Palm Beach Family Law Blog

Although spending time with your kids is important to parents of either gender, unwary fathers faced with a contentious custody battle as part of their divorce can lose out on this precious right. However, with proper preparation, fathers can make a favorable child custody determination more likely.

It is important for fathers who are involved in a custody dispute to determine what they want and be ready to fight for it. Whether you want liberal visitation time or simply equal time with your kids, it is important to prepare to show the court why the visitation schedule that you are proposing is reasonable. As courts determine child custody and visitation schedules by considering the "best interests of the child," if you can show that you understand your child's routines and care, it makes it more likely that your proposed schedule will be approved.

After divorce, many women look to shed a lingering and constant reminder of their ex: his last name. When happily ever after ends up being not-so-happy after all, many Florida women seek to change their last name back to that of their maiden name.

There are certainly no rules regarding whether or not a divorced individual should or should not change their last name after a divorce. That being said, for those that do change their last name after a divorce, it is important not to forget to address a few issues.

Florida was slated to be the fifth state in the nation to end permanent alimony in a trend that is taking hold in many places across the nation. According to the terms of the bill, these changes would have been made retroactive. This means that divorced individuals paying alimony could have petitioned to see their alimony obligations reduced in accordance with the new provisions.

It was that last factor that Governor Scott sites as the primary factor in his decision to veto the alimony reform bill. While many view permanent alimony as a lingering hallmark of an antiquate family unit, many divorced individuals that depend on alimony worried that after being outside the workforce to raise children for so long, they would be unable to find employment and become destitute.

If you're considering filing for divorce in Florida, you probably have a lot of questions. Depending on your situation, you may have children for whom to arrange custody, support and co-parenting. You may have a home that will need to be given to one party or sold for the purpose of property division, along with other assets to divide and tax consequences to consider.

The most important issues are those that nourish your own best interests and those of your children. For most people, the financial aspects of divorce are essential as well, and can require some careful thought.

There is no reason a divorce can't help you become more financially secure than you are now, depending on your situation. Still, it's better not to guess.