Jacksonville Divorce Attorney Blog

June 8, 2018

Paternity in Florida: Who Pays For Birth Expenses?

For any father who is involved in a Florida paternity action, it can be overwhelming to learn that you may have to pay not only child support, but retroactive child support and birth expenses for the child. Is there any way to limit the cost of what has to be paid to the mother for the time period prior to the paternity ordered being entered? The answer is: it’s possible.

Florida Statute 742.031 provides that in a paternity action, the court shall order the father to pay moneys sufficient to pay reasonable attorney’s fees, hospital or medical expenses, cost of confinement, and any other expenses incident to the birth of the child and to pay all costs of the proceeding, if appropriate. The statute provides that bills for pregnancy, child birth, and scientific testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony and shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf of the child.

Where it can be tricky is what is “appropriate” as defined in the statute? In Dustan v. Weatherspoon, 505 So.2d 23 (Fla. 3^rdDCA 1987), there was an appeal of a paternity action’s child support order. The mother alleged that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to require the child’s father to pay any portion of the expenses incidental to the birth of the minor child. The appellate court agreed with the mother. The court stated: “These rather minimal child support requirements seem to us the least that a father should be expected to do for his child, providing, of course, the father can afford it.”

May 22, 2018

Golfer Lucas Glover’s Wife Arrested in Florida: Family Law Implications

by Holli Dean

National headlines were made when the wife of former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover was arrested for domestic violence battery and resisting arrest in St. Johns County, Florida on May 13, 2018. The altercation allegedly occurred after Lucas Glover missed the 54-hole cut at The Players Championship. Lucas Glover told authorities that his wife gets violent every time he does not play well in a major PGA Tournament. There were allegedly visible injuries on Lucas Glover and his mother. Krista Glover faces a court date on May 31, 2018 and was released on a $2,500 bond.

The Glovers children were present at the home when the incident happened. Krista Glover had been drinking throughout the day and started yelling profane insults at Lucas Glover in front of their children and his mother. Lucas Glover told her to stop the argument while in front of the children. The children were in bed when the physical altercation happened, and it is unknown if they observed any of the altercation or the subsequent arrest afterwards where Krista Glover allegedly resisted arrest. The couple was married in 2012 and have two children, a two-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.

The consequences of arguments in front of the children can be serious to both the aggressor and the victim. The Florida Department of Children and Families may become involved if they receive an abuse report to investigate regarding the situation, which could even lead to possible removal of the children from both parties if it is alleged Lucas Glover failed to protect the children from multiple instances. Also, it is key that alcohol was involved. Drinking is perfectly legal and acceptable; as long as there is not a demonstrable effect on the children. If there is a demonstrable effect on the children, alcohol treatment would most likely be ordered by a dependency court.

May 17, 2018

Lessons to be Learned Regarding Interspousal Gifts During a Marriage

by Holli Dean

The Florida Supreme Court, on March 30, 2017, issued an opinion in Hooker v. Hooker, 220 So.3d 397 (Fla. 2017) finding a Florida horse farm and a New York summer home interspousal gifts and, therefore, subject to equitable distribution as marital property despite a prenuptial agreement in existence. The prenuptial agreement provided that, upon divorce, each party would retain his or her premarital assets and any appreciation of those assets. Both parties had independent sources of income from family inheritances and they maintained separate finances throughout the marriage. The parties were married for 23 years.

The Florida horse farm, “Hickstead,” was purchased in 1989 and the Hickstead deed listed “Alice I. Hooker Trust FBO, for the benefit of, Timothy I. Hooker” as the grantee. Husband and Wife signed the mortgage on Hickstead. When Hickstead was purchased, it was vacant land and it later became through the course of the marriage a working horse farm with 16 stalls, etc. and the marital home in one wing upstairs and the other wing was the staff apartment. Wife was “extremely and directly involved in all aspects of the Hickstead residence which was the family’s primary home for approximately 20 years,” according to the findings of the trial court. Wife was not limited or restricted in any way from incurring the costs and expenses of maintaining and operating a family home at Hickstead, from the Husband’s assets. Wife was provided unfettered access to the stables and horses to pursue her lifelong passion.

The New York summer home, “Lake George,” was purchased in 1997 and was titled only in the Husband’s name and only Husband signed the mortgage. It was purchased, built and maintained as a summer residence for the family. The Husband paid the expenses for Lake George with his independent funds and Wife was never a signatory on that account and never had access to that account. However, the Husband sent Wife a card for their tenth wedding anniversary with a picture of the property after the Wife had expressed a desire to have a home up north and both parties searched for a suitable property.

May 11, 2018

The Tightrope: Protecting Enhancement in Value and Appreciation of Non-Marital Assets

by Holli Dean

Equitable distribution of assets in Florida divorces can be a complex and divisive issue. Regarding trusts and divorces, you can walk a fine line between a marital asset and a non-marital asset. Enhancement in value and appreciation can be a marital asset in certain situations.

Oxley v. Oxley, 695 So.2d 364 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1997) is a case that is especially relevant regarding a person placing their property in a revocable trust with themselves as trustee, hiring a financial manager to make the daily investment decisions, and thereby protecting themselves from the Florida Statute § 61.075(6)(a)(1). This section provides marital assets and liabilities to include the enhancement in value and appreciation of non-marital assets resulting either from the efforts of either party during the marriage or from the contribution to or expenditure thereon of marital funds or other forms of marital assets, or both. Meaning, technically, a non-marital trust’s appreciation of value could be considered marital property unless specific requirements are followed. Oxley spells out how to avoid appreciation being considered in the dissolution of marriage.

In Oxley, the parties’ marital income was primarily from trust distributions to the husband which he supplemented with a salary taken as president of a family holding company. The trust is revocable and was established prior to the marriage by the husband that provides that all income is payable to husband. The investment decisions for the trust was made for the husband’s exclusive benefit by the trustee based on the advice of the husband’s father and brother. It had multiple, active investments such as several working oil wells. On one occasion the husband invested $400,000 of trust funds through a separate money manager. At the time of the marriage, the trust was valued at $2 million and then increased to $7 million at the time of dissolution; and the increase was attributable to undistributed income that has accumulated during the marriage and upon which he paid personal income tax. The trust also owned and paid the expenses on the marital home. The husband also owned 50% of a corporation found to be a gift (technically purchased for a nominal amount) from his father. As company president, the husband’s activities were largely ministerial and ceremonial, and he left the management and investment decisions to others. The trial court in Oxley ruled that the trust, including the undistributed income, were non-marital assets, which significantly limited the wife’s equitable distribution.

April 20, 2018

Distribution of Assets of a Trust not allowed by Florida Divorce Court

by Holli Dean

Equitable distribution in Florida during a divorce can be a frightening prospect. What are the rules regarding distribution of assets of a trust in a divorce? Does the divorce court have the authority to distribute trust assets?

The appellate courts in Florida have addressed this issue. The appellate court held that without consent from all beneficiaries to the trust, the trial court did not have the authority to distribute any asset of the trust. See Sylvester v. Sylvester, 557 So.2d 599, 600 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1990). In Sylvester, the court held that the trial court’s finding that the irrevocable trust, which was the only source from which the husband could comply with the judgment, could be terminated by husband at any time, was erroneous due to the court’s failure to have all indispensable parties before it. The trust would have to be before the court joined with the trustee and beneficiaries.

Similarly, in Minsky v. Minsky, 779 So.2d 375 (Fla. 2^nd DCA 2000), the appellate court reversed the determination that trust funds are a marital asset and the resulting equitable distribution in a dissolution action. The trial court incorrectly determined that because the parties had used the trust accounts as marital funds, the funds had “taken on the nature of a marital asset” and awarded the trust funds to the wife. The appellate court indicated that, in effect, the trial court dissolved the trust created for the children’s benefit and the husband as trustee and declared it a marital asset. The court held that the trial court does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate property rights of nonparties.

April 11, 2018

The Nelson Case: Non-Marital Property By Contract With An Irrevocable Trust

by Holli Dean

In a Florida divorce case, sometimes, a marital asset can become non-marital property of one spouse by contract. Or one spouse can become the beneficial owner of marital property by transferring it to an irrevocable trust.

In Nelson v. Nelson, 206 So.3d 818 (Fla. 2^nd DCA 2016), a husband and wife transferred an out-of-state home to an irrevocable trust that had the wife as sole trustee. The appellate court ruled that because the husband waived all right to alter, amend, modify, revoke, or terminate the trust, and the trust instrument did not contain a provision dissolving the trust upon divorce, the trust was irrevocable. The court ruled that the out-of-state home was not marital property subject to equitable distribution in a divorce. Neither the wife nor the beneficiary daughter had applied for modification or revocation of the trust, so the court could not dissolve the trust.

This case illustrates an example of how property can be classified in a divorce. When the husband bought the out-of-state property and jointly titled it with his wife, the home became marital property. When the husband transferred the home to the trust, it ceased being marital property and became non-marital. In addition, the Nelson court cites to Hansen v. Bothe, 10 So.3d 213 (Fla. 2^nd DCA 2009) regarding the Former Husband’s Trust instrument not containing a provision dissolving the Trust upon divorce. In Hansen, the court held that divorce of husband and wife who were co-settlors and co-trustees of a revocable trust, did not terminate the trust even though wife relinquished any rights she had under the trust as part of the divorce. The trust in Hansen contained no provision terminating it upon divorce of co-settlors, and the trust explicitly provided for replacement trustees in the event the original trustees ceased to serve.

April 2, 2018

Non-Marital Assets and Liabilities in Florida Divorces

by Holli Dean

Non-marital assets and liabilities are defined in Florida Family Law as 1) assets acquired and liabilities incurred by either party prior to the marriage, and assets acquired and liabilities incurred in exchange for such assets and liabilities; 2) Assets acquired separately by either party by noninterspousal gift, bequest, devise, or descent, and assets acquired in exchange for such assets; 3) All income derived from nonmarital assets during the marriage unless the income was treated, used, or relied upon by the parties as a marital asset; 4) assets and liabilities excluded from marital assets and liabilities by valid written agreement of the parties, and assets acquired and liabilities incurred in exchange for such assets. See Fla. Stat. § 61.075(6)(b)(1-4).

In a dissolution of marriage case, the court must set apart each spouse’s non-marital assets and liabilities and marital assets and liabilities and must begin with the premise that the distribution should be equal absent justification for unequal distribution pursuant to factors under the statute. See Fla. Stat. § 61.075(1). Assets acquired before marriage are not marital assets and remain the property of the owner spouse in the absence of evidence of a gift or conveyance of the assets to the owner’s spouse. See Moss v. Moss, 829 So.2d 302 (Fla. 5^th DCA 2002); see also Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So.2d 1197 (Fla. 1980). Essentially, the court in Horton v. Horton, 433 So.2d 1386 (Fla. 5^th DCA 1983) stated:

“When a marriage partner brings his or her own property to the marriage and does not make a transfer of the asset or any portion of it to the spouse then that asset remains separate property. Upon dissolution of the marriage the asset is still owned by the original owner. Unless the asset, or a portion of it, is awarded as lump sum alimony then the court must recognize the proper ownership of the property and not take it from the owner.”

February 21, 2018

The Magic Date for Alimony and Tax Deductions: December 31, 2018

by Holli Dean

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “TCJA” has a definite effect on alimony payments. Prior to the new law, alimony payments could be deducted by the payer for federal income tax purposes and recipients had to report the payments as taxable income. Any divorces finalized before December 31, 2018 will continue under the old tax law. Any divorces finalized after December 32, 2018 apply under the TCJA eliminates the deduction for alimony payments and recipients no longer have to include them as taxable income. In addition, any modification of alimony payments after December 31, 2018 shall be affected by the TCJA if the modification specifically states that the TCJA applies; meaning if the TCJA is ordered applicable by the Court.

Pre-2019 divorce orders for alimony still qualify under the old federal income tax law for a deduction benefit without having to itemize if all requirements are met. Requirements include: 1) a written document is required the alimony payment; 2) payment must be to or on behalf of a spouse or ex-spouse; 3) the divorce decree or separation document cannot state the payment is not alimony; 4) ex-spouses cannot live in the same household or file jointly; 5) a payment must be made in cash or by cash equivalent; 6) cannot be deemed to be child support; 7) the taxpayer’s social security number must be included on the tax return; 8) the obligation to make payments ceases upon the recipient’s death. See IRS Tax Topic No. 452.

Depending on your situation, you need to speak with an experienced Jacksonville family law attorney now. If you will be making alimony payments, it is in your best interest to get a divorce wrapped up before December 31, 2018 so payments will be deductible. If you will be receiving payments, it is in your best interest to put off finalizing your divorce until next year, so the payments will be tax free to you. Contact the Law Office of David M. Goldman, PLLC for a consultation.

January 29, 2018

Property During A Divorce in Florida – How Do You Handle It?

by Holli Dean

What happens to real estate or property that you jointly own when you get a divorce in Florida? How does the Court handle your property when you and your spouse can’t agree on what to do? How can it be distributed between you and your spouse? In divorces, the court will partition your property absent an agreement as to the contrary. Partition means simply “to divide into parts.”

The Court cannot order partition of your property without it being alleged in your dissolution of marriage petition. Florida courts have long held that a judge may partition the jointly-owned property of the parties in a divorce action only if the due process requirements of Chapter 64, Florida Statutes, relating to partition are met. See Sanders v. Sanders, 351 So.2d 1156 (Fla. 2^nd DCA 1977). The complaint for partition can be incorporated into a divorce petition and no separate filing is needed. F.S. § 64.041 specifies that the complaint must allege a description of the property, the names and places of residence of the owners, and the share held by each owner. The partition complaint must be filed in the county where the property is located.

Typically, the parties will agree on a real estate broker to list the property for sale at current fair market price and the parties will split the proceeds according to the parties’ interest in the property (taking into account the costs and expenses put into the property) unless an agreement is made for one party to refinance the home and pay the opposing party their share. After a divorce, property automatically converts into a tenancy in common and each owner has the right to sell, lease, or mortgage their interest in property. See F.S. § 689.15.

January 18, 2018

Emergency Child Pick-Up Orders Can Offer Parents a Method to Enforce Custody Orders

by Holli Dean

When can you ask the Court for an emergency child pick-up order? If your ex-spouse or, if you have not been married, the other parent takes your child for timesharing and does not return the child, what can you do? What are your options if the child is taken out of the State of Florida?

What is an emergency pick-up order? An emergency pick-up order is an order signed by the Court that directs the sheriff or other law enforcement officer to take a child from the person who has physical possession of your child and deliver the child to your custody. The process is started by filing an Emergency Verified Motion for Child Pick-Up Order. You must attach a certified birth certificate if you are the birth mother of a child born out of wedlock and no court order of paternity exists. If you have a judgment establishing paternity or a court order showing you have legal custody, you attach a certified copy to your motion.

Compliance with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is a must to ensure that Florida has jurisdiction. See Fla. Stat. 61.514. Florida must be the child’s home state within 6 months before the commencement of the proceeding. The conditions in 61.514 specifically indicate under what circumstances the Court can take jurisdiction.