Recent Blog Posts
What Are Grey Divorces and How Are They Different?
In the immediate wake of the 1969 no-fault divorce revolution, the marriage dissolution rate skyrocketed across the board. It has declined since then in every age group except one. Among the over 55 crowd, the divorce rate has continued rising. When younger couples divorce, the focus is often on their children. But most older… Read More »
Should Mothers File Paternity Actions in Pinellas County?
Raising children is never easy, especially financially and emotionally. These challenges are even greater for single parents, and in many communities, single-parent households are almost the norm. The good news is that these hurdles are certainly not insurmountable. A paternity action helps even more, as outlined below. Some women are afraid to pursue these… Read More »
The Magnificent Seven of Child Support Deviation Factors in Florida
The Sunshine State is an income share jurisdiction. As such, Florida child support law includes a complex guideline formula which is presumptively reasonable in all such matters. That includes original determinations and subsequent modifications. However, since families are so diverse, there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. At best, the guidelines are one-size-fits-most. To… Read More »
Why Are More Millennials Turning to Prenuptial Agreements?
It may be surprising to some, but martial longevity is one of the main reasons that millennial prenuptial agreements have increased more than 50 percent since 2013. About a third of millennials grew up with divorced parents, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to make their marriages last. Money is one… Read More »
Setting Up a Restraining Order Defense in Florida
Once upon a time, Florida judges routinely granted extended restraining orders without asking too many questions. Times have changed. Judges almost always grant ex parte temporary restraining orders, but a permanent protective order is another matter. Particularly if there is a parallel proceeding in family court, effective defenses might be available. Several different types… Read More »
Changing Co-Parenting Models for a Changing World
Florida family laws have changed a lot over the years. In the early 1900s, women had almost no legal or financial rights. So, fathers always won full custody of their children. Then, the pendulum swung the other way. Around World War II, the tender years doctrine took root. This philosophy held that children should… Read More »
Love, Baseball, and Prenuptial Agreements
As another season approaches, now is probably a good time to reflect on the moment that love, baseball, and premarital agreements came together in SoCal. The Frank and Jamie McCourt saga is a good example of how premarital agreements work in California, but also of how they work in Florida. Both the Golden State… Read More »
Seven Good Reasons to Change Your Name Today
Millions of Americans change their names every year. Under Florida law, you do not need a good reason to do so. You simply cannot have a nefarious reason, such as avoiding creditors, unilaterally erasing a criminal record, or avoiding immigration trouble. A good Clearwater family attorney can expedite the process. Local lawyers know a… Read More »
What to Expect in a Marriage Dissolution Case
Although the divorce rate has dipped slightly in recent years, it is still extremely high, particularly among subsequent marriages. Furthermore, divorce’s moral acceptability rating recently hit an all-time high. In other words, people who would never have considered divorce a few years ago now see this procedure as a good way to terminate an… Read More »
Some Co-Parenting-Friendly Timesharing Arrangements
Florida’s child custody laws have gone through several different phases since World War II. Back then, the “tender years” doctrine dominated child custody cases. Divorced mothers almost always received full custody of the children, and fathers received only limited visitation rights. It was assumed that fathers were either unwilling or unable to care for… Read More »
