Video: Another Warning About Facebook and Divorce
The following video from Fox 25 out of Boston warns family law litigants of the dangers of posting information on social networking sites such as Facebook:
Ten Tips for Divorcing Parents
The following article was written by Mike McCurley for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers:
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Divorce is never easy on kids, but there are many ways parents can lessen the impact of their break-up on their children:
- Never disparage your former spouse in front of your children. Because children know they are “part mom” and “part dad,” the criticism can harm the child’s self-esteem.
- Do not use your children as messengers between you and your former spouse.The less the children feel a part of the battle between their parents, the better. Read more →
General Rules Governing Mediation
The Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida (which includes Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties) offers the following general rules for mediation:*
- Mediation is a supervised settlement conference presided over by a neutral mediator who suggests alternatives, analyzes issues, questions perceptions, uses logic, conducts private meetings with attorneys and their clients, stimulates negotiations between opposing sides, and keeps order. The mediator does NOT hear any testimony, review any evidence or make a decision. The only result of the Mediation Conference is the agreement, or non-agreement, of the parties. This is not an arbitration procedure.
- The appearance of counsel who will try the case, and their clients (a management representative if a corporate party) with full authority to enter into a full and complete compromise and settlement is mandatory. An insured party must have a fully authorized representative (not the attorney) of the insurance company attend the mediation conference. Read more →
Video: Judge Sullivan Discusses Dependency and Delinquency
Judge Irene Sullivan, author of “Raised by the Courts”, appointee of Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Law and Order Transition Team, and formerly a member of the Unified Family Court in the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas County), discusses dependency and delinquency in this video:
Temporary Time-Sharing Modification Due to Military Service
If a parent is activated, deployed, or temporarily assigned to military service, courts have the option of entering a temporary order that modifies a custody order. That temporary order may provide the non-military parent with more time-sharing. Due to recent changes to section 61.13002, Florida Statutes, the Court also has the option of designating a family member of the child to exercise time-sharing on behalf of the military parent. Any temporary modification of the time-sharing will be dissolved once the military parent returns from the service, deployment, or temporary assignment.
Additionally, the temporary order may address child support by taking the following actions:
Name Change: Restoring Civil Rights
When a party files a petition for change of name, that party must swear under oath that his or her civil rights have never been suspended or, if civil rights have been suspended, they have subsequently been restored. This requirement is found in Section 68.07, Florida Statutes.
When are civil rights suspended? In general terms, civil rights are suspended when a person is convicted of a felony. Those lost rights include the right to vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury.
Florida, like most states, provides for a process of restoration of those rights. The person must apply to the Office of Executive Clemency. In determining whether to grant a restoration, the Executive Clemency Board will consider, among other things, the following:
- The nature of the offense;
- Whether the applicant has any history of mental instability, drug or alcohol abuse; Read more →
Spanish-Language Video on Children and Divorce
As I wrote in my previous post, the Virgina State Bar Association’s Family Law Section produced a video entitled “Spare the Child” which discusses how to safeguard the emotional well-being of children during divorce and other family law proceedings. The section has also produced a Spanish-language version of the video, entitled “Proteger al Niño.” You may access this video after the jump:
Helping Children Cope With Divorce
The Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section has produced a video which discusses the impact of divorce on children and how parents can go about easing the transition. The video, entitled “Spare the Child,” utilizes personal stories and everyday language to promote the emotional well-being of children as they go through a family law proceeding. You may access the video after the jump (click “continue reading”):
Restraining Orders in Florida
Florida law provides for four different types of violence-related restraining orders–also known as “injunctions”–for various circumstances: (i) domestic violence; (ii) sexual violence; (iii) dating violence; and (iv) repeat violence. The following video from the Pinellas County Clerk of the Court explains the circumstances for which each type of injunction may be appropriate:
Pasco County Offers Complimentary Wedding Ceremony on Valentine’s Day
Pasco County is helping couples celebrate Valentine’s Day by offering a complimentary group wedding ceremony. The ceremony, which will be held at the Historic Courthouse, located at 37918 Meridian Avenue in Dade City, begins at 2:00 p.m.
Pasco County offers free wedding ceremony on Valentine's Day
Marriage licenses must be purchased by February 10. Reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, you may contact the Pasco County Clerk of the Court at (727) 847-8086 or (352) 521-4518.
