Please find below links to various resources that may be helpful to you if you are considering or currently engaged in a divorce proceeding in the State of Florida.
Relationship Resources
A booklet published by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) which provides tips and information on the process of working towards a successful marriage. The booklet includes a sampling of books on marriage as well as a list of support groups and organizations aimed at helping marriages.
Dissolution of Marriage Proceedings Overview
A booklet published by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) which provides an overview to the divorce process as well as information on prenuptial agreements and estate planning concerns.
This page provides a birds-eye overview of what to expect if you are considering or currently engaged in a divorce proceeding in Florida. It includes things you should consider, terminology with which you should familiarize yourself, and suggestions on how you can help your attorney assist you with your case.
Children’s Issues
This PDF prepared by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) provides ten suggestions on ways parents can help lessen the impact of their break-up on their children.
Co-parenting can be challenging, particularly when the parents are experiencing numerous emotions due to changes in their relationship. This page includes some co-parenting advice given to divorcing parents by one Minnesota judge.
This PDF prepared by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) provides a list of children’s concerns parents undergoing a transition in their relationship with a significant other should not forget.
This PDF prepared by the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts provides tools, tips, and good practices for parents, who co-parent while residing separately, to follow when communicating with each other.
This PDF prepared by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas offers suggestions and information about ways parents living separately can continue to work together to raise their children.
This PDF prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics provides parents whose relationships have become irreconcilable with suggestions on how to talk to help their children adjust to the transition.
This PDF prepared by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry provides divorcing or separating parents with insight on how children may perceive their parents’ transitioning relationship and suggestions on how to assist the children with the changing family relationships.
This article, published in the Summer 2013 edition of the American Bar Association Section of Family Law Family Advocate, discusses benefits and tips to teaching organizational skills to children of blended families.
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about Parent Coordinators and their role in assisting families who are experiencing co-parenting challenges. The page also includes links to local resources available in counties throughout the State of Florida.
This publication, prepared by the Supreme Court of Arizona, provides parents who are no longer cohabiting with helpful ideas in making decisions about a parenting plan specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of their families.
This website, prepared and hosted by Zero to Three, a global non-profit organization founded in 1977 by leading researchers and clinicians in diverse disciplines focused on child development, provides information, research, and materials about, among other things, child early development and well-being, early learning, parenting, and policy and advocacy. The mission of Zero to Three is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life.
- Dear Mom & Dad: Voice of the Child of Divorce
This video, “Dear Mom & Dad”, was written by Monica Epperson, founder of The Child of Divorce. Monica experienced five divorces during her childhood and started The Child of Divorce to provide resources to children who are experiencing hurtful ramifications due to divorce.
Florida Family Stabilization Course
Attached is a list of providers that are approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families to offer the Parent Education and Family Stabilization course. The course is a minimum of 4 hours and designed to educate, train, and assist divorcing parents or parents involved in a paternity suit in regard to the consequences of a change in the parents’ relationship on the parents and children. This course is required by Section 61.21, Florida Statutes.
(Equitable distribution is the division of assets and liabilities)Equitable Distribution
This page lists helpful information you should consider providing to your Florida Family Law Attorney prior to discussing the division of assets and liabilities.
This page provides insight on ways to attempt to identify previously unknown or absconded assets during a dissolution of marriage proceeding.
A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is an order that, among other things, creates a right (or recognizes that a right exists) for a retirement plan participant’s spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent (“alternate payee”) to receive a portion or all of the monies payable under the participant’s retirement plan. This page is the U.S. Department of Labor’s frequently asked questions (FAQs) about QDROs.
Alimony
Alimony is also known as spousal support or maintenance. This page provides information on current Florida laws governing alimony awards.
Other Considerations
Recently separated or divorced individuals have a lot of things to think about, including how their new marital status may impact their federal taxes. The Internal Revenue Service has published “Publication 504” which provides information and explanations relating to tax rules, general filing information, and deductions that apply for divorced or separated individuals. Click on the link above to access the publication. Reading an IRS publication is not a valid substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified tax advisor and you should consult one if you have questions.