida domestic violence cases have “broad discretion in granting, denying, dissolving, or modifying injunctions, and that decision will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion”, according to Johnson v. Navabi, 3D25-0147 (Fla. 3d DCA May 14, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
What is laches in a Florida family law case? This is a defense asserted by a party that means the other party waited so long to assert his or her claim, that the party asserting laches cannot adequately prepare a defense because, for example, evidence has been lost or is no longer available. This was an issue in the case Phanord v. Phanord, 3D24-0818 (Fla. 3d DCA May 14, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Holidays
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” — Barack Obama
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A petition for injunction against dating violence in Florida requires that the alleged victim show a dating relationship, violence during the relationship and imminent future violence. This was an issue in the case Adams v. Cox, 5D2023-1821 (Fla. 5th DCA May, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
It is common in a Florida parenting plan, for the court to specify vacation dates during summer for each parent. For example, a parenting plan might state the parties will follow the regular time-sharing schedule except that each parent is entitled to take two weeks of vacation with the child each year. If not carefully worded, this provision can create confusion. This was an issue in the case Murnane v. Murnane, 5D2023-1128 (Fla. 5th DCA May 2, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Permanent alimony was abolished in Florida on July 1, 2023. Cases pending on or after that date were subject to revised alimony statutes. If an appeal was pending in a case in which permanent alimony was awarded prior to July 1, 2023, how did that affect the viability of the permanent alimony award? This was an issue in the case Alfonso v. Alfonso, 4D2024-0698 (Fla. 4th DCA May 7, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When calculating child support in Florida, it is possible for courts to make mistakes in calculating the numbers. This can be remedied, if necessary, via an appeal. But what if a party does not have a transcript of the trial at which the child support was calculated? This was an issue in the case Garwood v. Garwood, 6D2023-1793 (Fla. 6th DCA April 25, 2025).
