Tag Archives: Tampa Family Lawyers
Creating a Parenting Plan that Works
A divorce is never easy for families and can be particularly difficult for children. Parents need to take time to make sure that the children’s issues are addressed and that they will have as little disruption in their lives as possible. Florida family courts ensure that the best interests of the children are always… Read More »
Stepparent Adoptions
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Today, many children have divorced parents, or parents who were never married. Parents often remarry, creating a blended family. Blended families are wonderful, but sometimes a stepparent wants to become the legal parent. This can be achieved through adoption. An adoptive stepparent has the same legal parental… Read More »
Modifying a Finalized Divorce
The divorce process is often complex and lengthy and sometimes there are many issues that must be settled during the process. If the parties cannot agree upon the terms, then a hearing before the judge would be required and it would be up to the judge to decide the outcome. The terms of the… Read More »
Timing of Marriage and Baby Doesn’t Affect Divorce Rate
In the past, research showed that cohabitating couples who had a baby prior to getting married consistently faced a higher divorce rate than those who married first and had a baby later. In fact, a study by the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) claims that there was no increased risk of divorce for… Read More »
Re-Establishing Contact with Your Children after a Divorce
In some circumstances, divorce also means a temporary severance between a child and one parent. The reasons for separation are many, including isolation due to a physical or mental condition, substance abuse, maltreatment, relocation, or other breakdown in the parental relationship. Unfortunately, along with a divorce, the affected parent will be restricted from time-sharing… Read More »
Possible Effects of Federal Policy Changes on Child Support Enforcement
Starting late last year and continuing into earlier this year, a new federal policy shifted the focus of child support enforcement and could affect among other things the amount of money custodial parents receive from their non-custodial ex-spouses. The federal government, working in tandem with state agencies, provides oversight and regulation of State child… Read More »
Military Deployment & Child Custody
Child custody issues are complicated. These issues are further complicated when a military parent has primary custody of a child and the military parent is suddenly called to active duty and deployed. Deployment and child custody can pose special challenges for service members. Oftentimes, military parents fear losing child custody if the military parent… Read More »
Parental Responsibility Evaluations
Parental responsibility and timesharing constitute one of the most emotional issues facing spouses as they divorce. Florida has made strides to equalize parental responsibility and timesharing of children in a divorce. Lawmakers have changed stigmatizing language used to describe “non-custodial” or “secondary residential” parents in an effort to focus custody disputes on shared parental… Read More »
Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Protective Orders in Divorces or Separations
Some divorces or separations are smooth, painless, or mutual. Most can be difficult, time consuming, and maybe even hurtful. But a few can be downright dangerous. In cases in which a divorce or separation is pending, Florida law provides for the issuance of protective orders (orders of protection, or injunctions for protection, or restraining… Read More »
How Do I Change My Name?
There are many reasons to want to change either your first, middle, or last name. Individuals and parents alike may want to change their name or their children’s names due to personal preference, to take a spouse’s name, or to return to a previous name following a divorce. While Florida courts are often persuaded… Read More »
