Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog

The Miami Herald is reporting that Circuit Judge Jeri Cohen has ruled that a Hialeah women will not have custody of her children pending an investigation by DCF. On Monday, Rebecca Garcia, 21, left her infant and five year old son alone in her vehicle while shopping. She was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of child neglect. In addition, she tested positive for marijuana prior to Tuesday's hearing.

She told law enforcement that she was returning a previously made purchase and only left her children in the car for five minutes. Judge Cohen placed the daughter with the grandparents and father and the son with an aunt. While the parties are due to return to court on September 28, 2010, the court is permitting liberal time-sharing with the mother.

Garcia was previously investigated by DCF in 2005 when her daughter obtained a bone fracture.

When a party files for divorce in Broward, their lawyer will remind them that a judge frowns upon a parent who speaks poorly about the other parent in front of the minor children. Many parents fight about their relationship and use their children as ammunition. However, judges practicing in the marital and family division in Florida often believe that this conduct is one of the worst things that children can experience.

Children love both of their parents. They want to have time-sharing and access with both of their parents. Yet, when children hear one parent disparage the other it damages the child's self worth since they have a sense of loyalty to both parents. During a divorce in Fort Lauderdale, parents should minimize the damage that child custody litigation and fighting can cause to a child.

Parents who separate often believe that they are acting reasonably. However, this is rarely the case. Exercising shared parental responsibility and co-parenting during and after a divorce is not easy.

A divorce should be less adversarial. A parent should never refuse to honor their parenting plan and time-sharing schedule. Both parties should have their divorce lawyer ensure that they have equally important roles in their child's life after the entry of the final judgment. This way they can try to minimize any potential damage to the child.

A recent study indicates that women who earn more money than their husband's are 40% more likely to divorce. Women who earned at least 60% of the total household income are likely to divorce. The study, which took 25 years, also found that it did not matter how affluent the parties were since they were more likely to divorce if the wife was the breadwinner. One reason for the results of this study may be that women are free to leave bad marriages if they are financially independent.

Marital and family law in Miami-Dade and Broward, judges and divorce attorneys have relied upon the OurFamilyWizard® website for high conflict child custody, parenting plan and time-sharing cases. This website has become one of the most effective shared parental responsibility tools to remove parental conflict and to assist parents in doing what is in the best interest of the minor children.

After nearly ten years of helping separated families communicate, the OurFamilyWizard® website has added yet another revolutionary tool to its repertoire. Earlier this year the OurFamilyWizard® website announced the release of OFWpay™.

The OFWpay™ system allows parents to make and receive electronic payments to their checking or savings account. OFWpay™ transactions allow parents to send payment for expenses like unreimbursed medical, extra-curricular activities or even child support payments where permitted.

Parents know exactly when payments were sent and received. No more "the check is in the mail". No more waiting for the check to clear. And, there are no fees associated with receiving funds.

The OFWpay™ system uses a flat rate fee structure based on the amount the sender transmits. These fees are far cheaper than traditional electronic fund transfers or other web based services. OFWpay™ users also avoid certified mail costs and post office hassles. Many will even save on expensive cashier's checks or money orders.

Payments are completed in just a couple of clicks of the mouse, and may incorporate any number of expenses. OFWpay™ receipts itemize all requests included in each payment. Parents have a clear and accurate record of all expense reimbursements.

Transactions processed through the OFWpay™ system are completely secure and safe. Parents transfer funds without sharing personal bank information with each other. OFWpay may help parents avoid embarrassing wage garnishments, waiting for state disbursements, and delayed payments due to job changes. Additionally, OFWpay™ is eco-friendly, no paper, no mess.

The OurFamilyWizard® website is the leading provider of tools that help families move forward after a divorce or separation when child custody is an issue. For nearly a decade, the OurFamilyWizard® website has helped remove conflict, promote healthy communication, and shield children from difficulties facing separated parents. The website has rapidly evolved since inception, and continues to enhance features that better meet the needs of today's families.

For more information go to www.OurFamilyWizard.com

Dwyane Wade was in a marital and family law court today while his former wife testified during child custody proceedings in Chicago. Lawyers for the Miami Heat star tried to establish that his former wife has erratic behavior based upon her relationships, confrontations and parenting decisions. Prior to the trial, the divorce judge requested that the Miami Heat basketball player and his former wife attempt to resolve their child custody litigation. However, the parties quickly reached an impasse.

Divorce lawyers for Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade argued that the former wife has bizarre behavior and interferes with his time-sharing. On the otherhand, lawyers for the former wife argued that Mr. Wade is too busy to be designated as the sole custodial parent.

The guardian ad litem has recommended that Dwyane Wade be granted custody. Dwyane Wade is scheduled to testify in court later this week.