Author Archives: Site Administrator
Coerced Guilty Pleas in Florida
June 5, 2015 In criminal proceedings, a defendant’s plea can be taken back up until the time of sentencing. Once the defendant enters a plea and the court pronounces the sentence, the plea is final and cannot be changed. But if the defendant is coerced into pleading guilty to a crime, he or she… Read More »
Spousal Separation in Florida
June 5, 2015 Florida law does not provide for legal separation, and Florida does not recognize the status of “legally separated.” Instead, a couple that wants to physically separate without formally divorcing has to use several different Florida laws to settle their affairs. There are many reasons that a couple may not want to… Read More »
Registering as a Sexual Offender in Florida
June 3, 2015 Committing a sexual offense is a serious crime in Florida and has consequences beyond a prison sentence, fine, probation, or treatment program. Sex offenders must also register with their local sheriff’s offices, periodically report to the sheriff’s office, and keep law enforcement updated on their travel outside their counties of residence…. Read More »
Stepparent Adoption in Florida
June 3, 2015 It is common for a parent to remarry after a divorce. One important issue in remarriages involving stepchildren is the legal relationship between the child and the stepparent. In Florida, a stepparent has no parental rights over a child and has no responsibilities toward the child. Only biological or adoptive parents… Read More »
Five Substances Added to the Controlled Substances List
May 29, 2015 Five dangerous synthetic cannabinoids have been added to Florida’s list of controlled substances. House Bill 897 passed the Florida legislature unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. It classifies the five drugs as Schedule I controlled substances, effective immediately. Schedule I Schedule I controlled substances have a high… Read More »
Interference With Child Custody
May 29, 2015 Heather Hironimus, the mother whose refusal to circumcise her son has made national news, now faces criminal charges for interference with custody. She fought a legal battle for years, trying to prevent her four-year-old son from being circumcised, though she had agreed to circumcision in the parenting plan. Hironimus was recently… Read More »
What are Lesser Included Offenses?
May 25, 2015 Many criminal charges have less serious charges contained within them; often, a misdemeanor is contained within a felony. These less serious charges are known as lesser included offenses. A person may be charged with both the greater charge and the lesser included offense. If a jury does not find that the… Read More »
Modifying Parenting Plans in Florida
May 25, 2015 A parenting plan is an essential tool for co-parenting. The creation of a parenting plan is required in all cases where parents have time-sharing with minor children. The plan outlines each parent’s responsibilities to the child and specifies a time-sharing schedule. Courts approve parenting plans based on the child’s best interests,… Read More »
Name Changes for Children
May 21, 2015 Parents may seek to change their children’s names for a variety of reasons, whether because of a parent’s divorce or marriage, or any other reason. Though name changes sometimes result from a parent’s changing relationship with a child, a name change does not have any effect on a parent’s legal obligations… Read More »
Property Division in Military Divorce
May 19, 2015 Property settlements in Florida, both for military and non-military divorces, are based on equitable distribution. This does not necessarily mean equal distribution, but rather that a judge will consider a list of factors to determine how to fairly divide the property. However, in military divorces, there are some special considerations and… Read More »
