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Fort Lauderdale Divorce Law Blog

The importance of interacting with your children during divorce

For Fort Lauderdale couples, divorce and custody battles can be emotional and stressful. While strained relationships tend to straighten out after the crisis is over, it can be difficult during a divorce because relationships may seem permanently damaged. Although divorce and child custody issues are typically between parents, the fallout and emotional trauma can detrimentally affect the children.

Because the child custody process can be lengthy and emotionally draining, it is important to tend to and nurture relationships with children involved. Maintaining good communication and showing children empathy, acceptance and energy, as well as being generous with your time can make a positive impact in a child's life. Managing a child custody arrangement can be difficult, so repairing the damage the divorce may have caused, and preventing future issues from occurring is central to a continued positive relationship.

Florida divorce turns ugly after domestic violence incident

A divorce proceeding turned ugly last year after a man attacked his wife. Deputies were forced to subdue the man with a stun gun after pulling him off of her. The man has been charged with aggravated battery in the domestic violence case. He has pleaded no-contest to the charge, likely hoping the judge will be lenient during his sentencing hearing.

The 24-year-old woman sustained a broken nose and fractured jaw during the April 2011 attack. She also had to undergo surgery at the Holy Cross Hospital. According to court records, their divorce was finalized three days after the attack. The woman testified that she was afraid of her husband and believes that his behavior shown in front of others indicates that he has no respect or regard for court orders.

Rubio staffer arrested for domestic battery in Fort Lauderdale

A Lee County man was arrested on Jan. 20 for a domestic violence battery charge, accused of rolling his wife up in a carpet and beating her. The man, the Southwest Florida regional director for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, resigned from his position after being placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the incident. Deputies showed up at the man's home after a 911 call by his wife. After arriving, they noticed the woman was distraught and her elbow was injured and spotted with dried blood.

The wife claims that during their confrontation, he pushed her and she fell onto a carpet in their garage. He allegedly rolled her up into the carpet and began to beat her while she was inside of it. She was able to unroll herself, but her husband then allegedly pushed her into the wall, causing the injuries to her elbow. Deputies believe the evidence found at the scene was consistent with her story.

A look into the numbers and figures of Heidi Klum's divorce

Many people in the Fort Lauderdale area have likely caught wind of the news that Heidi Klum and Seal have decided to divorce. While their situation may seem difficult to relate to -- not everyone has their divorce plastered across celebrity gossip magazines -- there are several things that Florida residents can learn from the high-profile couple's situation.

While it's not completely clear at this point, it is certainly likely that the supermodel and her singer husband drafted a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot. So what does that mean for their divorce? To figure that out we will have to take some numbers into account, and a recent article from Forbes does just that.

Domestic abuse haunts Florida

A recent article discusses the horrible domestic abuse matters that have struck two Florida counties in 2012. "It does seem like we're having these horrific cases every week," said the president of a local Fort Lauderdale crisis center. The spokesperson added, "Crime may be down, but domestic violence is up. And the incidents are more lethal."

Broward County

Three outbursts of domestic violence have resulted in at least six deaths in Broward County since January 1. Recently, a Florida man was arrested for the death of two women and a baby in Lauderdale Lakes. Investigators note that the suspect had been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, which included a lengthy history of domestic violence. Authorities did not release any further details because the investigation is still open.

Miami domestic violence victims lobby for unemployment benefits

For many people, domestic violence does not exist solely in the home. Abusers who are especially controlling follow their victims around, threatening them and sometimes others. One place that can be particularly frightening for domestic abuse victims is the workplace.

The workplace is somewhere a person goes every day, often at the same times. Many abusers know where their victims work, and some follow them there. One Miami woman expressed the fear she experienced saying, "I'd go to work and he'd follow me, standing outside my office and watching the boss ... you don't know what could happen."

Musician Kenny G headed for divorce

As of late, the Kardashians have been on the receiving end of the most celebrity news. On the other hand, Kenny G, who is not particularly known for making ripples in the headlines, recently announced to the public that he and his wife are splitting it up. The saxophonist is ending his relationship after 20 years of marriage. As is the case for Florida families in similar situations, this particular marriage could conclude with a complex divorce.

The musician, whose legal name is Kenneth Gorelick, and his wife are currently filing for a legal separation. However, there are indications the couple has been at odds for a while and will likely file for divorce.

Bollywood star's nonprofit offers help to domestic abuse victims

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 million men and women across the United States are victimized by domestic violence each year. Florida's numbers are no less shocking; approximately 2.5 million women are subjected to abuse by an intimate partner annually.

In many domestic violence situations, the abused person feels trapped, with no way out. Some even think they deserve to be treated that way. In an effort to help these men and women, a former Bollywood star founded a nonprofit -- No More Tears -- five years ago to offer these people the resources they need to find safety and start over.

Update: Mom who tried to sell baby gets visitation

A few weeks ago, we discussed a case in which a Florida woman was taken into custody after allegedly trying to sell her baby boy for $7,000. After she was taken into police custody, two men -- the child's legal father and his biological father -- were both vying for custody of the boy.

Since that report, the 8-month-old boy's legal father was awarded temporary custody of the young boy. He was also given custody of the woman's two other children -- a 6-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy. This was not the only development in the case, however. Last week, the mother was awarded visitation time with the children by a Miami judge.

Property division: not just about the house and cars

When the phrase "property division" is said in conjunction with the word divorce, images of splitting homes and cars may come to mind. Typically, couples think of asset division as dividing up real estate property and figuring out who gets what knick-knacks around the home.

But some couples may not realize that dividing up the property also impacts retirement plans. In fact, the later in life that a couple separates, the greater the financial impact a divorce can have on both individuals.

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