Blog | Family Lawyer Grant J. Gisondo in Palm Beach Gardens

06 May

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There is No Favoritism in The Law

For many years it seemed that family courts were biased in favor of one party or the other in a divorce, especially when minor children were involved. As time has gone on, however, family courts have changed in the way they administer justice until there is now no favoritism in a judge's decision regarding divorce issues such as alimony, child support, and who will care for and nurture the minor children. (A child is considered a minor from infancy to age l8 and beyond if the child is unable to support themselves due to severe mental or physical disability.). Here...

13 April

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Tips To Manage Stress During a Divorce

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in High Pressure, Mediation

Going through a divorce is rarely easy and never without stress. Even when both parties want the divorce and there are no children involved, there will be stress. Stress can come in many ways, including the disagreements as to who gets what, from the delay in the time it takes to complete all the necessary steps to a final decree, to emotional heartbreak, to trying to figure out how life will be when the divorce is over. Most couples had hoped for a “forever after” on their wedding day, and just the realization that their marriage didn’t make it is...

04 April

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How Much Alimony Can I Expect to Pay?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony

Alimony, frequently referred to as spousal support, is a monetary amount awarded to either spouse based on a variety of factors, including: A proven need for alimony must be present. It must be shown that a party needs alimony to manage finances during the transition from married life to single life. A party does not have the skills or education to gain employment at a level needed to support themselves without the help of a spouse. One party has stayed home during the marriage and provided care for the home and children, if any, while the other spouse has been...

25 March

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In Florida, Do I have to Pay Child Support If I Have No Visitation Rights?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Child Support, Divorce Law News

Yes, if you have been ordered to pay child support, you cannot waive that responsibility. Even if you have no visitation rights, you must still pay your ordered child support. In Florida, child support and visitation rights are two separate issues, one not depending on the other. In fact, if you don’t have visitation rights and are hoping to obtain them if your child support payments are in arrears, a judge will not consider your request. Child support is a court-ordered obligation for any couple who have created a child, whether the parents have married, lived together, or met for a...

15 March

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Did You Know Our Retainers are Refundable?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Attorney Consultation, Retainer

Gone are the days when a handshake was all that was needed to secure a service that would be paid for when the work was completed. Unfortunately, some people will take advantage of a situation where they think they can get the work done and then walk away without paying. And an attorney deserves to be paid for their work. Many years of education, passing the Bar exams, setting up a practice, paying for legal costs such as filing motions and attending mediations and depositions, and completing continuing education requirements have a significant cost. So It is that the practice...

05 March

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What Is the Difference Between Alimony and Child Support?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony, Child Support

The simple answer to the question What is the difference between alimony and child support is that alimony is a payment made from one spouse to the other for various issues involving support or deserved monetary award. In comparison, child support is a payment from one spouse to the other to help pay for the care of a couple’s minor children. Let’s take a detailed look at each type of support. Alimony: Each state has its own set of guidelines for alimony, so that this blog will focus on Florida. There a six types of alimony or, as more recently termed,...

28 February

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Can I Get a Divorce in Florida Even if My Spouse Doesn’t Want One?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Child Custody, Divorce Law News

The quick answer to the question, can I get a divorce in Florida even if my spouse doesn’t want one? is yes. In Florida, a no-fault state, all that is necessary is that one party needs to plead irreconcilable differences. The other party doesn’t have to agree or sign anything for a divorce to be completed. That being said, the spouse wanting the divorce cannot just walk into court and get one without going through the legal process of obtaining a divorce. Guidelines are the same for both parties wanting a divorce and only one party wanting a divorce. If there...

15 February

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When is it Time to Hire a Lawyer?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Attorney Consultation, Family Law

Hiring a lawyer is an important step in planning and negotiating most legal proceedings. As to the exact time to hire a lawyer, the answer, in most cases, is the sooner, the better. But why is this so? What about trying to save some money and see what you can do on your own first? Looking at planning a divorce, for example, you will see there are definite advantages to finding the right Family Law lawyer as soon as you are thinking about divorce. Right from the beginning, when you are still in the thinking stage, a Family Law lawyer can...