Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Issues that are ruled on at a hearing in a Florida family law hearing must be requested in the pleadings filed by the parties or tried by consent. To determine whether an issue was tried by consent, the following factors are considered: “(1) ‘whether there was 'a fair opportunity to defend' the issue’ and (2) ‘whether the defending party 'could have offered additional evidence' if the issue had been included in the operative pleading or motion." Campana v. Trabold, 2D2024-0216 (Fla. 2d DCA December 18, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Florida due process rules require that both sides of a case be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard. So a court cannot usually make a decision in the case if only one party has presented his or her evidence and arguments. This was an issue in the case Domnin v. Domnina, 4D2023-0376 (Fla. 4th DCA October 30, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Due process in a Florida family law case refers to the right of each party to fully participate in the proceeding with notice and and opportunity to be heard. Due process is an important to ensure each party has a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate in the proceedings. This was an issue in the case Rodriguez v. Rodriguez, 3D23-1817 (Fla. 3d DCA August 21, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Once an appeal is filed in a Florida family law case, the trial court is prohibited from taking action on the issue appealed. For example, the trial court generally cannot enter an amended judgment if the original judgment is being appealed. This was an issue in the case Digiorgio v. Digiorgio, 5D2022-2406 (Fla. 5th DCA June 28, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Setting aside or vacating an order in a Florida family law case is usually governed by Florida Rule of Family Law Procedure 12.540. This rule provides specific grounds and timelines for setting aside an order. A motion to vacate an order was an issue in the case Lopez v. Lopez, 3D23-1953 (Fla. 3d DCA June 5, 2024).
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.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
How much notice must be given to a defaulted party for a final hearing in a Florida family law case? The rules of procedure give specific guidance on this, and this was an issue in the case Korman v. Shapiro, 3D21-2182 (Fla. 3d DCA April 10, 2024).
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).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Can a Florida family law judgment make a payment owed from one party to the other non-dischargeable in bankruptcy? For example, if a court orders that one party pay the other party’s attorney’s fees, can the court order that this payment be non-dischargeable? This was an issue in the case Polo v. Martinez, 3D23-249 (Fla. 3d DCA August 30, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Florida family law procedure
When a judge does not allow a party to present his or her case before ruling on a motion, due process concerns are raised. In addition, that party might feel he or she will not receive a fair trial in front of that judge. A motion for disqualification may be appropriate. This was an issue in the case Domnin v. Domnina, 4D23-412 (Fla. 4th DCA May 24, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Florida family law procedure
What is a default in a Florida family law case? A default is entered “[w]hen a party against whom affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise respond as provided by these rules or any applicable statute or any order of court.” Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.500(b). The consequence of a default is that the party against whom it has been entered admits all of the well-pled allegations of the petition. So for example, if the petition states “Wife has the ability to pay alimony” and a default is entered against the Wife, Wife technically admits that she has the ability to pay alimony. Can a default be cancelled? This was an issue in the case Wolf v. Peter M. Habashy, P.A., 4D22-3122 (Fla. 4th DCA May 24, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
How long does a party have to appeal a Florida family law ruling? Generally, a party has 30 days from the date an order is entered to file a Notice of Appeal. This deadline is strict, and an appellate court has no jurisdiction over a matter after this date. This was an issue in the case Baroff v. Baroff, 4D22-772 (Fla. 4th DCA November 2, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Who has a duty to progress a Florida family law case? The simple answer is, the party who is petitioning for relief from the court. If a case sits for too long without activity, the rules permit a court to dismiss or close a case. But certain notice has to be given to a party that this will happen after a certain period of inactivity has passed. This was an issue in the case Bravo v. CJM Partners, LLC, 3D21-1517 (Fla. 3d DCA August 17, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Florida Family Law Procedure
What are some reasons a judge can be disqualified in a Florida family law case? Disqualification means the judge can no longer preside over the case and a new judge will be assigned. The person requesting disqualification must show there is a well-founded, reasonable fear that he or she will not receive a fair trial at the hands of that judge. This was an issue in the case Cini v. Cabezas, 3D22-0716 (Fla. 3d DCA August 10, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
How is a Florida family law case started? After a petition is filed, it usually needs to be delivered to the other party by a process server. Once this delivery occurs, the case is usually considered “initiated”. Other documents besides the petition may need to be delivered to the other party by the process server in order to validate the delivery. This was an issue in the case Oliveira v. Sims, 3D21-1255 (Fla. 3d DCA February 9, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
When a party faces a criminal contempt proceeding in a Florida family law case, that party may be subject to penalties that include jail time. Because of this, procedure must be followed very carefully to ensure a person has a fair trial. Fairness includes being able to call witnesses in a party’s defense. This was an issue in the case Willey v. Stillman, 5D20-1636 (Fla. 5th DCA December 3, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
One party to a Florida family law case can be ordered to pay the other party’s attorney’s fees and costs under certain circumstances. One circumstance may be bad conduct and the other may be based on a difference in income between the two parties. Either way, a court must make specific findings concerning the amount of fees to be paid. This was an issue in the case Marcellus v. Marcellus, 4D20-1671 (Fla. 4th DCA October 27, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
Attendance at court via Zoom has become a common part of Florida family law cases in the last year or more. Sometimes, technology fails and as a result this can affect a person’s ability to participate in a hearing held by videoconferencing. When this happens, a party may have grounds to set aside an order entered against the party. This was an issue in the case Soles v. Burke, 4D20-1968 (Fla. 4th DCA August 18, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
In order for a family law proceeding to be considered fair, a party must receive notice of the proceedings. This is a fundamental part of what is known as due process. Notice of a family law proceeding starts with service of the petition and a summons on a party. This personal service is usually required before a court can make decisions that affect a person’s life, property or freedom. This was an issue in the case Swarek v. Lindsay, 1D20-3093 (Fla. 1st DCA May 18, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Family Law Procedure
In a Florida divorce, parties are sometimes able to resolve their differences without the help of a mediator and without the court making a decision in their case. When the parties reach an agreement themselves, they might agree to announce in front of the judge while in court their agreement for the record. After this is done, the agreement is reduced to writing and signed by the parties or the judge enters an order memorializing the terms of the parties’ agreement. In the case Fine v. Fine, 4D20-395 (Fla. 4th DCA November 25, 2020), the former wife appealed the trial court’s failure to include in a final judgment certain terms announced by the parties in court.
