Out of Date Paternity Law Gets New Ruling

July 5, 2018

New Laws for Biological Fathers in Florida

In a big step forward for Florida paternity cases, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that biological fathers should be allowed contact with children born to a woman married to someone else.

In the past, “illegitimate children” were taboo and reliable paternity tests were years away so it was decided that the woman’s husband should be declared the legal father and the biological father blocked from their children’s life. Even when the biological father tried to stay involved, through child support and a general concern for the child’s well being, did not mean they had any rights to that child.

Warning Signs of Domestic Violence

June 20, 2018

How to Know if You’re in an Abusive Relationship

Domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling behaviors, violence, or threats of violence, that one person uses to establish power over an intimate partner or family member in order to control that person’s actions and activities.

Abusive relationships usually don’t start out that way, often violent and abusive behavior develops over time. Knowing the warning signs of an abusive relationship can help you identify and protect yourself from a potentially dangerous relationship.

4 Reasons to Hire a Family Law Attorney

May 10, 2018

Why You Need to Hire an Attorney in Florida

It is not unusual for those facing an impending divorce or custody dispute to decide not to hire an attorney. Common reasons people chose not to hire a lawyer include trying to save money, collaborative separation or the assumption they can handle it themselves (often with the help of online resources).

Unfortunately, while this thought process may make sense at the time, there are serious risks when you decide to proceed with divorce or custody proceedings without an attorney.

10 Factors That May Determine Your Child Custody Rights

April 5, 2018

How to get Child Custody in Florida

The state of Florida no longer assigns primary or secondary custody; instead, time is usually split 50/50. If the parents cannot agree or the courts find that equal time sharing is not in the child’s best interest, one parent may be granted custody for the majority of the time.

How is Custody Determined?

During a divorce, parents will need to come to an agreement regarding time sharing and decision making. This is called a parenting plan and must still be submitted in writing for official approval from the court.

Adultery and Divorce

March 30, 2018

Does Infidelity Effect Divorce in Florida?

Florida is considered a “no-fault” divorce state, which means that to end a marriage, the court does not require a full disclosure of why you are getting a divorce. This also means that adultery does not affect most decisions regarding divorce. “No-fault” allows either party to ask the court for a divorce based only on the incompatibility between the couple.

Adultery is defined as voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and another who is not their spouse. In Florida, adultery is considered a misdemeanor of the second according to the Florida Statute 798.01. A couple is still considered married until they are pronounced divorced by the court. Since Florida is a “no fault” divorce state, parties will not have to prove that adultery is evident. They will only have to tell the court that they are no longer compatible.

2018 Calendar of Needs

March 13, 2018

There are ways that you can help the Voices for Children (VFC) and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) throughout the year. You can donate items directly to the children that we serve with the help of the Calendar of Needs. Simply host a collection throughout the month and then drop off items to the VFC office between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the last work day of the month (March’s drop off day will be Friday, March 30th). The donations will be available at the GAL office for the kids that need them.

Thank you for your generosity!

How Pet Custody in Divorce Works

February 12, 2018

Pet Custody in Florida

At LaFrance Law we love our family dog, Roxy, and know how important pets are to their owners. Pets have started to play a larger role in the everyday lives of people and families. You may be wondering what will happen to your pets if you are getting a divorce. In the past, Florida courts would assist in determining a fair solution regarding the custody of pets but the Bennett v. Bennett case in the mid-1990s changed the way such matters were handled.

This case revolved around the Bennett’s family dog, Roddy, in which each spouse wanted custody. The judge awarded custody to the husband and gave the wife visitation rights for every other month. The Bennetts’ filed motions seeking different modifications to the custody and visitation. When the case reached the Florida appellate court, it was decided that the courts were overwhelmed with custody and visitation cases for children and that they could not also undertake animal custody.

How to Move on After Divorce

January 12, 2018

What to do After Divorce

Moving on after a divorce can be difficult when transitioning to the single life. It helps to avoid overthinking about what happened in the past and be willing to move forward in all aspects of your life. Taking care of yourself from the inside out will allow you to live your best life with new changes developing.

We’ve compiled a list of suggestions to help you move on after divorce.

Setting Personal & Relationship Goals in 2018

January 2, 2018

Personal and Relationship New Years Resolutions

January not only kicks off the new year but it’s also the month that troubled couples begin to seriously debate getting a divorce. Issues that were ignored or pushed to the side during the holidays resurface and can often be the final straw for a relationship teetering on the brink of divorce.

Whether you’re debating moving forward with divorce proceedings or are currently in the middle of a divorce, creating personal goals provide you with something to strive for throughout the year and following a self care plan can not only improve your own situation, but also current and future relationships.

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