In Dickson v. Dickson, the trial court abused its discretion by modifying the timesharing agreement without evidence that the welfare of the minor child would be promoted by the proposed change. Dickson v Dickson
Tag: Lee County Family Law
Sikora v. Sikora
In Sikora v. Sikora, several errors required reversal and remand: In the absence of special circumstances, permanent, periodic alimony in an amount that exceeds the former wife’s established need is error. The trial court erred by imputing income to the former wife from her retirement accounts where there was no evidence to support the imputation. […]
Drouin v. Stuber
In Drouin v. Stuber (a paternity case), the mother sought to vacate a 2011 judgment that had declared another man to be biological father despite the fact that the child had been born during an intact marriage. The appellate court reversed the order setting aside the earlier order, because it was the legal father’s rights […]
How to properly relocate from the State of Florida when you have children.
Florida sets out the requirements for relocation within Florida Statute § 61.13001. This statute applies to you if your intended relocation destination is 50 miles, or more, away from the last residence that you used in establishing your timesharing, or at the time of the filing of such a petition. Moreover, this statute also applies […]
Child Support
As attorneys, we are often asked when a client should begin to pay child support, or if they should pay at all. The Court has the ability to order child support retroactively to the date of filing, the date of separation, or up to two years prior to the start of the case in a […]
Giddins v. Giddins
the attached case the Husband and Wife had entered a Marital Settlement Agreement, but before it was approved by the trial court, the Wife filed a Motion to Set Aside the settlement agreement. Despite the motion, though, the trial court entered a Final Judgment adopting the agreement over the Wife’s objection. This was error. The […]
Terkeurst v. Terkeurst
In the attached child support case, the award of child support and arrears is reversed and remanded for recalculation. The trial court did not use the proper method for substantial shared timesharing. The parties had a 50/50 timesharing arrangement, but the trial court failed to use the gross-up method to calculate the child support, and […]
Undifferentiated Family Support
When there are viable claims for both alimony and child support, often the Court will award “undifferentiated family support”, which is a combined number that will encompass both types of awards. This can be an opportunity to get a tax benefit normally associated with alimony but not available for child support, but one should be […]
Modifiability Of Asset And Liability Distribution
Simply put, when a Final Judgment is entered which distributes the marital assets and liabilities to the now-former spouses, the trial court loses the ability (jurisdiction) to modify the distribution at some later date. There are a few exceptions to that general rule, but the exceptions would only apply in very narrow situations. Absent those […]
Timesharing Factors
Florida courts no longer use the term “custody” with regards to children. Instead, the Court fashions “timesharing plans” that consider specific factors that are in the best interests of the child(ren). One factor that can be difficult, especially if you are involved in a difficult divorce or paternity case, is the first factor the courts […]