In 2020, the Supreme Court of Florida adopted new collaborative divorce forms. See Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Forms 12.985(a)-(g). These forms are for couples like you who may be considering the collaborative process for your divorce. The forms…
Florida’s Collaborative Law Process Act, section 61.56, Florida Statutes, took effect July 1, 2017. On May 18, 2017, the Supreme Court of Florida adopted Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.745 and Rule 4-1.19, Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. Collaborative:…
This Beneficiary Designations Checklist for collaborative teams can help couples develop options for beneficiary designations after divorce. One spouse may want the other named as beneficiary of insurance policies, annuities, accounts or other assets. The couple may have good reasons…
A parent who disagrees with the other parent’s consenting to mental health treatment for their child often faces costly, time consuming, and inadequate remedies. The parent who doesn’t consent may ask the court to modify the parenting plan, but must…
Under Florida Law, mental health treatment providers, and their professions’ corresponding statutory informed consent requirements, include: Mental Health Provider Informed Consent References Psychiatrist licensed under Chapter 458 or 459, Florida Statutes Section 458.325(1), Florida Statutes provides, for electroconvulsive or psychosurgical…
For our Parenting Plan, “Mental Health Treatment” means these techniques, as defined in Florida Administrative Code, Rule 63N-1.0081: (a) Individual therapy or counseling; (b) Group therapy or counseling; (c) Family counseling or therapy; (d) Behavior therapy; (e) Psychosocial Skills Training;…
Florida law and administrative regulations support mental health treatment providers’ accepting informed consent by only one parent or authorized guardian to mental health treatment for a child. Parents whose parental rights remain intact jointly are the natural guardians of their…
As parents resolving divorce or paternity issues attempt to state precisely their intent about “mental health treatment” for their child, definitions may guide their Florida collaborative practice team and them. Florida Juvenile Justice System – Techniques That Constitute “Mental Health…
In 2016, Florida law changed to mandate, in parenting plans designating shared parental responsibility, that either parent retains the right to consent to mental health treatment for their child. Section 61.13(2)(b)3., Florida Statutes, amended by Laws of Florida 2016-241 (enacting…
Florida law treats consent to “mental health treatment” for a child differently from other major decisions responsibility for which parents share. In 2016, Florida law changed to mandate provisions in parenting plans. – Section 61.13(2)(b)3., Florida Statutes, amended by Laws…
Florida’s divorce and paternity statutes don’t define “mental health treatment.” When they’re sharing parental responsibility, each parent retains parental consent to mental health treatment. However, by clarifying and agreeing to the scope of “mental health treatment” for their child, parents…
Florida family judges must determine parenting matters according to the child’s best interests and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. There is an exception: modification of a parenting plan and time-sharing schedule requires showing a substantial, material, and…
Parents in Florida divorce and paternity cases must agree to a “Parenting Plan” or have a judge decide on a plan. In collaborative practice, parents work with a collaborative neutral facilitator and collaborative professional team. The team helps parents write…
Parents who “share parental responsibility” retain full parental rights and responsibilities for their child. Both parents confer with each other to make decisions for their child. – Section 61.046(17), Florida Statutes. Before deciding, separated parents who share parental responsibility must…
The Collaborative Law subcommittee of the Florida Bar’s Family Law Rules Committee has proposed new collaborative process Family Law Forms 12.985(a)-(g), which dovetail with the 2017 Uniform Collaborative Law Process Act, Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.745, and Florida…
How do parenting plans provide for consent to mental health treatment for a child? What does “mental health treatment” mean and include? What if parents don’t agree on mental health treatment their child should continue, undertake, or stop? May one…
On December 5, 2019, the Florida Supreme Court amended the form for income deduction orders. Florida Family Law Form 12.996(a).
Florida publishes new disciplinary procedures for court appointed parenting coordinators
PART III, CHAPTER 61, FLORIDA STATUTES COLLABORATIVE LAW PROCESS ACT 61.55 Purpose. 61.56 Definitions. 61.57 Beginning, concluding, and terminating a collaborative law process. 61.58 Confidentiality of a collaborative law communication. 61.55 Purpose.—The purpose of this part is to create a uniform system of practice for…
RULE 12.745. COLLABORATIVE LAW PROCESS(a) Application. This rule governs all proceedings under chapter 61, part III, Florida Statutes. (b) Collaborative Law Process. (1) Initiating Process. (A) A collaborative law process begins, regardless of whether a legal proceeding is pending, when…
Florida’s Collaborative Law Process Act, section 61.56, Florida Statutes, took effect July 1, 2017. On May 18, 2017, the Supreme Court of Florida adopted Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.745 and Rule 4-1.19, Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. This article discusses Florida’s…
For multiple covered assets, section 732.703, Florida Statutes, provides, upon dissolution or annulment of marriage, the designation of one former spouse as beneficiary upon death of the insured other former spouse is ineffective. See State Farm Life Insurance Company v.…