General information on dissolution of marriage

Video: Basic Allowance for Housing

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The following video from the Defense Management Travel Office describes Basic Allowance for Housing, or B.A.H.:

Servicemembers should know that Florida courts take B.A.H. into consideration when determining issues of child support and alimony.  B.A.H. may even be taken into account for matters of spousal support unconnected with dissolution of marriage (such as when a military spouse is not being financially supported yet does not want to initiate a divorce).

If you have questions regarding military issues affecting your family and you wish to speak with a Florida family law attorney, you may schedule a consultation with The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover, P.A., by calling us at (813) 443-0615 or filling out our contact form.

 

Video: What does the Clerk of the Court do?

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Have you ever wondered what the clerk of the court does?  The following video from the Florida Association of Court Clerks describes the clerk’s role:

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What is a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage?

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Did you know that Florida offers a type of divorce that is relatively quick and painless?  This type of divorce does away with most of the mandatory financial disclosure requirements of other types of divorce, and you may be able to schedule a final hearing within a month of filing your paperwork.

What I am describing is known in Florida as a “simplified dissolution of marriage.”

Generally, a simplified dissolution of marriage is ideal for cases where there is a short-term marriage, no children, few (if any) shared assets, and you and your spouse are on good speaking terms.

Keep in mind that Florida does not allow everyone to go through the simplified process. You can only file for a simplified dissolution of marriage if all of the following statements are true:

  • You and your spouse have not had children together, either by birth or adoption;
  • The wife is not pregnant;
  • Either you or your spouse (or both) have resided in Florida for at least six months prior to filing for divorce;

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Video: Paying Child Support Online

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The following video from the Florida Association of Clerks of the Court discusses how parents and others can make child support payments online through http://www.myfloridaclerks.com:

I recommend utilizing the online portal as a way to keep track of your child support payments in case the other party claims that you have not been fulfilling your support obligation and initiates an enforcement action.  It is also important to have evidence, such as a printout from myfloridaclerks.com, to show you are current on payments in case you are attempting to modify your child support obligation.

If you have questions regarding child support and are looking to retain a Florida Child Support Lawyer, you can schedule a consultation by calling The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover, P.A., at (813) 443-0615 or by filling out our contact form.

Keep Your Contact Information Current with the Clerk of the Court, Even After Your Family Law Case is Closed

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Let’s start with a simple proposition:  Each party involved in a family law case should make sure that the clerk of the court has updated contact information for that party.  It seems easy, but taking this small step could prevent big headaches in the future.

I have heard of cases where a party has moved in the middle of the case, did not inform anyone, then complained afterwards that he had not received notice of an important hearing.  I also have seen cases where a petitioner (the party initiating the case) provides the clerk with the wrong address for the respondent (the party responding to the petition), and the clerk sends information to the incorrect address for the entire duration of the case.

I have even encountered this scenario:  Parties get divorced.  In the final judgment, Husband is required to pay Wife alimony.  After the divorce, Wife moves to a different apartment in the same apartment complex.  Husband sends alimony payments to Wife’s old address, but they get delivered to the new addressed because Postal Worker knows and likes Wife (and especially the gift certificates to Best Buy that Wife gives to Postal Worker each Christmas).

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Message from Partners for Life Police Appreciation Run

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I thought I would share the following message I received from the Partners for Life Police Appreciation Run.  I completed the 10K, which followed the waterfront and downtown streets of Saint Petersburg and was held in memory of fallen police officers Jeff Yaslowitz, Tom Baitinger, and Dave Crawford.
 

The three reasons you joined us:
Tom, Jeff, and Dave

PARTNERS FOR LIFE
POLICE APPRECIATION RUN / WALK
A GIANT THANK YOU!

 

to the 1,170 athletes who joined us for our Inaugural Partners for Life Police Appreciation Run last month. I can only hope we exceeded your expectations in producing these races.

From our perspective, it was a magical morning as we memorialized our fallen officers, showed appreciation to our law enforcement officers, and raised funds to establish the Partners for Life Foundation.

With your participation, the net proceeds after expenses were right at $20,000 for Lorraine Yaslowitz to establish her Partners for Life Foundation in memory of her husband Jeff and fellow officers Tom Baitinger and Dave Crawford.

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Where Is Your Prenuptial Agreement?

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The following is sound advice from Mark Chinn regarding keeping track of legal documents (such as prenuptial agreements and final judgments):

I recently heard of a case where the parties are in the midst of a divorce and the prenuptial agreement signed by the parties cannot be located.  It may have been part of an “old document purge” by the law firm that drafted it.  I suggest that clients retain the originals of important documents and that they place them in a bank safe deposit box or a home, fire proof, safe.

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Is Florida the Correct State for My Child Custody Issue?

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Under chapter 61, Florida Statutes, a Florida court generally has jurisdiction for a new custody case (such as (i) divorce involving children’s issues/parenting plan, (ii) paternity/ establishment of time-sharing schedule, or (iii) temporary or concurrent custody of a child by a relative) only if one of the following is true:

  • The child has lived in Florida for at least six months immediately prior to the case being filed (even if the child is or has been temporarily absent from Florida);
  • The child has moved from Florida within the past six months, but prior to that lived in Florida for at least six months; or
  • No other state or country has jurisdiction over the child (or the court of the child’s home state or country has declined jurisdiction) and the child has significant connections to Florida.

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How Do I Discuss My Divorce With My Child?

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Once a couple makes the decision to separate or divorce, one of the most difficult steps will be to discuss this decision with a child.  Risa Garon, a licensed clinical social worker, certified mediator, and Executive Director of the National Family Resiliency Center, Inc., provides the following advice regarding how to discuss an impending separation or divorce with a child:

1. Before you tell the children, speak to your spouse and decide what you will tell the children. Both parents should have the opportunity to speak.

2. Say what you think will be most helpful to them. Many parents want to tell exactly what happened in their adult relationship to their children. Parents can explain to their children how what they want to tell them will help them in understanding the separation.

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Ten Tips To Make A Good Impression In Family Court

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Jeanie Goldstein over at the Divorce Saloon provides a female’s perspective on ten things you can do to make a good impression in a family law courtroom:

1. Wear the right colors – by this I mean the right color for you. There is a science to this. When you wear the right color for you, you are more attractive and tend to have a more favorable impression on people. So don’t wear bright yellow if you can’t pull off that color. Don’t wear black if it makes you look depressed. Don’t wear white if it makes you look washed out. That sort of thing. Get the idea? Wear the right color for you.

2. Wear the right outfits – Don’t go into court looking like a trollop or like an ax murderer. It is an important and impactful event, your divorce, and you should dress respectfully. Think Lindsay Lohan. The girl might be clueless about proper life decorum but have you seen her when she has a court appearance? Very ladylike and stylish I must say.

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