Fort Lauderdale Divorce Law Blog

When there are serious problems in a marriage, divorce is often the only solution. Although some marriages can be saved, some circumstances simply warrant a divorce in Florida because the marriage is no longer sustainable.

Getting divorced is rarely easy. For many people, there may be anger or bitterness toward a soon-to-be ex that can sometimes creep into divorce proceedings. One recent news story highlighted a new phenomenon in divorce: using spy technology to snoop on a spouse. Some parents even turn to their children to find dirt on the other parent to use in any negotiations or related litigation.

Wealthy Florida couples who have gone through divorce are likely aware that a high-asset divorce can quickly turn bitter. Such appeared to be the case in the seemingly acrimonious divorce of movie producer Bob Weinstein and his wife, Annie. Although his wife had only filed for divorce about a week ago, their fight quickly turned ugly and made headlines all over the nation. Recently, though, both sides of this high-asset divorce issued a joint statement indicating they have come to a "temporary arrangement," the nature of which was not further described.

The initial filing shocked those who follow celebrity culture because Annie's divorce filing also sought an order of protection against her spouse. Her husband's representatives quickly responded and claimed that the divorce filing came a day after the family attempted to stage an intervention for Annie's purported drinking problem. The temporary arrangement now claims that neither side has been found guilty of wrongdoing, and both have declined to comment on the truce, purportedly because the judge assigned to their divorce case has issued a gag order preventing them from discussing details of the litigation.

For military service members in Florida and throughout the United States, sharing child custody can be more difficult than with non-military couples. Work hours are often longer and the jobs may require extended deployments, limiting the time service members can spend with their children. Legislation is being considered again in Congress, the crux of which is designed to strengthen military parents' child custody protection.

The bill is being backed by 63 members of the House Armed Services Committee, and while the bill has had some success in making its way through the halls of Congress, it has never been formally passed into law. The provisions would prevent courts from making permanent changes to child custody agreements for a deployed military member or from making the decision to deem a parent unfit solely due to their military service. The bill has been approved six times by the House, five times as a provision that was tagged on to the annual defense policy and once as an individual measure.

According to reports, many residents in Florida and other states are deciding to live together instead of marrying. And these arrangements have spawned an increase in so-called cohabitation agreements, basically a prenuptial agreement for the unmarried. Legally enforceable contracts, the agreements are becoming popular because people feel a need to protect their assets, children, and support obligations before or shortly after living with someone.

Some see the rise in these types of agreements as a natural extension to people putting off marriage or avoiding it altogether, in conjunction with the fact that as one gets older, they typically have the need for greater legal protection. A lot of cohabitation agreements are made out of necessity and are a reaction to both parties protecting themselves in case they decide to go their separate ways. Because couples that live together are experiencing an increase in legal disputes after they decide to split, they are recognizing a need to protect themselves.