Can Bankruptcy Affect My Credit Score?
Bankruptcy can help you get a much better handle on your finances, get out from under crushing debt, and obtain a new financial lease on life, but it can also negatively affect your credit score. The benefits that bankruptcy can afford in a difficult financial situation, however, can far outweigh...
Continue ReadingWhat is the Cost of a Divorce in Florida?
If you are facing a divorce – or are considering divorce – you recognize that it can be a costly endeavor. The fact is that it’s more expensive to maintain two households than one, which means both you and your ex are likely to face a financial setback. There is...
Continue ReadingWhat Are Common Questions about Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a complicated but important legal matter that can afford you the opportunity to crawl out from under crushing debt and move forward toward a fresh financial start. Chapter 13 bankruptcy refers to a supervised payment plan in which you don’t have to liquidate your assets but instead secure...
Continue ReadingHow is Child Support Determined?
If you are facing a divorce that involves children or are breaking up with someone with whom you share a child, child support is likely a concern. The same is true if you already have a child support order but need a modification. Florida, like other states, requires parents to...
Continue ReadingWhat Happens if One Parent Will Not Pay Support?
Florida courts determine if child support is necessary in cases involving children. If so, they will also determine which parent pays and in what amounts. Child support is a legal obligation. Parents who receive a court order to pay must do so, or they can face severe and long-lasting penalties....
Continue ReadingCan Child Support Be Waived if Both Parents Agree?
In Florida child support child support is a calculation primarily based on income and the amount of overnights that the parent has the child. At times, parents wonder if they can mutually agree to waive child support obligations. While this might seem like a legal agreement between two adults that...
Continue ReadingSteps in the Divorce Process in Florida
As much as you want your divorce to be over with and to live a separate life from your soon-to-be ex-spouse, divorce is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. The State of Florida requires certain steps to be taken for a once-married couple to become officially divorced and recognized as...
Continue ReadingWhat Are Common Questions About Chapter 11 Bankruptcy?
In general, bankruptcy is a legal tool allowing individual, married, or business debtors to get out from under certain debts. However, there are many myths about bankruptcy, and the topic brings up many questions. Here, our skilled bankruptcy attorney, Brian McMahon, answers some of the most common questions about Chapter...
Continue ReadingHow to File for Child Custody Contempt in FL
Court-ordered child custody arrangements are legally enforceable orders that set out the specific terms and conditions of visitation and parenting time for parents and their kids. If your ex or co-parent doesn’t want to comply with the order, they can be held in contempt of court. Violating a Child Custody...
Continue ReadingAre Mothers Favored in Divorce Court?
During a divorce - and specifically when it comes to resolving child custody disputes - courts have, in the past, favored mothers when awarding child custody due to the antiquated tender years doctrine. This legal doctrine has been around since 1800 and states that child custody during their tender years...
Continue ReadingFiling for Bankruptcy in FL
While you may have other debt-relief options available to you to fix your financial health, filing for bankruptcy in FL is the most practical option for a lot of people who are having difficulties supporting themselves. In Florida, the most common options for bankruptcy are chapter 7 and chapter 13....
Continue ReadingHow Old Does a Child Have to Be to Refuse Visitation in FL
There’s no lawfully defined age at which the wishes or preferences of a child regarding visitation would be honored. This sticky situation is very common and places the parent in an ethical and legal predicament. Under the law, it is the state’s public policy that all minor children have continuing...
Continue ReadingDoes Child Support Increase If My Salary Increases?
Under Florida law, both parents are financially responsible for helping raise their kids, regardless of whether they are together or not. This is why family courts impose financial obligations on parents during paternity cases and divorce proceedings. When judges calculate how much child support the non-custodial parent must pay, they...
Continue ReadingDoes a Stepparent Have Any Legal Rights in Florida?
Becoming a stepparent comes with new challenges and responsibilities, and when you assume your new role as a stepparent, losing your stepchildren is the farthest thing on your mind. But not all relationships last. During a divorce, it can be immensely challenging to maintain the relationship you’ve built with your...
Continue ReadingCan a Divorce Affect My Retirement Fund?
Protecting your retirement fund may not be a priority when considering or are in the middle of a divorce. Most likely, the emotional toll of the divorce on you and your family is probably at the top of your list. However, your financial health also matters, and this includes ensuring...
Continue ReadingCreditors Approach to the COVID Crisis FAQ
(COVID Crisis) – Policies are changing every day, please contact us to discuss solutions that may suit you Can I skip my rent payment during COVID crisis: This will be up to your landlord. Often times, the landlord has to continue to pay the mortgage. So, the landlord will still...
Continue ReadingHow to Select a Bankruptcy Lawyer
It’s a helpless feeling. But each day, hundreds of people throughout West Palm Beach file for bankruptcy as a last resort to pay off their debts. Whether you’re planning to file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the process can be complex. Unless you’re an expert in bankruptcy law, tackling...
Continue ReadingWhat Bankruptcy is Right for Me?
For most Americans, there are two applicable chapters in bankruptcy, chapter 7 and chapter 13. The determination of filing either a chapter 7 or chapter 13 is made first, by the consumer’s needs and second, by the amount of assets or amount of income. The “new” bankruptcy laws created a...
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