USA Today just published a report comparing the costs of divorce in each state of the United States. Florida had some surprising statistics. According to the report, Florida has: Avg. cost of divorce without children: $13,500 (15th highest) Avg. cost of divorce with children: $20,300 (16th hi...
When you have a minor child, you are responsible for that child financially. In a divorce or custody case, one parent may be ordered to pay child support to the other parent. The purpose is simple: to help the parent with primary custody pay for essential things the child needs, like: food w...
During the divorce process, one spouse may fight for spousal support. If the support is awarded, the paying spouse must comply. In the divorce decree, the parameters of the spousal support are outlined, and this can include the duration of the alimony. It could be only a few years or it could be ...
A power of attorney (POA) in Florida has many responsibilities when the principal of the power of attorney – the one who appointed the agent to manage his or her financial affairs in the event he or she cannot manage those affairs – becomes incapacitated. Parents often choose one trusted, respons...
Imagine this situation: you are divorced and you share parental responsibilities with your ex-spouse, including educational responsibilities. The catch is this: you both want your child to attend a different school in Orlando. Your intentions are both probably admirable because there's no doubt e...
You may be a private person and don't want all your dirty laundry exposed, and so, now that you are going through (or at least thinking about) a divorce, you may wonder if it will be public knowledge. Maybe there are children whom you want to protect or assets you don't want others to know about....
When you have a special needs child in your family, your first instinct may be to protect that person against any kind of abuse and to secure his or her financial future. To do so, many people wonder if they can leave money and/or other assets to the loved one with special needs in a will execute...
When we think of holidays for the purpose of parenting plans, custody, and timesharing, we usually think of holidays associated with days off of school (and – for parents – days off of work). Days off or school and/or work mean days parents can spend time with their child. So, working these parti...
Whether you are getting a divorce or otherwise breaking up as a couple and have a child, parenting responsibilities will most usually be shared as will the time you spend with your child. It's the sharing part that can become a problem for many. Emotions are heated. Worries are rampant. Bitternes...
While married, you did everything you were supposed to do to secure your futures: you made sure your estate plan was properly drafted and executed through an experienced estate planning attorney in Orlando. But then you and your spouse divorced. Does this divorce impact your estate plan at all? ...
A guardian is appointed by the court to represent the best interest of the ward.There are two types of guardianships. The first is for a minor who will be receiving monies of $15,000.00 or more from a lawsuit settlement, wrongful death beneficiary, insurance policy award, or inheritance. Florid...
Divorce can be a painful, confusing, and nerve-wracking experience that has a massive impact on your finances. As you move from a single household to two separate homes, income will not stretch as far. Studies show that people need to increase their income by approximately 30% to maintain their ...
Co-parenting is often the most difficult thing facing the newly divorced. Single mom and dads face numerous challenges including emotional issues, chaotic schedules, new partners, and shared custody agreements. Experts recommend the following 8 steps towards better post-divorce co-parenting. ...
More and more millenials are changing marriage, signing prenups, and ultimately staying together longer than past generations. Want to know why? Many millenials are subjects of divorce and with their experience growing up with divorced parents, they don't want to make the same mistakes. So, the...
A divorce exceeds emotional turmoil, it can also leave lasting effects on your financial state. If you're in the process of getting divorced, you'll have to go through the potentially grueling process of splitting up the assets you and your soon-to-be former spouse have acquired. Taxes and your m...
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), 96% of American workers are covered under Social Security. If you're one of the many who are eligible to collect Social Security benefits in retirement, it's important to understand how the system works. If you've been married, spousal benef...
In the last 30 years, courts have increasingly encouraged and supported mutual agreements of shared parental custody. Dads who wanted to share custody of their children almost never received this verdict in the past. Courts sided almost always with the mothers, awarding them full custody. But now...
Many parents will split their inheritance 50/50, but what happens if one of the heirs passes away? Who does the IRA money go to? If your children are alive when you die and you designated 50/50 outright beneficiaries, they will each get half the funds. They can do as they please including...
We commonly throw the word “estate” around for the top tier wealthy class, however, estate planning isn't reserved just for the rich. Everyone, regardless of family dynamics or financial status can benefit from having an estate plan – a collection of documents that specify how you want your asset...
Establishing paternity is more than just paying a monthly check for child support. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you're making the effort to establish paternity: Every child has the right to know and be known by his or her father When you establish paternit...
Unfortunately, when the wedding bells ring we're not walking down the aisle thinking it will end in a divorce attorney's office. However, between 40-50% of married partners in the United States do end up divorcing. Ending a marriage is never easy, but there are certain steps you can take to minim...
No one ever truly knows when it's our time to move on. We may think we're destined to live to our 90's, but life doesn't always turn out as we expected. Having an estate plan in place can eliminate any unexpected circumstances life throws at you. Not sure where to start? Ask yourself these 5 que...
When couples with children get a divorce, no matter what the circumstances of the breakup are, one fact remains: You will still be parenting together. To eliminate a stressful environment for your children it's important to learn how to work effectively with one another in your parenting roles. ...
Divorce can be a long and difficult process. You'll need to make decisions about a number of financial issues, including debt that you took on jointly with your spouse. Unfortunately, when going through a divorce, loans are rarely split up the way we expect them to be. Take these steps to protect...
No one likes to talk about it. It's a touchy subject, but one day, you're going to die. You probably know where you want your money and other physical possessions to go, but you have a lot of digital assets to pass on too. You need to plan for the future of those accounts right now. Here's what...
