Category Archives: Family Law
COVID-19: Child Custody & Support Modifications
COVID-19 has changed life as we know it for millions of Americans and billions more internationally. For divorced couples and their families, adjusting to the new normal comes with growing pains and increased difficulty. While it is always best to remain civil and cooperative when co-parenting, COVID-19 brings unique challenges that may require modification… Read More »
Florida Family Law Appeals: You Have 30 Days to File a Notice of Appeal
Family law cases are complicated and sensitive. Going through a dispute is stressful, and receiving an unfavorable decision from the court is downright frustrating. It is important to understand that you are not necessarily out of options if your case did not go your way. Parties have the right to appeal an adverse family… Read More »
Termination of Adult Guardianship in Florida: What You Need to Know
A guardian is a surrogate decision-maker. As explained by the Florida Courts, an adult guardianship may be warranted if an individual (ward) is deemed impaired to the point that they are no longer able to manage their own affairs. Adult guardianships generally do not have a defined duration—meaning they could last for the remainder… Read More »
What Goes Into a Child Time-Sharing Schedule?
For parents, going through a divorce or a separation can be deeply challenging. A well-formulated parenting plan helps to make things a little easier. Essentially, a time-sharing schedule is the part of a parenting plan that outlines when the child will be with each parent. Here, our Tampa child custody attorneys highlight the key… Read More »
Commingling Assets in Florida: What You Need to Know
It is not uncommon for married couples to share their property. Indeed, many couples handle virtually all of their finances using joint bank accounts. When they do so, they are essentially commingling their assets. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with commingling assets. For many married couples in Florida, it is effective and… Read More »
How to Disestablish Paternity as a Married Man: An Overview of Florida Law
In Florida, a married man is presumed to be the legal father of his wife’s child. As such, parental rights and responsibilities take immediate effect. If the man later finds out that he is not the biological father, he may be able to disestablish paternity—though, it is not guaranteed. Disproving paternity is complicated. There… Read More »
Your Guide to Serving Divorce Papers in Florida
When a civil complaint is filed in a Florida court, a notification must be delivered to the opposing party. This is often referred to as “service of process” or “being served papers”. As a divorce is technically a type of lawsuit, the spouse who files for divorce has an obligation to serve divorce papers… Read More »
Same Sex Divorce in Florida: What LGBT Parents Should Know About Custody & Visitation
In the 2014 case of Brenner v. Scott, the Florida Supreme Court determined that the state’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. Not taking effect until 2015, the decision helped pave the way to marriage equality in Florida. Of course, true marriage equality means that some same sex couples, just like some heterosexual couples,… Read More »
How Does a Paternity DNA Test Work in Florida?
Paternity is the foundation of a man’s parental rights and parental responsibilities in Florida. When an unmarried mother gives birth, paternity is not automatic. Action must be taken to establish paternity. That is not to say that establishing paternity has to be difficult—both parents can simply sign and submit Florida’s Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity… Read More »
Sharing Child Custody in Florida? Five Tips to Help You Get Through the Coronavirus Epidemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting communities all around the world. The Florida Department of Health notes that nearly every county in the state has at least one confirmed case of COVID-19, with Hillsborough County being one of the hardest hit. While the virus presents challenges for nearly every family, it can be especially difficult… Read More »
