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Family Law

Recent Posts in Family Law Category

  • Modifying Alimony Payments

    If part of your divorce decree involved alimony payments, you may be wondering if it is possible to modify it. After all, circumstances can change and your financial situation may not be what it was when your divorce finalized. Even if your current predicament is only temporary, you can still request a modification of your alimony payments. Before you take your former spouse to court to petition ...
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  • How Can I Modify Child Custody?

    It would be unrealistic to assume that the lives of both parents will remain the same after a divorce. Even one year later, circumstances may change, warranting a modification of your child custody . Family courts understand this, which is why Florida law allows former spouses to petition the court for a modification of their child custody order. If you are the petitioning parent, you must provide ...
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  • What You Should Know About Post-Divorce Modifications

    Life can change substantially after a divorce and the terms that were once acceptable and practical for your situation may not continue to be suitable for you or serve the best interests of your children. Family courts understand that modifications are sometimes necessary, which is why you can file a petition to modify child support, spousal support, or child custody. However, unless fraud somehow ...
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  • What Happens if My Children Refuse Visitation?

    During the divorce process, parents must work out a child custody and visitation arrangement to ensure each party can maintain a meaningful bond with the children. If you cannot agree on an arrangement together, a judge will render a decision for you, examining several factors to determine what is in their best interests. However, sometimes putting a child custody order into practice may become a ...
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  • Divorce Mistakes You Should Avoid

    Divorce can be a messy process and, with tensions running high, mistakes can easily be made. Unfortunately, even the smallest misstep can result in costly results that you might not be able to undo. Since it is far too difficult for anyone to remain objective during this process, it is crucial to hire skilled legal representation for the sound legal advice you need to make the right decisions for ...
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  • Tips for Becoming a More Effective Co-Parent

    Co-parenting your children after a divorce can seem like an impossible challenge, especially if you endured a particularly contentious process. It is in their best interests, however, that you and your former spouse set your differences aside and focus on their needs and wellbeing. Of course, this is far easier said than done, which is why we put together a list of tips to help you navigate the ...
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  • Joint Custody and School Districts – Where Will Your Child Go to School?

    School age children are required to attend an educational institution. A child’s residential district generally dictates where the child will go to school; however, if you and your partner have recently divorced and now have joint custody, you may not be sure which school district your child belongs to. If one parent has the child most of the time, the child will likely attend school in the ...
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  • How Bankruptcy Impacts Family Law Agreements and Orders

    Bankruptcy proceedings are one of the most significant areas of law that crosses over to family law . When someone files a bankruptcy petition, they essentially pause all movement regarding their financial obligations, including orders involving the division of property at divorce and family support obligations. Because much of the issues in family law cases involve payment obligations between ...
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  • Different Enforcement Methods for Family Law Orders

    After the court issues its final judgment or decree in a divorce or other family law matter, the parties receive a document detailing the terms of the court’s directives and orders. So, how does a piece of paper make someone pay child support or give their spouse title to a house or car? What’s to stop someone from simply refusing to follow the terms of a divorce or family law order? There are a ...
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  • Protective Factors for Supporting and Strengthening Families During Stressful Life Events

    Stressful family events can have a lasting impact on a child. Whether a family is going through economic hardship, divorce, or a death in the family, it is important to help children through stressful life events, so they have a healthy outlook of those types of situations. In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, this blog discusses several protective factors to help support and ...
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  • Lips Sealed with a Kiss: The Confidential Marital Communications Privilege

    Communication is an essential part of the marital relationship. When a marriage falls apart, a breakdown in communication is either primarily or partly responsible. However, the importance of communication to a marriage is not a new concept. In fact, the facilitation and protection of marital communications are why states across the country recognize a privilege against the disclosure of such ...
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  • Domestic Violence & Divorce in Florida

    Few things complicate a divorce quite like domestic violence, even more so when there are children involved. As a victim of domestic violence, you deserve to get out as fast as you can, which can be a challenge if you are married to an abuser. The state of Florida condemns violent spouses with criminal charges, which has an inevitable ripple effect in all other court cases. Domestic violence ...
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  • My Wedding Is Cancelled: Who Keeps the Ring?

    Despite Hollywood’s persistent message, not every happy ending involves a proposal and walk down the aisle. A trusted family law attorney will tell you a broken engagement is a better place to be than heading for divorce, and we at the Law Office of Russell S. Hershkowitz, L.L.C. understand this reasoning doesn’t make your current situation any easier. This is why we proudly serve the people of ...
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  • How to Create a Parenting Plan for Divorce

    One of the most heartbreaking aspects of divorce is when children are involved, as it is inevitable there will be some conflicts or tension regarding future parenting. Divorced parents find it difficult to agree on much of anything, especially when it comes to your shared children. Tensions run high as both parents want to protect as much of their time with their child as possible--as well as an ...
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  • Are There Family Law Consequences for Refusing to Vaccinate my Child?

    Can You Get in Trouble for Not Vaccinating Your Child? Parents enjoy the right to raise a family according to their individual beliefs and standards. However, when parents hold certain beliefs that have the potential to endanger a child's health and safety, it can potentially impact future child custody determinations. This blog discusses the potential family law consequences of subscribing to the ...
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  • Tips for Achieving Financial Independence After a Divorce

    The momentous change associated with getting a divorce can be overwhelming, especially if you were financially dependent on your other spouse throughout your marriage. However, your post-divorce life will demand a certain level of independence. While the notion of independently managing your own affairs can seem daunting, you will eventually begin to appreciate the value of exploring and ...
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  • Who Gets the House After a Divorce?

    When a married couple buys a house, they ordinarily have joint ownership over it. As a result, both spouses have an equal and undivided right to live in the home. After a divorce , most couples usually aren’t too keen on continuing the previous living arrangement. However, since both spouses have an equal right to live there, how does a court determine who gets to live in the house after a ...
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  • How to Identify Marital Assets

    It is common knowledge that houses, cars, and dining sets are items that are equally divided during a divorce . However, does your spouse have a right to half of your business, employment benefits, or pension? The answer depends on whether those things qualify as a marital asset. This blog discusses how Florida courts identify marital assets. Equitable Distribution Under the Florida law, the ...
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  • How Are Veterans Benefits Affected by Divorce?

    Florida is considered an equitable distribution state; meaning, courts will presume an equal division of marital assets and liabilities, unless a party demonstrates some justification to deviate from such a division. Are VA Disability Benefits Marital Property? The provisions of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act(10 U.S.C. §1408) excludes your Veterans Benefits Administration ...
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  • The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act

    When parents of a minor child get a divorce , child custody is a critical issue of contention. When a court issues a final divorce decree, it usually includes custody orders that stay in effect for years afterward. Custody orders can be modified later, but traditionally only the court that issued the custody order has jurisdiction to modify it. The traditional system became a burden for divorced ...
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  • Divorce and Childhood Obesity

    What Health Risks Result from Childhood Obesity? September is National Childhood Obesity Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , approximately 19% of children (about 1 in 5) in the United States are considered obese. Obesity puts children at an increased risk for serious health conditions, including: Asthma; Sleep apnea; Type 2 diabetes; and Heart disease. The Risk of Obesity ...
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  • Who Gets Child Custody Pending a Divorce?

    Which parent gets custody of a child while divorce proceedings are pending? In general, family law courts will ultimately consider the child’s best interests to determine the custody arrangement during a divorce: joint or sole custody. If you’re going through a divorce and are concerned about losing full rights to your children, you don’t have to be unprepared. An experienced Altamonte child ...
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  • Can I Get My Marriage Annulled?

    Annulment and divorce are not the same things. While divorce ends a valid marriage, an annulment declares the marriage void, as if the matrimonial union had never occurred in the first place. In New York, annulments are not allowed. Instead, a marriage may be declared “void” during a divorce proceeding. In essence, a void marriage has a similar effect to an annulment. The following are the ...
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  • Why Is It Necessary to Establish Paternity?

    When a child is born to married parents, the law rarely questions who the child’s father is. However, if a couple is unmarried when they have a child, the state does not recognize the father. In this situation, the state recognizes the parental rights of the birth mother only. The way you can solve this problem in California is by establishing paternity through the court system or by completing ...
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  • Why Your Prenuptial Agreement May Not Be Valid

    A prenup is a great way to protect yourself and your assets in the event of a divorce. However, they must be done correctly if you want them to be valid in Florida. Let’s take a quick look at some of the top reasons why a prenuptial agreement may be invalid. No written agreement : If a prenuptial agreement is not on paper, it cannot be enforceable. A verbal agreement would not work. Not properly ...
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