DIY Divorce in Florida

Divorced Parent Telesummit - A Virtual Event for Parents

Even though the Divorced Parent Telesmmit, has ended, you can still get all the valuable information. Best of all, you can get it immediately with mp3 recordings and PDF transcripts.

 
Together my co-host and I have helped hundreds of parents get through the divorce process. But we wondered why some parents continue conflict after the divorce. We wanted to give every divorced parent a chance to benefit from renowed experts who have helped couples at war call cease fires and raise happy children despite difficult divorces. And those experts REALLY delivered!
 
[I]t's the children exposed to conflict, both in marriage and after divorce, that experience some of the most significant problems, according to Philip M. Stahl, PhD. Shelley and I wanted to find an affordable way to bring this

Divorce: Four Types of Divorce

Did you know that there are actually four types of divorce? Each divorce really is four separate divorces and they do not occur at the same time.

The physical divorce is often the first of the types of divorce to occur. This is the actual physical moving out or separation of the spouses. The physical divorce usually requires adjustments to daily schedules and routines.

The second of the types of divorce is the legal divorce.  That's what I mostly write about here and on my DIY Divorce blog. And this is what most people think of when they hear the word "divorce." The legal divorce changes your legal rights and responsibilities.

Emotional divorce is the third type of divorce. In the emotional divorce, the spouses put emotional distance between each other and stop thinking of themselves as a couple.

Finally, there is the social divorce. Your social networks and friendships almost always change, at least to come degree, with a divorce. Married friends stop hanging around you or may be more aligned with one spouse.

With all these types of divorce come big changes. I think that's why sometimes divorce seems so overwhelming. It really does affect most everything in your life. Plus, both spouses are likely to be at different levels of acceptance with respect to all the changes that each of the types of divorce brings.

That's where divorce recovery comes in. To some extent, everyone going through a divorce needs time to heal and recover. If you have experiencing difficulty, seek out a divorce coach or therapist to help you process the changes brought on by the four types of divorce.

Transitions Between Homes Can be Easier for Your Child

Many clients complain that the children do not want to visit the other parent. Through the years I've heard this complaint a lot. And I'm going to be blunt here.... it is usually due to your actions, conscious or not.

Kids are like little sponges and they absorb what you give off. If you are tense and worried about the time your child will spend with the other parent, your child is likely to become tense and worried too. Some kids even try to avoid going to the other parent's home because they are worried about you being alone. That is not their job - you are the parent.

Think about how you can create a peaceful transition for your child.  How can you prepare your child for the upcoming time sharing so that it is a stress-free experience? Here are some suggestions from Ellen Kellner, author of The Pro Child Way:

• Avoiding interruption and encourage being prepared: remind your child of upcoming visits—make this a continual cycle of conversation.  Use positive words and smile. 
• As the visitation time approaches match your actions to your reminders.  As you tuck your child

Divorce Final Hearing: Check Your Driver's License

In Florida, many courts allow you to prove that you've lived in Florida for 6 months before filing the petition (personal jurisdiction) by presenting your driver's license at the final hearing. In order for your license to prove that you've lived in Florida long enough, your license must have an "issue date" that meets the six month requirement. Be sure to check this out BEFORE you go to the final divorce hearing.

If your license was not issued at least six months before you filed the petition for dissolution of marriage, you will need a residency witness (someone who has personal knowedge of when you moved to Florida) or an affidavit of collaborating witness (Form 12.902(i)), completed by someone who knows when you moved to Florida.

In summary, you will need one of the following 3 items to prove personal jurisdiction at your final divorce hearing:

1. A Florida driver's license issued at least 6 months before the filing date
2. A live witness who knows how long you've lived in Florida
3. Form 12.902(i) completed by someone who knows how long you've lived in Florida

This is a simple thing, but I have seen more than a few people have petitions denied at a final hearing based on not being able to prove personal jurisdiction.

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Some Changes Here at the DIY Divorce in Florida Blog + an Invitation

Back when I began this blog, I was advised that the easiest system to use was Typepad. That's no longer true. For a few months, I've been posting both here AND at the blog on my new law office site. Needless to say, this duplication takes some time. Sooooo, I'm going to stop the duplicate posting on April 30, 2011. After that date, only my law office blog will have the new posts. I will not update this blog any longer.

If you want to make the change sooner, please go to www.pamelawynn.com/blog and get the new RSS feed or make a new bookmark.

The other change that I am making is that complete posts will be available for 30 days. After that time, you will have to become a member to have access to the archive.

I spend a lot of time writing these posts. The information is solid and complete, unlike many other blogs that merely give you a snippet of information and tell you to call the lawyer. In recognition of that, I am even contemplating a paid membership. I know that will disappoint some people.

Please take a minute to answer the poll questions below to let me know how you feel about it.

 

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Divorce & Tax Time

It's tax time again. I get a lot of tax questions from divorcing parents around this time of year. While I am no tax expert, here are some general things to keep in mind about divorce and taxes:

• Child support is not income
• Child support is not deductible
• Single parents may be eligible for the Earned Income Credit, depending on income
• Single parents may be eligible for Head of Household based on caring for child for more than 1/2 the year and paying more than 1/2 the expenses of a home

Check the IRS website for the publications about these tax topics, or consult a tax professional if you have questions about divorce and taxes.