Category Archives: Fort Lauderdale Family Law
Can Extended Family Members Request Temporary Custody of a Child?
There are a wide range of circumstances under which a child could find him or herself in the care of an extended family member, like a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or stepparent. While these arrangements may start out as informal, some families may want to consider making the arrangement official, as this gives the… Read More »
Contempt of Court Proceedings
Child custody orders, spousal maintenance awards, and child support orders are legally binding, which means that those who fail to abide by their terms could face serious consequences, including being held in contempt of court. If a person fails to comply with a court order, initiating contempt of court proceedings may be the wronged… Read More »
Important Issues to Address in Your Parenting Plan
Dividing time between two different households following a divorce can require a significant adjustment for parents, as well as their children. This transition can be made much simpler through the creation of a detailed parenting plan. Although parenting plans can address any number of childcare-related issues, there are a few important matters that should… Read More »
Shared Parental Responsibility in Florida
Florida couples who share children and who decide to separate or dissolve their marriages are required to submit a parenting plan to the court before a custody award or divorce will be finalized. Parenting plans govern time-sharing and the division of parental responsibility, two different, but equally important custody matters, as the former refers… Read More »
Enforcing Property Awards After Divorce
Concluding a divorce proceeding ultimately results in the issuance of a final judgment, or legal order, that covers matters related to property division, alimony, and child custody if applicable. When it comes to property division, most divorce decrees direct the parties to follow specific procedures regarding property transfers. These judgements are court orders, so… Read More »
Modifying a Custody Plan for the Holidays
With the holidays just around the corner, many families are beginning to plan trips, request time off from work, or coordinate travel plans with loved ones. These tasks can become much more difficult when a parent’s plans or circumstances change, requiring the last minute modification of a child custody arrangement. Official modifications can be… Read More »
Creating a “Baby Prenup”
Most people are familiar with prenuptial agreements, or contracts entered into before a couple gets married and that dictate how assets will be divided in the event of divorce. A recent development, however, has taken this decades old practice and turned it into a means of clarifying parental rights and responsibilities. Colloquially known as… Read More »
Alternatives to Traditional Alimony
Recent changes to the federal tax code have had a significant effect on how alimony payments are handled during divorce, as former spouses who make spousal maintenance payments no longer qualify for a tax deduction. Furthermore, alimony recipients must now pay income taxes on all payments that they receive from a former spouse. Both… Read More »
Calculating Income for Alimony and Child Support Purposes
One of the most important factors that courts assess when setting alimony and child support awards is both parties’ incomes. Although wages and salaries may come to mind first when considering what qualifies as income, these are not the only sources of funds that the courts treat as income. For this reason, divorcing couples… Read More »
When Can a Child Testify in a Florida Divorce Case?
Most Florida courts frown on attempts to involve children in divorce litigation. This includes a general prohibition against requiring a child to testify in a deposition or on the stand. It is possible, however, for a child to testify in court in certain situations, but only if specific requirements are met. To learn more… Read More »
