In Florida family law cases, people who are in the middle of a dispute over how much alimony will be paid might think that it is a simple matter of the court deciding what would be a fair resolution, determining how long it will last and issuing the order. However, it is more complicated than that and there are myriad factors that are involved not just in the amount but the duration as well. The court can assess the case on its own merits, look at how long the couple was married, gauge the marital lifestyle, calculate the income and income potential of both sides and make its determination. In ..read more

In Fort Myers, Florida, the determination of child support in high-net-worth cases can vary from traditional divorces. Unlike standard calculations, these high-net-worth cases require a deeper understanding of financial complexities and the children’s needs to ensure adequate support. Key factors Florida’s child support guidelines, while equitable, may not fully address the financial realities of high-net-worth couples. In such cases, the court considers factors like the parents’ income, the children’s needs and the lifestyle they would have enjoyed if the family remained intact. Judicial disc ..read more

It is sometimes said that as one’s net worth increases, so too do one’s expenses. People who have become wealthy often observe that expenses that once seemed optional — club memberships, household employees and so on — now seem mandatory. And, yes, much of the public won’t have any sympathy when hearing these complaints. We should all be so lucky as to have problems such as these. Still, newfound wealth can have a lot of unforeseen consequences. A case decided last year in the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District, centered on the question of how child support obligations change ..read more

Real estate can carry a lot of value, making up a significant portion of your marital estate. When you’re in the midst of divorce, then, figuring out what to do with these properties can be key to your future and your financial success. But what’s the best way to go about addressing the family home and any vacation properties you own? Let’s take a closer look. Before you start divvying up real estate in your divorce, you need to take a few considerations into account. This includes: The true value of each piece of property, which will require you to have appraisals completed that are fair and ..read more

Getting divorced later in life is tough. It can be hard to untangle your life from someone that you once loved and that you were connected to for years or decades. But dealing with the financial ramifications of gray divorce can be even more difficult. And you need to make sure you get your fair share of the martial estate, otherwise you’ll be left at a financial disadvantage without much time to rebuild your wealth. That said, you’ll want to be sure to avoid costly mistakes in your gray divorce. Avoid these mistakes in a gray divorce There are a lot of missteps that can be made in a gray divo ..read more

Going through a divorce is tough, especially when there are children involved. In recent years, many couples have made the decision to co-parent their kids, essentially raising them together even though they are divorced and no longer live together. Research shows that co-parenting is an excellent option for children. The divorce does not affect them as much; it is less of a shock to their system, and they feel loved and supported by their parents. However, co-parenting does not come without its challenges. While it depends on the couple, because some couples are more laid-back and others are ..read more

During your marriage, you and your spouse may have invested in several expensive art pieces and other collectibles. If you are getting a divorce, it can be difficult to determine who should keep which items. Art pieces can be highly valued for emotional reasons, as well as financial ones. In an equitable distribution state like Florida, these valuable assets are distributed “fairly and equitably” between divorcing spouses. Before the court can decide how to divide up the artwork in a divorce, it must first determine the value of each piece of art. Determining the monetary value of art The ..read more

Couples in Florida who are getting ready to go through a divorce have probably heard the term “equitable distribution” come up in their research about the legal process. At the same time, the word “fair” may arise quite commonly as well. So, what do you need to know about equitable distribution and, perhaps more importantly, how do you determine what is fair? Equitable distribution basics Equitable distribution is a legal term that applies in the issue of property and debt division in a divorce. In essence, the term means that property and debt will be split up between the divorcing couple in ..read more

Premarital agreements – also referred to as prenuptial agreements or “prenups” – are commonly used in many Florida marriages. Often, this is due to one or both parties having substantial assets, owning a business, being in line to inherit a major sum or to protect themselves in the event of divorce. Frequently, people are unhappy with the terms of the premarital agreement when the couple moves forward with a divorce proceeding. That could be from either perspective – the person who had the bulk of the assets entering the marriage or the one who had less. Although most of these agreements are u ..read more

When parents are embroiled in a child custody dispute in Florida family law courts, they may have different goals in mind for how the situation should be resolved. But, family law judges in Florida have only one goal in mind in these legal circumstances: achieving a standard known as the “best interests of the child.” What those interests are and how they are protected are the primary concerns for judges, and it can be difficult to determine how these goals are achieved. Determining best interests To start, the court will usually weigh some common factors that apply to any given case, such as ..read more