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No two divorce experiences are ever the same. As we all know, all families are different, and one family's divorce process may look very different from another. While some families may legally separate quickly and amicably, this can be much more complicated if the location of one of the spouses i...

Parenting is never easy, even in the best of circumstances. However, when a person (or people) becomes a parent, they must provide for their child's basic needs until adulthood. If a family separates and there are children involved in the divorce, typically, the parent not living with the child (...

Every father should have the right to spend time with their child or children. However, in Florida, fathers who are not married to their child(ren)'s mother do not automatically have these rights to be involved in their children's lives or make decisions for their children. In fact, even if a fat...

Child support is a court-ordered responsibility for the financial support for the care, maintenance, training, and education of a child. At Family Matters Law Group, we care about ensuring that your children are financially supported and that you are either paying or receiving the right amount of...

Learn More About Prenuptial Agreements in Florida While years ago, many states were against prenuptial agreements, today, all 50 states allow couples to adopt prenuptial agreements. These agreements protect both parties and simplify the divorce proceedings in the unfortunate situation of a couple...

Can I change my Custody Agreement in Florida? In Florida, custody agreements, or Orders, are called parenting plans. Parenting plans outline where the child will spend time and who will make the decisions for the child. These two concepts, timesharing and decision making, make up the Florida vers...

What is Domestic Violence? Unfortunately, domestic violence is an all-too-common occurrence in the United States. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience physical violence by their intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. Understanding the signs of an abusive re...

Top Tips for Relocating with your Child in Florida Talk to an attorney earlier. These are VERY fact specific cases and NOT something that should be done without a lawyer. If you are relocating for work, have your documentation of your new employment in writing and in hand. Come up with a p...

Top 10 for Unmarried Dads in Florida Having your name on your child's birth certificate in Florida does NOT give you any time sharing or decision-making rights to your child. You can be ordered to pay child support in Florida and still have NO rights to make decisions for your child or spend...

Domestic violence injunctions in Florida: 1. Domestic Violence Injunctions are the same thing as a Restraining Order. They tell one person to stay away from another person. 2. They are CIVIL Orders; they are not criminal Orders. Domestic Violence: 3. However, if you violate an Order of Protecti...

Adoptions, Temporary Custody and Power of Attorney of Children When someone other than a parent wants or needs to take care of a child there are several options that are available. The right option depends greatly on the individual facts of that case and has to be evaluated case by case. There ar...

Top 10 tips for women divorcing in Florida.   Women can be obligated to pay alimony. Alimony in Florida is based on need and ability to pay. If you are the higher earning spouse, regardless of your gender, you may be obligated to pay alimony.  The same is true for attorney's fee...

Stopping Child Support in Florida In Florida child support is required for all parents who do not live together. Child support is the right of the child and because of this, parents are not able to waive child support. Because of this, once a divorce, child support or paternity (custody) case is ...

My Husband is not the Father of my child, what do I need to know? When you are married to someone who is not the father of your child at the time of conception or the birth of that child, your husband is automatically, under Florida law the legal father of the child.  This is true regardless of w...

How Does Child Support Work After Divorce in Florida? Child support is the responsibility of every parent regardless of whether or not the parents are married, divorced or single. If you and your partner are starting down the process of divorce in Florida and you have a child (or children) togeth...

How Do Kids Affect Filing for Divorce? Are you considering getting a divorce? Understandably, this can be an overwhelming time in your life. Even if you already know the basic steps of petitioning and filing for divorce in Florida, things may be more complicated for you and your spouse if you hav...

Why do I have to attend mediation in Florida to get divorced?  Florida Courts require parents to attend mediation in order to get a divorce when there are children involved. There are a few exceptions to this rule, usually when there is a history of domestic violence, but in some other cases as ...

Can I change my custody agreement in Florida?  In Florida custody agreements, or Orders, are called parenting plans. Parenting plans outline where the child will spend time and who will make the decisions for the child. These two concepts, timesharing and decision making, make up the Florida ver...

Dad's name is not on the birth certificate, does he have rights?  When a child is born to a woman who is married, the spouse, automatically has rights to the child. This is true regardless of what is on the birth certificate. If the spouse is not the biological Father, this becomes more complicat...