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Tag Archive for: same sex couples

Athletes Post - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Professional Athletes and Seasonal Custody Schedules

September 29, 2025/in Collaborative Divorce, Custody, Custody Law //Tags: child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorce, gay and lesbian parents, LGBT family law rights, parental responsibility, parenting plan, paternity, same sex couples, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, time-sharingby Adam

For professional athletes, your life does not follow a standard calendar. Half the year may be spent training, traveling for games, or living in another city during the season. The other half may finally bring you back home with more flexible time. That rhythm is part of your career, but it also brings unique challenges when it comes to raising children. If you are going through a divorce, paternity matter, or otherwise establishing parenting rights or a time-sharing schedule, you need a process that respects your schedule, your privacy, and your children’s well-being.

Why Florida’s Standard Parenting Plans Often Fail for Professional Athletes

Typical custody schedules assume both parents live in the same area with relatively predictable routines. They rarely account for long stretches where one parent is away for work. For athletes, sticking to a week-on, week-off plan is impossible when games, travel, and training dominate half the year. Further, generic parenting plans don’t take into account what happens if you are traded or when you retire from professional sports.  Without flexibility and anticipation of future changes, you risk missing meaningful parenting time and leaving your children caught in the middle of scheduling conflicts.

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Lgbtq Collaborative Divorce Florida Cordover - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Why LGBTQ+ Professionals Choose Collaborative Divorce in Florida

May 18, 2025/in LGBT Family Law Matters, Collaborative Divorce //Tags: bisexual divorce, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, dissolution of marriage, divorce, florida divorce, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay divorce, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, lesbian divorce, LGBT family law, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ divorce, parenting plan, private divorce, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, same-sex parents, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, transgender divorceby Adam

As an LGBTQ+ professional, you may already be carrying the weight of navigating a world that does not always recognize or protect your family the way it should. Whether you are “out” or prefer to keep parts of your personal life private, these times can feel especially heavy. Sadly, you may feel like many LGBTQ+ families today—under attack—whether from unfair legislation, social judgment, or even your own community.

When you are going through a divorce, the last thing you need is to have your private life, financial matters, or parenting decisions laid bare in a public courtroom. That’s why many LGBTQ+ professionals turn to Collaborative Divorce—a private, respectful, and forward-thinking way to resolve family matters without fighting in court.

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2023 Tampa Pride Guide

Family Diplomacy Sponsors 2023 Tampa Pride Guide

March 18, 2023/in Family Law News, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: bisexual parental rights, bisexual rights, gay adoption, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay partnership agreement, gay rights, Hillsborough County, lesbian adoption, lesbian parental rights, lesbian rights, LGBT custody rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, LGBTQ+, name change, same sex couples, same sex marriage, Tampa, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, Tampa Pride, transgender family law rights, transgender name change, transgender parental rights, transgender rights, Ybor Cityby Adam

Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm is proud to sponsor the 2023 Tampa Pride Guide.  The Guide is published by Watermark Online.  According to Carrie West, president of the event, “We welcome everyone near and far to our great city of Ybor for the 9th Annual Tampa Pride.  We share this celebration with thousands of visitors to enjoy our community’s welcoming hand and spirit through our day long LGBTQ festivities.”

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Lgbtq Family Law Rights M 1 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Why Florida LGBTQ Families Should Be Concerned About Simmonds v. Perkins

January 13, 2020/in LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: adoption, Florida adoption, gay adoption, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay parental rights, gay rights, lesbian adoption, lesbian parental rights, lesbian rights, LGBT custody rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, non-relative adoption, same sex couples, same sex marriage, same-sex parents, second parent adoption, stepchild adoption, stepparent adoption, Tampa Bay Adoptionby Adam

If your child is born while you and your spouse are married, you both will always be considered the parents of the child, right?  Well, not necessarily.  LGBTQ families should be aware of their family law rights.  And according to Simmonds v. Perkins, 247 So. 3d 397 (Fla. 2018), those family law rights may be at risk.

Facts of Simmonds v. Perkins

Simmonds v. Perkins involves a Husband, a Wife, and a Biological Father.  While married to Husband, Wife has an affair with Biological Father.  Wife gets pregnant from Biological Father.  While still married to Husband, Wife gives birth to child.

Now, Biological Father did not know that Wife was married to Husband at the time of the affair, and once Biological Father did learn about the marriage, Wife told him that the marriage was only for “immigration purposes.”

After the child was born, Biological Father would visit the child regularly and paid Wife child support.  Eventually, Biological Father filed an action in court to be named the child’s legal father, have all of the rights of a father (including ability to make decisions and right to spend time with the child), and take on the obligation of child support.

Wife files a motion to dismiss the action because the child was born during an intact marriage between her and Husband.  Traditionally, that meant that there was a strong legal presumption that Husband was the legal father of the child, and it was very difficult for any third party to challenge this status.  Husband would later join as a party and also requested that his rights be respected and the case be dismissed.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/LGBTQ-Family-Law-Rights-M-1.png 431 820 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2020-01-13 06:45:452020-01-13 15:56:49Why Florida LGBTQ Families Should Be Concerned About Simmonds v. Perkins

Cordover & Gaies Present on LGBTQ Families & Relationships

August 18, 2017/in LGBT Family Law Matters, Collaborative Divorce, Mediation //Tags: bisexual parental rights, bisexual rights, gay adoption, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay parental rights, gay partnership agreement, gay rights, lesbian adoption, lesbian parental rights, lesbian rights, LGBT custody rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, same-sex parents, transgender family law rights, transgender name change, transgender parental rights, transgender rightsby Adam

On August 11, 2017, psychologist and collaborative facilitator Jeremy Gaies joined collaborative attorney and mediator Adam B. Cordover to present on the topic of “LGBTQ Relationships:  The New Family and Out-of-Court Dispute Resolution.”  Gaies and Cordover facilitated the LGBTQ families workshop at the 25th Annual Conference of Florida’s Dispute Resolution Center.

Purpose of LGBTQ Families Workshop

The purpose of the workshop was threefold:

  1. Identify specific legal and other considerations for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals and families;
  2. Engage in discussion of various out-of-court options to meet LGBTQ needs; and
  3. Consider new and future legal challenges for LGBTQ clients and the family law community.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2017-08-18 07:49:192019-04-03 09:29:20Cordover & Gaies Present on LGBTQ Families & Relationships

Can 2 Men or 2 Women Appear on a Florida Birth Certificate?

April 27, 2016/0 Comments/in Adoption, Case Law Update, Florida Statutes, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: adoption, birth certificate, birth certificate correction, declaratory judgment, gay adoption, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay parental rights, gay rights, lesbian adoption, lesbian parental rights, lesbian rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, Office of Vital Statistics, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, same-sex parents, second parent adoption, vital statisticsby Adam

Florida has not had the best history when it comes to the rights of same-sex couples.  For the longest time, the state had a law on the books that gay men and women were forbidden from adopting a child.  Florida not only enacted a so-called Defense of Marriage Act statute but enshrined its opposition to same-sex marriage in the state’s constitution.  Further, even once Florida courts ruled that the state must recognize marriage between people of the same sex, it was unclear whether the state would permit same-sex divorce.

Fortunately, the state has come a long way.  The “gay adoption ban” is no longer on the books.  The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples is unconstitutional, as is a refusal of one state to recognize a same-sex marriage solemnized in another state.  And it has become clear that circuit courts in Tampa Bay and around the state must give same-sex spouses the opportunity to dissolve their marriage.

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So, at this point, can two parents of the same sex appear on a Florida birth certificate?

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Divorce Lawyer Client Review: A Complicated Divorce Goes Collaborative

February 24, 2016/0 Comments/in Family Lawyer Reviews / Testimonials, Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Divorce Process, Family Law News, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay rights, lesbian rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Lawby Adam

Recently, I came across a very complicated divorce matter where two women had been battling in the court system for six years, even before the State of Florida recognized their marriage.  One of the women ended up firing her aggressive trial attorney and hiring me because I offered an alternative: collaborative divorce.  Once everyone agreed to stop fighting, we were able to reach an agreement within just a few months’ time.

Lawyer Adam Cordover | Top Attorney Divorce

That client, Pattie, recently wrote a touching review about my paralegal, Jennifer, and I at avvo.com.  You can find the review below.

As I am required to note by the Florida Bar, please understand that every case is different, and you may not receive the same or similar results.

The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover & Staff are amazing, professional caring people. Please know that I don’t mean for this review to be long or boring, my intent is to shed hope & shine light into your present life from my past experience and situation.

My situation was very complicated from the start being a same sex marriage which for years was not recognized in the State of Florida until January 2015 and two properties involved.

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Cordover Presents on LGBTQ+ Family Law in Sarasota

October 10, 2015/0 Comments/in Family Law News, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: bisexual parental rights, bisexual rights, gay adoption, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay parental rights, gay rights, lesbian adoption, lesbian parental rights, lesbian rights, LGBT custody rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, same-sex parentsby Adam

Family Diplomacy’s managing attorney Adam B. Cordover gave a presentation on “The New Family: LGBTQ+ Issues & Family Law” at the 2015 Fall Conference of the Florida Court Professional Collaborative (FCPC) of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.  The title of the Conference was “2015 Trends in Family Law.”

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Florida to Make Marriage Certificates Gender Neutral. What About Birth Certificates?

August 24, 2015/0 Comments/in LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: gay adoption, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay parental rights, gay rights, lesbian adoption, lesbian parental rights, lesbian rights, LGBT custody rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, Office of Vital Statistics, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, same-sex parentsby Adam

According to a recent report in the Tampa edition of Creative Loafing, in light of the recent Supreme Court decision and issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Florida’s Office of Vital Statistics is making the state’s marriage certificates gender neutral.  From Creative Loafing:

Friday marked the anniversary of the anniversary of District Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling that struck down the state’s gay marriage ban.

On the eve of that anniversary, LGBT equality advocates saw another small but symbolic victory, according to Equality Florida.Marriagecertificateweb.jpg

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2015-08-24 11:13:072016-03-03 17:17:43Florida to Make Marriage Certificates Gender Neutral. What About Birth Certificates?

Keiba Shaw Media Statement on Tampa Same Sex Divorce Appeal

May 31, 2015/1 Comment/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: Defense of Marriage Act, dissolution of marriage, gay and lesbian couples, gay marriage, gay rights, lesbian rights, LGBT family law rights, same sex couples, same sex marriageby Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law

On May 29, 2015, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal released its opinion in the matter of Shaw v. Shaw.  It determined that Florida should give full faith and credit to a same-sex marriage entered into under the laws of Massachusetts, and that Florida courts have the authority to dissolve the marriage.

This has been a long, tough road, but this is truly a great day for equality.

Keiba Shaw has authorized the release of the following statement:

An uncontested divorce between a man and a woman in Florida can be resolved in as little as a month. That’s just four weeks to dissolve a negative situation that both parties agree needs to end. It doesn’t matter how long they were married or WHERE they were married.

My [soon-to-be] former spouse and I used a next generation process, collaborative divorce, that was designed to resolve conflicts in a manner that was private, non-litigated, peaceful, and respectful. We reached a full agreement on all issues in two meetings that were one week apart.

And yet, because my former spouse and I are both women, my divorce has taken more than a year to be granted and has unnecessarily disrupted my life and that of my family members. The legal complexities have limited my options and the resulting financial burden has made it harder to take care of my family the way I envisioned.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law2015-05-31 12:48:142015-05-31 12:48:14Keiba Shaw Media Statement on Tampa Same Sex Divorce Appeal
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