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Child Support: Five Frequently Asked Questions

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Child Support Umbrella

When you are getting divorced with children, there may be a lot of conflicts about which parent will get more time with the kids. But with kids comes another issue when it comes to divorce — child support. Child support is often misunderstood, and there are commonly a lot of questions about child support. Here are five of the most common questions people have.

How is Child Support Calculated?

Florida law first establishes a grid that says how much total support (that is, money from both parents combined) that a child needs or requires. That support figure is based on the combined income of both parents; the more the parents make, the more the total support figure will be. It is also based on the number of children; more children will require more total support from both parents.

Of course, the total amount the kids need is usually not a point of contention (nor can it be, as it is written into the law)—the real argument often happens with parents deciding who will pay what portion of that total support amount. That’s where the child support formula comes into play.

Child support is calculated with a preset formula, which is established by Florida law. There is some room for a court to deviate from the formula—to adjust a parent’s child support obligation up or down—but not a lot of room to do so (only 5%).

The percentage each parent pays of the total amount of support the children need is based on each parent’s income. This is why, although the formula is already determined by law, couples often fight over child support: A parent’s child support obligation, according to the formula, will deviate and go up or down depending on what income numbers you put into the formula.

The formula is thus designed, to some extent, for the parent who makes more income to pay more child support. But that is not the only consideration: Time-sharing, or time the children spend with each parent, also plays into the child support equation.

When a parent has more nights with the children on a monthly basis, that parent is more likely to receive child support. That is because, logically, when the child is with that parent, that parent is paying for more of the child’s expenses, and that parent deserves to be reimbursed by the other parent for those expenses.

How is a Parent’s Income Determined for the Purpose of Child Support?

In the process of the divorce, each party will fill out full financial affidavits. These affidavits will identify all sources of income, as well as the value of assets owned by each parent, as well as expenses that each parent has.

Yes, people can—and unfortunately do—lie on their financial affidavits. You have the right to ask for proof of income from the other parent beyond the financial affidavit. That may include business income records, bank account records, or other documents showing what the other spouse may be making, spending, or depositing into bank accounts.

What Can Child Support Be Used for?

The law only says that one parent pays the other child support. It does not specifically require that the receiving parent use the money for the kids, nor does the law require any kind of accounting of how the funds are used. The law just assumes that if a parent is with a child, that parent is necessarily spending money on the child, and thus, whatever is paid in support is reimbursing that parent (at least in part) for those expenses.

How Long Will Someone Pay Child Support?

By law, child support either ends at the age of 18 or when the child graduates high school but must end at the age of 19 unless certain special circumstances exist. If a child is not currently on track to graduate high school, support will end when the child is 18, regardless of graduation.

Note that child support can continue beyond these time limits for children who may have special needs or disabilities. In fact, child support could go on indefinitely for children who have special needs. However, the establishment of longer-term child support must be established during the divorce or custody proceeding—you cannot wait until child support ends and then go back to the court and have it continued.

Can Child Support Be Changed or Modified Later?

Child support can always be modified with the required legal showings. The modification could increase or decrease child support.

To modify child support, the parent seeking to modify must show what is known as a “substantial change in circumstances” that is permanent.

That means that a parent’s temporary increase or decrease in income will not suffice to modify child support. Likewise, a minor change in a parent’s financial situation also won’t legally warrant a change in child support.

Either the paying or receiving parent can ask the court to modify child support—but if you are the paying spouse, you cannot just unilaterally lower your child support. You must get and obtain a court order lowering child support payments before changing what you pay in support.

The change in a parent’s situation may not just be financial. Often, a parent ends up spending more or less time with a child than the original divorce agreement or court judgment initially contemplated. When a parent ends up with more time with the kids than he or she was supposed to get, that parent may have a right to go back to court and ask for more child support, to have the support based on the increased time that that parent is having with the children.

Again, the change in time-sharing can’t just be an occasional or one-time occurrence; the change must be permanent and ongoing to warrant a substantial change in circumstances that is sufficient to show that child support should be increased or decreased.

Do not guess about your child support. Anthony J. Diaz is an experienced family law attorney focusing on Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His offices are located at 2431 Aloma Ave Suite #124, Winter Park, FL. 32792 and 3720 Suntree Blvd., Suite 103G, Melbourne, FL. 32940.

You may contact Anthony Diaz by calling 407-212-7807 or by email an*****@************aw.com or visit anthonydiazlaw.com for more information.

And if you found this article helpful, please leave us a review HERE.

Divorce Decoded: 10 Questions Answered

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If you are headed for a divorce, it may seem like your future is blurry and confusing. You probably have a host of questions, both about your life post-divorce and about what will happen to you or your kids in the actual process of the divorce.

There is no shortage of questions, but let’s take a look at 10 common questions that people have when they go into a divorce.

1.  What Will Happen to the Children?

Divorce

This is a question that will depend on each individual case or situation, but assuming that both parents are fit and competent and have a meaningful relationship with the children thus far, a court must legally assume that a time-sharing arrangement where both parents have equal time with the kids is in the best interest of the children.

There are things that can alter this shared time-sharing, such as a parent’s living arrangements, whether equal time is not in the child’s best interest, or whether a parent has a lifestyle that isn’t conducive to equal time-sharing (for example, a parent who travels extensively for work).

2.  Will I Get Alimony?

Whether a spouse will get alimony largely depends on the duration of the marriage. Generally, shorter-term marriages, which lasted fewer than seven years, will ordinarily not get alimony (although it is possible), while a marriage lasting from 7 to 17 years has a better chance of getting alimony. More than 17 years, and there is a general assumption that alimony will be awarded—if there is a need.

Divorce cannot leave one spouse destitute and the other rich; both spouses are entitled to live the lifestyle they were accustomed to, to the extent possible. That said, often, when couples divorce, they will have to downgrade their lifestyles to some extent.

That’s because the court will also look at the ability of the paying spouse to actually pay. Divorced couples no longer have combined incomes, and it does happen that a court finds that a spouse cannot afford to pay alimony, even though it may be needed by the receiving spouse.

3. What Kind of Alimony Can I Receive?

Alimony can be awarded on a short-term basis to help restart someone’s life or even to help rehabilitate a spouse—for example, paying for educational expenses, paying alimony while a child is an infant, or paying while allowing a spouse to pursue a new career.

Alimony can also be awarded just for a shorter time period, without a “goal” of any kind.

In 2023, Florida ended permanent alimony, so as of now, that is no longer an option for alimony.

4.  Can I Stay in the Marital Home?

If parties cannot decide on their own who will live in the marital home while the divorce is going on, a party can ask the court to live in the home while the divorce is pending (or, if the home is ordered sold, until the home is actually sold).

A court will look at who has the means to live elsewhere and who does not, as well as what is best for the children. Any compelling reason why one spouse should be able to temporarily live in the marital home can be considered by the court.

5.  Will I Lose All My Property?

It is highly unlikely that anybody loses all of their property in a divorce. Only property considered marital property will be divided between the parties by the court. So, property that belonged to one spouse and remained the property of only that spouse, even throughout the marriage, will be considered non-marital and, thus, not subject to any division at all.

Property that is marital—that is, it was acquired during or appreciated in value during the marriage—will be divided.

Florida does not just divide property 50%-50%, rather, the court will look at what is equitable. This includes seeing which spouse made contributions to the property, which spouse put effort into the property, or which spouse may need the property (or the value of the property) more than the other.

If property is marital, almost any property can be divided by the court. If it cannot be physically divided or shared, like a home or a business, the court will order the property sold and the proceeds divided as the court thinks is appropriate. Property may have to be appraised or evaluated to see what its value is before division.

6.  Who Will Pay Bills During the Divorce?

A divorce case could take a long time to resolve if it is not settled quickly and amicably. While the divorce case is going on, bills and expenses are mounting—including bills like car payments or mortgages that must be paid.

Your family law lawyer can ask the court to make a temporary determination of who will pay what bills while the case is going on to keep the spouses from going into financial free-fall before the divorce is finalized.

7.  How is Child Support Calculated?

Florida uses a mathematical formula to determine child support. The combined incomes of both parents are used as a starting point. Spouses often argue about what each others’ combined income actually is. But once that is determined, the income numbers go into the formula.

The formula also takes into account how much time the children are with each parent. That means that parties may get very little child support if time-sharing is about equal between the parties, while support may increase if one parent gets the majority of overnights with the children.

8.  How Will I Pay an Attorney?

In some cases, where one spouse has a demonstrated ability to pay, and the other spouse can show that he or she cannot afford an attorney, the Court can order the higher-earning spouse to pay the attorneys fees of the lesser-earning spouse.

9. How Long Does a Divorce Case Take?

As you may expect, the answer to this question depends on how much there is to fight over. Spouses who can amicably resolve issues or go to mediation and work things out have a better chance of resolving their cases more quickly. Likewise, couples with no kids, and few assets, have a better chance of resolving their cases more quickly.

In an ideal scenario, where couples can work things out and come to agreements relatively quickly, a divorce could be finalized in about three to six months, but more contentious, argumentative cases can take years.

10. Can My Divorce Agreement or Court Judgment Be Changed Later on?

Although things like alimony, child support, or time-sharing can be altered or amended by a court later on, it is not an easy thing to do. There must be serious and permanent changes to allow a court to modify something you previously agreed to or which the court previously ordered. That means that you should focus on getting your divorce right during your initial case.

You may have many more questions than these. Anthony J. Diaz is an experienced family law attorney focusing on Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His offices are located at 2431 Aloma Ave Suite #124, Winter Park, FL. 32792 and 3720 Suntree Blvd., Suite 103G, Melbourne, FL. 32940.

You may contact Anthony Diaz by calling 407-212-7807 or by email an*****@************aw.com or visit anthonydiazlaw.com for more information.

And if you found this article helpful, please leave us a review HERE.

Is Your Marriage Over? There Is A Reason To Believe

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As we progress into the New Year, couples who put off dealing with the end of their marriage over the holidays have come out in full force. Since there is nothing else between them and their contemplated divorce, the biggest question is HOW? With the advent of many different forms of divorce resolution other than traditional litigation through the court system, the Collaborative Process has taken the country by storm as it gains popularity in Florida.

Divorce

One of the biggest and more important questions is the role of the attorney in Collaborative Divorce. How are they different than if the case was in court? Will they still advocate for my best interests? Why should I choose you to be my Collaborative attorney. With all of these issues being quite relevant in the decision of whether the Collaborative Process is the right alternative, you will find an great article attached explaining what a collaboratively trained attorney can do for their client. You will be amazed at the many benefits a Collaborative lawyer can provide during this process. It may come as a surprise to you that these are the same benefits derived from a divorce litigator at less cost, less time and less animosity than going to court.

Going through a divorce is no walk in the park but with the Collaborative process there is a reason to believe that the end of your marriage can have a good ending. Please call my office to find out more about how to divorce with dignity and understanding. If I listen long enough to you, I’d find a way to believe that the outcome of your divorce being peaceful and civil is all true.

This process works, this process is for you, this is Collaborative Divorce!
In-Joy the theme appropriate song and lyrics accompaniment!
Click here to read What Collaborative Counsel Does for the Collaborative Client by Laurie Israel, Esq.
Click here and enjoy Reason to Believe

Anthony J. Diaz is an experienced family law attorney focusing on Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His offices are located at 2431 Aloma Ave Suite #124, Winter Park, FL. 32792 and 3720 Suntree Blvd., Suite 103G, Melbourne, FL. 32940.

You may contact Anthony Diaz by calling 407-212-7807 or by email an*****@************aw.com or visit anthonydiazlaw.com for more information.

And if you found this article helpful, please leave us a review HERE.

Can I Change My Mind After Signing Divorce Papers? 

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It is generally understood that it is better to settle your divorce case than take it to trial. When you settle your case, either on your own or through the process of mediation, you are taking matters into your own hands. Through negotiation or mediation, you can decide what you and your (soon-to-be-ex) spouse will live by and be bound by instead of leaving those decisions up to a judge.

How Do Family Law Cases Settle?

Divorce cases can resolve when parties to the divorce agree to a marital settlement agreement or by going to mediation. The good news is that if you and your spouse can agree to all terms and you sign an agreement, or if your case does settle at mediation, your case will be over and done, and you can move on with your life post-divorce.

Changing Your Mind After Settling

Imagine that your attorney has helped you draft and agree with your spouse to a marital settlement agreement. Or, you go to mediation and come to some resolution of the issues in your divorce.

But then there is a problem: Shortly after the mediation, or after you have agreed to some kind of divorce settlement, you change your mind about what was agreed to in the settlement agreement.

As a general rule, it is never a good idea to change your mind after terms have been agreed to at mediation or independently. You should always give careful thought about what you agree to, and understand that at mediation or during negotiations, it is totally your choice to settle. You do not have to settle at all, or you can settle some, but not all of the issues in your case.

You should never agree to anything in mediation that you are not comfortable with, do not understand, or cannot abide by. Never agree to something you do not want to.

Why People Change Their Mind

That said, it does happen that problems arise after an agreement is reached between the parties to a divorce.

Sometimes, after you have agreed on the terms of your divorce at mediation or through negotiation, new information may make you change your mind about what you have agreed upon. Perhaps at mediation, facts, finances, or other information was not all known to you or was different than what you anticipated.

Other times, you may simply get “cold feet,” or after some reflective time, you may realize that you are not comfortable with what you agreed to. Remember that this is normal and is not, by itself, a reason to overturn a mediation agreement or marital settlement agreement. If you do have doubts or regrets about what you agreed to, the first step should be to speak with your family law lawyer. They can talk through the situation with you and help you realize that your settlement agreement is a good thing that works in your favor.

Can You Change Your Mind?

If you still cannot abide by or agree to the terms of the mediation or your settlement agreement, the next question is whether the mediation agreement can be overturned. This largely depends on whether all the terms and conditions of the agreement were included and whether they were agreed to and signed by the parties.

As a general rule, you cannot overturn anything you previously agreed to, or change your mind after you have signed a marital settlement agreement. Your marital settlement agreement, whether signed at mediation or independently through negotiation between the parties, is a legal, valid, and binding contract that both sides must follow.

Exceptions

However, there are some exceptions that may allow you some room to argue that you should not be bound by the agreement that you signed. These must be brought to the court’s attention before it approves the settlement agreement.

One exception is whether what was agreed to at your family law mediation was formalized in an agreement. The more formal the agreement is, the less likely it will be that you will be able to change your mind after the mediation.

Often, when the parties agree to the terms of a divorce in mediation, the mediator may have both sides sign an agreement. The agreement may be a complete statement of all the terms and conditions of the entire divorce, or it may be a rough outline, with the intention that the parties will draft a more formal, comprehensive agreement later on. In some cases, only general “bullet points” are agreed to.

Where the parties only have general agreements, agreements “in principle,” verbal agreements, “agreements to agree” later on, or just rough ideas of what they will formalize later, it is a lot easier for you to change your mind after you have agreed on the terms of the divorce.

However, again, when the terms and conditions of mediation have been completely and totally formalized in a comprehensive signed agreement at the mediation, it will be much more difficult for you to change your mind, as the agreement will be seen as a complete binding contractual agreement.

Reasons Matter

Some of your ability to change your mind after agreeing to the terms of your divorce also depend on why you are changing your mind.

For example, if you find that the other side was hiding information, lied about key details, or misled the parties at mediation, or during the course of the parties’ negotiations, that may give you some ground to argue that the agreement should not be enforced or formalized (signed) by the judge, or enforced against the parties.

However, if you just have “cold feet” and regret agreeing to what you agreed to, it is more likely that the court will not allow you to back out of the terms that you agreed to at the mediation.

Partial Agreements

Remember that you are only bound to the terms and conditions that you agreed to. In some cases, you may have only a partial agreement.

So, for example, imagine that you agree on a child custody, time-sharing, or visitation schedule, but not on child support. You would be bound to the time-sharing schedule agreed to, but only to that–not to any other matter, such as child support, which was never agreed to in the partial divorce agreement.

Object Before Court Approval

After you come to an agreement in mediation or on your own through negotiations, the contract (the settlement agreement) will be sent to the judge for signature. This is generally a formality, but it is your last official chance to try to provide reasons why you should not be bound by the mediation agreement and to explain why you want to overturn the terms of the agreement.

As stated above, this is very hard to do. Remember that everything said in mediation or during settlement discussions is confidential, so you will have limited room to explain to the judge what the other side may have said or done during the mediation to support your argument that the mediation agreement should not be enforced.

However, if you do have a valid basis, if you do not raise it here, it will be too late; once the judge signs the mediation or marital settlement agreement that contains all the terms and conditions of the divorce, you are bound by the terms of that agreement.

Anthony J. Diaz is an experienced family law attorney focusing on Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His offices are located at 2431 Aloma Ave Suite #124, Winter Park, FL. 32792 and 3720 Suntree Blvd., Suite 103G, Melbourne, FL. 32940.

You may contact Anthony Diaz by calling 407-212-7807 or by email an*****@************aw.com or visit anthonydiazlaw.com for more information.

And if you found this article helpful, please leave us a review HERE.

Is Legal Separation Right for You?

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 Legal separation is when a couple separates their lives while still remaining married. This can be an advantageous option for couples who are unsure about whether they want to get divorced or not. There are several benefits of a legal separation, including:

  • You remain legally married, which means you are still able to receive certain benefits, such as health insurance and social security.
  • You maintain the status quo until you make a final decision about your future.
  • A legal separation can help you and your spouse work on any issues that need to be resolved before getting divorced.
  • If you decide later that you want to get divorced, it will be much easier and less expensive.
  • A legal separation can be helpful for couples who have religious objections to divorce.

Legal Separation in Florida

In Florida, legal separation is not a recognized legal status. This means that there is no specific process or set of procedures that couples can follow to obtain a legal separation. Instead, couples in Florida who wish to live separately must file for a dissolution of marriage.

While some couples may find the lack of legal separation options in Florida frustrating, just as there are benefits to legal separations, there are also several benefits to dissolving your marriage instead.

First, dissolving your marriage allows you to pursue individualized resolutions and arrangements regarding property division, child custody, and support. Second, dissolving your marriage is often less painful, since you only get to do it once, and most likely will not revisit the issue again. Finally, by dissolving your marriage, you end any formerly legally-binding obligations you may have had to your spouse.

What Can Floridians Do if They Want to Get “Legally Separated?”

While legal separation does not exist in Florida, there are a couple of ways to get separated from your spouse. These include:

1. Have a Trial Separation

A trial separation is a period of time during which a married couple separates to determine if they want to stay together. This is often done through an oral agreement. If the couple decides to get back together, they would stop being separated. If they decide to divorce, they would need to file for divorce. A trial separation can also be used as a way to figure out if there is any hope for the relationship or if it is time to move on.

During a trial separation, the couple needs to discuss terms like who will live in the house, how expenses will be divided, and who will take care of the children. If the couple has any shared assets or debts, they need to figure out how those will be divided as well. It is important to have an attorney help with this process in case anything goes wrong.

2. Draft a Separation Agreement

Another way to get separated from your spouse in Florida is to have an attorney draft a separation agreement for you. This agreement will outline the terms of the separation, including who will live where, how assets will be divided, and who will be responsible for what debts.

However, since Florida does not recognize legal separations, a separation agreement is not admissible in court, meaning that it cannot be used as evidence should the couple later decide to go to court for any reason. On the bright side though, this can be beneficial, as it allows both parties to negotiate fairly and without fear of repercussions.

However, most parents who get a separation agreement with the help of an attorney usually stick to its terms as it helps them to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation.

3. Get a Postnuptial Agreement

While not originally created for that purpose, you should know that postnuptial agreements may be used as a form of legal separation in Florida. Basically, a postnuptial agreement is a written agreement between spouses that can be created by spouses after they are married. It sets forth the terms and conditions of what will happen to their property if they divorce or one of them dies. Postnuptial agreements are helpful in ensuring that both spouses are aware of each other’s financial positions and desires should something happen to their marriage. This is to help avoid disputes down the road.

In terms of a separation, a postnuptial agreement can be used to spell out the terms of the spouses’ new roles, such as division of property, support, and custody arrangements. However, it should be noted that it cannot be used to outline terms that are not allowed by state law. For example, a postnup cannot include terms that would waive the right to child support.

A postnup is legal in Florida, and if you would like to create one, you should contact an experienced family law attorney to discuss your options and the best way to proceed.

The Role of Mediation in the Legal Separation Process

When a married couple decides to legally separate, the process can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. There are many decisions that need to be made, including child custody, property division, and alimony. In most cases, the parties will need to have hard, uncomfortable conversations to resolve these disputes. However, there is another option available – mediation.

Mediation is a process where a neutral third party helps the parties reach a settlement agreement. The mediator does not make any decisions for the parties, but instead helps them communicate and negotiate their own agreement. This can be a helpful option for couples who are willing to have a mediator help them come to an agreement with which they are both satisfied.

Speak to a Florida Family Law Attorney

If you are considering a separation from your spouse, or if you are in the process of mediating a separation, it is important to contact an experienced Florida family law attorney.

Anthony J. Diaz is an experienced family law attorney focusing on Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His offices are located at 2431 Aloma Ave Suite #124, Winter Park, FL. 32792 and 3720 Suntree Blvd., Suite 103G, Melbourne, FL. 32940.

You may contact Anthony Diaz by calling 407-212-7807 or by email an*****@************aw.com or visit anthonydiazlaw.com for more information.

And if you found this article helpful, please leave us a review HERE.

How to Manage the Stress of a Divorce 

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If you are going through a divorce or considering a divorce, you may understandably be experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety. That is normal and natural. But there are things you can do to manage that stress and make the divorce process as easy on yourself emotionally and mentally as possible.

Have a Plan, and Plan in Advance

One thing that you can do, which is good advice for life in general, is to have a plan about what to do at every stage of your separation and divorce.

For example, if the divorce has not been filed yet, but you know it is imminent, make yourself a checklist, and have a plan. Be able to answer questions like:

  • Where will I live if I cannot live in the marital home?
  • What will I tell the children?
  • What is my financial plan during the first few months of the divorce?
  • Do I have all the paperwork and documents that I need if I have to move out?

These are just some examples. Remember that your divorce attorney is not just there for you at the minute you file your divorce—they can be there for you beforehand; do not be afraid to ask your attorney what other preparations you should make in planning for the early stages of your divorce.

Rely on a Support System of Friends and Family

Your plan should also include friends and family. Is there someone whose car you can borrow if needed? Is there a family member for the kids to stay with should things get stressful in your home? You may never need these people to help you—but it will help you mentally to know that they are there if needed.

While planning for these things now may seem stressful, when the divorce happens, being prepared will be one way that you minimize your stress.

Getting Professional Help

Another thing you may want to consider is to seek out professional mental health counseling if you really feel you may have difficulty coping with the divorce.

It is not uncommon for people who have never seen a mental health therapist to see one for the first time because of a divorce. Even if you are not certain that you will absolutely need the therapist, having one ready to help you will go a long way toward making you feel better.

Reasonable Expectations

One cause of stress is not getting what we want or feeling frustrated that things in a divorce are not going the way we envisioned them.

That is why a good stress management tool may be to have reasonable expectations about the outcome of your divorce from the start.

Of course, what you can reasonably expect is something you will discuss with your attorney, who can help you understand what outcomes are highly likely, and which are less likely.

Understanding what is likely to happen and what expectations you should have can help keep those expectations reasonable. For example, if you expect $2,000 a month in child support, and your attorney tells you that you should more likely expect in the range of $1,000, you can at least lower your expectations and plan your future around that more likely outcome, thus managing your stress both during and after the divorce process.

Get Out and Be You

You do not have to be an isolated hermit during your divorce, and you are not an outcast for getting divorced. Do not be afraid to go out and be social. Being with friends, and enjoying yourself, can both take your mind off the divorce process, as well as introduce you, slowly, to the single lifestyle.

Your friends, or whomever you are spending time with, can either be a supportive ear, or you do not have to discuss your divorce with them at all, making them a much-needed distraction from the stress of your divorce. Either way, you do not have to and should not “punish yourself” by refusing to go out, travel, have fun, or do the things you enjoy in life just because you are getting divorced.

Manage the Anger

Yes, you are getting divorced in large part because you and your spouse did not see eye to eye during the marriage (or, in some cases, for more serious reasons). Either way, try to let go of some anger. You can still get what you want in a hotly contested divorce, hold true to your demands, and do what is right for you and your kids, all without holding or expressing active, hostile anger.

You may also find that as time goes on, if your divorce is an extended one, your anger may decrease.

If you are concerned about ongoing anger, ask your attorney about methods to lower your contact with your ex, if they cause you that anger. For example, today there are many parenting communication apps that can minimize direct contact with your ex if that is a source of stress for you.

Get Closer With the Kids

Of course, you hopefully always enjoy time with your kids. But think of this time as an opportunity to be particularly close with your kids and to develop an even stronger one-on-one bond with them.

It may seem overwhelming at first to go from a two-parent household to a one-parent household. But think of it instead as a chance to really bond with your kids and spend the time with them you may not have had previously.

Likewise, because you are now sharing custody, you may have times when your ex has the kids, and you do not. This can lead to a feeling of having an “empty nest.” Use this downtime for yourself—get exercise, start a hobby, or just plan for the next stages of your life.

Divorce is not just a legal process–it is an emotional and mental adjustment, as well. Remember yourself, and take care of yourself during the process.

Anthony J. Diaz is an experienced family law attorney focusing on Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His offices are located at 2431 Aloma Ave Suite #124, Winter Park, FL. 32792 and 3720 Suntree Blvd., Suite 103G, Melbourne, FL. 32940.

You may contact Anthony Diaz by calling 407-212-7807 or by email an*****@************aw.com or visit anthonydiazlaw.com for more information.

And if you found this article helpful, please leave us a review HERE.