Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer Blog
Florida children that are the product of divorce are now a familiar with
visitation planning. Florida timesharing plans came into law in 2008 and
were introduced to help ease the need for a custodial parent to be
Articles Posted in Visitation Issues
Florida’s Residency Requirements – Divorce, Child Support and Timesharing
Filing for divorce, child support or timesharing modifications in Florida require that you be a resident of the state. Residency is determined based on Florida Statute 61.021, which requires that an individual be a resident of Florida for at least six (6) months prior to filing an action within the State Court.
Residency can be determined by a number of factors, the most common of which is your drivers license. If you have moved to Florida, make certain to get your new drivers license immediately, so that you can prove your residency when the time comes.
Another way to prove residency is by providing a lease agreement, utility bills, or by having an affidavit signed by a neutral third party that can verify you have lived in the State for the required period of time.
Larry King Files For Eighth Divorce From Seventh Wife
World famous broadcaster and renowned interviewer Larry King and his wife Shawn Southwick each filed for divorce on Wednesday, April 14. The couple has been married for over 10 years and have two young children. Larry King, 75, has been married 8 times to seven different women. He married one of his ex-wives a second time.
The couple has reportedly had ongoing problems in their marriage including an allegation that King had an affair with Shawn’s sister Shannon Engemann, although King and Engemann both deny the affair. King has told the press that he did not sign a prenuptial agreement with Southwick. King is reportedly worth over $100 million. In California married couples split earnings acquired during the marriage.
In Florida, the equitable distribution of marital property is one of the most litigated aspects of divorce. There are a number of laws you need to know about if you are getting divorced in Florida. A Florida Family Law Attorney can help you preserve your rights and protect your property. Navigating the Florida Family law statute by yourself can be a dangerous proposition. Final divorce judgments can have adverse, long-lasting consequences. If you have questions about a divorce contact a Florida Family Law Attorney.
Florida Lawmakers Consider Legislation to Help Prevent Parent Abductions in Child Custody Disputes
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that three hundred and fifty thousand children are abducted by a family member each year. The abductions are usually committed by a non-custodial parent who is unhappy with the child custody arrangement mandated by the court.
Representative Darryl Rouson, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, Florida, recently introduced a bill to the Florida House that would help protect Florida’s children from parental abductions. House Bill 787, also called the “Child Abduction Prevention Act” gives judges more discretion to fight familial child abductions.
The act identified risk factors that the courts may consider in a child custody case, to determine if a child is at an increased risk of abduction by the non-custodial parent or other family member. If the judge determines that there is a real risk of domestic or international abduction, he or she may put in place preventative measures that will help keep the child safe. These can include requiring the non-custodial parent to seek written permission to travel with the child across state lines, or to post a bond when travelling out of the country with the child.
What Do Florida Child Custody Laws Mean for a Divorced Parent Who Wants to Relocate?
According to Florida statutes, children subject to a custody agreement may only be relocated if an agreement is reached between parents, guardians and any other person who is entitled to spend time with the child. All of these parties must agree in writing that the child may relocate with one of the parents or guardians. The written agreement must spell out the new location, the consent to the new location, and define a new time-sharing schedule for any of the parties who are not relocating. It must also spell out who is responsible for transportation costs associated with child visitation.
If one person does not agree to the relocation, the parent must file a Petition to Relocate Minor Children with the court. The petition must be served on any parties who are entitled to partial custody or visitation with the child. The petition must include the proposed new location, the date of the requested relocation and give detailed reasons for the request along with any evidence of the cause of the relocation, such as a new job offer. It must also include a proposed visitation schedule, including proposed travel arrangements.
The other parties served with the petition have twenty days to object to the court in writing. If they fail to do so the court will allow the relocation, as long as it is in the best interest of the child. If you would like to relocate and are subject to a child custody agreement, it is best to consult a qualified attorney who can help make sure all of your paperwork is in order and that you are in compliance with the law.
Understanding Divorce in Florida – “Regular Dissolution of Marriage”
I recently wrote a blog article about dissolution of marriage in Florida. Today I am going to cover one of the types of dissolution available, called a “Regular Dissolution of Marriage.” This is the most common type of dissolution in Florida.
To start the regular dissolution process, either the husband or the wife may file a petition of dissolution of marriage with the circuit court, stating that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” and setting out what he or she wants from the court. The other party then has twenty days to file an answer to the original petition. When they do so, they have the right to address the matters laid out in the original petition and to add any other issues they want to be addressed by the court.
Florida family law court rules require that the two parties then provide each other with certain financial documents and a financial affidavit within forty five days or before any at
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Understanding Divorce in Florida – “Dissolution of Marriage”
In Florida, the official term for divorce is “dissolution of marriage.” Many states, Florida among them, have done away with fault as grounds for divorce. This was done to lessen the potential harm to the family that might be caused by the divorce process. Fault may however be considered for determination of alimony, equitable distribution of assets, or determination of a parenting plan.
Either partner may file for the divorce. It must only be proven that a marriage existed, that one of the spouses has been a resident of Florida for at least six months immediately preceding the filing, and that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
In addition to the irretrievably broken ground for divorce, there is also a seldom-used incompetency ground; the competent spouse must prove that the other spouse has been incompetent for at least three years before the filing for this ground to be used.
Lauderdale County Co-Parenting Hotline may Expand to Serve Jacksonville, Florida
When divorced Florida parents are forced to deal with child custody issues, tempers can run high – especially if the divorce was not amicable and the parents disagree with the approved parenting plan. Now those parents will have a way to better handle disagreements and build better relationships with their children. A help line has been set up for Lauderdale County, Florida parents that can help them get through child custody issues with less anger and frustration. This is important because fights between divorced parents can cause lasting emotional scars on their children.
The help line, which falls under the umbrella of Families First, offers parents a third party to help them manage and solve parenting disputes. When a call comes in, volunteers talk with both of the parents to help them diffuse angry feelings and come to a suitable compromise.
The line is staffed by twenty one volunteers, who are required to complete a six week training course before answering the phones. The Lauderdale center fields around fifty calls per month. The help line has been so successful in Lauderdale County that a task force has been created to investigate establishing call centers in other areas in Florida, including the Jacksonville, Florida area.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Sue Tabloid over Divorce Story, Attend Super Bowl in Miami, Florida Together
News of the World, a British tabloid, recently ran a front page story purporting to describe all the details of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce, including financial and child custody negotiations. The problem is that the Hollywood power couple claims they are not splitting up, and they have filed suit against the paper for making “false and intrusive allegations” about their relationship.
The LA divorce attorney reported by the News of the World to be involved in drawing up separation papers for the couple has made a statement denying any contact with the family by herself or any member of her firm.
According to lawyers for the family, News of the World has refused to retract their story or apologize for their content. Further, the stories have been widely republished, using the original story as source material. The paper has declined to comment about the lawsuit.
Memoir of a Divorced Father Helps Families Deal with Divorce
Studies have shown that fifty percent of children of divorce in Florida and nationwide have problems later in life that are related to their parents’ split. Author Tony Rassini has just released a new book, entitled “Dad, It’s Time to Tell the Truth!” Discover what happens when two parents hate each other more than they love their kids, which he wrote partly to help his son deal with the aftermath of his own “ugly” divorce.
The book is written as a memoir, and follows Rassini’s attempts to be a good father to his four children during and after his bitter divorce. He documents his interactions with lawyers, doctors, and the courts, and looks at how all of these interactions affected his children. In the end Rassini realized that the only thing he had to give his son was the truth.
Divorce is a difficult time for both adults and children. Being age-appropriately open and honest with all family members is the best way to smooth over hard feelings and ensure that all parties can get on with their lives without any lasting scars. Reading about Rassini’s journey can help others going through divorce realize that they are not alone. One of the most important factors in the divorce process is having a family law attorney who will advocate on your behalf while also knowing how to avoid needless litigation which ultimately costs you extensive amounts of money and possibly the respect of your family members.