What is “income” for purposes of child support calculations?

And how does Florida factor in disability benefits that go directly to the opposing party? First, F.S. 61.046(8) states, “‘Income’ means any form of payment to an individual, regardless of source, including, but not limited to: wages, salary, commissions and bonuses, compensation as an independent contractor, worker’s compensation, disability benefits, annuity and retirement benefits, pensions, […]

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Castillo vs. Castillo

In Castillo vs. Castillo, the trial court improperly applied the unclean hands doctrine to summarily deny a petition for modification. Where a spouse has the ability to pay an arrearage and does not do so, he is not in court with clean hands and in such case his petition should not be considered on the […]

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Addie vs. Coale

Addie vs. Coale has a history in the 4th district. When it was first appealed, it was remanded for reconsideration of the alimony and child support aspects of the final judgment. On remand, the successor trial judge entered an alimony and child support award, but it was deficient in that findings were not made on […]

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I just received a letter from the Department of Revenue (DOR) regarding a Proposed Administrative Support Order, what do I do?

If you have recently received a letter from DOR stating that the department is seeking to establish child support pursuant to a Proposed Administrative Support Order, do not hesitate: bring that letter to your lawyer immediately. There are very specific guidelines for what you can do when you receive such a letter, and all of […]

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Tluzek v. Tluzek

Tluzek vs. Tluzek is a case of first impression in Florida. In involves the allocation of an adoption subsidy received by the parents of adopted children with special needs. The court ruled that the parents’ child support obligation should be determined first pursuant to the guidelines. Then, the adoption subsidy should be apportioned between the […]

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Rosenblum v. Rosenblum

Rosenblum v Rosenblum Rosenblum v. Rosenblum involves pro se litigants feeling their way through a typical set of circumstances. The former husband first filed a Motion to Modify Child Support (there is no discussion as to why it was appropriate to consider that as a motion rather than as a supplemental petition), and before that […]

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Wells v. Whitfield

Wells v Whitfield In Wells vs. Whitfield, the 1st DCA reversed a child support award for lack of statutory findings regarding income. The amended final judgment did not include any findings specifying what portion of the retained earnings of the Husband’s solely-owned corporation were included by the court in determining the father’s gross income. Absent […]

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Lopez v. Department of Revenue

Lopez v Department of Revenue Lopez vs. DOR involves a situation where section 57.105 attorney’s fees and costs are awarded as a sanction against the Department of Revenue in a misidentified paternity case. The case has a very wild factual scenario, which I commend everyone to read in its entirety. The bottom line is that […]

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