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Child support, in the eyes of the public, has generated myth, speculation, and a lot of misunderstanding. Some see it as something that is guaranteed to bankrupt them, others see it as a system that does not require paying parents to pay enough, and facing divorce, many parents are genuinely worried about what their child…
Continue Reading How to Calculate and Modify Child Support: A Practical Guide for Parents
Deciding whether to finalize your divorce before year-end or wait until January depends on taxes, property considerations, and personal timing. Filing before December 31st may change your tax status to “single” for the entire year, potentially increasing your tax bill. Waiting until after the new year can preserve certain tax and capital gains benefits. However,…
Continue Reading When to File for Divorce: Fourth Quarter or After January 1?
There is an inherent irony in the public perception of child support. On the one hand, payors (those who have to pay child support to the other parent) sometimes loathe paying child support. Many may see it as a sort of tax, or as “hidden alimony,” or even worse, a way for the other parent…
Continue Reading Child Support Essentials: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities
Going back to school after a divorce is stressful for both parents and kids, but preparation, communication, and consistency help. It is important to plan for new school year by reintroducing routines even before school starts, making the most of your summer parenting time, keeping schools informed if needed, and having consistent schedules across households.…
Continue Reading Divorce and Making a Smooth Back-to-School Transition
Have you ever gone through an experience in life, and thought back and wished that you had known things or had more information from the start? We have all had that thought of “if I knew then what I knew now…” Well, divorce is no different, and there are some insights and observations that can…
Trying to handle a divorce without a lawyer to save money can actually make a divorce more expensive because of costly, long-term mistakes. A divorce attorney helps you understand your rights, avoid unfair agreements, and secure a solid legal foundation for your future. Even in amicable cases, this legal guidance will ensure that your interests…
Continue Reading 5 Reasons to Have a Divorce Lawyer On Your Side
While divorce can be stressful, sad, and even sometimes devastating, there is no doubt that it is a gateway to a new life and the chance to start over again. For many people, looking ahead, they see a better future, and one with more freedom and hope. But divorce does not just happen—it is a…
Continue Reading Dissolution of Marriage: Legal Steps to a New Chapter in Life
Not all divorce lawyers are the same, the best kind of divorce lawyer is one that prioritizes your long-term well-being. They educate you on all available options, including out-of-court paths like Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. A truly supportive lawyer empowers you to make informed decisions and guides you toward peaceful outcomes that protect your emotional…
If you have any kind of family law case, whether a divorce or a modification of a previously entered divorce, at some point, your attorney may suggest attending mediation. Mediation has a number of advantages, and can help you end your divorce case your way, on your terms. But what is mediation, and if you…
Continue Reading Divorce Mediation 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Amicable Resolutions
1. Make a Summer Plan Together Start with a shared calendar and open communication. Talk through travel, camps, family visits, and downtime. Agreeing on the summer schedule in advance reduces surprises—and stress. Kids feel secure when they know what’s coming next and see both parents working as a team. Peacemaker Tip: Use co-parenting apps to coordinate…
Fear is a powerful force in divorce, often driven by uncertainty and leading to poor decisions. Managing fear with clear information, neutral financial guidance, and choosing the Collaborative Divorce process can reduce anxiety, restore control, and lead to more confident, well-informed choices about your future. The Role of Fear in Divorce Fear during divorce stems…
Continue Reading How Divorce Fears Can Result in Bad Divorce Decisions
You may have heard about people in lawsuits “going to mediation,” or perhaps having settled the case in mediation. But what is mediation, and how and why does it play such a large and important role in divorce and family law cases? What is Mediation? Mediation is a method for resolving legal disputes. In mediation,…
Continue Reading The Role of Mediation in Divorce: Achieving Mutual Agreements Efficiently
Telling your spouse, you want a divorce is one of the hardest conversations you may ever have. The approach you take will shape how the process unfolds—especially if you hope to pursue a peaceful resolution like Collaborative Divorce. Here are some suggestions on how to make the conversation easier. Start with Compassion, Not Solutions If…
In recent years, “gray divorce” has become a term of growing relevance, referring to the increasing number of divorces of people aged 50 and over. While divorce at any age has emotional and financial challenges, gray divorce presents unique circumstances that make it different from divorces that occur earlier in life. Let’s look at those…
Divorce, we think, is always about fighting. Whether because of what friends have told us, or because of what we see on the news or the media, nobody can quite believe that there are some divorces that do not involve a lot of fighting—these are what we call uncontested divorces. What is an Uncontested Divorce?…
Continue Reading Uncontested Divorce Made Simple: A Guide to Hassle-Free Separation
There is an interesting contradiction when it comes to divorce, especially if you are the one thinking of filing the divorce. On the one hand, you may want out, and you know that you are making this decision for the best. You look forward to a day when you can start over, and build a…
Continue Reading How Collaborative Divorce Protects Families and Assets During Separation
In a divorce case, you can have the option to represent yourself without hiring an attorney. This is known as proceeding in the case “pro se.” The term “pro se” is derived from Latin and translated means “for oneself.” Those who choose this path either cannot afford an attorney, prefer to handle their legal matter…
Florida Collaborative Divorce Attorney Anthony Diaz was recently a guest on The Respectful Divorce podcast discussing the no-court Collaborative Divorce process and the Divorce With Respect Week® initiative. The Respectful Divorce Podcast is hosted by Tim Crouch and highlights divorce professionals discussing the different options people have for divorce. “I went through my own divorce…
Continue Reading Florida Attorney Anthony Diaz Featured On The Respectful Divorce Podcast
Divorce is often a painful, bitter process, and for good reason. It involves immense emotional turmoil, significant life changes, and, at times, contentious disagreements. However, your divorce does not have to be a battle filled with hostility and resentment. Instead, it can be approached with dignity and respect, transforming a difficult transition into an opportunity…
When we think of divorce cases, we tend to see them as black and white. On the one hand, you can go to court, litigate, and engage in a long, bitter divorce fight. On the other hand, you can just agree on everything and have a simple, uncontested divorce. What About Collaborative Divorce? But the…
Continue Reading Collaborative Divorce: Resolving Marital Disputes Without the Courtroom Drama
When people think of divorce, it often conjures images of high conflict, emotional battles, and contentious court proceedings. However, there are options that can reduce the conflict and that allows for mutual respect thus making the divorce far more “civil”. What is a “Civil Divorce”? A civil divorce is characterized by an amicable and low-conflict…
Whenever someone talks about a potential impending divorce, the discussion often turns to money- specifically, what one spouse will have to pay or what the receiving spouse will receive as spousal support – often called alimony. Alimony can be somewhat scary because it is not definite; there is no exact formula to tell potential divorcing…
Continue Reading Understanding Spousal Support: Types, Factors, and Duration
Divorce is clearly life-altering, not just for you and your soon to be ex but for the entire family—including adult children. While they may not experience the same immediate upheaval as younger children, the emotional toll on adult children is still profound. For many couples, the Collaborative Divorce process offers a unique approach that can…
Continue Reading Divorce: Managing the Dynamics of Your Adult Children
Divorce is often seen as a dividing line that severs all relational ties, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, preserving relationships after a divorce—whether with your children, extended family, or even your ex-spouse—can create a healthier post-divorce environment for everyone. With the right mindset and approach, you can maintain relationships that…
Continue Reading Divorce: Finding a Path to Healthier Family Dynamics
If you look online or perhaps in the self-help section at the local bookstore, you will find a lot of books explaining how to pick up the pieces of your life after your divorce is over. There are many positive aspects to the fresh start, the new beginnings, and the opportunities available to you after…
Continue Reading Navigating the Journey: Insights and Support for Women Going Through Divorce
If you are going through a divorce, how you are going to handle the holidays can be a challenge. One of the most important things to remember is to focus on what truly matters: the well-being of your children. Here are four tips for managing the holidays with grace and ensuring a smooth transition for…
Continue Reading Divorce: 4 Tips on How to Manage the Holidays
If you are getting divorced and there are children in the marriage, you probably already know that the divorce will have an impact on the children’s lives and well-being. That is not to say they will forever struggle; plenty of children can and do thrive after divorce. But the fact remains that when there are…
Continue Reading The Impact of Divorce on Children: Nurturing Emotional Well-Being
One of the most pressing concerns for anyone going through a divorce is whether they can control their future or if it is left in the hands of someone else—like a judge. The answer largely depends on the approach you take during the divorce process. Understanding the different options for how you divorce can help…
Continue Reading Divorce: How To Be in Control of Your Future
When you add divorce to your social media, your divorce can quickly become even more complicated. Many social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or X are an important part of our lives sharing life updates, family milestones and daily events. However, an active social media presence during your divorce can lead to unnecessary conflict in…
Continue Reading Social Media and Divorce: A Tricky Proposition
There is an inherent contradiction when making decisions about time sharing and child support. On the one hand, there needs to be stability—settlements and judgments need to be relied upon, and the parties (the parents) need to know what their rights, duties, and obligations will be going forward. Stability also helps the child; a child…
Continue Reading Modifying Child Support and Custody Orders: What You Need to Know
It is, sadly, common for divorced spouses or parents to argue and fight. But what is not normal is violence or abuse. Sadly, the tempers, emotion, and frustration of a broken family situation or a full divorce often end in one party threatening or actually hurting the other–or even a child. When this happens, the…
Continue Reading Domestic Violence: Recognizing the Signs and Seeking Legal Protection
Many of us, when facing divorce, give a lot of thought to what will happen in the divorce, and understandably so. But we rarely give thought to what will happen once the divorce is over and finalized—in other words, how we will mentally and emotionally move on with our lives and into our post-divorce life.…
Continue Reading Beyond the Breakup: How to Heal and Thrive After Divorce
When facing a divorce, many people are unaware of the out-of-court options available to them. The options for settling your divorce out-of-court are an uncontested divorce, Mediation or Collaborative Divorce. It is important to know that these divorce alternatives will save you time, money, and emotional stress. Let’s explore the key differences and why these…
Continue Reading What Are The Differences in Out-of-Court Divorce Options?
We have all heard people facing divorce lament that they will “lose all their stuff” in the divorce, whether that is actually true or not. For many people, the uncertainty of what could happen to their assets and property or money in a divorce is a deterrent to even getting married in the first place.…
Continue Reading Protecting Your Assets: Pre and Postnuptial Agreements Explained
Divorce is a stressful time that can be intensified when children are involved. Yet, in the chaos and emotional trials, there is an opportunity for you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse to embrace positive co-parenting practices that prioritize the well-being of your children. While it is natural for divorcing couples to harbor resentment and disagreements, fostering…
Continue Reading Positive Co-Parenting During and After the Divorce
To understand the complexities of child custody, and what courts look at when considering custody, it is important first to know what child custody actually is. While we often use “custody” to mean everything, in reality, it has a specific meaning. What is Custody? Custody over a child generally means the ability to parent the…
Continue Reading Navigating Child Custody: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents
During the turmoil of separating and divorcing your spouse, emotions can run high, often clouding judgment and leading to reactionary decisions. These emotional reactions can come at a significant financial cost, particularly in a litigated divorce. When you allow your emotions to takeover, you may find yourself embroiled in costly legal battles. Take, for instance,…
Continue Reading How Emotions Can Make Divorce More Expensive
One of the first things that people say when they are going into a divorce is, “I’m going to lose everything,” or, “They will get half of everything I own.” While the division of property is an essential part of a divorce, in Florida, it is not that simple—in fact, a lot of things people…
Continue Reading Debunking Five Myths About Property Division
When couples get divorced, one of the things that they often do is start putting blame on each other. While pointing the finger and ascribing fault to people in a divorce can have some applicability in certain areas of a divorce, it has really no applicability in one area of divorce – whether the couple…
Your divorce can become very public very quickly unless you decide that maintaining your privacy is a top priority. In Florida, public records often exposed in personal matters, so finding ways to keep a divorce confidential can be a complex task. However, there is hope for protecting your privacy when you choose to use the…
Continue Reading How Can I Keep My Divorce Private in Florida?
Gray divorce can have some unexpected and unique challenges especially when there are adult children. While society often focuses on the impact of divorce on minor children, the influence of adult children in the divorce process is a topic that deserves attention. The influence of adult children in a couple’s divorce can have a positive…
Continue Reading Divorce with Adult Children: Unseen Challenges
Getting a divorce can, at first, seem scary. There are a lot of unknowns, and yes, your life will change to some extent. But often, it is not the divorce or the prospect of being divorced that is so scary—it is the fear of the unknown. Having some peace of mind about what happens in…
January marks the observance of Child-Centered Divorce Awareness Month. This prompts the opportunity for reflection. It’s crucial to focus on children’s well-being during divorce challenges. Let’s examine the importance of adopting a child-centered approach to divorce. A child-centered divorce requires conscious consideration of every decision made during the divorce process. As parents, you must consider…
Joining Susan Guthrie on today’s episode of Divorce & Beyond is Attorney Anthony Diaz! Believe it or not, there is more than one way to divorce – litigation is not always the answer. Anthony takes us behind the scenes of a consultation to understand the various divorce process options available. Once you know these options,…
In the eyes of the law and in divorce law, we are all treated the same, regardless of how much money we make or how many assets we may have. But that does not mean that all cases are handled the same way. And when it comes to high-net-worth divorces, there can be complexities and…
Continue Reading Navigating the Complexities of a High Net Worth Divorce
Breaking the news about your divorce to your children is one of the most difficult conversations you will ever have with your children. How you and your spouse handle this conversation matters. It is the first step in your divorce process in keeping your children’s well-being at the forefront of your divorce process. Here are…
Continue Reading How Do We Tell Our Children That We Are Getting a Divorce?
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…
Continue Reading Child Support: Five Frequently Asked Questions
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…
Let’s say that you are in the process of a divorce, and things look like they are being finalized. It seems like you and your spouse have agreed on many issues—including issues related to the children. But then your attorney tells you that you and your ex need to agree on another document — a…
Continue Reading Parenting Plans: The Advantages of Making a Parenting Plan
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…
Continue Reading Is Your Marriage Over? There Is A Reason To Believe
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