03 December

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How Florida Family Law Presumes Parental Love

in Family Law, Legal Advice, Parenting, Paternity, Time Sharing

Parents love their children equally, and there is no presumption in favor of the mother or father. These words are the premise on which Florida Family courts build their statutes regarding the care and nurturing of minor children following a dissolution of marriage (divorce) or separation of parents not married. What this statement means is that presumably a father and mother, or parents of the same sex, love each of their minor children with precisely the same amount of mental, emotional, and intellectual fervor. In reality, this is likely not quite the case for in many families one parent cares...

11 November

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Save Those Text Messages: Electronic Evidence

Posted by Grant Gisondo

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

Save Those Text Messages Electronic Evidence

Electronic evidence is fast becoming a vital part of testimony in a courtroom. In fact, cases have been lost or won on the basis of electronic evidence. These facts may sound scary, especially to those over 60, but they are a reality and must be taken seriously. Evidence, once it has been authenticated, can be used in the court. However, if a judge deems that the e-mail or phone text message is not able to be authenticated, or is hearsay, the resulting messages will be ruled inadmissible. So what precautions should a person take to avoid having electronic evidence tossed...

30 October

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The Dangers of Not Following Your Lawyers Advice

Posted by Grant Gisondo

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

As with any situation where you have asked for advice and then decide not to follow it, there will usually be consequences. The effect of not following your lawyer’s advice, however, can really make a difference in the desired outcome of your case. Here are some likely consequences that may occur: Probably first and foremost is the fact that by not following your lawyer’s advice, you significantly harm the lawyer-client relationship. Your lawyer is working hard for you, and when you decide to no longer pay attention or listen to his or her advice, you give the impression you no longer...

The Dangers of Not Following Your Lawyers Advice

18 October

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All About an Annulment in Florida

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Family Law, Legal Advice, Uncategorized

What is an annulment? According to the online legal dictionary, an annulment is “A judgment by a court that retroactively invalidates a marriage to the date of its formation.” In other words, legally, there never was a marriage between the two parties. In Florida, there are definite grounds an annulment can be obtained, and there is a legal process to follow when desiring such an outcome. It is interesting to note that an annulment is often more complicated and more expensive than a divorce. Let’s take a look at both the grounds and the process. Grounds: • One spouse is still married...

07 October

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Google, a Clients Worst Enemy

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Family Law, Legal Advice, Uncategorized

There are few people today who are not familiar with a computer and/or phone on which they can search the web via Google to find answers for almost any question they can imagine. While this is an excellent source of information and often very helpful, it can also be a detriment to getting answers that are really the truth. In the area of information regarding legal issues, Google can sometimes be misleading. From an attorney’s standpoint, Google can be a client's worst enemy. When an attorney is handling a case for a client, he or she will have the education needed...

27 September

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How to Establish Paternity in Florida ? Part Two: Establishing Paternity in the Courts

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Family Law, Legal Advice, Paternity, Uncategorized

Sometimes the issue of deciding the biological and or legal paternity of a child is best done through the courts and thus letting a judge make the final decision. In Part one of this blog, the out-of-court ways to establish who the real and or legal father of a child are discussed. This part will tell you about using the Family Courts for a paternity matter. When filing a court case to determine paternity in the state of Florida, there are four ways the action can be initiated: • The man who is needing to know if he is or is not...

16 September

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How is Paternity Established in Florida? Part One: What is paternity, and how is it established out of court?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Family Law, Legal Advice, Paternity, Uncategorized

Definition of “paternity” as found in Merriam-Webster dictionary, “the quality or state of being a father”. In other words, the man who fathers a child is considered to have the paternity of that child. While this may seem obvious to a man who thinks he is the father of a child, there can sometimes be a situation when his paternity or fatherhood is called into question. Unlike the mother who bears a child and so is most definitely the mother, it can be unclear as to precisely who is the true father. Frequently, in the contemporary society of our modern...

04 September

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Does Divorce Have to be Filed in the Same State as Where the Marriage Took Place?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Divorce Law News, Family Law, Legal Advice, Time Sharing, Uncategorized

Does Divorce Have to be Filed in the Same State as Where the Marriage Took Place

No, a divorce does not have to be filed in the same state as where the marriage took place. In fact, you would file for a divorce in the state in which you are a resident. But be careful, states have different requirements for establishing and claiming residency for a divorce, and sometimes counties within a state have their own resident requirements as well. Some states have several ways to establish residency for divorce, but most states have a basic amount of time as the requirement. The proof of residency requirements can be for the person filing for divorce, or...

24 August

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What if My Spouse “Won’t Give Me a Divorce”?

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Divorce Law News, Family Law, Legal Advice, Time Sharing, Uncategorized

There was a time, and in a few states, it is still true, if a couple wanted to get a divorce there must be a proven reason such as infidelity, abuse, abandonment, or mental cruelty. In Florida, for example, this is no longer the way divorce works. Now, if only one person in the couple wants a divorce, or dissolution of marriage as it is now termed, the court will grant their request. Florida is what is termed a “no-fault state.” While this sounds simplistic, it does not mean a person can just file for a divorce and get one without...

What if My Spouse Won’t Give Me a Divorce-min

13 August

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Timesharing Rights

Posted by Grant Gisondo

in Divorce Law News, Family Law, Legal Advice, Time Sharing, Uncategorized

Timesharing is the right of the minor child for frequent and continuing contact with the parents, not the parents’ right to see the child. It is, for this reason, the concept of doing away with primary and secondary custody and replacing this with parental timesharing, the main part of shared parenting, was instituted. Most states embrace parental timesharing, including Florida. It is still possible to have sole custody of a minor child in Florida if a parent is in jail, has been convicted of child abuse or domestic violence, is on drugs, or is mentally, emotionally, or physically incapable of...