Full Description

Guide to Custody, Visitation, and Support Rights in Florida

Are you having trouble receiving support from your ex-spouse? Do you have a child who is being neglected or abused? Do you know what your legal rights are? The answers to your problems may lie in this book.

With the divorce rate above 50 percent and climbing, more and more parents are faced with difficult decisions or situations involving their children. Whether it’s difficulty seeing them on a steady basis, being denied visits altogether, watching them being neglected or abused, not receiving enough support, or not receiving support at all, parents increasingly find themselves in the courts debating issues which involve their children. This book is designed to let parents know their legal rights, and to help them take their case through the court system.


This book explains in simple language:

Determining factors to gain custody in Florida
Understanding Florida court procedures
Modifying a custody, visitation or support order
Taking action in a case of suspected parental abuse
Establishing Paternity
Calculating child support using Florida guidelines
Enforcing Florida procedures for child support
Researching relevant Florida statutes
Working with an attorney
Preparing and presenting your case
Terminating parental rights
Appointing a guardian ad litem

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books -
Introduction -
Chapter 1:An Overview of Custody, Visitation, and Child Support-
-Paternity
-Custody and Visitation
-Child Support
Chapter 2: Lawyers -
Deciding if You Want a Lawyer
-Selecting a Lawyer
-Working with a Lawyer
Chapter 3: The Legal System -
The Florida Court System
-Theory versus Reality
-Counseling, Mediation, and Parenting Classes
-Legal Research
Chapter 4: Basic Forms and Procedures -
Legal Forms
-Filing with the Court Clerk
-When You Cannot Afford Court Costs
Chapter 5: Notice Requirements and Defaults -
Personal Service
-Service by Mail
-Service by Publication
-The Other Parent and Military Service
-Default
Chapter 6: Trials and Hearings -
-Setting a Court Date
-Trial or Hearing Notices
-Witnesses
-Subpoenas
-Testimony of Minor Children
-Rules of Evidence
-Court Proceedings
Chapter 7: Establishing Paternity -
Florida Paternity Law
-Acknowledgment of Paternity
-Petition to Establish Paternity and for Related Relief
-Civil Cover Sheet
-Supporting Forms
-Scientific Paternity Testing
-Answering a Petition to Determine Paternity
-Procedures
-Preparing and Presenting Your Case
-Final Judgment
Chapter 8: Custody-
-How Custody is Determined
-Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) Affidavit
-Guardian Ad Litem
-Preparing and Presenting Your Case
Chapter 9: Visitation -
How Visitation is Determined
-Visitation Forms
-Preparing and Presenting Your Case
Chapter 10: Child Support -
How Child Support is Determined
-Petition for Support Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent
-or Minor Child(ren)
-Family Law Financial Affidavit
-Financial Disclosure and Interrogatories
-Other Forms
-Procedures
-Preparing and Presenting Your Case
-Final Judgment
Chapter 11: Changing Custody -
-How a Change in Custody is Determined
-Supplemental Petition to Modify Custody or Visitation and Other Relief
-Financial Disclosure Documents
-UCCJA, Guardian Ad Litem, and Your Case
-Judgment Forms
Chapter 12: Changing Visitation
-Supplemental Petition to Modify Custody or Visitation and Other Relief
-Other Forms
-Filing with the Court Clerk
-Preparing and Presenting Your Case
-Judgment Forms
Chapter 13: Changing Child Support -
-How a Change in Child Support is Determined
-Evaluating Your Situation
-Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support
-Other Forms
-Filing with the Court Clerk
-Preparing and Presenting Your Case
-Judgment Forms
Chapter 14: Enforcement Proceedings -
-Law and Procedure
-Custody Enforcement
-Visitation Enforcement
-Child Support Enforcement
-Notifying the Other Party

Glossary -
Appendix A: Selected Florida Statutes and Court Rules -
Appendix B: Worksheets -
Appendix C: Forms -
Index -

Excerpt

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