Category Archives: Fort Lauderdale Family Law
Voluntary Declarations of Paternity
There are a number of ways for a child’s biological father to declare paternity, one of which is to complete a voluntary declaration. Completing a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity is an option often chosen by fathers who are unmarried to the mother of their child, as it provides the legal benefits and rights of… Read More »
Right of First Refusal
Our day to day lives rarely go according to plan. For this reason, Florida family law courts created something known as the right of first refusal, which applies when one parent is unable to care for a child during a scheduled visit. In these cases, the parent with the conflict must first ask the… Read More »
Parenting Time Interference
Couples with children who decide to dissolve their marriages are required to come up with a parenting plan that details how parenting time will be allocated between them before their divorce can be finalized. These arrangements are intended to ensure that children have ongoing and meaningful contact with both of their parents even after… Read More »
Establishing a Trust for Child Support
In most cases, when a couple with children obtain a divorce, the non-custodial parent is required to make monthly child support payments to the other. These payments, whether made directly by a parent or garnished from his or her wages, are almost always deposited directly into the recipient’s bank account. However, in some special… Read More »
How Imputed Income Could Affect Your Child Support Award
When determining how much a party owes in child support, Florida courts are required to take a series of factors into account, including each party’s income, whether either party is employed, and each spouse’s capacity to earn a living. However, these are not the only elements that play an important role in deciding how… Read More »
How Medical Expenses Can Affect Child Support
Determining how much a parent must pay in child support can be a complicated process, as it requires an analysis of both parties’ incomes, properties, and expenses, as well as consideration of the family’s time sharing schedule. In most cases, courts adhere to a strict formula when taking these factors into account and determining… Read More »
Do Gestational Surrogates Have Parental Rights?
Since the first reported child conceived from a cryopreserved embryo was born in 1984, courts have been grappling with how to define paternity and parental rights in light of scientific innovation. Fortunately, a few years ago, the Florida Legislature enacted provisions that specifically apply to paternity-related issues in situations that involve in vitro fertilization…. Read More »
Rights of Biological Fathers Reassessed in Groundbreaking Case
Florida law has long held that a child born into an intact marriage is presumed to be the biological child of the mother’s husband. However, a recently issued ruling from the Florida Supreme Court struck down this decades-old rule, which could mean that biological fathers of children born to women who are married to… Read More »
Financial Disclosures in Family Law Matters
When couples file for divorce or are involved in a dispute regarding their children, the parties are required to exchange certain financial information. Knowing which documentation must be submitted can be difficult, so if you want to ensure that you comply with all court rules regarding financial disclosures, you should consider retaining an experienced… Read More »
Legal Separation in Florida
In most states, when a couple wants to end a marriage, they have three options, namely: divorce, annulment, and separation. Unfortunately, Florida law doesn’t actually recognize legal separation, which can prove troublesome for couples who don’t qualify for annulment and don’t want to get divorced for religious, financial, or personal reasons. There are, however,… Read More »