Tavares Family Law Blog

Child support and your tax refund

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in child support on Friday, April 13, 2018.

People are aware of many of the different challenges that can come with child support, such as the risk of being arrested for failing to make payments and the social stigma that is attached to back child support. In a recent blog post, we discussed how child support delinquency can interfere with travel plans and passport applications. However, it is vital to keep in mind that falling behind may upend your life in even more ways. Many people have recently filed their taxes and are expecting a tax refund. However, some may be surprised to find out that back child support will interfere with their refund.

If a non-custodial parent owes a certain amount of back child support, the IRS might intercept their tax refund. This can be especially hard for people who were counting on their tax refund to fulfill various obligations, from getting caught up on back rent to making car payments. Unfortunately, this can result in a cycle of financial problems and it can be very upsetting to know that one's tax refund has been intercepted due to falling behind on child support payments.

Unpaid child support and passport applications

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in child support on Saturday, March 31, 2018.

When a parent is not able to pay child support, for whatever reason, there is a long list of challenges they may have to work through. It is not uncommon for people in this position to have an incredible amount of anxiety over their circumstances, but they may also face harsh penalties. For example, some may even be taken into custody for failing to pay child support. With this said, there are many other hardships that parents who owe back child support may face. For example, if a parent owes a certain amount of unpaid child support, they may not be able to apply for a passport.

There are a multitude of ways in which being barred from obtaining a passport can make life challenging. Non-custodial parents who owe back child support may not be able to travel for leisurely purposes, of course. However, they may also have to miss out on very important business meetings or family events, such as a wedding taking place overseas. This underlines the importance of paying child support and staying current. If you have fallen behind, you should stay committed to becoming caught up and look into your options. For example, modifying your child support order could be a possibility.

Divorce mediation may make a marital breakup easier

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in blog on Friday, March 30, 2018.

When you finally make the decision to get a divorce, you may understandably feel that your life and future are out of your control. After all, you may feel out of sorts both emotionally and financially.

However, with divorce mediation, you and your future ex-spouse may be able to more confidently plan your lives and make wise decisions about your futures. Major benefits of mediation are that it is generally a faster, less costly and less acrimonious process compared with traditional divorce litigation. Here is a look at what mediation involves in Florida.

Considerations regarding divorce and bankruptcy

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in divorce on Friday, March 16, 2018.

For many people, the decision to end a marriage results in a fresh start, an opportunity to move beyond hurdles that have been lingering for years. Likewise, bankruptcy can also provide people with this sense of starting anew, allowing them to break free from financial shackles that have been holding them back for years. However, both of these issues can bring up a number of questions as well as concerns, so if you are preparing to file for divorce or have already split up with your spouse, you may want to think about the impact this could have on your bankruptcy case as well.

Sometimes, couples file for bankruptcy prior to their divorce, which can be advantageous in certain circumstances. On the other hand, some people file a bankruptcy petition after their marriage has already come to an end. In fact, some people even blame their divorce as the reason why bankruptcy became necessary. After all, divorce can create a multitude of financial hurdles and some people may need to file for bankruptcy in order to move forward.

Custody, relocation, and emotions

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in child custody on Friday, March 2, 2018.

Child custody is one facet of family law that can be incredibly difficult for parents and even their kids. When a dispute over the custody of a child arises, there can be a great deal of uncertainty and emotions may run high. Moreover, additional issues that affect some parents, such as parental relocation, can lead to even more questions and challenges for custodial and non-custodial parents. If you are relocating with your child or are worried about your child’s other parent deciding to move, it is important to review all relevant legal considerations and try to maintain your emotions.

For some parents, the thought of a child moving away can be incredibly hard. Following a divorce, some parents decide to go ahead with the move for various reasons, whether they want a fresh start or are relocating for work. Parental relocation can complicate things further from a legal standpoint, which is why custodial parents who wish to move with their children should ensure that all legal requirements have been reviewed prior to the move. Non-custodial parents who feel that their rights have been violated should not remain silent, either.

9 signs an ex-spouse is hiding assets in divorce

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in property division on Monday, February 26, 2018.

Florida is an “equitable distribution” state for divorce, which means courts will divide property in a way it believes to be fair, but does not always equate to a perfectly even split. For this reason, sometimes spouses will try to hide assets to keep from splitting them with their ex.

If you believe your soon-to-be ex-spouse is doing this, you can uncover those assets in the divorce process. But how can you know for sure they are hiding assets without making a blanketed accusation?

Parenting plans: A roadmap for your post-divorce family's future

On behalf of Cauthen, Oldham & Associates, P.A. posted in child custody on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

The process of ending a marriage is a stressful time for anyone, but divorcing as a parent brings with it extra challenges and worries. There are a host of issues to address and since they all involve your children, there's that added pressure to make sure you fully cover every possible eventuality. The good news is that you can relax, at least a little.

With some experienced guidance to help along the way and a checklist for basics, you and your ex can address the majority of the parenting issues you're likely to face and even outline how you and your co-parent will handle any unforeseen situations that may arise unexpectedly. Of course, cooperation and communication between divorced parents goes a long way toward a smooth parenting experience for all, but even when that's not possible, a good parenting plan can even help you resolve issues with minimal conflict.

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