General information on dissolution of marriage

Limited Representation: A Cost-Effective Family Law Option

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As the economy went south, everyone sought options to trim his or her budget.  Some people skipped Starbucks and began brewing their own coffee.  Others found creative ways to recycle their grocery bags.  Still others completely transformed their driving habits to achieve better gas mileage.  But one pronounced trend in the legal community has been the amount of people who decided to represent themselves in family court.

Unfortunately, there are often consequences to a party’s decision to save money and appear pro se (represent him or herself).  I have had many litigants come into my office after attempting to proceed with no legal counsel and finding that (a) their case had been dismissed or they face contempt of court because they did not follow proper procedure, (b) they wasted their hard-earned dollars on unnecessary fees and “money saver” programs that became obsolete once the opposing party began contesting the matter, and/or (c) their case has dragged on because they did not know how to bring their matter to conclusion.  But, alas, not everyone can afford an attorney to fully represent them.

Thankfully, Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.040 provides a cost-effective option:  limited representation, also known as unbundled legal services.

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Technological Solutions to Shared Parental Responsibility

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South Carolina Attorney Megan C. Hunt mentions some online tools available to help facilitate co-parenting:

But the reality is that co-parenting is HARD.  It is difficult for two people who have decided they can’t get along to coordinate schedules, discipline, and all the other details of raising children.

Because co-parenting is so tough (and such situations are so common), there are now services and communities especially for parents who need help.  One such program is Our Family Wizard, which provides a calendar for documenting parenting time, an internal message system for communications with your ex-spouse, the ability to keep a shared or private journal about your children, and a way to share the children’s health, education, and other records.

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Helping Kids Cope With Divorce

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School counselor Leslie King and teacher Daryl Sollerh offer some tips at the Huffington Post on how to help children cope with their parents’ divorce:

First, let’s face it: No one is a saint. No one is immune to the pain, challenges and uncertainties a separation or divorce can visit on a family — especially not children.

So even though mom and dad may be moving through some of the most potentially stressful and sad periods of their own life, they still are somebody’s mom or dad, and must try to find a way to help their child, even if they themselves feel as if they are not getting much help from friends or the world.

Should your child rage, do your best not to take it personally, even when it is directed at you. Try to give yourself the space and time to recognize that they too need to vent their feelings, especially the most gut-wrenching ones. It is better that they release the feelings inside them as best they can, instead of bottling them up, which could prove far more damaging in the long run.

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Video: Divorce TV – Child Support Guidelines

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The following video from Divorce TV discusses child support guidelines:

Keep in mind that each state’s child support guidelines are different.  Florida’s child support guidelines are based on section 61.30, Florida Statutes.

If you have questions regarding child support and wish to set up a consultation with The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover, P.A., call us at (813) 443-0615 or fill out our contact form.

Family Law Filing Fees in Polk County

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I previous wrote about filing fees in Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, and Sarasota County.  In this post I review current filing fees in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, for common family law matters.  A person who initiates a family law case (the “Petitioner”) will pay the following:

  • Adoption- $400.00*
  • Child Custody (non-divorce)- $300.00**
  • Child Support (non-divorce)- $300.00**
  • Divorce (includes recording and reporting of final judgment)- $408.00**
  • Name Change- $400.00*
  • Paternity- $300.00**
  • Temporary Custody by Extended Family Member- $400.00*

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Video: Cheaterville

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The following video from KLAS, a CBS affiliate in Las Vegas, discusses a website called Cheaterville:

Please note that parties to a family law case should be careful about what they post to social media and other sites, especially if their case involves children.  As one of the factors in custody decisions is the ability to facilitate a close relationship between a child and his or her other parent, a scathing post on Cheaterville may be seen by a judge as antithetical to a child’s best interests (even if the other parent’s act of cheating was also against the child’s best interests).

People posting on these sites may also subject themselves to defamation and libel lawsuits.

If you have questions about divorce and would like to set up a consultation, you may contact The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover, P.A., by telephone at 813-443-0615 or by filling out our contact form.

Family Law Filing Fees in Hernando County

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I previous wrote about filing fees in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, and Sarasota County.  In this post I review current filing fees in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Hernando County, for common family law matters.  A person who initiates a family law case (the “Petitioner”) will pay the following:

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Dependents and Qualifying Child for Child Tax Credit

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The following excerpt from the Instructions for IRS Form 1040 provides information on whether a non-custodial parent (a parent with whom a child resides less than half of the year) qualifies for the Child Tax Credit (after the jump):

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Equitable Distribution: What Happens To Pets When People Divorce?

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In Florida, a family law court is authorized to divide spouses’ marital assets and liabilities as part of a divorce.  This is known as equitable distribution.

A dog or cat adopted during the marriage would be considered a “marital asset” to be distributed.  A court will either ratify an agreement on the pet, or determine how to distribute the pet based on the factors laid out in section 61.075, Florida Statutes.

Interestingly enough, the legislature of Maryland is considering a bill that would treat animals more like children.  From the Washington Examiner:

Essentially, the law gives the court the power to issue a custody agreement for pets. While it may seem a little silly on the surface, to couples who don’t have kids, pets are the next-best thing. And — especially if it’s a bitter divorce — they’ll fight tooth and nail over them.

Here’s what the proposed law would allow the court to do:

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Retroactive Child Support

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Everyone knows that a Florida court can order a parent to pay child support up until the child is 18 years, or even beyond.  But can a court order a parent to pay retroactive child support (child support that covers a period of time prior to the filing of a court action)?

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