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March 10, 2010
  What Happens When A Domestic Violence Injunction is Violated?
Posted By Robert Sparks
After a domestic violence injunction has been granted, it remains in effect according to the terms and conditions of the judge’s ruling. These terms and conditions of a domestic violence injunction can have a severe impact on person’s daily life. ...
Continue reading "What Happens When A Domestic Violence Injunction is Violated?" »

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March 08, 2010
  How Do You Make the Other Parent Pay Child Support?
Posted By Stann Givens
If the other parent of your child fails to make timely child support payments, there are several ways that you can try to persuade them to pay. The first thing that you can do is speak to your expert Florida divorce lawyer about filing a motion for ...
Continue reading "How Do You Make the Other Parent Pay Child Support?" »

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March 03, 2010
  How Much is My Divorce Going to Cost?
Posted By Robert Sparks
At the end of almost every divorce consultation, a Florida family law attorney is posed with the same question. How much is my divorce going to cost? While this question appears to be straightforward, the unknown factors of divorce make it almost ...
Continue reading "How Much is My Divorce Going to Cost?" »

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March 01, 2010
  What Happens if I Have to Move Away, and My Child Remains With My Ex?
Posted By Christian Givens
Computer technology has advanced greatly in the past twenty years. Years ago, if a parent had to move away from their former spouse and child, telephone contact and writing letters was the only way to maintain contact. With the advent of the ...
Continue reading "What Happens if I Have to Move Away, and My Child Remains With My Ex?" »

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February 26, 2010
  When Does Florida Child Support End?
Posted By Stann Givens
Child support in Florida does not always end when you think it will. Florida law requires that, in general, the obligation to pay child support ends when the child reaches the age of eighteen. That is not, however, always the case. Any expert Tampa ...
Continue reading "When Does Florida Child Support End?" »

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February 24, 2010
  Will the Court Temporarily Modify My Timesharing and Child Support Due to My Military Service?
Posted By Christian Givens
In cases where one parent is activated to military service, and timesharing and child support are at issue, the activated parent may worry about parental rights. What will happen to the children during my time away? Does the activation alter my ...
Continue reading "Will the Court Temporarily Modify My Timesharing and Child Support Due to My Military Service?" »

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February 22, 2010
  Parent Coordinators in Florida Divorces
Posted By Stann Givens
It is often difficult for parents to agree on a timesharing schedule for the children in a Florida divorce . After all, it is difficult to reach agreement on many things as you dissolve your relationship. When you consider that nothing is more ...
Continue reading "Parent Coordinators in Florida Divorces" »

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February 19, 2010
  How to Obtain a Temporary Domestic Violence Injunction (Restraining Order)
Posted By Robert Sparks
An Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence is available to persons defined as “family or household members.” This includes a spouse or former spouses; persons related by blood or marriage; persons presently residing as a family or ...
Continue reading "How to Obtain a Temporary Domestic Violence Injunction (Restraining Order)" »

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February 17, 2010
  Can I Have My Alimony and Child Support Payments Taken Directly Out of My Ex-spouse’s Paycheck?
Posted By Stann Givens
In many Florida divorces and paternity cases, either alimony or child support is ordered. But the person who is supposed to pay these doesn’t always do so. What can you do? If you contact the best divorce lawyer in Tampa, you will learn that there ...
Continue reading "Can I Have My Alimony and Child Support Payments Taken Directly Out of My Ex-spouse’s Paycheck?" »

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February 15, 2010
  I Found Out That My Spouse In My Florida Divorce Is Going To Leave The State With Our Property. Is There Anything I Can Do?
Posted By Stann Givens
Sometimes in a Florida divorce , one of the spouses may take off out of state with property of the marriage or may transfer ownership of marital property to someone else. If you suspect that this is about to happen, you should contact an expert ...
Continue reading "I Found Out That My Spouse In My Florida Divorce Is Going To Leave The State With Our Property. Is There Anything I Can Do?" »

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February 12, 2010
  Do I Have to Get a Florida Divorce in Order to Get Alimony and Child Support?
Posted By Stann Givens
If you are separated from your spouse and are not receiving any money from your spouse to help you with living expenses for yourself and your children, you may be wondering how you can possibly force your spouse to provide you funds so that you can ...
Continue reading "Do I Have to Get a Florida Divorce in Order to Get Alimony and Child Support?" »

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February 10, 2010
  Domestic Violence Sanctions
Posted By Robert Sparks
There are several sanctions that can be imposed at the conclusion of a civil domestic violence hearing. Florida Domestic Violence Statutes provide the judge a wide variety of sanctioning power in order to ensure all safety and welfare concerns are ...
Continue reading "Domestic Violence Sanctions" »

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February 08, 2010
  What Happens When My Spouse and I Cannot Agree on a Timesharing Plan?
Posted By Christian Givens
Coming to an agreement with your spouse on a child custody or timesharing plan is often times one of the most challenging aspects of a Florida divorce . Both parties in a divorce case almost always have their children's best interests in mind. ...
Continue reading "What Happens When My Spouse and I Cannot Agree on a Timesharing Plan?" »

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February 03, 2010
  When Can I Request a Child Support Modification?
Posted By Chris Givens
Child support is calculated by a specific mathematical formula, set forth in Florida Statutes Section 61.13. In your initial divorce or paternity case, the court used this calculation to determine the amount of child support owed. The Florida Family ...
Continue reading "When Can I Request a Child Support Modification?" »

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February 01, 2010
  What is a Domestic Violence Injunction Hearing?
Posted By Robert Sparks
A domestic violence hearing, like any other court proceeding, can be a stressful event. The procedures however, are not too different than other court proceedings and have many of the same procedures. Getting an understanding of how the process of ...
Continue reading "What is a Domestic Violence Injunction Hearing?" »

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January 29, 2010
  Dividing a Military Pension in a Florida Divorce
Posted By Stann Givens
Florida law requires that there be language in the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage to comply with the requirements of the military law to divide a military pension. If a spouse has been married to a member of the military for a period of ...
Continue reading "Dividing a Military Pension in a Florida Divorce" »

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January 27, 2010
  How Should I Respond to the Allegations in My Spouse's Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
Posted By Robert Sparks
Going through the divorce process can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. Often times, when one spouse is served with a divorce action and reviews their spouse’s petition for dissolution of marriage, it is hard for them to believe ...
Continue reading "How Should I Respond to the Allegations in My Spouse's Petition for Dissolution of Marriage" »

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January 25, 2010
  The End of Special Equity in Florida Divorces
Posted By Stann Givens
For many years, the law in Florida was that you were entitled to a “special equity” in your previous non-marital property in a divorce even though you placed the property in joint names with your spouse during the marriage. The concept was fairly ...
Continue reading "The End of Special Equity in Florida Divorces" »

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January 22, 2010
  What are Your Custody Options?
Posted By Robert Sparks
One of the biggest fears a parent faces when going through a Florida divorce can be the unknown issue of child custody . These fears however, can be alleviated by addressing the best interests of the minor children and working with an experienced ...
Continue reading "What are Your Custody Options?" »

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January 20, 2010
  How Do You Get Setoffs or Credits Upon Sale of the Marital Home in a Florida Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
When your former marital home sells as a result of a Florida divorce , you may be entitled to a credit or setoff if the circumstances are right. If you have a prenuptial agreement or a postmarital settlement agreement that requires it, the Florida ...
Continue reading "How Do You Get Setoffs or Credits Upon Sale of the Marital Home in a Florida Divorce?" »

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January 18, 2010
  Who Will Make the Decisions Regarding the Children in a Florida Divorce?
Posted By Robert Sparks
When going through a Florida divorce including minor children, parents are faced with three primary issues. These include designating the parental responsibility rights of the parents, designing a time sharing schedule between the parties and the ...
Continue reading "Who Will Make the Decisions Regarding the Children in a Florida Divorce?" »

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January 15, 2010
  What if My Spouse Forges My Signature to Incur a Marital Debt?
Posted By Stann Givens
Sometimes in a marriage, one spouse will incur a debt by forging the signature of the other spouse in order to obtain a credit card, sign a contract or to write a check. The discovery that a spouse has done this could be the “straw that broke the ...
Continue reading "What if My Spouse Forges My Signature to Incur a Marital Debt?" »

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January 13, 2010
  What is a Marital Settlement Agreement in a Florida Divorce?
Posted By Robert Sparks
In a Florida Divorce a marital settlement agreement encompasses all of the terms and/or conditions of the parties divorce settlement. These terms include the equitable distribution of the marital debts and assets, the support obligations of the ...
Continue reading "What is a Marital Settlement Agreement in a Florida Divorce?" »

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January 11, 2010
  What is a Parenting Plan in a Florida Divorce?
Posted By Robert Sparks
Perhaps the most important aspect of a Florida divorce is the creation and implementation of a parenting plan. In a Florida divorce, a parenting plan should encompass all aspects and conditions that involve the parties’ minor children. These areas ...
Continue reading "What is a Parenting Plan in a Florida Divorce?" »

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January 08, 2010
  Dividing Property Before the Florida Divorce is Over
Posted By Stann Givens
Anyone who has been through a Florida divorce will tell you that the process takes way too long to go from start to finish. It is the same in any state. Much of what we do at our Tampa divorce law firm is aimed at fighting the system to get our ...
Continue reading "Dividing Property Before the Florida Divorce is Over" »

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January 04, 2010
  Setting Aside a Prenuptial Agreement in a Florida Divorce
Posted By Stann Givens
Many times people enter into agreements before marriage that outline how property will be divided and what alimony arrangements will take place at the time of a potential divorce. These “antenuptial” or “prenuptial” agreements are often attacked ...
Continue reading "Setting Aside a Prenuptial Agreement in a Florida Divorce" »

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December 02, 2009
  The Effect of the Recession on a Florida Divorce
Posted By Stann Givens
There are many factors which affect a Florida divorce: the length of the marriage, the number of children, the amount of the assets and liabilities, the income of the parties and many more. Since the country’s economy has been in an economic ...
Continue reading "The Effect of the Recession on a Florida Divorce" »

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October 26, 2009
  When Can I Get a Florida Domestic Violence Injunction?
Posted By Stann Givens
Domestic violence is a sad part of the breakup process for far too many couples. The term is defined in the Florida statutes as, “…any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated ...
Continue reading "When Can I Get a Florida Domestic Violence Injunction?" »

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October 22, 2009
  Why Can't I Represent Myself in my Florida Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
The short answer is that, of course, you can. The better answer is that you shouldn’t. Any person can go to court without a lawyer in any legal matter. That applies to everything from small claims court to defense of a first degree murder charge. ...
Continue reading "Why Can't I Represent Myself in my Florida Divorce?" »

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October 19, 2009
  Winning Child Custody in a Florida Divorce or Paternity Case
Posted By Stann Givens
There was a time in history when the mother of a young child had an absolute right to be the full-time, custodial parent of the child. The father would see the child now and then and would pay child support . The mother made all the decisions ...
Continue reading "Winning Child Custody in a Florida Divorce or Paternity Case" »

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October 16, 2009
  Should You Settle Your Florida Divorce Case?
Posted By Stann Givens
You have decided that your marriage is broken and can’t be fixed. You have hired an expert Florida divorce lawyer and provided endless details of information about your financial and personal matters. Your divorce lawyer has collected volumes of ...
Continue reading "Should You Settle Your Florida Divorce Case?" »

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October 15, 2009
  Your Florida Divorce Lawyer Should Have an Answering Service so You Get 24 Hour Service
Posted By Stann Givens
When you interview a Florida divorce lawyer with an eye toward retaining the lawyer to help with your divorce, you should ask questions about the availability of that lawyer. At the most, people sometimes ask how busy a schedule the lawyer currently ...
Continue reading "Your Florida Divorce Lawyer Should Have an Answering Service so You Get 24 Hour Service" »

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October 14, 2009
  Who Gets the College Fund in a Florida Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
In many Florida divorces, part of the property division that occurs involves college funds which have been set aside for the benefit of the children. Unless these funds are owned by one spouse alone as a result of money from before the marriage or ...
Continue reading "Who Gets the College Fund in a Florida Divorce?" »

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October 13, 2009
  Do I Need to Stay in the Home During My Florida Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
If you have begun your Florida divorce or are even just thinking about divorce, you may have heard that it is a bad idea to leave the home. Often clients appear in the offices of expert Florida divorce lawyers and tell them that their friends have ...
Continue reading "Do I Need to Stay in the Home During My Florida Divorce?" »

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October 06, 2009
  Do I Lose My Health Insurance in a Florida Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
People going through a Florida divorce frequently ask Florida divorce lawyers if they will lose their health insurance if they get divorced. Usually this situation involves the person who is reliant on the other spouse for health insurance. ...
Continue reading "Do I Lose My Health Insurance in a Florida Divorce?" »

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October 05, 2009
  Oh No! My Spouse's Florida Divorce Lawyer Wants to Take My Deposition!
Posted By Stann Givens
Your expert Tampa divorce lawyer tells you that your spouse’s attorney wants to take your deposition. What do you need to know before that happens? A deposition is just a session where the other lawyer asks you questions well ahead of the scheduled ...
Continue reading "Oh No! My Spouse's Florida Divorce Lawyer Wants to Take My Deposition!" »

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September 19, 2009
  There Are Tax Consequences to Alimony, But Not to Child Support
Posted By Stann Givens
In your Florida divorce , one spouse may receive alimony or child support from the other. When that happens, you need to be aware of the tax consequences. Wouldn’t it be great if we all got to take home all of the money we earn at work? Of course we ...
Continue reading "There Are Tax Consequences to Alimony, But Not to Child Support" »

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September 18, 2009
  Capital Gains Taxes in a Florida Divorce
Posted By Stann Givens
Benjamin Franklin said, “The only two sure things are death and taxes.” When you are going through a divorce in Florida, you must remember that there are tax consequences to certain parts of it. Suppose that you bought some rental property with your ...
Continue reading "Capital Gains Taxes in a Florida Divorce" »

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September 17, 2009
  How Florida Divorce Lawyers Save Their Clients Money by Using Paralegals
Posted By Stann Givens
Florida divorce lawyers typically charge by the hour for what they do. In order to save their clients money, they make use of paralegals to perform some tasks. A paralegal is someone who has gone to school to receive training in assisting lawyers ...
Continue reading "How Florida Divorce Lawyers Save Their Clients Money by Using Paralegals" »

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September 16, 2009
  Can I Keep My Foreign Citizen Spouse From Taking Our Child Out of the Country in My Florida Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
Suppose your spouse is a citizen of a foreign country and your marriage is not going well. Your child has a US passport and you fear that your spouse will sneak out of the country with the child. Your Florida child custody lawyer can advise you how ...
Continue reading "Can I Keep My Foreign Citizen Spouse From Taking Our Child Out of the Country in My Florida Divorce?" »

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September 15, 2009
  Mental Health Experts In Child Custody Cases
Posted By Stann Givens
There is nothing more important than the welfare of your children. When you are headed for a breakup of your relationship with the children’s other parent, whether it be a divorce or a paternity situation, there are some steps you can take to ...
Continue reading "Mental Health Experts In Child Custody Cases" »

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September 10, 2009
  Florida Divorce Alternatives
Posted By Stann Givens
For many years, the only way to get your marriage dissolved was to have both spouses hire expert Florida divorce lawyers and battle it out tooth and nail. In these more modern times, things have gotten a lot more creative and a lot more helpful to ...
Continue reading "Florida Divorce Alternatives" »

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August 20, 2009
  Don't Pay Non-Refundable Retainer Fees in Your Florida Divorce
Posted By Stann Givens
When you have your first conversation with your expert Tampa Bay divorce lawyer , the subject of paying for the services will, and should, come up. A number of lawyers charge non-refundable fees as a requirement for retaining them to represent you. ...
Continue reading "Don't Pay Non-Refundable Retainer Fees in Your Florida Divorce" »

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August 20, 2009
  Do I Need an Accountant to Help My Florida Divorce Lawyer?
Posted By Stann Givens
Quite often expert accountants are used by Florida divorce lawyers to assist in the representation of their clients who are going through the family law process. They are certainly not needed in every case, though. If you have a marriage where there ...
Continue reading "Do I Need an Accountant to Help My Florida Divorce Lawyer?" »

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August 20, 2009
  What To Ask At The Initial Consultation With Your Florida Family Law Attorney
Posted By Stann Givens
You have an appointment with the best family law attorney in Tampa Bay . How do you make the most of your limited time in the consultation? Hopefully, you have prepared a written list of assets, debts, income and expenses for both you and your ...
Continue reading "What To Ask At The Initial Consultation With Your Florida Family Law Attorney" »

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August 20, 2009
  How Do I Prepare For The Initial Consultation With A Florida Divorce Lawyer?
Posted By Stann Givens
Before you see your divorce lawyer for the first time, there are some things that you can commit to writing that will help in the initial consultation. You should start with a list of all marital and non-marital assets, debts and income for both you ...
Continue reading "How Do I Prepare For The Initial Consultation With A Florida Divorce Lawyer?" »

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August 14, 2009
  When I Get Divorced, Do I Get To Keep The Gifts?
Posted By Stann Givens
When you go through a Florida divorce, what happens to the gifts that you received before and during the marriage? As we have talked about in previous blogs, anything you owned before the marriage, whether from a gift or otherwise, is your ...
Continue reading "When I Get Divorced, Do I Get To Keep The Gifts?" »

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August 14, 2009
  How Is Child Support Calculated In A Florida?
Posted By Stann Givens
The Florida legislature decided that the best way to determine how much child support a parent should pay is to have a table within the child support statute where anyone could look in the proper column and see the amount of child support that is to ...
Continue reading "How Is Child Support Calculated In A Florida?" »

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August 14, 2009
  What is a Collaborative Divorce?
Posted By Stann Givens
You are heading for divorce, but would like to work things out with your spouse so that you don't have to go through the War of the Roses (a movie that was funny and scary at the same time). You hope that, despite your differences, you will be able ...
Continue reading "What is a Collaborative Divorce?" »

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August 14, 2009
  Dividing Pensions In A Divorce
Posted By Stann Givens
Not long before I started practicing law, the divorce laws did not allow the courts to divide a pension in a divorce. All of the other property got divided, but the spouse who had been working more, and had a larger pension, got to keep it all. ...
Continue reading "Dividing Pensions In A Divorce" »

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