Tag: Coral Gables Family Law Attorney

What You Need to Know About Social Security Benefits and Remarriage

Picture of two wedding bands

There are few things more painful than divorce and the lengthy, exhausting legal process that comes along with it. But fortunately for you, you’ve found another love and you’re ready to get remarried. Congratulations!

While getting remarried often comes with many emotional and financial gains, you may have questions about legal ramifications — chiefly when it comes to your current Social Security benefits.

These benefits often make it possible for ex-spouses to continue living comfortably, even without the financial assistance of a partner. How will getting remarried change that picture?
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What is the Difference Between a GAL and a Family Law Attorney?

When you get divorced in Florida and children are involved, you and your soon-to-be ex may have very different ideas about how both the parenting plan and timesharing arrangements should be drafted. Despite many efforts, you may not be able to reach an agreement on how to “share” and care for your children going forward.

Coral Gables Family Law AttorneyIn these cases, either you, your co-parent, or the court system may request that a Guardian ad Litem (referred to as a GAL) be appointed to evaluate the entire situation and come up with a suggested parenting plan and timesharing arrangement.

Read more about Florida laws surrounding GALs here.

The GAL is responsible for writing up recommendations and then later presents a GAL Report to both parties and the court. And, while the court does is not required to adopt the recommendations of the GAL, it usually does the vast majority of the time.

Here is some information regarding GALs and what they do . . .

  • A GAL’s primary goal is to provide recommendations for a parenting plan and timesharing agreement of the child(ren) involved in the case.
  • Once you and your co-parent agree on or the Court appoints a GAL the GAL will conduct in-person and telephone interviews of the child, each parent, and each listed reference and witness.
  • The GAL may also choose to interview the child(ren)’s teachers, caretakers, and/or anyone else the GAL feels may assist in determining the child(ren)’s best interests.
  • Taking into consideration everything the GAL has learned and witnessed, he or she will then prepare recommendations for a parenting plan and timesharing agreement that he or she feels is in the best interest of the child(ren).
  • A formal report is presented to the parties and to the court. The court will take the report into consideration and may choose to adopt it in full, in part, or not at all.

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