The following is an alimony modification case. The substantial change of circumstances necessary to modify an alimony award must bear on either the payee spouse’s need for alimony or the payor spouse’s ability to pay it. When the payee spouse’s need decreases significantly, alimony should ordinarily be modified downward even if the payor spouse has […]
Tag: Men’s Rights
Gerber v. Gerber
In the following case, the Former Husband was held in contempt of an order regarding the repayment of medical expenses. However, the contempt finding was premature in that the finding of contempt occurred in the same hearing as a clarification of the order at issue. An order that is indefinite or ambiguous may not be […]
Electronic Communication With Children
Florida Statute 61.13003 allows the Court to order electronic communication between a parent and a child. This communication can be via email, text messages, Skype or any other form of electronic media available to both parents. With older children, this is relatively easy as they often communicate with their friends via social media. With very […]
What Is The Effect Of The State’s Lifting Of The Ban On Same-Sex Marriage?
Same-sex marriage is now legal in Florida, based upon some recent Federal Court rulings that declared as unconstitutional Florida statutes that banned same-sex marriage. Most counties in Florida are still grappling with the concept, but in at least three counties same-sex marriage licenses are being routinely issued. One wonders how long it will be before […]
Spaulding v. Shane
In the attached domestic violence injunction cas, after more than ten years, the Respondent asked that the Injunction be dissolved. The trial judge denied the request, but the appellate court ruled that the request should have been granted because the trial court used the wrong standard. The Respondent is serving a long prison sentence with […]
Bush v. Henney
Bush v Henney In Bush vs. Henry, an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence should have been dismissed upon the motion of the Respondent filed 14 years after the injunction was originally granted. The events which gave rise to this injunction arose during an exchange of the parties’ minor child, who is now 20. The […]
Holiday Traditions
No matter which holidays your family celebrates, there are sure to be some tried and true family traditions. When your family is going through a divorce or paternity action, it is easy to get caught up in the negative emotions and to want to ignore the holidays. However, your children need to feel secure in […]
Felice v. Sutherland Pullen Law, PLLC
The following is a charging lien case. The trial court granted a charging lien to be applied to the Husband’s homesteaded property. The appellate court reversed the application of the charging lien to homestead property, citing a prior case that had ruled a waiver of homestead is ineffective in an unsecured debt transaction. The lien […]
Exclusive Use Of The Marital Home
During a marriage the parties enjoy a status that is similar to a partnership. That is, all assets and liabilities of the partnership (marriage) are jointly owned in equal proportions by the partners, including the marital home. Partners in a business venture may define their partnerships in unequal proportions (for example, one partner may have […]
Pashtenko v. Pashtenko
In the following appeal involving a Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Stalking, the trial court’s summary denial of the Petition is reversed because the Petition alleged sufficient grounds to grant the petition. The trial court’s cited grounds for denial were inapplicable to this type of injunction. The Injunction should not have been summarily denied. […]