General information on dissolution of marriage
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”):
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 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.
Below is a video from ABC Action News which follows one family through Pinellas County’s Seventh Annual Day of Adoption (November 2010):
Judge Samantha L. Ward of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County) was recently appointed as chair of the Florida Supreme Court’s Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases. Prior to joining the family law bench in 2009, Judge Ward served as an assistant state attorney and a public defender.
The Huffington Post offers an intriguing read entitled 10 Best Ways to Screw Up Your Divorce. This article, authored by a mediator and former family law attorney, explains how to waste money and minimize your opportunity for a successful outcome. It includes the following tidbits:
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (known as the “UCCJEA”) is the body of law that provides Florida courts with authority to rule on issues of child custody. In virtually every family law proceeding that involves child custody–including divorce, paternity, and relocation–each party is required to file an affidavit that contains certain information and demonstrates to the court that it has jurisdiction over the child. This UCCJEA affidavit must include the following information:
As family law litigants should always treat the opposing party with respect, so should attorneys treat opposing counsel. In fact, under Florida Bar Rule 4-8.4(d), attorneys are prohibited from “disparag[ing]…litigants, jurors, witnesses, court personnel, or other lawyers on any basis.” However, some attorneys are just not keen on getting along.
Recently, two attorneys were reprimanded by the Florida Bar for hostile and unprofessional behavior. Below are excerpts from emails they exchanged (as published in the January newsletter of the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Family Law Section):
“I do not think I deserve the jerk comment. I was actually on the internet trying to find out what type of retardism you have by checking your symptoms, e.g. closely spaced eyes, dull blank stare, bulbous head, lying and inability to tell fiction from reality, so I could donate money for research for a cure. However, apparently those symptoms are indicative of numerous types of retardism and so my search was unsuccessful. Have a great day Corky. I mean; Mr. Mooney.”
An interesting clip from Tantao News on a poll concerning financial dishonesty in marriage:
Under certain circumstances, spouses may jointly file for divorce and schedule their case for a final hearing within thirty days or less. Pursuant to Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.105, this is known as a simplified dissolution of marriage.
To be eligible for a simplified dissolution of marriage in Florida, the following must be true:
