Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
What is the standard for disqualification of a lawyer in a Florida family law case? This was an issue in the case Palma v. Alamilla, 3D25-1181 (Fla. 3d DCA September 3, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
The entry of a Florida domestic violence injunction is civil in nature, however penalties for violating the injunction can bring criminal charges. Although there are serious consequences to having a civil injunction entered, the trial court has broad discretion to enter an injunction. This was an issue in the case Villareal v. Hernandez, 3D24-1722 (Fla. 3d DCA September 3, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Under the Florida Rules of Family Law Procedure, a party can seek to vacate an order entered against that party within certain timeframes and under certain conditions. Usually, a hearing is required when this type of motion is filed. This was an issue in the case Rojas v. Best Taxi Service Corporation, et. al., 3D24-0989 (Fla. 3d DCA September 3, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
A party seeking to have the other party in a Florida family law case pay his or her attorney’s fees and costs must demonstrate a need for the fees, and the ability of the other party to pay the fees. Imputation of income may be a factor the court considers in determining need and ability to pay. This was an issue in the case Gutierrez v. Gutierrez, 3D24-0895 (Fla. 3d DCA September 3, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Appealing your Florida divorce judgment may require that you file a motion for reconsideration or rehearing before you file your appeal. This is because you usually must exhaust all available remedies in the trial court before an appeal. This was an issue in the case Hewell v. Hewell, 3D24-1501 (Fla. 3d DCA August 27, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
In order for due process requirements to be met in a Florida family law case, each party must be given notice and an opportunity to be heard. This was an issue in the case Saladino v. Saladino, 6D2024-2107 (Fla. 6th DCA June 20, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
When a request to determine child support is made at trial, can the judge refer the matter to a hearing officer during the trial for final resolution? Although trial judges are permitted to refer child support matters to hearing officers, a recent case underscores that this cannot happen during a trial. The case is Bui v. Panzardi, 4D2024-1867 (Fla. 4th DCA April 20, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
When filing a petition for protection against violence in Florida, important differences exist regarding the evidentiary and pleading standards for each type of action. For example, a petition for protection against sexual violence has specific requirements that are not found in a petition for protection against domestic violence, generally. This was an issue in the case Alfonso v. Hierrezuelo, 3D24-899 (Fla. 3d DCA August 20, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Usually, debts that are incurred by a party after the filing of a petition for divorce in Florida are considered non-marital debts. Does this include child care debt incurred for the parties’ children? This was an issue in the case Thermidor v. Pierre, 4D2024-2133 (Fla. 4th DCA August 13, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can I represent myself in my Florida divorce case using ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence (AI)? It may be tempting to try to save money and rely on AI to help you draft appellate briefs, for example, but there have been multiple instances of AI citing fake cases. Doing so may expose the party citing the cases to sanctions from the court. This was an issue in the case Goya v. Hayashida, 4D2023-1212 (Fla. 4th DCA August 13, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
When can a lawyer be disqualified in a Florida family law case? There are multiple instances which are listed in the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct which are rules by which lawyers must abide in practicing law in this state. Disqualification of a lawyer was an issue in the case Palma v. Alamilla, 3D25-1110 (Fla. 3d DCA August 13, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
If a court imputes income to a parent in a Florida child custody case for gifts that parent receives from third parties, there must be specific findings made to support this conclusion. This was an issue in the case Gonzalez v. Rodriguez, 3D24-0712 (Fla. 3d DCA August 13, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
An important thing to remember about Florida family law appeals is that failure to raise certain issues with the trial court or untimely appeals can be fatal to an appeal. This was an issue in the case Nisewonger v. Nisewonger, 1D2024-0462 (Fla. 1st DCA August 13, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
What does it mean to be a board-certified family law attorney in Florida? According to the Florida Bar “Board-certified lawyers have dedicated themselves to achieving a heightened level of excellence through character, professionalism, ethics, and credibility in the practice of law.” Some requirements of board-certification are peer and judicial review, scrutiny of a lawyer’s trial and litigation record, and the passing of a rigorous written exam.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
What is vexatious or abusive litigation in a Florida family law case? This is litigation that is deemed unnecessary, frivolous, or usually designed to delay or frustrate the progress of the case. If a party is deemed to be vexatious, the court can levy sanctions which may include prohibition from filing case documents without hiring a lawyer to do so. This was an issue in the case Wiendl v. Wiendl, 2D2024-1861 (Fla. 2d DCA June 20, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When a party requests payment of attorney’s fees in a Florida family law case, must he or she allege the legal basis for requesting the fees, such as need and ability to pay and/or a prevailing party clause in a marital settlement agreement? This was an issue in the case Bergman v. Bergman, 4D2024-0526 (Fla. 4th DCA July 30, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
A party to a Florida family law case that is appealed can request payment of costs by the opposing party when an appeal is taken. In the case McPherson v. Samuel, 4D2023-2613 (Fla. 4th DCA July 30, 2025), there was a dispute as to whether costs awarded by the court were proper in light of the fact that they were associated with the appeal of a domestic violence injunction which was reversed and remanded to put in place a temporary injunction pending a full hearing as to a permanent injunction.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
What is a dismissal for lack of prosecution in a Florida family law case? This means the court dismissed a case because there was no activity for a long period of time (usually around 10 months). Before a case is dismissed for lack of prosecution notice is sent to both parties indicating that if action is not taken to progress the case within a certain period of time, the case will be dismissed. Can a case be re-opened if it is dismissed for lack of prosecution. In certain circumstances, yes. This was an issue in the case Castillo v. Valbonesi, 3D24-1780 (Fla. 3d DCA July 30, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
Florida child support guidelines are an important and required part of a final judgment ordering support. This is likely because the guidelines show what numbers were used to determine support, which are important to know when modifying in the future. The absence of guidelines was an issue in the case Mullarkey v. Tiraco, 2D2024-1612 (Fla. 2d DCA July 25, 2025).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
Many times, allegations of abuse that are too remote in time are not enough to sustain a Florida domestic violence injunction. There must be relatively recent allegations, and then the court can consider past allegations in the context of the recent allegations. This was an issue in the case Harrington v. Giancola, 6D2024-0828 (Fla. 6th DCA July 18, 2025).