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

19 October

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What Truly is an Emergency in Family Law?

The motto of the Florida Family Court when it comes to minor children is “in the best interest of the child.” A minor child is a child from birth to age l8 or beyond if the child cannot support themselves for physical or mental reasons. Every attempt is made when the court must decide how a minor child will be cared for and nurtured to create as healthy an environment as possible for the child’s continued development. Whether the parents were ever married or lived together, the court feels minor children need both parents as they grow toward adulthood. Parental...

Florida Family Court - Emergency Care Of Minor Children

07 October

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Myths In the Law: There Is No Favoritism in The Law

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Board Certified Lawyer, Child Custody, Child Support, Parenting

For many years it seemed when it came to parents of minor children seeking custody and child support following a divorce or separation that the courts generally ruled in favor of the mother receiving primary custody and the father paying child support. Times have changed. There is no longer favoritism when it comes to the care and nurturing of minor children. In the state of Florida Family Court has a motto, “In the best interest of the child,” and this saying is translated into how minor children are cared for and who is responsible for paying child support. To be...

28 September

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Why You Should Hire a Board-Certified Lawyer

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Attorney Consultation, Board Certified Lawyer, Family Law, Legal Advice

Hiring a lawyer is usually a serious consideration and should not be done hastily. You should take your time deciding the right lawyer to represent you, one that meets the needs of your particular case. By checking out several lawyers who are licensed to serve your judicial county, you can check for qualifications such as education, years of active legal practice, recommendations from friends and family, areas of specialty, fee schedule, and personality. Lawyers who offer an initial free consultation will answer general legal questions such as the steps in handling divorce and how to obtain child support. One of the...

16 September

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Why it is Imperative to Follow Your Lawyers Advice

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Attorney Consultation, Board Certified Lawyer, Family Law, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice

Divorce attorney Imperative to Follow Your Lawyers Advice

To begin with, you have likely taken time to investigate several lawyers before you settled on the lawyer who will be handling your case. Such considerations as education, mission statements, years in practice, extra credentials such as Licensed Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediator, and in Florida, Bar Board Certified all make for a legal professional well qualified to litigate on your behalf. If the lawyer you choose offered a free, initial, in-office consultation, you will have an idea of his or her personality and an understanding of the fee schedule. Taking all this into consideration, you should have little trouble...

06 September

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Why Phone Consultations Are a Bad Idea

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Attorney Consultation, Board Certified Lawyer, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice

It is very likely that sometime during your life, you will need to use the advice and perhaps the representation of an attorney. For many years the Yellow Pages were where you would look for an attorney in your community along with asking for suggestions from family and friends. Not any more. Today the way to look for an attorney involves not only asking family and friends but using the internet and researching several websites. Once you have narrowed your search to, say, three possibilities, you will want to arrange a consultation for the final comparison. Attorneys will offer an...

Family Law attorney - client initial consultation

26 August

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What is the Role of a Forensic Psychologist in Child Custody Cases?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony, Board Certified Lawyer, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice, Parenting, Time Sharing

Before looking at the role of a forensic psychologist in child custody cases, it makes sense to look at the definition of a forensic psychologist and what their role is. As defined by the American Psychology Association, it is “the application of clinical specialties to the legal arena.” In other words, according to author Jane Tyler Ward, Ph.D., forensic psychology is “the physiological assessment of individuals who are involved in one way or another with the legal system.” She goes on to say the most important skills a forensic psychologist must have are solid clinic skills that include “clinical assessment,...

18 August

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The Importance of Choosing the Right Mediator During Litigation

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony, Board Certified Lawyer, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice, Parenting, Time Sharing

Mediation is the agreeing of two parties to solving a legal issue such as a divorce or child support modification by the process of compromise. Each party is usually represented by their attorney, who helps the party look at all offers and consider if a compromise can be reached, and the issue solved. Reaching an agreement in mediation is less expensive than going to court, both in legal fees and court costs. Additionally, In mediation, the parties have control over the outcome of their litigation rather than a judge deciding for them. The mediation transcripts are private and cannot be...

06 August

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Should You Tell Your Children You Are Getting Divorced?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony, Board Certified Lawyer, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice, Parenting, Time Sharing

The answer to this question is really more when you should tell your children you are getting divorced. Eventually, even a very young child will find out Mommy and Daddy do not live together anymore. What is important is to think about a number of considerations before sharing the sad news with your children. Here are some tips to help you think through and decide how best to share the news about the divorce. First and foremost, you should, as parents, work together to decide when it is best and when how to tell your children about the divorce. Hopefully,...

26 July

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How Are Marital Homes Handled in Divorce

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony, Board Certified Lawyer, Board Certified Lawyer, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Laws and Women, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice

In a dissolution of marriage (divorce), Florida is an equitable distribution state for dividing marital assets and liabilities, including real estate, which includes marital homes. While a judge will often order a marital home sold and the equity divided 50/50, there are other ways the marital home asset can be handled. Equitable means fair rather than equal, so Florida Family Court has a variety of options. Before any option handling a marital home is presented, the true ownership of the home must be established. If the home belonged entirely to a party before marriage, he or she would continue to own...

Divorce,And,Dividing,A,House,Concept.,Man,And,Woman,Are

15 July

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How Can a Forensic Accountant Assist in a Dissolution of Marriage?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Alimony, Board Certified Lawyer, Board Certified Lawyer, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Laws and Women, Lawyer’s Advice, Legal Advice

Before looking at how a forensic accountant can assist in a dissolution of marriage (divorce), it is important to understand the job qualifications associated with forensic accounting. A person using this title is someone who is trained and educated, and licensed to investigate and give qualified reports in the areas of accounting, audits, and issues involving the financial status of an individual or a business. A forensic account is considered by the court an expert witness, which, according to Legal Dictionary.com is “a person who is a specialist in a subject, often technical who may present his/her expert opinion without...