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

27 March

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Alimony and Standard of Living Factor

in Alimony, Divorce Law News, Family Law, Legal Advice

For alimony, what does the factor “standard of living” during marriage really mean as a factor to determine the amount of alimony? One of the most disputed and controversial aspects of a dissolution of marriage (divorce), is the type and amount of alimony (spousal support) to be awarded to whichever party deserves the support. This is especially true in what is called “high end” or “high earner” marriages. Sometimes millions of dollars are at stake and, while a couple can, and often do, create their own settlement during a mediation prior to a court hearing (in the state of Florida a...

Importance of Standard of Living Factor in Determining Alimony

23 March

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Five Things Attorneys Want to Tell Their Clients

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Family Law, Legal Advice

Five Things Attorneys Want to Tell Their Clients

You are sitting in an attorney’s office waiting to meet the attorney you are considering or have chosen to represent you in a legal matter, be it civil or criminal. You have a whole list of things you want to tell and ask the attorney and you are even ready to write his or her answers down.The next half hour or so is important and could even change the course of your life. A successful outcome for your issues usually means a great deal to you and you will be counting on the attorney, if at all possible, to make...

08 March

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All About the “Talking Parents” Communication Website and How it Compares to Florida’s Family Wizard Site

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Child Support, Divorce Law News, Family Law

Even in the best of circumstances surrounding the break-up of a family with minor children, meaningful and polite communication is often difficult to achieve.This is made even more difficult when one of the main reasons the marriage broke down was poor and sometimes volatile communication. While a judge can order reasonable communication it seems there are many instances when reasonable communicating between two parents is just about impossible. There is just too much emotion and often anger involved. So, in many states, “technical” means for the two parties to communicate have been developed. In at least 35 states, for example, there...

Family Wizard Site and Talking Parents Communication Website

27 February

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Part Three: Ways To Help Children Cope With Life After a Divorce or Parent Separation

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Child Custody, Child Support, Family Law

10 Ways to Be A Successful Parent After a Family Dissolves

Having one’s parents separate whether from within a marriage or a living together arrangement can be, and often is, devastating for children of any age. It is particularly difficult for minor children or those with special needs who depend on parental support and care. In most states, there are guidelines and requirements for post judgment parenting. In Florida, for example, all couples must attend a state approved parenting class before a divorce or child support order can be adjudicated. Furthermore, in Florida, the motto “In the best interest of the child” is applied to decisions made regarding minor children as...

01 February

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Part Two, Parallel Parenting, What is it, and How Does it Compare to Co-Parenting?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Child Custody, Child Support, Family Law

As was pointed out in Part One of this three part discussion on parenting after a divorce or relational break-up, that many states, Florida in particular, are firm advocates of both parents taking equal responsibility in the continued raising and nurturing of their children, biological and/or adopted. The term “In the best interest of the child” is used to emphasize how important it is for both parents to put themselves in their children’s shoes and see how it feels and then provide the correct “fit”. Co-parenting, where both parents share equally in decision making regarding education, medical, religious, and disciplinary concerns...

23 January

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The Importance of Co-parenting – Part One

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Child Custody, Child Support, Family Law

The definition of co-parenting as defined in the online Your Dictionary “is a process where two parents work together to raise a child even though they are divorced or separated and no longer live together. An example of co-parenting is when a divorced mother and father share legal and physical custody of a child.” Couples who have never married or even lived together but still share the birth or adoption of a child are also candidates for co-parenting. In fact, in the state of Florida where Family Law statutes use the phrase “In the best interest of the child” as...

16 January

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Don’t record your spouse without consent

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Divorce Law News, Family Law, Legal Advice

It is very tempting to record conversations a spouse is having with someone who can demonstrate that a particular fact is indeed true in regards to a certain situation in a case such as a dissolution of marriage (divorce). For example, in Florida, you might believe your spouse is funneling important marital assets, that are property, real or personal, that were acquired during the marriage and will be part of the equitable distribution following final judgment. The phone rings and as you quietly picks it up the party on the other end, not realizing you are listening outlines plans to...

05 January

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What is Domestic Violence?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Domestic Violence, Family Law

Domestic Violence is a Serious Crime With Serious Consequences

Definition as given by The Department of Justice in June of 2017: “We define domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.” To further expand this definition under Florida law: “Domestic Violence Battery is defined as any actual and intentional touching or the intentional causing of bodily harm to another person when the person is a ‘family or household Member’.” A...

18 December

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Effective Depositions

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Deposition

First, before determining what an effective deposition looks like, it is important to understand just what a deposition is. In legal terms, as described on the online legal dictionary, a deposition is “The testimony of a party or witness in a civil or criminal proceeding taken before trial, usually at an attorney’s office.” The testimony is taken orally, often under oath, and recorded by a court recorder or tape recorder. When the deposition is finished, the participant will sign an affidavit stating the truth of the information given by the party being questioned by the attorneys asking questions. This information...

11 December

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Post Settlement Final Hearing – What to Expect

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Divorce Law News, Post Judgment

Before looking at what to expect at a post settlement final hearing it is important to understand when parties would be using a post settlement final hearing. Post settlement means after a settlement has been finalized by the parties in question for their case being adjudicated. In other words, for example, in dissolution of marriage (divorce) when there are no minor children, no jointly owned real property, and all issues including equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities and alimony have been worked out and the proper paperwork filled out, signed by both parties, notarized and witnessed the action can...