Divorce FAQ
What is shared parental responsibility for children?
It is Florida’s public policy to ensure each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or divorced, and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing. Courts look favorably upon shared responsibility rather than granting one parent the sole discretion to make decisions regarding the parties’ child/children. The father is given the same consideration as the mother in determining custody regardless of their child's age, sex, or other factors.
In most cases, parental responsibility for a minor child will be shared by both parents so that each retains full parental rights and responsibilities with respect to their child. This requires both parents to work together so that major decisions affecting the welfare of the child will be determined jointly.
What are the different forms of alimony?
Rehabilitative alimony:
**May be for a limited period of time to help in redeveloping skills in order to help a party gain some financial stability and financial independence.
Permanent alimony:
**Continues until the receiving spouse's remarriage or the death of either party.
Lump-sum alimony:
** Where one party pays to the other party a lump-sum payment of money or property.
Does cheating on a spouse bar alimony?
Although adultery does not bar an award of alimony, the court may consider the circumstances of that adultery in determining the amount of alimony to be awarded.
