There was a time when mothers received preference in child custody, especially in cases involving younger children. It was assumed that mothers were the primary caregivers, so the children should remain with their mothers. However, that is not the case any longer. Judges in Florida view parents as equals when they enter the court regarding… read more

Parents in Orlando and throughout Florida are faced with the decision whether they feel safe sending their children back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not an easy decision for any parent. However, when the parents are divorced, it can complicate an already tense and emotional decision. Orlando Schools Reopening Amid the COVID-19… read more

Florida legislature enacted the Florida Child Support Guidelines, which courts follow when determining child support. Under the guidelines, each parent is responsible for the child’s financial support based on the Income Shares Model. According to the model, a child should receive the same portion of each parent’s income that they would have received if the… read more

When a couple divorces, they must address several issues. One issue that can cause quite a bit of frustration and anger is property division. Deciding which spouse should receive the property the couple has accumulated during the divorce can complicate an otherwise simple divorce. However, when you add an inheritance into the situation, property division… read more

Florida child support laws hold both parents responsible for the financial support of their children. This responsibility continues if the parents are no longer together. The State of Florida uses standard child support guidelines. The guidelines ensure that each parent pays his or her share of financial support. Child support is generally ordered during a… read more

The simple answer to the question is, “Yes, you can kidnap your own child.” By doing so, you could lose your parental rights. Abduction by parents is a serious problem in the United States. Kidnapping or abduction of your child is the taking, concealment, or retention of your child by you or another person on… read more

Florida is a no-fault state for divorce actions. Spouses can obtain a divorce because the marriage is “irretrievably broken” without having any other grounds for divorce. However, there are some cases in which a divorce is initiated because of martial wrongdoing. Abuse is a common reason for divorce. Unfortunately, the abuse may continue even after… read more

Spouses going through a divorce in Florida may have several issues that they are concerned about as they attempt to negotiate a settlement. One of the more aggressively contested divorce issues is property division. Each spouse wants to ensure that they receive the property they believe to be rightfully their own. With that in mind,… read more

Mental health conditions are serious issues that often result in the need for treatment by a medical professional. Many mental health conditions can be treated with medication and therapy. Some conditions could interfere with parenting ability. A psychological evaluation may be necessary to decide if a parent is fit to have custody and unsupervised visitation…. read more

Many couples live together without getting married. Some of those couples have been living together for many years and may consider themselves to be married. However, do Florida laws recognize a legal marital union without a marriage license and ceremony? Though there are some exceptions, Florida does not recognize common law marriage. Common Law Marriage… read more