News You Can Use

Fla. Stat. § 61.16(1) provides that the court may, from time to time, after considering the financial resources of both parties, order a party to pay a reasonable amount for attorney’s fees, suit money, and the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this chapter: § 61.16. Attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs (1) The … Read More

Just before we rang in the new year, a Florida court issued two surprise decisions which place retroactive alimony under the gun. Is a court order making alimony retroactive to the date of filing of the petition for dissolution of marriage constitutional or judicial overreach? The First District Court of Appeal is debating the issue. In the first of the … Read More

On Giving Tuesday, we are honored to announce $15,000 in grants from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation (AAML Foundation) to two Tallahassee-based organizations, Lee’s Place and Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee. Lee’s Place, a Tallahassee non-profit counseling and therapy center specializing in grief, loss, and trauma counseling will receive $10,000 in grants to fund reduced and no-cost counseling … Read More

Dori Foster-Morales has been selected as Center for Child Counseling’s 2020 Recipient of the “Judge Ron Alvarez Resiliency Award”.  Judge Alvarez was a pioneer for creating a trauma informed judiciary before we even knew the lasting impact of toxic stress in children and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on society. Dori is the current President of the Florida Bar and she has … Read More

It’s safe to say that with the Covid-19 pandemic going on around the world, families are living in fear. Fear, stress, and anxiety are common emotions today. But, what do you do when those tensions become marital discord or prior marital discord has made the lockdown even worse? How do you deal with the concept of a divorce at a time … Read More

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Florida Chapter Foundation today announced a $5,000 contribution to f.a.c.e.s. for children, Facing Adverse Childhood Experiences for Children based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The mission for f.a.c.e.s. for children is dedicated to building resilience in children facing childhood traumas and adversities by improving an understanding of them and why they matter. Resilience in children will … Read More

The 41stAnnual AAML Institute will be held on May 3 and 4, 2019.  Once again, the Institute will be hosted at the beautiful Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. In 2018, the AAML modified the format of the Institute, to rave reviews.  The exciting new format will continue in 2019.  For the first day of the Institute, Attendees will be assigned … Read More

TAX ALERT POSSIBLE REPEAL OF SECTION §1309 – DEDUCTION FOR ALIMONY PAYMENTS The recent Tax Reform Bill presented by the House of Representatives includes a provision to eliminate the tax deduction for alimony payments effective January 1, 2018.  The alimony deduction will not be available for all divorce decrees, separation agreements and modification orders entered beginning January 1, 2018. The … Read More

Effective Parenting Plans Maria C. Gonzalez, Esq. Florida has a long standing public policy “that each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents separate or the marriage of the parties is dissolved and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities, and joys, of childrearing. There is no presumption for or against the … Read More

Permanent Alimony in Short Term Marriages J.J. Dahl Can a spouse get permanent alimony in a short duration marriage where the debilitating issue did not occur during the marriage? Several cases have affirmed permanent alimony in short term marriages where debilitating medical conditions occurred during the marriage. For example, in Reeves v. Reeves, 821 So.2d 333 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002), … Read More