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Procedure

Florida family law: contempt of marital settlement agreement

Florida family law: contempt of marital settlement agreement

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

In order for a party to be held in contempt in a Florida family law case, the terms of an order that is alleged to have been violated must be clear and unambiguous. A party cannot be held in contempt of terms of an order that do not exist. This was an issue in the case Prieto v. Rossi, 4D2022-3045 (Fla. 4th DCA April, 17, 2024) in which an attorney representing a party to a divorce was held in contempt of terms of a marital settlement agreement.

Florida family law: sanctions under Fla. Stat. 57.105

Florida family law: sanctions under Fla. Stat. 57.105

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

What is a 57.105 motion in a Florida family law case? This is a motion which asks the court for sanctions against a party and/or the party’s attorney for raising unsupported claims in a proceeding. 57.105 refers to the Florida Statute section which authorizes this fee. That section of the statute requires that specific steps be taken before this motion can be filed. This was an issue in the case Fantauzzi v. Fleck, 2D23-1390 (Fla. 2d DCA April 3, 2024).

Florida family law: Gifts from family may be income

Florida family law: Gifts from family may be income

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

Can financial help from relatives be considered income in a Florida family law case? If the help is regular and expected to continue, it can be considered income that is imputed to a party for purposes of determining alimony and child support. This was an issue in the case Levy v. Levy, 3D22-1980 (Fla. 3d DCA March 6, 2024).

Indirect criminal contempt in a Florida family law case

Indirect criminal contempt in a Florida family law case

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

When a party in a Florida divorce proceeding takes action to disrupt the proceedings, consequences may include contempt proceedings. Contempt proceedings can lead to incarcerations, fines or other punishments. Careful steps must be followed depending on the type of contempt sought. This was an issue in the case Malek v. Malek, 3D22-1371 (Fla. 3d DCA February 9, 2024).

Florida family law procedure: dismissal of case for failure to attend hearing

Florida family law procedure: dismissal of case for failure to attend hearing

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

What happens if an attorney misses a scheduled hearing in a Florida family law case? One of the harshest sanctions that can be imposed is dismissal of a case. If the attorney can prove mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect, the case should not be dismissed. This was an issue in the case Little v. Turnbow, 5D23-2441 (Fla. 5th DCA February 9, 2024).

Florida family law procedure: Dismissal with prejudice

Florida family law procedure: Dismissal with prejudice

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

What is a dismissal with prejudice in a Florida family law case? This means the case is dismissed and cannot be filed again. So the claims are forever barred. This is one of the harshest penalties in litigation, so it must be used sparingly and with specific considerations. This was an issue in the case Chesterson Capital, LLC v. Yancy, 2D22-3628 (Fla. 2d DCA January 19, 2024).

Amending pleadings in a Florida family law case

Amending pleadings in a Florida family law case

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

Can a party amend pleadings in a Florida family law case? Sometimes, circumstances change after a petition has been filed, or a party changes his or her mind as to what relief he or she wants to ask for from the court. Florida law favors resolution of cases on the merits so it leans in favor of allowing amendment of pleadings. This was an issue in the case Gerber v. Dubrowksi, 23-71 (Fla. 2d DCA December 27, 2023).

Service of process in a Florida family law case

Service of process in a Florida family law case

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

What does it mean when someone says they have been served in a Florida family law case? This means papers related to a lawsuit filed against a defendant have been delivered to the defendant. Service of process in Florida has certain requirements. If delivery of the lawsuit papers is not performed according to the Florida Statutes, the person who is alleged to have been served may have a reason to challenge the validity of the service of process. This was an issue in the case Capasso v. Buchanan, 4D2023-1397 (Fla. 4th DCA January 17, 2024).

Writ of mandamus in Florida family law case

Writ of mandamus in Florida family law case

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

When an appeal is filed in a Florida family law case, the trial court may have limited jurisdiction to proceed with making further rulings in the case. How do we determine what matters the trial court can rule on while an appeal is pending? This was an issue in the case Saenz v. Sanchez, 3D23-1402 (Fla. 3d DCA October 18, 2023).

Florida family law: Final versus non-final order

Florida family law: Final versus non-final order

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

What makes a Florida family law order appealable? The Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure specify what types of orders are appealable. Orders generally fall into two categories for purposes of appeal: final and non-final. A final order means judicial labor is concluded and nothing remains to be done. A non-final order is the opposite. This was an issue in the case Obermark v. Obermark, 5D22-2479 (Fla. 5th DCA September 22, 2023).

Florida family law procedure: Default as a sanction

Florida family law procedure: Default as a sanction

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure

When a default is entered against a party in a Florida family law case, this might mean the party against whom the default has been entered will not be able to challenge certain findings made against him or her. A default has the effect of making it so that the party against whom default has been entered admits all of the well-pled allegations of the opposing party’s petition. So, for example, if a husband states in his petition that the wife has the ability to pay alimony, if a default is entered against the wife, she admits that she has the ability to pay alimony. Entry of a default was an issue in the case City of Miami v. Marcos, 3D22-1444 (Fla. 3d DCA September 13, 2023).