| March 05, 2010 |
| Tips for a Successful Divorce |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Divorce doesn’t always have to be a messy, complicated process. It’s very possible for a divorce to be done in a civil and respectful manner, even when issues that are normally hotly contested are involved, such as property division or child custody ... |
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| Continue reading "Tips for a Successful Divorce" » |
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| March 04, 2010 |
| Judge Orders Awards Child Support to Bristol Palin |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| An Alaska judge has ordered Levi Johnston to pay Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, $18,000 in past-due child support for their one-year-old son. Palin can also subpoena any of Johnston’s commercial ... |
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| Continue reading "Judge Orders Awards Child Support to Bristol Palin " » |
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| March 02, 2010 |
| Military Child Custody Bill Faces Opposition |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| A new child custody bill affecting military members is being received with mixed opinions. HR 4469, sponsored by Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), would prevent the courts from permanently changing an existing custody order while a service member is ... |
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| Continue reading "Military Child Custody Bill Faces Opposition" » |
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| March 01, 2010 |
| CNN Contributor May Have Fathered Child With Mistress |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Jeffrey Toobin, an author and legal analyst for CNN, is the most recent public figure at the center of a paternity dispute. Toobin recently appeared in a Manhattan family court to address accusations that he is the father of Casey Greenfield’s baby. ... |
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| Continue reading "CNN Contributor May Have Fathered Child With Mistress" » |
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| February 25, 2010 |
| Family Conflict More Harmful Than Divorce |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Ruth Bettelheim, a psychotherapist, marriage and family counselor, and author, wrote an article in which she claims divorce isn’t what’s damaging to children—family conflict is. Bettelheim points out that multiple studies have shown that divorce and ... |
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| Continue reading "Family Conflict More Harmful Than Divorce" » |
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| February 23, 2010 |
| Recession Making it Hard For Parents to Keep Up With Child Support |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| As the economy forces more companies to lay off employees and more employees are losing their jobs, those people who have been ordered to pay child support are having trouble making their payments. These are not people who are lazy or trying to ... |
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| Continue reading "Recession Making it Hard For Parents to Keep Up With Child Support" » |
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| February 22, 2010 |
| Gaining Custody & Visitation Rights After a Domestic Violence Conviction |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Once a person has been convicted of domestic violence or abuse, it is usually very difficult to get custody or visitation rights—difficult, but not impossible. The key to winning back your rights is by establishing that spending time with you is in ... |
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| Continue reading "Gaining Custody & Visitation Rights After a Domestic Violence Conviction" » |
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| February 19, 2010 |
| Man May Still Have to Pay $80K in Support, Despite Monthly Earnings of $3k |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| The courts are supposed to modify a child support arrangement if one parent proves they are no longer able to keep up with the payments due to a significant change in circumstances. That’s how it’s supposed to be, but a judge in Las Vegas has failed ... |
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| Continue reading "Man May Still Have to Pay $80K in Support, Despite Monthly Earnings of $3k" » |
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| February 18, 2010 |
| Protecting Your Assets with QTIPS |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Drafting a prenuptial agreement is one of the many ways a married couple can protect their assets. While filing a prenuptial agreement is great way to ensure you’re protected, there is a way to further protect your assets if you're interested. ... |
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| Continue reading "Protecting Your Assets with QTIPS" » |
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| February 17, 2010 |
| Poll Finds 90% of Americans Would Remarry Their Spouse |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| It seems as if every week another article or news story is released discussing the high divorce rate around the country. But one recently released CBS New poll says those people who are married are happily married, and would marry their spouse ... |
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| Continue reading "Poll Finds 90% of Americans Would Remarry Their Spouse" » |
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| February 16, 2010 |
| DNA Testing Now Being Used for Health Insurance Coverage? |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Some insurance companies are now requiring men to prove their paternity before they can obtain coverage for their child under their health insurance policy. The only way to prove one’s paternity is by taking a DNA test, so many men are getting DNA ... |
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| Continue reading "DNA Testing Now Being Used for Health Insurance Coverage? " » |
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| February 15, 2010 |
| Interested in Applying for a Name Change? |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Filing for a name change is one of the most common aspects of a paternity dispute. Once a child’s parentage has officially been determined, it’s not unusual for the parents to want to change the child’s name to reflect that of his biological father, ... |
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| Continue reading "Interested in Applying for a Name Change?" » |
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| February 12, 2010 |
| Girl, 12, Gets Help to Divorce 80-Year-Old Husband |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| A 12-year-old Saudi Arabia girl who was forced to marry an 80-year-old man is receiving help from the Human Rights Commission, according to the Times of London . The girl’s father arranged the marriage to his 80-year-old cousin against both the ... |
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| Continue reading "Girl, 12, Gets Help to Divorce 80-Year-Old Husband" » |
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| February 11, 2010 |
| Canadian White Supremacist Loses Custody of Children |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Here’s an interesting case out of Canada: CTV, Canada’s largest private broadcaster, has reported that a man with ties to a white supremacist group has lost custody of his two children. Child & Family Services was alerted in March 2008 when the ... |
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| Continue reading "Canadian White Supremacist Loses Custody of Children" » |
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| February 10, 2010 |
| Kate Walsh and her Ex Will Divide Assets by Flipping a Coin as Part of Divorce Settlement |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Kate Walsh, star of the ABC television drama “Private Practice”, has reached a divorce settlement with her former husband, FOX executive Alex Young. Under the terms of the settlement, Walsh will pay Young a one-time payment of $627,000, along with ... |
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| Continue reading "Kate Walsh and her Ex Will Divide Assets by Flipping a Coin as Part of Divorce Settlement" » |
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| February 09, 2010 |
| Man too Young to Pay Child Support has Tax Return Withheld |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| When a parent fails to make child support payments the state of Florida will withhold their tax return and use it to pay back any past-due payments. While this policy seems far enough it becomes a problem when a person is wrongly identified as a ... |
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| Continue reading "Man too Young to Pay Child Support has Tax Return Withheld" » |
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| February 08, 2010 |
| Michigan Woman Jailed for Polygamy |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| A Michigan woman has been sentenced to 15 days in county jail after pleading guilty to polygamy charges. According to authorities, Lorri L. Freesland, 43, wasn’t divorce from her first husband, whom she married in 2000, when she married her second ... |
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| Continue reading "Michigan Woman Jailed for Polygamy" » |
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| February 05, 2010 |
| Paternity Dispute Finally Resolved with DNA Test |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| A Florida man whose wife tried to have him killed is now involved in a paternity dispute with a woman he was in a relationship with eleven years ago. Karen Tanne filed a paternity suit claiming Michael Dippolito is the father of her child. Her suit ... |
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| Continue reading "Paternity Dispute Finally Resolved with DNA Test" » |
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| February 04, 2010 |
| Edwards’ Infidelity Leads to Legal Separation |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| Former Presidential Candidate John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth have legally separated after more than 30 years of marriage. The couple’s separation comes after months of controversy. John admitted to having an affair with a Rielle Hunter, a ... |
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| Continue reading "Edwards’ Infidelity Leads to Legal Separation" » |
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| February 03, 2010 |
| Protecting Your Business From Divorce |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| If you own a business, it’s important to ensure you have a plan in place to protect your business and its assets in the event of divorce. One study suggests that as many 60% of U.S. business owners do not have a divorce protection plan in place. ... |
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| Continue reading "Protecting Your Business From Divorce" » |
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| February 02, 2010 |
| Brazilian Anchorman & NY Model Entangled in Custody Battle |
| Posted By Ellerin Hutchinson |
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| A wealthy Brazilian anchorman and his model ex-wife are involved in the latest international custody battle to hit headlines. This one, however, is of a slightly different nature. In essence, the bitter custody battle is a case of he said she said. ... |
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| Continue reading "Brazilian Anchorman & NY Model Entangled in Custody Battle" » |
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| February 01, 2010 |
| Chimpanzee at Center of Florida Custody Case |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Last week a Chimpanzee garnered national headlines as its owners were slated to go to court to fight for custody in Sarasota. James “Mike” Casey of Missouri is taking the chimp’s caretaker, Virginia “Gini” Valbuena, to court. Casey and his ex-wife ... |
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| Continue reading "Chimpanzee at Center of Florida Custody Case" » |
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| January 29, 2010 |
| U.S. and Japan Discuss International Custody Disputes |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| According to an article in the Washington Post, the U.S. is urging Japan to re-address its position on child custody disputes between U.S. citizens and Japanese citizens who have children together. The U.S. is also asking Japan to join an ... |
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| Continue reading "U.S. and Japan Discuss International Custody Disputes" » |
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| January 28, 2010 |
| Study Says Cohabitation is on the Rise |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| According to a report by the National Marriage Project, the number of unmarried couples who live together is on the rise. Between 1960 and 2008 “unmarried cohabitation” increased more than twelvefold. The term unmarried cohabitation is applied to ... |
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| Continue reading "Study Says Cohabitation is on the Rise" » |
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| January 27, 2010 |
| When to Contact a Paternity Lawyer? |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Both men and women involved in paternity disputes can find experienced and dedicated legal counsel at the Law Office of Scott Ellerin. Jacksonville paternity lawyer Scott Ellerin has a thorough knowledge and understanding of Florida’s paternity ... |
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| Continue reading "When to Contact a Paternity Lawyer?" » |
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| January 26, 2010 |
| Talking to Your Children About Divorce |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| If you and your spouse are planning to divorce, you are probably wondering how best to approach the subject with your kids. While you may have every intention of trying to make things easier for them, if you say the wrong thing you could make an ... |
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| Continue reading "Talking to Your Children About Divorce" » |
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| January 25, 2010 |
| Helping Grandchildren Through a Divorce |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| There are countless articles, books, and resources available to parents interested in learning how to make the divorce process as easy on their children as possible. But what about grandparents who want to help? Grandparents play an important role ... |
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| Continue reading "Helping Grandchildren Through a Divorce" » |
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| January 22, 2010 |
| More Fathers are Awarded Custody |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| A new report by Short Family Law and Attorney Litigators has found that more and more fathers are receiving primary custody of their children following a divorce. In the early 1990s, it seemed as if mothers were so clearly favored in matters of ... |
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| Continue reading "More Fathers are Awarded Custody" » |
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| January 21, 2010 |
| Facebook: Ammunition for Divorce? |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| What was initially created as way for college students to connect with other students on campus now seems to be a breeding ground for evidence of cheating husbands and wives. A British law firm claims that one in five divorce cases they’re working ... |
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| Continue reading "Facebook: Ammunition for Divorce?" » |
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| January 20, 2010 |
| Marital v. Separate Property |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| It is important to understand the difference between marital and separate property when heading into a divorce. Marital property is considered any property or debt that is acquired by either spouse during the course of the marriage, where as ... |
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| Continue reading "Marital v. Separate Property" » |
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| January 19, 2010 |
| Florida Man Sent to Prison for Failing to Pay Child Support |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| A Florida man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for willful failure to pay child support . In addition to the two-year prison sentence, Robert George Cahill was also ordered to pay $72,732 in past-due child support for his daughter, now ... |
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| Continue reading "Florida Man Sent to Prison for Failing to Pay Child Support" » |
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| January 19, 2010 |
| Avoid a Do-It-Yourself Prenuptial Agreement |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Although a do-it-yourself prenup may be tempting, it’s in your best interest to hire an experienced marital agreements attorney if you are interested in drafting a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement is an incredibly important document that ... |
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| Continue reading "Avoid a Do-It-Yourself Prenuptial Agreement" » |
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| January 18, 2010 |
| Different Types of Alimony |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| There are several types of alimony a judge can order during a divorce: Temporary Alimony is paid while the divorce is still pending. Permanent Alimony is paid indefinitely, unless one of the parties dies or the spouse receiving support remarries. ... |
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| Continue reading "Different Types of Alimony " » |
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| January 15, 2010 |
| Litigation v. Alternative Dispute Resolution |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| In reference to divorce, litigation refers to settling a divorce case in court. Resolving a divorce through litigation is much more contested than trying to settle a divorce through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). During litigation, the ... |
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| Continue reading "Litigation v. Alternative Dispute Resolution" » |
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| January 14, 2010 |
| Speak With an Attorney Before You Ask for a Divorce |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| If you are considering filing for divorce, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney before you discuss the divorce with your spouse. There are several things that could cause problems if you proceed with divorce arrangements before actually ... |
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| Continue reading "Speak With an Attorney Before You Ask for a Divorce" » |
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| January 13, 2010 |
| Modifying Child Support, Alimony and Parenting Plans |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| No situation is ever permanent. Families expand, ex-spouses get remarried, jobs are lost and gained, incomes increase and decrease, and the cost of life fluctuates. Sometimes a change in circumstances affects one’s ability to comply with a previous ... |
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| Continue reading "Modifying Child Support, Alimony and Parenting Plans" » |
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| January 12, 2010 |
| Ways to Reduce Conflict During a Divorce |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| If you and your spouse have decided to file for divorce, it's in everyone’s best interest to try and avoid conflict as much as possible, especially when children are involved. Not only are divorce cases ridden with conflict emotionally draining and ... |
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| Continue reading "Ways to Reduce Conflict During a Divorce" » |
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| January 11, 2010 |
| Disestablishing Paternity |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Have you recently learned you are not the father of a child you thought was yours? You’re not alone. Countless men throughout Florida and around the country have taken part in raising a child, only to discover later in life that the child is not ... |
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| Continue reading "Disestablishing Paternity" » |
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| January 08, 2010 |
| Why Hire a Military Divorce Attorney? |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| If you are a member of the military, and you and your spouse have decided to file for divorce, it’s to your advantage to work with an attorney who has experience handling military divorces. Although many of the issued involved in a military divorce ... |
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| Continue reading "Why Hire a Military Divorce Attorney?" » |
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| January 07, 2010 |
| Florida Child & Parental Relocation Laws |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| The state of Florida recently enacted new laws that provide specific instructions for divorce or separated parents who want to relocate with their children. These guidelines state that any parent who wishes to move 50 or more miles from their ... |
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| Continue reading "Florida Child & Parental Relocation Laws" » |
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| January 06, 2010 |
| Hidden Costs Associated with Divorce |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Going through a divorce is not only emotionally difficult, but it can also be financially very stressful as well. While many people are prepared to pay for the legal fees associated with their divorce, there are often underlying costs they may not ... |
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| Continue reading "Hidden Costs Associated with Divorce" » |
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| January 05, 2010 |
| Grounds for Filing for Divorce in Florida |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| In order for a couple to file for divorce in Florida, they must meet one of two grounds: The marriage is irretrievably broken. This essentially means that the marriage is broken beyond repair and there is no hope of saving it. Sometimes the court ... |
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| Continue reading "Grounds for Filing for Divorce in Florida" » |
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| January 04, 2010 |
| Study Finds Couples Who Fight Over Money Are More Likely to Divorce |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| A new study confirms what many people have long known: that money problems can drive couples into filing for divorce. Utah State University’s Jeffrey Dew conducted a study that found money problems raise the risk of divorce. He found that couples ... |
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| Continue reading "Study Finds Couples Who Fight Over Money Are More Likely to Divorce" » |
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| January 01, 2010 |
| What is Parental Alienation? |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Parental alienation is something many parents may have never heard of, but could be experiencing without even knowing it. Parental alienation is a situation in which one parent tries to manipulate the child into harboring negative feelings toward ... |
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| Continue reading "What is Parental Alienation?" » |
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| December 31, 2009 |
| Can Child Support Laws Work Against Parents? |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| The case of Douglas Miller is one many parents can relate to. Miller always worked hard to ensure he could make child support payments for his daughter. But when he was unexpectedly laid off as a result of the hard economy, Miller was no longer able ... |
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| Continue reading "Can Child Support Laws Work Against Parents?" » |
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| December 30, 2009 |
| Sarasota Man’s Case Sheds Light on Paternity Issue |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| The case of Christopher Martin of Sarasota sheds light on a paternity issue that all men should be aware of. Martin’s situation began when he had sex one night with Dannis Barrows, a woman he previously had a romantic relationship with but was no ... |
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| Continue reading "Sarasota Man’s Case Sheds Light on Paternity Issue" » |
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| December 29, 2009 |
| Man Kidnaps Son by Tricking Police |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| A man was able to kidnap his 10-year-old son after showing police false documents from Mexico that said he was the legal guardian of the boy. Nearly two months after the boy was handed to his father, Jean Philippe Lacombe, police have issued an ... |
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| Continue reading "Man Kidnaps Son by Tricking Police" » |
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| December 28, 2009 |
| How Alimony is Determined |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| There is no specific formula that is used to determine alimony . If the parties can reach an alimony arrangement on their own, the court will most likely agree to uphold the arrangement. However, when the courts get involved, there are several ... |
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| Continue reading "How Alimony is Determined" » |
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| December 25, 2009 |
| Enforcing a Family Court Order |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| Enforcements are commonly sought for child custody orders, visitation orders, child support orders, and spousal support orders. Each party named in the order is accountable for complying with their responsibilities outlined in the order. When one of ... |
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| Continue reading "Enforcing a Family Court Order" » |
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| December 24, 2009 |
| Common Law Marriages & Cohabitation Agreements |
| Posted By Law Office of Scott Ellerin |
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| The state of Florida still does not recognize common law marriages . What does this mean for you? This means that if you and your partner have chosen not to get married, but want to remain committed to each other, you will need to speak with an ... |
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| Continue reading "Common Law Marriages & Cohabitation Agreements" » |
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