Preventing Divorce: Do’s and Don’ts

March 8, 2022

The key to avoiding divorce is to realize that your relationship will always need to be worked on. People believe that the day they exchanged ‘I do’s,’ the deal was done. But that’s not true: The relationship is still vulnerable. You can’t take your spouse for granted. Once you win them over, you have to keep winning them over every day. The hard work isn’t over when you get hitched. It’s just beginning.

So we’ve laid out an exhaustive list of steps you can take to help you avoid getting a divorce. These won’t work if you think it will happen overnight. Rekindling the spark you and your spouse once had will take some work, but let us tell you, it is worth it.

father holding a baby in front of a window at sunset

How Florida Court Orders Affect Family Law in Tampa

January 12, 2022

Ever since the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, there’s been a reasonable amount of confusion about the Florida court process. We’re here to provide clarity on how Hillsborough County court proceedings are affected by Florida’s COVID-19 orders and advisories.

How Grandparents Can Get Custody of Grandchild in Florida

November 2, 2021

Everything You Need to Know about Grandparent Rights in Tampa

The first thing any grandparent needs to do when they want to file for custody of their grandchildren is to hire a family attorney. The legal rights for grandparents can be confusing, and getting custody or visitation rights with your grandchildren requires extensive knowledge of Florida family law. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about navigating grandparent guardianship in Florida.

How to Get Temporary Custody of a Grandchild

Florida awards grandparents custodial rights in the form of temporary custody when it has been determined that the parents are unable to adequately provide for their children. This is a short-term solution until the parents are able to resume their role as the primary caretaker. Grandparents will be provided legal documents to prove they are able to make decisions regarding the child’s health and wellness during this time.

How COVID-19 Affects Family Law Proceedings in Florida

May 1, 2020

Navigating Florida Family Law During COVID-19

Florida Courts are committed to operating at the fullest extent while still following public safety guidelines. The public has a constitutional right to the courts. According to the most recent COVID-19 order from the Florida Supreme Court, judges are required to do everything they can to allow a case to carry on with the use of technology.

Judges have also continued reviewing non-emergency cases to the extent possible depending on the amount of evidence and number of witnesses.

We’re Here for you through COVID-19

March 23, 2020

Make a Virtual Appointment with LaFrance Family Law

In the wake of the current medical and economic hardship our community is facing, we at LaFrance Family Law want to assure all current and future clients that we are dedicated to making all adjustments necessary to continue moving forward. That means that effective immediately, we will be transitioning to an online meeting format for the foreseeable future.

We are still accepting new clients, and we will make all necessary arrangements to continue helping current clients.

Does Domestic Violence Increase During the Holidays?

December 18, 2019

Understanding how the Holidays Influence Abuse

There is a misconception that domestic violence rates spike during the holiday season – generally from Thanksgiving through the New Year. A rise in stress levels, combined with family spending so much time together, often creates this idea that physical violence rates increase. However, the reality seems to paint a very different picture.

What to do if your Ex Won’t Follow Custody Plan over the Holidays

November 20, 2019

6 Steps to Take when Your Ex won’t Obey Child Custody Rules over the Holidays

The holidays can be an emotional time for any family, but divorce tends to make things particularly difficult. Even if you and your ex ended on good terms, it’s not uncommon for the holiday season to cause tension where there normally isn’t any.

Otherwise reasonable parents often stray from their agreed upon parenting plans this time of year so they can get more time with their children. It is not okay, but it happens more often than people might expect. If you find that your ex is being unfair with time sharing over the holidays, follow this step-by-step guide on how to handle the situation.

Do You Really Need to Pay Alimony in Florida?

October 8, 2019

Why do I need to pay alimony?

The main reason someone will need to pay alimony, or spousal support as it’s now often called, is to make sure their spouse will be able to maintain a reasonable standard of living after divorce. For example, if one spouse is the primary source of income in the relationship, that person’s financial capabilities will skyrocket after divorce, and the other person’s will plummet.

Unlike other divorce laws, determining alimony in Florida varies from one situation to the next. While there are some guidelines to help establish how much someone might owe, there are no concrete rules judges need to follow to come up with an exact dollar amount.

Emergency Child Custody Hearings in Florida

August 13, 2019

How to get Emergency Custody of a Child in Florida

Navigating the Florida legal system can be scary, especially when you’re dealing with a family emergency. The most common form of emergency family court hearing in Florida is over the custody of a child. We’ve laid out a simple guide that will help you navigate the complicated legal process required for acquiring custody of a child in Florida.

According to Florida law, no child custody agreement is ever set in stone. Whether you have majority time-sharing (sole custody) or equal time-sharing (joint custody), custody agreements can always be changed in court. Sometimes, things aren’t as easy as a simple agreement to change the amount of time each parent has with the child. When the safety of the child becomes an issue, an emergency motion to modify child custody is likely the smartest option.

Why Establishing Paternity Matters

July 30, 2019

Establishing Paternity in Florida

According to the CDC, about 40% of children are born to unmarried women. In Florida, the mother of a child born outside of marriage is the natural guardian with sole legal rights in respect to the child unless you prove paternity.

The definition of paternity according to Merriam-Webster is the “quality or state of being a father.” That can be pretty ambiguous, and what constitutes paternity varies from state to state. In Florida, legal fatherhood is not necessarily the same as biological fatherhood. If a child is born in wedlock, that child is automatically considered the child of the man the mother is married to. Unless the biological father’s paternity is established, he has no rights or obligations to the child.

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