Category: Divorce and Family Law

Florida Divorce FAQ

Florida Divorce FAQ

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Florida Divorce FAQ

Although we have nearly one hundred legal articles here on our Florida Family Law Blog that answer many Florida divorce FAQ, the field of family law is massive. Clients have numerous questions about how divorce works in Florida. In order to provide some measure of guidance to family law clients, we have compiled a list of five Florida divorce FAQ that we believe cover a lot of ground and answer a lot of your potential questions. Here are our five Florida divorce FAQ:

  1. Do I have to go to court to get a divorce in Florida?
  • You usually do not have to go to court to obtain a divorce in Florida, but some courts require a final hearing for 5-15 minutes for basic testimony to establish jurisdiction.
  • You may hire an attorney to handle your divorce/dissolution of marriage as an uncontested case.
  • Attorney Jacobs can prepare all of the divorce paperwork for you to save you time, money, and all of the fighting that often comes with a divorce.
  1. What is a no-fault divorce?
  • A no fault divorce in Florida means that neither party has to prove the other party is at fault.
  • The standard for divorce in Florida is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
  • Marital infidelity does not need to be proven.
  1. What are the requirements for divorce in Florida?
  • The requirements for divorce in Florida are that one party must have lived within the jurisdictional/geographic limits of the State for at least 6 months prior to filing for divorce.
  • Furthermore, the marriage must be irretrievably broken
  • We can state in our Florida divorce FAQ that irretrievably broken in Florida is a low threshold standard that is rarely disproven or disputed.

Florida Divorce

  1. How does the court determine if I am a Florida resident?
  • Generally speaking (there is not definitive/bright line answer for every court that we can definitely state in our Florida divorce FAQ), if you are an individual that has lived in Florida for at least 6 months, but have been temporarily sent to another state for work, or have taken a vacation sabbatical for a short period of time, the court will likely decide you maintain a Florida residency for family law jurisdictional purposes.
  • Alternatively, if you have relocated your residence to another state, signed a lease to stay in Texas or North Carolina (for example), taken a job in another state, and no long have a mailing address or license in Florida, it is likely the court will deny you standing to sue in our State.
  1. How long does a divorce take in Florida?
  • The length it takes to get a divorce in Florida depends on the degree of litigation (number and extent of issues being litigated/contested) in your case.
  • The Jacobs Law Firm offers uncontested divorce legal services whereby the parties agree on all of the issues before the court before trial, and a final order can be issued effectively ending the case at that time.
  • An uncontested divorce generally requires 1-3 months of time, depending on the rapidity of the agreements reached and the availability of the judge’s time to hear the facts of your case.
  • However, if the case is contested, and disagreements remain as to custody, child support, timesharing, alimony, and how to divide marital assets and liabilities, some cases take more than a year, while at a minimum, 4-6 months of time may be required for the parties to reach a resolution.
  • You may expect that preparing a majority of your initial divorce documents may require approximately 1-3 weeks depending on the extent of your legal issues under consideration.

Jonathan Jacobs is a Lake County Florida Divorce Lawyer, and a Divorce Attorney in Orlando Florida who enjoys working with families to resolve their legal issues. Call today for a consultation to understand the divorce process beyond our Florida Divorce FAQ, and find out your rights as a litigant.

Time sharing and child support in Florida

Timesharing and Child Support in Florida

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One of the primary questions clients ask is how do time sharing and child support in Florida go together? Call 407-335-8113 today to speak with Attorney Jacobs about your parental rights and child support. Does time sharing affect child support in Florida? This is a great question, and an astute client asks it with good reason. Many family law mediators lecture parents that time sharing and child support are separate issues and should be addressed distinctly and separately. This is easy for the mediator to say because they are not paying child support based on the number of overnights in a timesharing agreement, you the litigant or client are. Splitting the issues as mutually exclusive is noble in concept, but foolhardy and impractical in real practice. Honestly, facts are facts, child support is largely based on the number of overnights the parties are allocated/awarded in the timesharing agreement. Why then should any litigant ignore this fact and give up valuable time with their child(ren) and at great financial cost? Jonathan Jacobs is a child custody and child support attorney in Orlando FL. Dial 407-335-8113 to speak with us about your family matters.

How Are Time sharing and child support in Florida Connected?

Child custody and child support in Florida are inextricably linked and should be considered as one issue. If a dad or a mom fights for more time with their child(ren) and that comes with a reduction in support being paid to the other side, that is not some self-serving motivation, it means that that parent will keep more money to spend on their child(ren) when they have time sharing with them. This is why pushing litigants to negotiate time sharing first, and then figure out the child support obligation is short-sighted and does not serve the client or litigant. In fact, it operates against their interest, and frankly, can operate against the interest of their kid(s).

Educating Clients about Time sharing and child support in Florida

The best approach is to educate clients, or litigants, whether you are their attorney, or mediator, so that they can understand how child custody and child support in Florida are connected and operate based on one another. Once armed with all of the facts and some knowledge of the law, family law litigants can render the best decisions for themselves and their children. Family law cases are about whole families, not just lawyers, not only mediators, but mostly, families and their best interests as an entirety. I would encourage clients to continue asking brilliant questions that address issues such as time sharing and child support in Florida that impact their families and their financial and emotional well-being. Call 407–335-8113 today.

Right Of First Refusal In Florida Child Custody Cases

Right Of First Refusal In Florida Child Custody Cases

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First, let’s ask and answer the question on everyone’s mind, what is a right of first refusal in Florida child custody cases? A first right of refusal custody is an optional paragraph/clause in a Florida parenting plan. A right of first refusal custody clause in a parenting plan will state that the parent who currently has timesharing (suppose it is dad’s weekend, or Mom’s school night with the child) shall contact the other parent to ask if the other parent would like to care for their child at that time, usually for 4 or 6 hours or for an overnight. In some cases, a right of first refusal will apply if the timesharing parent (parent currently with the Child) will be away for more than four or six hours during which they cannot supervise their child. If you have timesharing and child custody questions, call Jacobs Law Firm for a consultation at 407-335-8113. A first right of refusal can be vital to your child custody.

A Florida parenting plan governs as a backdrop/fallback/default if the parents have good communication and a positive relationship. Parents are free to govern their own conduct on their own terms (generally best to do so in writing). A parenting plan is an ironclad schedule that applies daily for parents that argue, fail to communicate, and cannot agree on other terms. Coparenting is important for your children.

Right of First Refusal in Florida Child Custody Cases

For example, a right of first refusal in Florida child custody cases would apply if Mother, who is an on-call doctor, is with the kids when she is called into work. She is asked to come to the hospital overnight to treat patients on an emergency basis. The right of first refusal provision requires Dr. Mom to call Dad to ask if he can or wants to take care of the kids overnight because she has to go to work unexpectedly. Dad has the right to first refusal to take the kids for the night, though he is not obligated to accept the extra timesharing. The right of first refusal will operate to allow him that option, opportunity, and choice. Just like a right of first refusal is optional in a Florida parenting plan, it is optional for the non-timesharing parent to exercise the right when it may apply/occur. This option is a security blanket for the child to have proper supervision.

Here is another hypothetical example: Father has his son Monday-Friday, but this week on Thursday, for a business conference, he has to travel to Texas for work. Father must call, text, and/or e-mail Mother to ask if she wants to have timesharing with their son on Thursday. If the answer is no, Dad can of course find suitable child care (unless a mutual agreement is necessary according to the Parenting Plan), or even have grandma or grandpa step in for the night. Most parenting plans are different because they accommodate couples and their families with unique circumstances.

Right Of First Refusal Custody Clause

A Right Of First Refusal Custody Clause

A right of first refusal custody clause may state something similar to the following:

“Each party must offer the other parent/party the opportunity to care for the Child before using a different child care provider for any overnight period. The party exercising the right of first refusal shall be responsible for transportation beginning and ending their time with their Child.”

As mentioned above, a right of first refusal custody clause may specify the amount of time the timesharing gap in time, such as four hours, overnight, or otherwise, so the parents may govern their conduct appropriately. Communicate openly and forthrightly. It is common that parents set 4 or 6 hours as the time for the right of refusal.

What if I Refuse a Right of First Refusal?

Buyer beware, caveat emptor. If you refuse a right of first refusal multiple times, would you be surprised to learn that your co-parent no longer contacts you when your Child needs overnight supervision during their timesharing? Establish a pattern of trust and reliability if you want this provision to work in your regular or long-distance parenting plan.

Jonathan Jacobs is an affordable child custody attorney divorce and family law attorney in Orlando, Winter Park, Clermont, Kissimmee, Davenport, Montverde, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs, Tavares, Bushnell, Melbourne, Viera, and all throughout Central Florida. Call the Jacobs Law Firm for a consultation at 407-335-8113 and learn about parenting plans in Florida divorce and paternity cases.

Montverde Family Law Attorney

Montverde Family Law Attorney

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Montverde Family Law Attorney Jonathan Jacobs helps clients resolve their most challenging divorce and family law matters. The Jacobs Law Firm, PLLC is located in both Winter Park and Clermont (by appointment) to assist their clients throughout Lake, Osceola, Seminole, and Orange County. How can a divorce and family lawyer help you and your loved ones? Call 407-335-8113 for a consultation today.

Many clients seek out help with divorce (dissolution of marriage) and paternity (establishment of parental roles and responsibilities for those who are unmarried) legal matters. However, being a family law attorney/divorce attorney is not an exclusive title. Many family law attorneys also help clients with guardianship petitions, wills and trusts (probate issues), and many other legal quagmires that may come your way. We also offer a variety of document preparation services including prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and powers of attorney. Montverde Family Law Attorney Jonathan Jacobs loves working with clients from all walks of life.

We Live in Montverde, Do You Make “House calls?”

Yes, the Jacobs Law Firm does offer house calls by appointment. More frequently, house calls are for clients that need estate planning. Nevertheless, if they are delicate family law issues that you would feel most comfortable discussing in private and in a familiar setting, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Montverde Florida is primarily a residential area, and there are fewer professional offices as a result. This is another reason you may wish to have a house visit for a legal consultation. We also offer Saturday appointments to accommodate clients with busy work schedules.

Montverde Family Law Attorney Jonathan Jacobs

The two best ways to reach the Jacobs Law Firm for your family law needs, are by phone (or text) and by e-mail. If you would like to speak with a Montverde Family Law Attorney about your legal issues, please call us at any time, or e-mail us. If you provide a narrative of your legal needs, we will be better prepared to engage with you in a detailed conversation about how we may help you.

Jonathan Jacobs is a divorce and family law attorney.

What Documents Should I Bring to a Florida Child Support Hearing

What Documents Should I Bring to a Florida Child Support Hearing

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What Documents Should I Bring to a Florida Child Support Hearing?

Have you been summoned to court for a Florida Child Support Hearing? Have you asked yourself and others the following question, “What Documents Should I Bring to a Florida Child Support Hearing?” Many respondents (a respondent is the party the Department of Revenue has summoned to court on behalf of the State of Florida, the petitioner, and the minor child(ren)) are unaware of what documents to bring to the child support hearing.

Sometimes, in advance of a Florida Child Support Hearing, the petitioner and/or the Department of Revenue will make a request for production of documents. This request will clearly state the documents you shall/must bring to the hearing. In the absence of such a request, many respondents ask the above question, “What Documents Should I Bring to a Florida Child Support Hearing?” As a matter of practicality, it is recommended you bring a copy of your Financial Affidavit (short form for under $50,000 in income and long form for incomes greater than $50,000), your six mots recent pay stubs, your last 3 years of tax returns, and any other documents that may provide the DOR with your true and accurate income. If you have recently been terminated from your employment, bring a notice of termination. If you have daycare expenses and medical expenses for your child(ren) and medical expenses for yourself, furnish those records to the hearing officer or the DOR attorney if you wish to have those records considered in the child support calculations. Also bring records of any child support payments you have already made to the petitioner, as you will likely be credited for those payments. This is a non-exhaustive list of the documents you should consider bringing to a Florida Child Support Hearing.

Florida Child Support Hearing

Florida Child Support Hearing

Consider two hypothetical child support hearing scenarios. In hypothetical scenario 1, the petitioner fails to appear before the court for his/her own child support hearing. This may cause the respondent to avoid a full hearing and obtain a more favorable child support payment plan (as long as they are truthful and forthright with the court). It is possible that fewer documents will be required. However, litigants should prepare for hypothetical scenario 2, as it is always best to be prepared for court proceedings to the fullest extent possible. In hypothetical scenario 2, both petitioner and respondent appear before the hearing officer, and due to their disputed facts, the parties go to a Florida child support hearing. In this case, having originally asked “What Documents Should I Bring to a Florida Child Support Hearing,” and planned to the fullest extent, an evidentiary hearing should include all relevant documents to ensure fairness and accuracy in the child support calculations (arrearages, and future payments).

Alternatively, to obtain  some guidance, however limited, litigants may call the Clerk of the Family Law Court in your jurisdiction to ask questions, though because they are not acting in the capacity of an attorney, they are likely unable to provide you with legal advice. The Jacobs Law Firm generally practices in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Lake County(ies) and is happy to provide you with guidance in the role of a consultant, or with legal help should you choose to hire a child support attorney to attend the child support hearing Florida on your behalf as your trusted legal advocate.

Florida Standard Timesharing Plan

Florida Timesharing Plan

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Under the Florida Timesharing Plan, in accordance with Title IV-D, the parties/parents may agree to a form of default time sharing arrangement where they mutually agree on standard visitation rights. Title IV-D cases are those that involve the Florida Department of Revenue as a named party because the minor child may be receiving financial assistance. Fla. Dep’t of Revenue v. James, 159 So. 3d 973, 974 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2015)(“We find that all child support cases that are administered by the Department of Revenue are considered Title IV–D cases….”); Dep’t of Revenue ex rel. v. Satchell, 949 So.2d 1116, 1117 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007). Call the Jacobs Law Firm today at 407-335-8113 to speak with a child custody and child support attorney today.

Generally speaking, a Timesharing Plan in Florida provides that the respondent will enjoy visitation rights every other weekend (on even numbered weeks) from approximately six o’clock on Friday evening until approximately six o’clock on Sunday night. Alternatively, the parents may agree to what some in our profession refer to as the “stretch weekend” in which the respondent may have the child(ren) until Monday morning when the kid(s) return to school. This is a sort of establishment of a routine both for parents and for the kids. The Florida Standard Time sharing Plan may also include the respondent enjoying one evening per week either on a set dinner-time schedule, or from school release until 8:00 at night. Jonathan Jacobs is an Orlando Child Support and Orlando Child Custody Attorney.

Standard Timesharing Plan in Florida Accounts for Major Holidays

By default, the Florida Standard Timesharing Plan accounts for major/nationally recognized holidays. For example, Thanksgiving break may see the division of custody between parents/families on an odd or even-numbered years schedule. Due to careful structuring and planning, the architects (Florida Legislature) of the Standard Timesharing Plan in Florida also map out holiday/winter break. Winter break is essentially divided in half between the parents so that the child(ren) may spend holiday time with both parents/families. Spring break and summer vacation are similarly plotted out, and for more details, you may contact us for a complete picture of what the Title IV-D parenting plan looks like and how it functions for families (generally).

Title IV-D Order and Attorney’s Fees

A Florida Timesharing Plan becomes part of an Order that includes an award of child support based on the time sharing schedule (the number of overnights, medical expenses, etc. are factored in), and is modifiable only by petitioning the court for a change.

Attorney’s Fees, pursuant to Section 61.16(1), Florida Statutes (2011), limits attorney’s fees available in Title IV–D cases. The Statute provides that: “In Title IV–D cases, attorney’s fees … shall be assessed only against the nonprevailing obligor after the court makes a determination of the nonprevailing obligor’s ability to pay such costs and fees….” Fla. Dep’t of Revenue v. James, 159 So. 3d 973, 974 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015).

If you would like to discuss your rights as a parent, please call the Jacobs Law Firm PLLC offices Orlando and Clermont at 407-335-8113. We want to hear from you.

Family Law Help in Orlando

Family Law Help in Orlando

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Did you know that when you need family law help in Orlando, you may call the Jacobs Law Firm Orlando for many of your legal needs? The Jacobs Law Firm provides family law help in many areas of law. First and foremost, we offer help with family law legal needs such as alimony, child support, parenting and timesharing plans, hearings, mediation and trials. Sometimes, this includes recommending first-class mediators, or simply preparing documents to assist our clients in obtaining the relief they are seeking. Additionally, in lieu of generating expensive litigation, we offer referrals to parenting coordinators, mental health professions, and other field-specialists when needed. Call 407-335-8113 to speak with a divorce attorney in Orlando today.

Jacobs Law Firm Orlando

Jacobs Law Firm Orlando’s family law legal services includes drafting wills and trusts for our clients, creating power of attorney documents, and helping people find the legal resources they need. We care about our clients and their needs, which is why we listen to your troubles and seek to help  find the best solutions possible. Our family law and divorce legal services are affordable, and we keep clients apprised of the particulars of their case every time an update is available. It is important to us that our clients understand how the legal process works.

Family Law Help in Orlando

Family law help in Orlando is just that, helping families when they need to hire an attorney that has their best interests in mind. There are many ways to go about resolving family law problems, and this means we are happy to propose a plethora of presuit solutions to see if the parties can achieve a resolution amicably, because cooperate parties can establish grounds for resolving their own situations within court intervention and without the need for expensive lawsuits to be decided by other parties.

When you need help from a family lawyer in Orlando, we invite you to call us, the Jacobs Law Firm to obtain the Orlando Family Law Help you need at an affordable price and with a great deal of compassion and interest in you as a family person.

Jonathan Jacobs is an Orlando Family Attorney.

cease and desist letter attorney Orlando FL

Cease and Desist Letter Attorney Orlando FL

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This article is for reference only. We do not handle cease and desist letters at this time. Clients often prefer to resolve legal challenges as amicably and inexpensively as possible. This strategy may result in the initial step of sending of a cease and desist letter instead of filing a lawsuit. What this really means is that many individuals prefer to prevent further harassment, intrusion, defamation, or slander, by encouraging the party that is allegedly responsible, to cease and desist their wrongful or unlawful behavior before a lawsuit may be necessary. Similar to a civil demand letter for payment of damages prior to filing a lawsuit, a cease and desist letter is generally designed to caution the other party that there is still time to stop committing the behavior the potential litigant believes is harmful in some way to their business or reputation. A cease and desist letter attorney Orlando FL that can help you obtain the relief you need when confronted with inappropriate behavior.

Examples of Cease and Desist Letters a Cease and Desist Letter Attorney Orlando FL Can Draft

Some examples of cease and desist letters we can draft include: 1. warnings to the other party that their attempts to disparage your reputation will not go unopposed; 2. demands that the other party stop contacting potential employers to slander you; 3. warnings to coworkers that usurp your reputation; 4. caveats to occupants in a nearby apartment building to stop interfering with your use and enjoyment of your own apartment; and 5. admonitions that you will sue for damages if a former employee contacts your clients in violation of a non-compete agreement. A cease and desist letter attorney Orlando FL will carefully evaluate the veracity of your claims that you have been impinged upon by another party and evaluate whether a cease and desist letter is appropriate.

cease and desist letter

What Happens After I Send a Cease and Desist Letter?

If the other (presumably responsible party) does not abide by your cease and desist letter, you will need to decide whether you want to allow their behavior to continue, or litigate in pursuit of money damages or injunctive relief. Ultimately, you should weigh your options carefully, and if you have good facts and evidence to support your claims, filing a lawsuit may be the best option to stanch any further damages to your business, reputation, or otherwise.

Attorney Jonathan Jacobs is a civil litigator in Orlando Florida. Attempting to resolve legal issues before filing a lawsuit is often the most appropriate course of action.

Talking Parents App

Talking Parents App

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Talking Parents App

The Talking Parents App is a truly cutting-edge and ingenious software application approved by Florida courts. The App can take a great deal of the stress and metaphorical pain out of communicating with an ex-partner or ex-spouse during a paternity or divorce lawsuit, or even after the lawsuit has ended, because family law cases often continue for years beyond initial proceedings.

With the Talking Parents App, everything is on the record. There are no hidden communications, and the parties technically cannot hide or delete what they have written to one another. For the attorneys, Talking Parents App reduces the burden of combing through months or years of conversations by e-mail, text, instant messenger, etc., where chronological and informational frameworks must be established in an attempt at admissibility in court and achieving a sufficient burden of proof. Talking Parents streamlines this by having all conversations available in their original format with proof of the parties’ mutuality. Moreover, there are rarely if ever any games played here by a surreptitious party because both parties must separately and individually create user accounts and must be approved in order to engage with one another.

Talking Parents App in Florida Family Law Court

Justifiably so, Talking Parents App advertises that when the parties have been involved in a domestic violence dispute, or when there are other security concerns involving the safety of the parties and their children, the App can be the ultimate mechanism for ensuring open communications in the absence of being threatened. Since conversations occur through Taking Parents, private contact information is not revealed unless you personally reveal that information to the other party.

The word the App team utilizes is “accountability.” Buyer beware, caveat emptor. If you choose to be threatening or menacing toward the other party, know that they may seek to have your communications entered into evidence in a family law court in an attempt to portray you in a negative light.

For more information about the Talking Parents App and for information regarding their users’ frequently asked questions visit their contact page here.

Jonathan Jacobs is a family and divorce law attorney in Orlando, Florida.

Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida

Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida

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Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida

Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida are intended to supplement a litigant’s Financial Affidavit. In other words, a Financial Affidavit may provide the end result (like a math problem), but it does not necessarily illustrate how the litigant got there (arrived at the numbers they allege). For the other side and their attorney to determine the accuracy of the numbers and the extent of the financial holdings subject to equitable distribution, as well as alimony and child support considerations, more information may be needed. For instance, we need to determine which child support deductions you may qualify for. Requesting answers to Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida is a generally reliable method of/for obtaining those answers.

When Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida are propounded (served on the other party), one’s background information, education, and employment are almost always requested as a baseline part of discovery. It makes sense that the interrogatories also generally include a description of one’s assets such as but not limited to: 1. real property (examples: houses or plots of land), 2. tangible personal property (examples: boats, cars, jewelry, baseball cards), intangible personal property (examples include stock certificates, business holdings, mutual funds, trust monies, bonds), 4. retirement accounts (some examples are: IRA and/or ROTH IRA accounts, pension plans, FRS plans, HR10 plans), 5. financial accounts (for example: bank accounts, money market and credit union accounts), 6. Trust funds and accounts, and 7. Safety Deposit Boxes.

The same principle and logic applies to liabilities. It is important that liabilities are included in a final marital agreement to prevent one spouse from incurring additional or unexpected marital debts that might otherwise be properly divided or paid for by the other spouse. Furthermore, along with propounding/serving Standard Family Law Interrogatories in Florida, an attorney will often also demand/request the other litigant produce a Long Form Affidavit, Form 12.902(c), to ensure that all of the financial portrait is revealed to the extent possible.

Jonathan Jacobs is a Divorce Attorney In Clermont Florida, a Divorce Attorney in Orlando Florida, and helps his clients in the surrounding counties. Call the Jacobs Law Firm today for a consultation in your family law case. (407) 310-5636, or e-mail us to schedule an appointment. Jonathan@JJLawFL.com