By Mara Shaughnessy on
2/9/2012 2:22 PM
One of the most popular questions I get from my new divorce clients is what is a case management conference?" If you are involved in a dissolution of marriage action in Hillsborough County, you will more than likely have a case management conference scheduled when you file for divorce or when you are ...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
1/25/2012 2:19 PM
With every new year comes a new alimony law discussion. Current pending legislation is attempting to have the following impacts on our alimony laws:
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
12/1/2011 12:58 PM
It's That Time of Year, Again!
With Christmas right around the corner my phone is ringing off the hook!
Why is that, you ask?
Because year after year, divorced and separated parents can't come to an agreement on who should get the kids...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
10/25/2011 2:40 PM
So, you suspect that your spouse is having an affair?
Your first instinct might be to gather all the information that you can regarding this affair and present it to your divorce lawyer. While I usually firmly believe that you should...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
9/30/2011 7:50 AM
Recently, in one of my family law cases, the mother passed away. After the death of their mom, whom had been the primary caregiver for the children with assistance from her parents, the grandparents...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
9/22/2011 1:47 PM
 an Oregon court ruled that despite the fact that the ex-husband’s new wife shot...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
9/13/2011 8:45 AM
Often I have had perspective clients come in for a consultation with already signed marital settlement agreements. More times than not, the question is what can be done to set aside or modify these agreements. These agreements
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
9/2/2011 5:40 PM

A new Census report covering marriage, divorce and widowhood rates for men and women across the United States was just released (using data collected in the 2009 American Community Survey), and it...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
8/24/2011 9:12 AM
Durable health-care power of attorney and Durable financial power of attorney
 Terri Schiavo, the 25-year-old Floridian who spent 16 years in a helpless state because of a crippling brain injury is a startling reminder of why the 'health-care'...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
8/12/2011 11:13 AM
Filing for divorce? Who gets to stay in the house?
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
8/1/2011 8:21 AM
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
7/14/2011 12:14 PM
I attended my husband's annual business meeting with my family this weekend. It was great to get some time with the family, and we were able to reconnect with some friends.
It was upsetting, however, to hear that one of those friends is now facing a second divorce. When we last spoke a few years back, he mentioned getting remarried, so we sat down and discussed some of the things that he should...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
7/1/2011 2:21 PM
In an earlier post I discussed the importance of
arranging...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
6/8/2011 11:36 AM
Just because the Florida court system won't recognize the marital separation of you and your spouse, this doesn't...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
6/3/2011 12:46 PM
Your spouse wants a divorce and you had no clue this was coming, now what?
Unfortunately for the person that does not want the divorce, Florida is a ...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
6/2/2011 9:50 AM
If your spouse or ex-spouse is receiving public benefits from the state of Florida and isn't paying their child support, the florida department of revenue will pursue payment of child support on their behalf.
Some frequently asked questions:
1. Do you need to appear?
Yes, of course. In order to protect your rights and to have your side heard, you need to appear. ...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
5/27/2011 12:42 PM

You're involved in a legal matter and the judge refers you to mediation. What is it and what should you expect during the mediation process? Continue reading to find out...
What is mediation?
In short, mediation is an...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
5/25/2011 4:47 PM
If you and your spouse have a lot of joint debt, it might make more financial sense to file for bankruptcy before filing for divorce. Filing together can be a...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
5/20/2011 2:02 PM
 Facebook's massive popularity has made connecting...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
5/16/2011 2:00 PM
 Many people going through a divorce choose to communicate with each other via text messages or emails. One thing that I have learned through my experience with divorcing couples is that communicating through these methods...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
5/11/2011 8:57 AM
Congratulations! You have been waiting for this day for a very long time. At last, your Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage paperwork has been signed by the Judge and is now in your hands.
Is that it? Perhaps, but here are a couple of important things to consider after your divorce is final:
If you are a female and you wish to return to your maiden name, make sure to...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
5/5/2011 8:50 AM
With summer vacation rapidly approaching, many divorced and soon to be divorced couples are beginning to argue over their visitation and custody rights: Which parent will get their children during the summer? When will they get the kids during summer? How long will the children be able to stay with that parent while school is out? What does Florida Law say about child visitation during...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
4/29/2011 11:11 AM
Tax day for most individuals has come and gone already, but with an increasingly complex system of constantly changing and expanding tax laws, many are crossing their fingers and hoping that they completed their IRS forms correctly. Filling out your tax return incorrectly can mean the difference between receiving a Tax refund and a tax audit, and with an additional 1500 new IRS agents hired during 2010,...
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
4/18/2011 2:59 PM
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By Mara Shaughnessy on
4/14/2011 9:07 AM
Unemployment is no excuse for not paying child support.
In today’s economy many people in Brandon and Tampa Bay are finding themselves unemployed, and are having difficulty making child support payments on time. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, it’s very important to remember -
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