Suarez v. Orta

In Suarez v. Orta, the trial court adopted a report and recommendations by a general magistrate over timely-filed objections. This was error. Apparently the trial court did not treat the objections as Exceptions, focusing on the title of the document rather than its substance. Pleadings by pro se litigants should only be defined by their […]

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Dorworth v. Dorworth

Alimony and Equitable Distribution of marital assets and debts are tools that courts can, and often do, use to achieve equity. So long as there is competent substantial evidence supporting findings of valuation, and the required statutory findings regarding ED and alimony are made, courts have great discretion to fashion distribution and support schemes that […]

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The Future of Alimony in Florida

On September 10, 2015, Florida Senator Tom Lee filed an alimony reform bill with the legislature for its consideration during the 2016 legislative session, which begins in January 2016. The bill, as filed, is largely identical to the alimony reform bill that Senator Lee filed before the 2015 legislative session. The 2015 bill never made […]

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Kyriacou v. Kyriacou

In Kyriacou v. Kyriacou, the appellate court roundly criticizes the trial court. The trial court made an unequal equitable distribution, but in so doing made no mandatory findings relative the statutory factors of 61.075. The only finding that the trial court made was that the parties had an unequal ability (in the Husband’s favor) to […]

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Weaver v. Weaver

Weaver v. Weaver is an equitable distribution case. The trial court’s distribution was unequal, and granted the Wife partial interest in a non-marital asset of the Husband due to enhancement during the marriage because of the contribution of marital funds. This was error because there was no substantial, competent evidence supporting the enhancement of the […]

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Hall v. Hall

In Hall v. Hall, the trial court denied the Husband’s motion to declare that the parties’ MSA was incomplete. The evidence presented did not support his claim of incompleteness. It appears that he was merely complaining that he made a bad deal. The fact that one party to an agreement apparently made a bad bargain […]

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Kemp v. Kemp

In Kemp v. Kemp, the trial court ordered an interim partial equitable distribution in the absence of a motion requesting such a distribution, and in the absence of any indication that such distribution could be revisited at a later date. This was error. The only thing requested was temporary attorney’s fees, which was denied. The […]

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