The incarceration of a parent can place tremendous stress on the family. While many aspects of the parent’s life are put on hold, child support obligations are not. Under Florida law, going to prison does not excuse a parent’s responsibility for child support payments. The only way to change existing child support is through a… read more

After a divorce, parents have many decisions to make. The biggest decision, and the most emotional, is the issue of child custody. In the past, Florida courts automatically favored the mother in custody disputes. Known as the “tender years” doctrine, the suitability of the parent was based on their gender alone and not the appropriateness… read more

When an individual becomes a parent, the birth of their child automatically triggers certain rights and responsibilities under state law. Known collectively as parental rights, the parents have rights such as the right to be a part of their child’s life and make important decisions about their care. As a parent, this also means having… read more

What are the most common reasons couples give for getting divorced? According to a study published in the journal Couple and Family Psychology, there were seven reasons that came up frequently regarding why couples split up. Factors That Lead to Divorce Lack of Commitment Surprisingly, the most common reason was not infidelity but lack of… read more

A “bad boy” or “bad girl” clause is a clause in a prenuptial agreement that requires a party to compensate their spouse should they commit an act of infidelity. These clauses are designed to guide behavior during a marriage. A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into before a marriage in which the parties decide… read more

All parents know that raising a child is expensive. These costs only increase once the parents are in two separate households. A family cannot live apart as cheaply as they could when they were together. With less money to go around, some expenses, such as extracurricular activities may be difficult to afford. As children get… read more

Divorce is almost always a traumatic experience, even if you are the spouse seeking the divorce. Untangling lives and deciding what happens with the children creates stress for even the rare couple whose split up is amicable. It’s certainly worse for the spouse who doesn’t want their marriage to end. My Spouse Left Me and… read more

There are many reasons people decide to get divorced. Domestic violence is at the top of the list. If you’ve been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused by your spouse, a divorce can help you escape and live without fear. Even though Florida is a no-fault divorce state, the fact that you’ve been abused can be… read more

While virtually half of all American marriages end in divorce, only about five percent of couples heading to the altar or the courthouse do so having executed a prenuptial agreement (“prenup”). Two reasons are often given for avoiding these agreements. First, many couples think that by “negotiating” a prenup, the couple is planning to fail…. read more

Enhanced Values During Marriage Can Sometimes Be Subject to Equitable Distribution Generally speaking, when one Florida spouse owns real estate or a business interest, prior to the marriage – or inherits either type of property during the marriage – and leaves the property titled in his or her name, the asset remains nonmarital in nature,… read more