Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog

Florida Courts Limit the Use of Income Deduction Orders for Attorney’s Fee Collection

Published on: May 28, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

Financial disputes often continue long after a divorce judgment is entered. Questions frequently arise regarding enforcement mechanisms available to collect unpaid obligations, particularly when attorney’s fees are involved. A recent Florida decision highlights important limits on the use of income deduction orders in post-divorce litigation and clarifies when such orders may be used to collect attorney’s fee awards. If you are involved in a dispute concerning support enforcement or post-judgment family law issues, it is advisable to speak with a Miami family law attorney to understand your rights and available remedies.

Facts and Procedural History

Allegedly, the former spouses had been involved in extensive post-judgment litigation following the dissolution of their marriage, including prior appellate proceedings concerning the underlying final judgment.

It is alleged that the trial court entered multiple post-judgment orders that awarded attorney’s fees to the former husband, adjudicated the former wife in contempt, restricted certain discovery efforts, and issued income deduction orders designed to secure payment of the attorney’s fee awards. Continue reading ›

Florida Court Reinforces Due Process Protections in Family Law Proceedings

Published on: May 21, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

Family law disputes often involve heated disagreements, urgent motions, and scheduling conflicts. While trial courts have broad authority to manage their dockets and address litigation conduct, that authority is not unlimited. Parties facing sanctions must still receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before financial penalties are imposed against them. A recent Florida ruling demonstrates the importance of these fundamental due process protections and serves as a reminder that courts must follow proper procedures before awarding sanctions. If you are involved in a contentious custody, paternity, or family law dispute, you should speak with a Miami family law attorney to ensure your rights are protected throughout the litigation process.

Facts and Procedural History

Allegedly, the parties were involved in a paternity action that included disputes concerning issues related to a child’s school boundary designation. A hearing on the father’s motions was scheduled for late May 2024.

It is alleged that two days before the scheduled hearing, the mother’s attorney moved to withdraw from representation based on irreconcilable differences. Counsel also requested a continuance to allow the mother adequate time to secure new legal representation. Continue reading ›

Florida Court Dicusses Challenges to Final Orders in Divorce Actions

Published on: May 14, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

Divorce litigation often involves complicated financial issues that require trial courts to carefully identify assets, liabilities, support obligations, and attorney’s fee awards. When required findings are missing or property is improperly classified, even an otherwise thorough final judgment may not withstand appellate review. A recent Florida opinion demonstrates how failures to make sufficient factual findings can affect nearly every aspect of a dissolution proceeding and highlights the importance of preserving such errors for appeal. If you are involved in a high-asset divorce or complex financial dispute, you should speak with a Miami family law attorney to ensure your rights are protected at every stage of the litigation process.

Case History

Allegedly, the parties were involved in a contested dissolution of marriage proceeding that required the trial court to address numerous financial issues, including equitable distribution, temporary support obligations, valuation of a law practice, attorney’s fees, and the characterization of certain investment accounts.

It is alleged that after trial, the court entered a final judgment resolving the parties’ disputes. The judgment valued the husband’s law practice, addressed temporary support arrearages, distributed certain assets and liabilities, awarded attorney’s fees to the wife, and treated a brokerage account that predated the marriage as a marital asset. Continue reading ›

Florida Court Discusses Retroactive Child Support and Family Assets in Divorce Case

Published on: May 7, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

When parents separate, financial support for children and the division of family property can become some of the most emotionally charged and fiercely contested issues in a divorce. Courts are tasked not only with ensuring that children receive adequate financial support but also with fairly distributing the assets accumulated during a marriage, including items that carry significant sentimental value. A recent Florida decision illustrates how errors in addressing retroactive child support and marital property can require reversal and further proceedings, even after a final judgment has been entered. If you are involved in a divorce or custody dispute and have questions about child support, equitable distribution, or your parental rights, you should speak with a Miami family law attorney as soon as possible to protect your interests.

Case Setting

Allegedly, the parties were married in 2011 and shared one minor child. The husband filed a petition for dissolution of marriage, and the wife responded with a counterpetition seeking related relief.

It is alleged that the parties separated and that the minor child primarily resided with the wife throughout most of the separation period. During the litigation, the wife sought retroactive child support and presented evidence concerning the child’s needs and the husband’s financial circumstances. Continue reading ›

Florida Court Discusses Evidence in Termination of Parental Rights Cases

Published on: April 27, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

When a child’s life is endangered, courts must determine whether parental conduct rises to the level of egregious behavior sufficient to justify the permanent termination of parental rights. In a recent Florida case, the court examined that difficult legal threshold, demonstrating how courts evaluate severe neglect, expert testimony, and the sufficiency of evidence in life-threatening situations. If you are facing allegations that could affect your parental rights in South Florida, you should speak with a Miami family law attorney to understand how these legal standards may apply to your situation.

Facts and Procedural History

Allegedly, a young child was brought to a hospital in an extremely malnourished state, suffering from significant medical complications that required emergency intervention and intensive care.

It is alleged that the child had not received consistent pediatric care for an extended period and that the parents delayed seeking medical attention until the child’s condition became critical. Medical professionals observed severe weight loss, muscle deterioration, and organ-related complications consistent with prolonged malnutrition. Continue reading ›

Court Discusses Findings in Florida Divorce Cases

Published on: April 20, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

In a divorce case, the outcome is only as strong as the reasoning behind it. When a court distributes property or decides support without clearly explaining its analysis, the entire judgment becomes vulnerable to reversal. A recent Florida case highlights how even a finalized divorce judgment can unravel when required statutory findings are missing, serving as a reminder that clarity and precision are not optional in family law rulings. If you are going through a divorce in South Florida, you should consult a Miami family law attorney to ensure that your financial rights are fully protected and properly addressed.

History of the Case

Allegedly, the parties’ marriage was dissolved by a final judgment that addressed equitable distribution and alimony. The trial court entered an amended final judgment that included an unequal distribution of marital assets but did not provide the specific findings required by statute to support that decision.

Reportedly, the husband challenged the judgment on appeal, asserting that the trial court failed to consider and document the statutory factors necessary to justify both the distribution and the alimony determination. Continue reading ›

Florida Court Explains Grounds for Awarding Nominal Alimony

Published on: April 14, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

Alimony decisions often turn on more than what a party can afford at the time of trial. Courts must also consider how financial circumstances may change in the future and whether those changes warrant preserving the ability to revisit support. A recent Florida ruling highlights the importance of nominal alimony, a mechanism that allows courts to retain jurisdiction when a paying party’s current inability to pay is likely to improve. If you are dealing with alimony issues in South Florida, you should speak with a Miami family law attorney to ensure your rights are fully protected both now and in the future.

History of the Case

Allegedly, the parties were married for a significant period, and the central issue at trial was whether alimony should be awarded following the dissolution of the marriage.

It is alleged that the parties agreed that the wife had a financial need for support, while the husband contested the ability to pay based on claimed income limitations and ongoing financial obligations. Continue reading ›

Florida Court Discusses Jurisdiction in Family Law Cases

Published on: April 7, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

You cannot win a case if the court never had the authority to hear it in the first place. Jurisdiction is the foundation of every legal action, and when it is missing, even otherwise valid claims can be dismissed before they are ever considered on the merits. A recent Florida opinion demonstrates how strict residency requirements can prevent a Florida court from addressing disputes involving marital property, particularly when international elements are involved. If your family law matter involves property, parties, or proceedings outside Florida, you should speak with a Miami family law attorney to ensure your case is properly positioned from the outset.

Facts and Procedural History

Allegedly, the parties were divorced in a foreign country, but the divorce decree did not address certain real property located in Florida. The wife subsequently filed an action in Florida seeking equitable distribution of that property, attempting to resolve the outstanding issue of ownership through the Florida court system.

Reportedly, the wife acknowledged in the pleadings that neither party was a permanent resident of Florida and that both individuals remained citizens of a foreign country. The pleadings did not assert that either party satisfied Florida’s statutory residency requirement. Continue reading ›

Court Examines Visitation Rights in the Context of Florida Dependency Cases

Published on: March 28, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

Visitation rights play a critical role in maintaining the parent-child relationship during dependency proceedings, even when a child has been removed from a parent’s custody. Courts must carefully balance the child’s safety with a parent’s fundamental rights, ensuring that any modification to visitation complies with due process requirements. A recent Florida decision highlights the legal consequences of altering visitation without proper notice or an opportunity to be heard. If you are involved in a dependency proceeding, you should consult a Miami family law attorney to safeguard your rights and ensure that courts follow the required legal standards.

Facts and Procedural History

Allegedly, the child was removed from the mother’s custody and placed in substitute care, with the court ordering supervised in-person visitation twice per week. The mother complied with the visitation schedule and maintained regular contact with the child.

It is alleged that subsequent reports filed by the care provider and guardian did not recommend any changes to the existing visitation arrangement, nor did they indicate that in-person visitation would be restricted or eliminated.

Florida Court Explains Grounds for Issuing a Domestic Violence Injunction

Published on: March 21, 2026 | by Sandy T. Fox

Domestic violence injunctions serve as an important legal tool to protect individuals from harm, but courts must carefully apply statutory requirements before restricting parental rights and contact. A recent Florida decision highlights the necessity of proving either actual domestic violence or a reasonable fear of imminent harm, particularly when an injunction affects a parent-child relationship. If you have questions about domestic violence injunctions, you should talk to a Miami domestic violence attorney who can help you protect your interests.

Facts and Procedural History

Allegedly, the mother filed a petition seeking an injunction for protection against domestic violence on behalf of a minor child, asserting that the father had engaged in abusive conduct and that the child feared future harm.

It is alleged that the petition described prior incidents of alleged physical and emotional mistreatment, including a past disciplinary incident and statements attributed to the father that caused the child distress. The mother also cited an incident during a visitation exchange in which the child became upset and resisted leaving.