Miami family law attorney blog
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Divorce
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Normally, parents in Florida are not required to fund college education. A divorce judgment or child support order cannot, therefore, force a parent to promise to pay college tuition or expenses for a child. But parties are allowed to agree to do this. Enforcement of payments to a college savings plan was an issue in the case Shernoff v. Shernoff, 4D2023-1704 (Fla. 4th DCA August 28, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can a final judgment of divorce in Florida reserve jurisdiction on further equitable distribution on some future date? This was an issue in the case Saxon v. Saxon, 2D2023-0117 (Fla. 2d DCA August 7, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A spouse who pays all of the expenses on a marital home may feel he or she is entitled to all equity in the home. However, this may not be the case because of Florida equitable distribution laws. The case Bellegarde v. Bellegarde, 4D2023-3133 (Fla. 4th DCA August 7, 2024) sheds light on this issue.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Can a spouse remove funds from a joint bank account once spouses separate? This is a common issue where one spouse is afraid the other spouse will empty an account and leave nothing in the account. This was an issue in the case Molina v. Molina, 4D2023-2629 (Fla. 4th DCA August 7, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
If a party to a divorce is being assisted by a relative in paying for living expenses and/or attorney’s fees, does this mean that party would not be entitled to an award of temporary alimony and/or attorney’s fees? This was an issue in the case Zalkin v. Zalkin, 4D2023-2245 (Fla. 4th DCA August 7, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
A marital settlement agreement in Florida will be enforced as written - a court is not free to rewrite the terms of a contract. This is why the wording used in contracts is important. This was an issue in the case Hurley v. Veon, 5D2021-2409 (Fla. 5th DCA June 28, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In valuing a spouse’s goodwill in a business entity, there are multiple ways to approach the issue. Sometimes, future compensation is a consideration when a corporate interest is sold. This was an issue in the case Conde-Berrocal v. Conde, 5D2023-0449 (Fla. 5th DCA June 21, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In Florida the personal goodwill of a spouse who runs a business is a non-marital asset which is not subject to equitable distribution. What about the collective personal good will of a multi-owned business? Would the goodwill of other members be considered in determining the value of the business that is to be awarded to a spouse in a divorce? This was an issue in the case Rosenberg v. Rosenberg, 5D2023-1079 (Fla. 5th DCA June 21, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
If the value of the marital home increases after a final judgment of divorce is entered, can the equitable distribution be reconsidered to grant either party more equity in the home? This was an issue in the case Griffin v. Griffin, 1D2022-3095 (Fla. 1st DCA July 24, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
What happens if there is a mistake in your Florida final judgment of divorce? It depends on if the mistake is mutual, meaning both parties agree and understand there was a mistake in the judgment. This was an issue in the case Ware v. Ware, 5D2023-0282 (Fla. 5th DCA June 14, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In Florida, assets acquired prior to marriage are considered non-marital assets. This means the assets are owned solely by one spouse rather than jointly by both. Unless the parties agree otherwise, it is usually an appealable issue if a court awards a non-marital asset to both spouses in a Florida divorce. This was an issue in the case Smoot v. Smoot, 1D2023-0698 (Fla. 1st DCA June 12, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Florida equitable distribution rules require the court to make certain findings. Without those findings, a Florida final judgment of divorce may be reversible on appeal. This was an issue in the case Hinojosa v. Hinojosa, 2D2023-0155 (Fla. 2d DCA May 31, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Imputing income to a party in a Florida divorce case requires specific findings to be made. Without these findings, a final judgment of divorce may be susceptible to reversal on appeal. This was an issue in the case Athea v. Athea, 3D22-519 (Fla. 3d DCA May 29, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Gross income cannot be used to determine a Florida alimony award. The court must look to the parties’ net incomes in assessing need and ability to pay alimony. This was an issue in the case Lopez v. Lopez, 4D2023-0726 (Fla. 4th DCA May 22, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
In a Florida divorce, equitable distribution is determined under Florida Statute 61.075. This statute provides guidelines for the classification of marital and non-marital assets and debts, among other guidance. Equitable distribution was an issue in the case MacPherson v. MacPherson, 6D23-373 (Fla. 6th DCA May 10, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
If a spouse forges the other spouse’s signature on a tax return, can the spouse whose signature is forged avoid liability for back taxes owed on the forged return? This was an issue in the case Deasy v. Deasy, 4D2023-0317 (Fla. 4th DCA May 15, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When marital funds are used to pay down the mortgage on premarital real property, those funds may entitle the non-owning spouse to a credit in equitable distribution even if the property did not appreciate in value during the marriage. This was an issue in the case Escalona Socarras v. Bazan Vassallo, 3D23-1012 (Fla. 3d DCA May 1, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
When a Florida divorce case is pending, one spouse might remain in the jointly-owned marital home while the other spouse lives elsewhere. How does the court decide who is responsible for the mortgage or how a spouse is compensated for being excluded from occupying the residence? This is an issue briefly discussed in the case Charbonneau v. Charbonneau, 3D22-1507 (Fla. 3d DCA May 1, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
Alimony and equitable distribution may be part of a Florida divorce case. Florida Statute Chp. 61.08 governs alimony awards, while Florida Statute Chp. 61.075 governs equitable distribution. Consideration of factors in these statutes is required when deciding these issues, Alimony and equitable distribution were issues in the case Duhamel v. Duhamel, 2D2022-4145 (Fla. 2d DCA April 26, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Divorce
The petition and the answer in a Florida family law case are some of the most important documents filed. Why? Because they frame the issues in the case and put everyone on notice about what is at stake. Florida law generally requires that both parties put all relief they are seeking in their petition or answer. Failure to do so may result in the court not being able to consider matters not raised in the pleadings. This was an issue in the case Sieberg-Shabbick v. Shabbick, 3D22-1694 (Fla. 3d DCA April 24, 2024).
