When the outcome of a divorce can have a major impact on your future, it is only natural to do everything in your power to pursue the best possible outcome in your case. While you may have already noticed the signs that a divorce is coming, you may not know...
Finding your way back to life as usual after a criminal charge, whether you’re found guilty or not, can be challenging. Here are some tips on how you can move on. Resolve the past and look to the future This may be easier said than done, but you won’t be...
You separated from your ex some time ago. As you had children together, you couldn’t simply go your separate ways. You had to try to make it work as co-parents. You were able to reach an agreement on custody, and the court approved this. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, it’s become...
The prospect of divorce can bring out the worst in either or both spouses. The longer it takes, the more havoc it can wreak on your emotions. Before you know it, your feelings have taken control of your decision-making, which is often a recipe for disaster. What if you could...
Becoming a father can be an incredible and life-altering experience. Some men only really commit to their careers when they have a child to support. Others start to think about their family and how they live their lives. Children can be a powerful source of motivation to be a better...
Often, spouses agree that going their separate ways is for the best. In these circumstances, it can be more simple to settle divorce negotiations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always how it works out. The divorce may be more contentious, with spouses being unable to see eye to eye. There have even...
Divorce is expensive. What you spend on divorce is difficult to estimate since each situation is unique – but it will impact your finances and life in many ways. While you have a lot to focus on during divorce, you must also take steps to protect your money and your...
Children deserve to have two reliable parents in their life. When those adults end their marriage, there’s a chance that the children might not get to see one parent as often as they’d like. This might be due to the parent or the child moving out of the area. For...
Whether amicable or fraught with conflict getting a divorce is never easy on the two spouses. Unless blindsided by the arrival of unexpected divorce papers, you may have had some time to get accustomed to the thought of ending your marriage. Those who have the luxury of preparation time usually...
Child custody issues that crop up unexpectedly can make a marital break-up intensely problematic for both parents – and the kids. If one parent decides to relocate, that can be a real stumbling block. What happens when a custodial or non-custodial parent moves away long-term or permanently because of their...
Men married to the mothers of their children have certain automatic rights in Florida, while unmarried fathers have to take special steps to protect their relationship with their children. While you can always agree to share time with your child, going to court for a custody order may be necessary....
From the time they begin considering a split until their children are adults, most parents suffer from divorce guilt even though they know they made the right decision. Many children deal with divorce well, while others become angry over what they believe is the destruction of their family. Sometimes, parents...
If you are married with children, there’s a good chance your children have no idea what life would be like if their parents were no longer together. The children have grown up with stability and confidence that both parents would be there, in the same home. When you plan to...
Your relationship with your ex is (to say the least) difficult. Among other things, you’ve discovered that they were having affairs throughout your relationship. While they claim that the baby they just had is yours, you aren’t so sure. Naturally, you want clarity. You want the satisfaction of having the...
A divorce takes its toll on the entire family. Naturally, it is often the children who are the main concern of both parents as well as the courts. However, there are some misconceptions about the impact of divorce on men and the role they play after a separation. It’s important...
Your rights as a father in Florida are different in certain situations than in others. You have the best legal protections when the mother of your child is also your spouse. Married men are typically automatically included on a child’s birth certificate when the mother gives birth and don’t have...
If you and your ex were still married, you know that you would have both worked together to choose a doctor for your child. That’s what you did when the child needed a pediatrician, and they had just been born. But both of you moved after the divorce and so...
Raising children with an ex means that there are bound to be conflicts periodically. Being able to handle these in a mature and responsible manner is imperative because your children are affected by how their parents act. When you have a co-parent who wants to argue, a lot of drama...
Whenever people think of child custody, they often associate it with the child’s physical presence. However, there is more to it than having the child with you. Parental responsibility, often referred to as legal custody in some quarters, is an often overlooked aspect of most custody cases, yet it is...
When you only get limited time to spend with your child, you want to make the most of it. Yet it is easy to get carried away thinking you need to fill every moment with activity and excitement. Your kids love you for who you are, not for the money...
You know that you and your co-parent need to work together to raise your child. You want to do this, but it’s also clear that the two of you have communication issues. Every time that you have a serious conversation, it seems to escalate into a conflict or an argument....
It can be difficult to handle the news that someone you had a relationship with was married. What may be even harder to reconcile with is the news that they’re having a child who could, realistically, be yours. If the mother of a child who is possibly yours is married,...
Some parents who are going through a divorce might be accused of being abusive or having an issue that puts the children at risk. These individuals might be ordered to have supervised visitation with their children. While this might seem like a horrible experience, you can bond with the kids...
If your spouse is staying in the family home, at least for a while, as the two of you separate and begin the divorce process, you’ve probably moved into a smaller place – likely an apartment or condo. You may not need a lot of room for yourself. However, if...
It is probably every man’s worst nightmare. After years of a relationship, the mother of their child tells him that she had been unfaithful and the child was definitely not his. That bombshell announcement could devastate the father and permanently alter his relationship with not just the mother but also...
Are your child support payments taking a toll on your finances? Are you finding it hard to pay up? Then you may need to act and have them modified. That way, you will be able to meet your obligations fully, without too much strain. Perhaps you lost your job and...
Finding ways to split your property with your spouse can be one of the biggest challenges in your divorce. Some assets are easy to share. A bank account can be split into two even amounts or divided based on what each spouse deposited. A collection can be divided. A house,...
Only the mother is legally recognized as a biological parent when she gives birth to the child for an unmarried couple. The father is momentarily left out of the picture until paternity can be established. It means that even if you are the child’s biological father, you do not have...
Getting divorced generally involves settling a number of factors such as child custody, property division and spousal support. Needless to say, resolving such issues can result in a certain amount of stress. However, the majority of divorces are settled within a matter of months. Unfortunately, there are occasions where separations...
Are you among the increasing number of people over 50 who are considering divorce or have already begun the process? One of the reasons you and your spouse stayed together for as long as you did, for example, could be that you didn’t want to split up your family. Now...
Your relationship with your spouse is fantastic. You agree on everything, only have eyes for each other, and spend your days laughing and your nights loving. Then out of the blue, they say they want a divorce. That is not how it works. While a divorce request might surprise you,...
The divorce process can potentially involve high levels of conflict. Often, issues such as property division and business ownership may be highly contentious. Furthermore, when children are involved, both parents may disagree about what is in the best interests of the child. However, the reality is that parents will have...
When parents split up in Florida, whether they married or not, they typically have to share parental rights and responsibilities. Time-sharing is the legal term the courts use for splitting parenting time between two adults with children in Florida. Often, the goal in a time-sharing arrangement is to give each...
When you have children, you have certain rights under Florida law. If you and the other parent end your relationship, you still get to see your children regularly. Unfortunately, sometimes people use their children as a way to express their bitterness to their former partner. Some people will intentionally try...
Your spouse has a lot of money, and you know money talks — but does it have any real influence in family court? Will your spouse end up with custody of the kids (as they claim they will) just because they have more wealth than you? This is a common...
If you are looking for an easy formula that sets out the perfect way to share custody, you are out of luck. While a 50:50 or 80:20 split might be perfect for some couples, they could prove disastrous for others. Each situation is unique. Each parent’s need to earn money...
Your divorce odds are falling if you are an average American. For numerous reasons, the average divorce rate is dropping for most age groups, and it has been doing so for years. One reason is cohabitation, for instance, which is more popular now and means that a lot of younger...
Married fathers have it easy when it comes to paternity. They don’t have to take any special steps at all because the state of Florida just assumes they are the father. However, regardless of how long you have been with the mother of your child, paternity isn’t that simple if...
Gender is something that can be considered in child custody cases. If you look at the lists of issues that the courts consider when determining what is in the child’s best interests, they may consider the gender of the child and of the parents. They know this plays a role....
As a father of a child with someone who you are no longer dating, it’s important that you do establish paternity. The reality is that if you do not, you will have little or no control over what the mother of your child does and when you see your child....
Some divorce proceedings can get messy, and, in most instances, children are in the eye of this storm. However, things are likely to turn out differently if one party is aware of the legalities that surround divorce. Read on to find out how to avoid a nasty custody fight in...
Some divorce proceedings can get messy, and, in most instances, children are in the eye of this storm. However, things are likely to turn out differently if one party is aware of the legalities that surround divorce. Read on to find out how to avoid a nasty custody fight in...
Many couples going through divorce can’t reach agreements about how to handle custody or the division of their property, so they have to turn to the family courts. The Florida courts will resolve on addressed issues in your marriage in accordance with state law if you cannot do so on...
If you are told that you’re the father of a child, you may want to ask for a DNA test. A DNA test is accurate around 99% of the time when the samples are untainted and a professional test is performed. There are times when these tests could be inaccurate,...
You know that you have been drinking and drugging way too much lately. In fact, you privately worry that you might have crossed the line from partying to full-on addiction. You try to rationalize your drug and alcohol use because your pending divorce has been very stressful on you. Getting...
Your partner calls the police on you during a fight or your neighbors overhear something and they call the cops. All of a sudden, you find yourself sitting in jail and facing charges of domestic violence. You probably don’t like the idea of going to court because of the embarrassment...
If you never got married to the mother of your child, your whole relationship may have been somewhat informal. It may seem logical for your custody agreements to be informal as well. You might agree to pay her a certain amount out of every paycheck that you receive and to...
When a man is told that he is the father of a child, he may not be sure that he really is. In that case, it makes sense for him to request a DNA test to verify if he is or is not related to the baby. Sometimes, men don’t...
Life isn’t always as perfect as we’d like it to be. In some cases, a crisis will occur that impacts everyone in the family. When parents are divorced or simply no longer in a relationship, navigating through a crisis can be a real challenge. Your children will benefit greatly if...
As a father in Florida, you may have to assert your rights if you did not marry the mother of your child before their birth. Married fathers have a presumption of paternity, meaning they are automatically included on the birth certificate. However, fathers not married to the mothers of their...
You have a criminal record because of something that happened a decade ago. You spent a year in jail. You’ve now been out for so long that it almost feels like another life. After getting out, you met your partner, got married and had a child. Everything seemed like it...
You love your child, but you’ve had a hard time being part of their life. You had a falling out with your child’s mother, and ever since, she has used your child as leverage. Without giving her the things she wants, you never get the chance to see your child....
You and your child’s father don’t exactly see eye-to-eye, and you’d prefer that they have nothing to do with your child’s upbringing. Can you cut the father out of your child’s life entirely by asking the court to terminate his parental rights? Maybe. The answer to your question will depend...
You have tolerated a lot of things from your spouse over the years, but one thing you cannot handle is a cheater. You are suspicious that your spouse is being unfaithful — but how do you really know if you’re just being paranoid or if it’s time to pack your...
Breakups can be hard on multiple levels. They’re particularly troubling when finances, living arrangements and kids are involved, however. The latter can be even more challenging to cope with if you’ve never formalized your child’s paternity. You may find yourself in a power struggle with your co-parent, with your child...
Does your work-life balance seem to be all out of whack? Are there aspects of your work that are creating cracks in your marriage? A lot of people suspect that their careers contribute to their divorces — and they’re probably correct. That’s what Stockholm University researchers set out to discover...
As a father to an unborn child with a woman to whom you are not married, it’s important that you establish your rights. You may want to have a DNA test to prove that you’re the father of the child, and that’s fine to do. Until you’re sure you’re the...
If your divorce was precipitated by your spouse’s infidelity, you may feel that it’s only fair that you get everything you want in the divorce, including the bulk of your shared property. That’s an understandable feeling. However, Florida law doesn’t give someone a specific advantage in their divorce because their...
Your spouse is the vindictive kind, so you absolutely believe them when they tell you they’ll quit their job and live with their parents before they pay you a dollar in alimony. You need that financial support — at least, for a while — to get back on your feet...
Children whose parents live in the same home probably don’t know anything about what life would be like if their parents divorce. These kids have the stability of knowing that they’ll have both parents around in the house. Even when things aren’t perfect, the children will probably still look for...
In many paternity cases, a man and a woman both know about the pregnancy. The only issue is resolving any questions about paternity. If paternity is in doubt or there may be multiple potential fathers, a paternity test can help determine who has the legal obligation and rights associated with...
Divorce is a big personal change, but it will also affect your finances. It’s imperative to have a solid plan in place, as this will go a long way in helping protect your finances and position you for the future you want. Here are some of the most common concerns...
Many people believe that alimony, also called spousal support, is no longer an option in a Florida divorce. Although the concept of receiving support from one’s ex after divorce may seem antiquated to some, it can be ordered in some cases. Who can receive spousal support? Either spouse may receive...
We live in a modernized world in which not all couples choose to marry before starting a family. However, like married couples, those who remain unwed still experience breakups that can threaten the entire family. When unmarried dads lose access to their children, it is heartbreaking and harmful to fathers...
If you are soon to divorce, you will need to understand what happens to your property. Each state has different laws regarding how they classify assets and how they split them. How does Florida categorize marital property? Florida considers two types of assets: marital and non-marital. Marital assets: Those acquired...
When fathers divorce, they often feel like they are forced into a secondary role in their children’s lives — especially when young children are involved. You may feel like it’s better for the kids to remain solely with their mother — or you may believe that the court will be...
If you tell someone close to you that you and your spouse have been thinking about a divorce, they may tell you to try a trial separation first. You don’t have to, of course, but it’s something that some people consider. Why would you do it? The biggest reason is...
Parents all across Florida are raising a child with an ex. This arrangement may be best for the child, but it can be tough on parents, particularly parents who do not get along or trust each other. In this situation, one common issue is when a parent refuses to let...
You return home from work one day, and your spouse tells you they are filing for a divorce. Whether it comes out of the blue or has been on the cards for a while, it can be a shock when they tell you they have taken a decision. You may...
Most domestic violence accusations are real. That said, just as with anything else, people can and will lie about it. They make up stories, stretch facts, invent new “facts” or even tell a blatant lie with the hope that no one can prove they are lying. In some cases, it...
As a father, you may have concerns about seeking custody. In past decades, it was more common to see mothers receive custody. Now, you’re worried about bias against you as a father when it’s your turn in court. While bias against fathers is no longer a massive concern, it can...
When you marry, you can no longer make financial decisions based only on what you want. You need to consider your spouse’s wishes and needs. When you have children, you sacrifice a bit more of your freedom to spend as you please. The money you saved for a week-long surf...
Many people who go through a divorce want the process to be over with as quickly as possible. Some couples can work together through mediation or a similar method to make this happen, but those usually aren’t possible if one half of the couple is a narcissist. One of the...
You never thought your relationship was going to get to this point. Not only are you ending your marriage, but it’s grown incredibly contentious. Your ex wants to take your children away and has said that “you’ll never see them again” if they have their way. In fact, they’re now...
Parents know that most of the decisions they make will impact their children. For parents on infants and toddlers, the impacts of what they do can be considerable since these are very formative years. If you’re considering filing for a divorce, you might be concerned about how it might affect...
Splitting up your assets will likely be one of the more difficult steps in getting a divorce. Florida is an equitable distribution state, which means that they focus on fairness when splitting your assets in a contested divorce. Generally, only marital property is subject to division. Certain possessions remain separate...
Have you felt like divorce is on the horizon for a while now? Have you been considering it all summer? If so, studies have found that August typically sees a divorce spike, which could make it the month that you and your spouse finally decide to call it quits. Part...
As a father heading toward a divorce, whether you filed for the divorce or your spouse did, you may be worried about losing time with your children. Many fathers are actively worried that the court system is biased against them and they fear a judge taking their children away and...
From the day you first saw that positive indicator on your pregnancy test, you’ve been looking forward to being a mother — but you had no idea that you were going to have to go it alone. You expected your baby’s father to be part of the picture, but he...
If you work in a hospital, you may have struggled to nail down your schedule recently. However, there is one day that is sacred: Saturday is the day you visit your son. Seeing your boy is the one bright light that keeps you going. The only reason you agree to...
Being in an abusive relationship can mean needing to daily make decisions about what is safest for you, as well as any children that you might share with your spouse. Leaving can be one of the most dangerous times for those who experience domestic violence, so it is only natural...
When you found out that your girlfriend was expecting, you were excited. You couldn’t wait to see your child. You went through everything with your partner throughout the pregnancy, from ultrasounds to late-night runs for foods she craved. What you didn’t expect was that you’d be concerned that the child...
It used to be that an unexpected pregnancy almost always meant that the couple involved would get married. As a social and cultural issue, people really looked down on the idea of getting pregnant outside of marriage and tying the knot as soon as possible was seen as the only...
One of the concerns that you’ve had for some time is that the child who is growing inside of your girlfriend may not be yours. You took a break from dating each other around the time that she became pregnant. There is a good possibility that the child is yours,...
You and your ex have to stay in communication, even after the divorce. There is just no way around it since you have children and you both share custody of those kids. It’s not always going to be easy. However, here are four key communication tips to make things go...
If you’re a father, you may already feel that there is bias in the system that keeps you from getting custody of your children, whether you are unmarried or going through a divorce. You may think that despite claims about wanting equal involvement, the reality is that courts tend to...
Your divorce is in motion, you’re taking steps to protect your legal rights, and you’re looking forward to starting a new life in the future. But even though you’re leaving your marriage behind, your children will still be a big part of your life. Co-parenting is a whole new world,...
Supervised visitation seems on the surface like a kind of punishment for one parent. In reality, however, supervised visitation benefits both the parent who gets it and the children they spend time with during that visitation. The family courts in Florida may order supervised visitation for a number of reasons....
When people talk about custody and visitation arrangements, they almost always do so in the context of a marriage. However, you don’t have to be married to the mother of your children to want to play a role in their lives. As an unmarried father living in Florida, you have...
Modern society seems to put a lot more emphasis on the role of a mother’s support and affection than a father’s love. Although custody determinations in Florida generally don’t consider the gender of the parents, internal bias could influence some people to think that the role of the mother is...
It can be hard to raise a child between homes. Whether you were married before and got a divorce or you and your child’s other parent have never been an official couple, the reality remains that having a child you both have to raise can be complex. You both have...
When you start to set terms for visitation or child custody, you will probably focus most on what works for your schedule and the desire to spend as much time with your kids as possible. What you might not realize is that the terms that you request for child custody...
People get divorced for many reasons, and only a fraction of divorce cases in the modern world stem from abuse or domestic violence. Spouses growing apart, infidelity and even health issues are more common reasons for someone to file a divorce. Domestic violence claims can quickly complicate an otherwise straightforward...
As an unmarried couple, it’s easy for you and your partner to separate. You don’t have to go through all the legal challenges you would if you were married, making it easy to walk away if things aren’t working out. That’s what you did when you and your girlfriend were...
As a father, it’s important that you have the right to see your children and to care for them. You deserve to be a part of their lives as they grow. You also have a responsibility to provide for them. To do that, you’ll need to establish your parental rights....
You have an informal agreement with the mother of your child on visitation, and everything is working out. There hasn’t been a need for testing so far, and you don’t see a need to change now. But establishing paternity might provide significant bonuses for you and your child. Establishing the...
