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During your divorce or custody action, everything you say to your best friend, parent or boy/girl friend can be disclosed. You don’t have the luxury we did growing up of being able to ask your friend to keep your secrets. Your best friend can be subpoenaed to court and compelled to recount your conversations. Who can you talk to during…
If you violate your probation you can be facing jail or prison time. The outcome depends on what you were on probation for, the nature of the violation and other factors considered by the Judge. Often times people on probation violate because they are arrested on a new charge. If this is the only violation, I typically recommend resolving the…
What happens after I have been arrested? Often times people are unsure of the procedure or how the court process works after they have been arrested. Assuming that you are given some type of bond and post it after your arrest, the jail will provide you with your first court date, which is your arraignment. If you plan on hiring…
In 1999, led by then Gov. Jeb Bush, the 10-20-Life statute was passed. It established bright line minimum mandatory sentences for defendants who used a firearm while committing a crime. Between July 1, 1999 and July 1, 2016, if you had a firearm on your person during a felony, you received 10 years; if you fired it, you received 20 years.…
In the Pensacola area there are at least two different churches who host Divorce recovery groups. Marcus Pointe Baptist Church 6205 North “W” Street Pensacola, FL on Tuesdays, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm; Feb. 6 – May 1, 2018 Olive Baptist Church 836 E. Olive Rd. Pensacola, FL 850-475-1147 or [email protected] Led by Stephen and Michelle Shelby Wednesdays | 6:00p-8:00p…
If you try to open a Florida statute volume, you will not find a provision for annulments. However, you can still obtain one. Judges over time have created different causes of action via case law. Florida Courts have recognized reasons why a couple can get an annulment. They are: one participant is less than 18 years of age at the…
In Florida, assets that you bring into the marriage are yours. The status of the asset can change however. If you for instance, had a house prior to your marriage, but added your husband to the deed, he is now entitled to it just as much as you. If you at the time of your marriage have a retirement account…
Absolutely, text messages are admissible! If you are in a family law case, emotions run high. People say things they later regret. But, when you do it either in a text message or email, the likelihood that you will see it in print at a hearing, is almost 100%! Bad behavior can be punished by a judge. It can reduce…
Often, clients will ask, “Does it matter who files for divorce first?” Technically, no, it doesn’t matter. However, strategically it can. The person who files first, named the Petitioner, will set the tone. If adultery or misuse of money is alleged, then we know the divorce is going to be contested and perhaps hostile. It is actually about $100 cheaper…
While I would like to say that a Judge can punish the cheater like in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the answer is no. In the state of Florida, it is no-fault. So if one says there are “irreconcilable differences” between you, a Judge doesn’t have to go any further to grant the divorce. The Judge doesn’t have to see private investigator footage,…