Category Archives: Divorce
When to Not Have Equal Shared Parental Responsibility
Florida law describes child custody as “shared parental responsibility,” and the main purpose of the concept is to ensure that the child of a divorce has constant, frequent contact with both parents. The family courts in Florida presume that shared parental responsibility should exist in every child custody case; however, there are times when… Read More »
Florida Lawmakers Closer to Passing Alimony Reform Law
Permanent alimony has come one step closer to being eliminated in the state of Florida, with lawmakers inching forward on passing their sweeping alimony reform bill. State lawmakers have created a bill that has gained the approval of the Florida Bar Association and eliminates the concerns that Governor Rick Scott had when he vetoed… Read More »
Florida Woman $24,000 Behind in Child Support
A Florida woman is facing prison time after she admitted to being more than $24,000 behind in child support payments for her two children. Kathleen Zweeres, 37, of Davenport was charged with four counts of nonsupport of dependents and she pled guilty last week to two of those charges. In exchange for the guilty… Read More »
Woman Allowed to Serve Divorce Papers Through Facebook
A judge in the Manhattan Supreme Court is allowing a woman to serve divorce papers to her elusive husband through a Facebook message. The woman, Ellanora Baidoo, 26, has been granted permission to “serve defendant with the divorce summons using a private message through Facebook” and will do so once per week for three… Read More »
Walmart Heiress’ Spouse Seeking Hundreds of Thousands in Alimony
The former spouse of Walmart heiress, Paige Laurie, has filed a lawsuit seeking $400,000 per month in alimony in their contentious divorce. The couple, married in secret six years ago, did have Ms. Laurie’s former spouse, Patrick Dubbert, sign a premarital agreement before the ceremony. But now, he claims that the $400,000 per month… Read More »
Gay Marriage and Divorce Now Legal in Florida
Last August, a court ruled that Florida’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, and ever since then men and women of the same sex have been allowed to get married in the state. However, this ruling also means that same-sex divorce, never recognized before in the state, is now also an option for gay… Read More »
Florida Man Arrested after Failure to Pay $120,000 in Child Support
A man was arrested in Tampa last week on a federal charge that he failed to pay nearly $120,000 in child support to a woman in Maine over a period of ten years. Glen S. Caristinos, 48, of Safety Harbor has been charged with a Class E federal felony for failure to pay child… Read More »
Florida Bill Would Lower Alimony after Retirement
The same legislation that would end permanent alimony in Florida would also let people reduce or eliminate their payments once they retire. The House and Senate versions of the bill were filed last week that would overhaul the state’s current system of alimony and for the first time would institute a formula to determine… Read More »
Violating Visitation Rights in Child Custody Cases
Child custody agreements are set by the court during divorce proceedings. Florida family courts presume that there should be shared custody among the parents unless there is substantial proof showing otherwise. If one parent is given custody of the child, the other parent can still be awarded visitation rights. These rights detail when, where,… Read More »
Florida Lawmakers Propose New Alimony Reform Formula
A “child support-esque” formula that would determine the amount of money awarded for alimony in Florida is now in the works with the state’s legislators. In contrast to the legislation that passed through the state House of Representatives and Senate two years ago that was ultimately vetoed by the governor, this new plan, proposed… Read More »