Florida Divorce: Am I Responsible for My Spouse's Student Loans?

For many people, student loan debt is one of the largest liabilities they incur in life.  If you pursue graduate education, this debt can potentially exceed the mortgage on your home.  Most people justify taking out student loans because they expect to receive a lifetime of enhanced earnings and opportunities.

As a general rule, Florida law provides that student loans incurred during the marriage are marital liabilities.  See Rogers v. Rogers, 12 So. 3d 288 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009); see also Smith v. Smith, 934 So. 2d 636 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006); Adams v. Cook, 969 So. 2d 1185 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007) (trial court erred by finding that wife's law school loans were non-marital); Banton v. Parker-Banton, 756 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000) (reversing equitable distribution scheme where court's treatment of student loans as marital or non-marital appeared arbitrary).

In other words, if you get a divorce, the court will presumptively find that student loans incurred during the marriage are marital, and each party will likely be responsible for one-half of any such loans (or, the loans will offset other assets and liabilities).

This allocation of debt strikes many people as inherently unfair.  The allocation would be justified if both parties were going to share in the enhanced earnings.  But, it is inequitable to impose such an enormous financial burden on a party who will receive no associated long-term benefit from the debt.

Imagine this scenario: two recent college graduates decide to get married.  The wife takes a job working full-time as a nurse and earning $60,000 annually, while the husband decides to attend medical school. After four years, they divorce. The wife now finds herself straddled with as much as $150,000 in student loan debt, which could consume a third of her income for the next decade.

Florida courts have held that, in the absence of specific findings supporting the unequal distribution of student loan debt, the liability must be equally distributed between the parties.  See, e.g., Rogers, 12 So. 3d at 291.  The fact that one party will not receive any benefit from the other party's education due to the divorce is not a factor to be considered when allocating liability for student loan debt.  Id.; see also Smith, 934 So. 2d at 641 (that one party will not receive any benefit of the other party's enhanced income after the dissolution is not a factor for allocating student loan debt).  Thus, absent some other justification for an unequal distribution, controlling case law forbids a trial court from awarding student loan debt incurred during the marriage solely to one party or the other.

The holding in Rogers essentially takes the single most compelling reason for an unequal distribution of the student loan debt (i.e., that the party who incurred the debt is going to take all the benefit and only half of the burden) and flushes it down the toilet.  My personal view is that Rogers was wrongly decided.  The Legislature should consider amending section 61.075, Florida Statutes, to account for the inequity presented by Rogers.

A majority of other states reject the notion that student loan debt should be divided equally.  The Connecticut Supreme Court dealt with a similar scenario in Simmons v. Simmons, 244 Conn. 158 (Conn. 1998).  In Simmons, the wife worked as a nurse and supported the family while the husband attended medical school.  In the third year of husband's surgical residency, he filed for divorce.  The wife asked for the value of his medical degree (valued at $3.1 million) to be allocated as a marital asset.  The Connecticut Supreme Court concurred with the vast majority of states and held that the value of the medical degree was not subject to equitable distribution because, among other reasons, the income from the medical degree was merely an expectancy, not a presently existing property right.  Id. at 168-69.  After considering the equities of the "working spouse/student spouse syndrome," however, the court allocated the medical student loan debt solely to the husband and awarded nominal alimony to the wife.  Id.

Similarly, in Tasker v. Tasker, 395 N.W.2d 100, 105 (Minn. App. 1986), the Minnesota Court of Appeals allocated student loan debt solely to the parent that incurred the debt, even though that spouse was unemployed.  But see Roberts v. Roberts, 670 N.E.2d 72 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996) (although husband's degree was not marital property, his student loan debt was still a marital obligation).

In some cases, student loans are used to provide support for the family while the student spouse is attending classes.  To the extent that the loans were used to pay marital living expenses, it is proper to treat the debt as marital and allocate it accordingly.  See, e.g., Forristall v. Forristall, 831 P.2d 1017 (Okla. Ct. App. 1992) (husband's student loans were marital because his medical education was a joint goal of the marriage and loan proceeds were used in part to support the family); McConathy v. McConathy, 632 So. 2d 1200, 1206-07 (La. Ct. App. 1994) (student loan debt was marital because it was incurred with the expectation that it would benefit the marriage, and part of loan proceeds were used to support the family); Hicks v. Hicks, 969 S.W.2d 840 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998) (husband ordered to pay one-half of wife's student loans, which were used to buy groceries, pay bills, and provide daycare while the wife was in school).

Perhaps Florida courts (or lawmakers) should look to how Colorado courts have allocated student loan debt.  See, e.g., In re Marriage of Speirs, 956 P.2d 622 (Colo. Ct. App. 1997).  In Speirs, the Colorado Supreme Court recognized that:

a spouse's pursuit of higher education during marriage represents a common goal of both parties to increase their economic standing. Both marital partners may expect to share in the rewards of such education, and it is not unusual for one spouse to assist the other in the accomplishment of that goal by providing a level of financial support as well as assuming responsibility for the tasks of everyday life. It is also a common reality that student loans are obtained not only to finance tuition costs, but also to provide for the general support of the family while the spouse attends school.

See 956 P.2d at 624.  Based on the foregoing, the Speirs court held that student loans should be treated as marital liabilities, but explained that:

treating student loans contracted during marriage as marital debts in no way forecloses the trial court's ability to award such debts to the spouse actually incurring them. Rather, removing such debts from the class of separate liabilities enhances the trial court's ability to enter the most equitable distribution of the marital estate based upon all of the circumstances affecting the parties' situation at the time of dissolution.

Id.  In Speirs, the trial court found that the student loans were marital.  Id. at 625.  The trial court allocated solely to the wife the portion of her student loans that were used to pay wife's law school tuition.  Id.  And, the trial court allocated equally to both parties the portion of wife's student loans that were used to pay marital expenses.  Id.  Both parties appealed, with the wife arguing that the entire loan obligation should have been marital and the husband arguing that none of the liability for her student loans should have been allocated to him.  Id.  The Colorado Supreme Court rejected the contentions of both parties and affirmed the trial court's equitable distribution of the wife's student loans.  Id.

In Florida trial courts, parties and family law attorneys must recognize that Rogers and Smith continue to govern equitable distribution of student loan debt incurred during the marriage.

In Florida, as in almost all other states, professional degrees and licenses are not assets that are subject to equitable distribution.  See, e.g., Joachim v. Joachim, 942 So. 2d 3 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006) (holding that a professional educations and licenses are not assets subject to equitable distribution). But, ironically, the debt used to acquire these non-marital assets is marital.

Rogers and Smith both reject any notion that trial courts can or should effectuate an unequal distribution of student loan debt based on the fact that one spouse will gain substantially all of the benefit of a non-marital asset, namely that spouse's enhanced education and income potential.  This creates a somewhat unique problem because debt usually follows the asset for which it was incurred.

When distributing assets and liabilities, court are supposed to be able to consider any "factors necessary to do equity and justice between the parties." See Fla. Stat. § 61.075(j).  Rogers and Smith thus appear to conflict with section 61.075(j), Florida Statutes.  If trial courts cannot allocate debt based on which party stands to benefit from the debt, perhaps an unequal distribution might be justified under one of the following bases:

(b) The economic circumstances of the parties.
(c) The duration of the marriage.
(e) The contribution of one spouse to the personal career or educational opportunity of the other spouse.
(g) The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition, enhancement, and production of income or the improvement of, or the incurring of liabilities to, both the marital assets and the nonmarital assets of the parties.

See Fla. Stat. § 61.075.

Alternatively, parties may look to an alimony award to fight this inequity.  In some instances, courts are authorized to use lump sum alimony to "balance inequities resulting from property disposition in the final judgment." See Banton, 756 So. 2d at 156.  For a lump sum alimony award, however, the spouse's ability to pay cannot not be based on earnings to be accumulated in the future. See, e.g., Hughes v. Hughes, 438 So. 2d 146 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983).  One potential alternative solution for working spouse/student spouse dilemma might be to award nominal alimony until the "student" obtains his or her professional degree or license.

Regardless of how it is accomplished, our lawmakers or courts should find some solution to the problem of saddling one spouse with the other's student loan debt, especially in connection with a short-term marriage.

If you have questions about your rights in a divorce or family law matter, please contact an experienced Tampa family law attorney.

By Richard J. Mockler

Equitable Distribution: The Marital Interest in a Non-Marital Property or Premarital Home

As couples marry later in life or have second marriages, one or both of the parties already owns a home. As a result, in many divorce cases, the parties live in a home owned solely by one of the parties.  In these cases, a common question is whether the non-owner spouse has any interest in the home.

Equitable distribution in Florida is governed by section 61.075, Florida Statutes.  When dealing with the division of a couple's assets and liabilities, the first step in the analysis is for the court to set aside any non-marital assets and liabilities.  The court is then tasked with distributing the marital assets and liabilities between the parties, with the premise that such assets and liabilities should be divided equally.

Under section 61.075(6)(a)(1)(b), Florida Statutes, marital assets are defined to include the "enhancement in value and appreciation of nonmarital assets resulting either from the efforts of either party during the marriage or from the contribution to or expenditure thereon of marital funds or other forms of marital assets, or both."

If marital funds are used to enhance a non-marital asset, the value the enhancement is therefore marital. Accordingly, if the parties built a home on non-marital property, the enhanced value relating to the structure is marital.  The relevant statutory language also clearly provides that, under certain circumstances, the appreciation of a non-marital asset is indeed a marital asset. See Kaaa v. Kaaa, 58 So. 3d 867, 870 (Fla. 2010).  In particular, the passive appreciation of a non-marital asset, such as a home, is properly considered a marital asset where marital funds or the efforts of either party contributed to the appreciation.  Id.  The Florida Supreme Court has held that, if one party uses marital funds to pay the mortgage on a non-marital property and the non-owner spouse makes "contributions" to the property, some portion of the passive appreciation on the home is subject to equitable distribution.  Id. at 871.  

The Florida Supreme Court adopted the following methodology for determining how the appreciated value is properly allocated between the parties:

If a separate asset is unencumbered and no marital funds are used to finance its acquisition, improvement, or maintenance, no portion of its value should ordinarily be included in the marital estate, absent improvements effected by marital labor. If an asset is financed entirely by borrowed money which marital funds repay, the entire asset should be included in the marital estate. In general, in the absence of improvements, the portion of the appreciated value of a separate asset which should be treated as a marital asset will be the same as the fraction calculated by dividing the indebtedness with which the asset was encumbered at the time of the marriage by the value of the asset at the time of the marriage. If, for example, one party brings to the marriage an asset in which he or she has an equity of fifty percent, the other half of which is financed by marital funds, half the appreciated value at the time of the petition for dissolution was filed, § 61.075(5)(a) 2, Fla. Stat. (1993), should be included as a marital asset. The value of this marital asset should be reduced, however, by the unpaid indebtedness marital funds were used to service.

See Kaaa, 58 So. 3d at 872.

Thus, when non-marital real property is encumbered by a mortgage that was paid by marital funds, a pro-rata portion of the passive appreciation in the property's value that accrues during the course of the marriage is a marital asset subject to equitable distribution.

If you have questions concerning your Florida equitable distribution or property division rights, please contact an experienced Tampa family law attorney.

By Richard Mockler

Tampa Family Law Mediators Directory

We recently developed a new website that serves as a directory of Tampa family law mediators. 

Many attorneys tend to mediate with the same proven mediators. But, a scheduling conflict or other issue circumstances may require you to seek an alternative. Provide this link to your staff or opposing counsel to help select a qualified mediator who can help resolve your case.

If you mediate cases in Tampa and you would like to appear on the site (no charge), please don't hesitate to contact me.

TampaFamilyMediators.com

Florida Law on Morality, Adultery, Homosexuality, and Child Custody

Under Florida law, Courts are required to make all parenting decisions based on the child's best interests. The Florida legislature has set out 20 factors for courts to consider when establishing a parenting plan or making a parenting or custody determination.  See Fla. Stat. § 61.13(3).

The parenting factors address many issues, such as which parent is more willing to share time, handles more of the parenting responsibilities, acts on the interest of the child, has been caring for the child, demonstrates knowledge of the child's circumstances, provides a consistent routine, communicates with the other parent, avoids violence, and maintains a home free of substance abuse. See Fla. Stat. § 61.13(3).  These considerations are largely non-controversial.

Courts are also required to consider the "moral fitness of the parents."  See Fla. Stat. § 61.13(3)(f).  This factor is extremely subjective, and it does not frequently play a significant role in custody determinations.

For the trial court to consider a parent’s "moral fitness" in connection with establishing a parenting plan or determining parental responsibility, the conduct in question must have a “direct effect or impact” upon the minor child.  See Smith v. Smith, 39 So. 3d 458, 460 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010).  Moreover, the connection between the conduct and the harm to the child must have an evidentiary basis.  See id. (quoting Jacoby v. Jacoby, 763 So.2d 410, 413 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000)); see also Willis v. Willis, 818 So. 2d 530, 533 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002).   “A connection between the actions of the parent and the harm to the child...cannot be assumed.”  See Packard v. Packard, 697 So. 2d 1292, 1293 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997).

Further, when a parent's alleged adultery is at issue, the act of adultery should not be taken into consideration in determining custody unless the trial court finds that the adultery has a direct bearing on the child’s welfare. See Smith, 39 So. 3d at 461; Dinkel v. Dinkel, 322 So. 2d 22, 24 (Fla. 1975); Willis, 818 So. 2d at 533. Marital misconduct is not necessarily an appropriate standard for determining the best interests of the child.  See Farrow v. Farrow, 263 So. 2d 588, 590 (Fla. 2d DCA 1972); McAnespie v. McAnespie, 200 So. 2d 606, 609 (Fla. 2d DCA 1967).  Even if a parent commits adultery, it may be better for that parent to have custody of the child.  See Willis, 818 So. 2d at 533.  “Adultery may or may not have any direct bearing on the welfare of a child of tender years.”  Id.  The mere possibility of a negative impact on the child is not sufficient.  See Willis, 818 So. 2d at 533.

Florida courts have also rejected any notion that the potential of societal disapproval for immoral behavior may be used as a justification for favoring one parent in a custody case.  See Lofton v. Sec’y. of the Dept. of Children and Family Services, 377 F.3d 1275, 1300 (Anderson, J., dissenting from the Denial of Rehearing En Banc) (citing Maradie v. Maradie, 680 So. 2d 538 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996)).

In Maradie v. Maradie, 680 So. 2d 538, 540 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996), the parties presented considerable testimony about the sexual conduct of each parent and its relation to the parent's "moral fitness" under section 61.13(3)(f), Florida Statutes.  Among other things, the former husband presented evidence that his former wife was bisexual and had been involved in lesbian relationships.  Id.  The court-appointed psychologist testified, however, that there was no evidence that the former wife's sexual orientation impaired her parenting ability or had negatively impacted the child.  Id.  Nevertheless, the trial court awarded custody of the parties' daughter to the former husband.  Id.  The trial court based its decision on the following reasoning:

The testimony reveals that Mrs. Maradie, with her homosexual lover, spend nights and sleep together in the same bed, kiss, hold hands and speak in terms of endearment in front of the child. The possibility of negative impact on the child, especially as she grows older and reaches her late pre-teen and early teen years, is considerable.  The Court does not have to have expert evidence to reach this conclusion, but can take judicial notice that a homosexual environment is not a traditional home environment, and can adversely affect a child. To say that this cannot be considered until there is actual proof that it has occurred is asking the Court to abdicate its common sense and responsible decision-making endeavors.

Maradie, 680 So. 2d at 540-41.  Florida's First District Court of Appeal explained that the trial court was permitted to consider a parent's sexual conduct in determining the parent's moral fitness under section 61.13(3)(f).  The trial court, however, was required to focus on whether the parent's behavior had a direct impact on the welfare of the child.  Id. at 541.  The trial court certainly was not permitted to take "judicial notice" of the "fact" that a homosexual environment is not traditional and can adversely affect a child.  Id. at 541.

In Ward v. Ward, 742 So. 2d 250, 254 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996), Florida's First District Court of Appeal again clarified that the sexual orientation of the custodial parent does not, by itself, justify a custody change.  In Ward, the trial court changed custody from the former wife, who was a lesbian, to the former husband, who was previously convicted of second degree murder for killing his first wife.  Id. at 252.  On appeal, Florida's First District Court of Appeal found that the trial court was not focused on the fact that the former wife was a lesbian, but rather on the best interests of the child.  Id.  The trial court concluded that the former wife was involved in a relationship that directly and adversely affected the child.  Id. at 254.  The First District Court of Appeal held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by changing custody because the determination was without regard to the sexual orientation of that relationship.  Id.

In Packard v. Packard, 697 So. 2d 1292, 1293 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997), the trial court awarded custody to the former husband where the wife was a lesbian who had been living with a woman with whom the parties had been involved in a menage a trois during their marriage.  Id.  Interestingly, at the time of the divorce, the former husband was living with his new girlfriend, her children, and the parties' daughters.  The former wife argued that the trial court based its custody decision solely on her sexual orientation.  Id.  The former husband's living arrangements were also fairly viewed as "untraditional."  Id.  The former wife argued that it was therefore discriminatory for the trial court to base its custody determination on the finding that a more "traditional family environment" would be provided by the former husband.  Id.  Florida's First District Court of Appeal again explained that the trial court may consider a parent's sexual conduct in determining the parent's moral fitness under section 61.13(3)(f), but that in such consideration "the trial court should focus on whether the parent's behavior has a direct impact on the welfare of the child."  Id.  In other words, the trial court's primary consideration must be on the conduct involved and whether the conduct has had or is reasonably likely to have an adverse impact on the child. Id.  The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court's custody determination and remanded the case with instructions to follow the foregoing principles when considering the parties' moral fitness.  Id.

In Jacoby v. Jacoby, 763 So. 2d 410 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000), the former husband's case centered largely on his former wife's sexual orientation.  The trial court made remarks about the negative impact of the mother's  sexual orientation on the children.  Id. at 413.  The Second District Court of Appeal found that the trial court's comments were conclusory and unsupported by the evidence.  Id.  Specifically, the trial court found that "the community" shared the former husband's belief that homosexuals are immoral and should not be entrusted to rear children.  Id.  The trial court further found that a "strong stigma" attaches to homosexuality and that while being reared in a homosexual environment does not appear to alter sexual preference, it does affect social interaction and that it is likely that the children's peers or their parents will have negative words or thoughts.  Id.  The Second District Court of Appeal, however, found that even if the trial court's comments about the community's beliefs and possible reactions were correct and supported by the evidence, "the law cannot give effect to private biases."  Id.  With respect to the custody decision, the Second District further reasoned that "even if the law were to permit consideration of the biases of others, and even if we were to accept the assumption that such would necessarily harm the children, the bias and ensuing harm would flow not from the fact that the children were living with a homosexual mother, but from the fact that she is a homosexual."  Id.  Accordingly, the Second District Court of Appeal held that the trial court's "reliance on perceived biases was an improper basis for a residential custody determination."  Id.  The trial court also improperly concluded that the children's exposure to the Baptist religion coupled with living with a homosexual parent would necessarily created confusion for the children.  Id. at 414.  The lower court also made a number of other leaping conclusions in support of its decision to award custody to the heterosexual father.  Id. at 414-15.  None of these jumps conclusions were supported by the evidence, and the Second District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court's decision.  Id. at 414-15.  In short, when making its custody determination, the trial court permissibly penalized the mother for her sexual orientation without evidence that it harmed the children.  Id. at 415.

All of these decisions by the Florida courts make clear that homosexuality alone cannot be the basis for an adverse custody decision.  The trial court must link any allegedly "immoral behavior" to a direct affect on the minor children.  That connection must be supported by evidence in the record.  The link cannot be the product of speculation or judicial notice.  In other words, before a court can make any judgment concerning a party's homosexual or other allegedly "immoral" conduct, the court must be prepared to explain who the conduct at issue resulted in a direct impact on the minor child.

If you have questions about child custody issues in Florida, please contact an experienced Florida family law attorney.

Debtor's Prison: Is an Award of Florida Family Law Attorneys' Fees Enforceable by Contempt?

There is much confusion among parties in Florida family law cases - and certain practicing attorneys - regarding which obligations are enforceable by the court's contempt powers.

One of the more common questions that arises is whether a client "has to pay" an award of attorneys' fees ordered by the court.  Generally speaking, no one wants to pay "the enemy."

Long ago, our society determined that we should not have "debtors' prisons."  In other words, a free person cannot be threatened with imprisonment for failure to pay his or her debts.

This right is expressly protected by Article I, Section 11 of the Florida Constitution.  But, the courts  have fashioned an exception to that rule for family support obligations, such as child support and alimony.

The courts have reasoned that the obligation to pay spousal or child support is a personal duty owed to both the former spouse or child and to society rather than a debt within the meaning of article I, section 11.  See Gibson v. Bennett, 561 So. 2d 565, 570 (Fla. 1990).

"The courts have a duty to provide an effective, realistic means for enforcing a support order, or the parent or former spouse for all practical purposes becomes immune from an order for support."    Gibson, 561 So. 2d at 570.  This duty includes enforcement of a judgment through contempt because "a remedy at law that is ineffective in practice is not an adequate remedy."  Id.

The use of contempt in a family law case is premised on the assumed necessity for the special protection and enforcement of rights growing out of the family relationship.  See Fishman v. Fishman, 656 So. 2d 1250, 1252 (Fla. 1995).  This rule has been extended to include the enforcement of payments of attorney's fees related to family law proceedings.  Id.  Attorneys' fees in family law cases are considered a form of support, as the expense of litigating matters pertaining to family obligations should be borne by the family in the same manner as other expenses.

Although the Court may employ its contempt powers to enforce payment of an attorney's fee award, that power is not without limits.  Civil contempt is appropriate only if the party to be held in contempt has the present ability to comply with the court's order and thereby avoid incarceration or other sanctions.  See Bowen v. Bowen, 471 So. 2d 1274, 1278 (Fla. 1985).

Waste and Dissipation Claims: Is There a Statute of Limitations?

In a divorce proceeding, clients often ask how far back the Court will look when assessing whether a party engaged in waste or dissipation of marital assets. Equitable distribution of marital assets is governed by section 61.075, Florida Statutes.

Under section 61.075, the court must begin with the premise that the distribution should be equal, unless there is a justification for an unequal distribution based on all relevant factors. Section 61.075(1)(i) requires trial courts to consider intentional dissipation that occurs up to two (2) years prior to filing the petition.

Dissipation occurs where one spouse uses marital funds for his or her own benefit and for a purpose unrelated to the marriage at a time when the marriage is undergoing an irreconcilable breakdown. See Roth v. Roth, 973 So. 2d 580, 585 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008) (citing Romano v. Romano, 632 So. 2d 207, 210 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994)).

Too often, a divorce attorney will advise clients that you can only prove waste or dissipation that occurred with the past two (2) years. The statute, however, is silent as to intentional waste or dissipation that may have occurred more remotely in time. If your spouse intentionally dissipated marital assets three years prior to the filing date, is there any recourse?

 Courts have held that the legislature did not intend to preclude consideration of waste or dissipation beyond two years. See, e.g., Beers v. Beers, 724 So. 2d 109, 114-15 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998); Amos v. Amos, 99 So. 3d 979 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).  Intentional dissipation of marital assets occurring more than two years prior to filing a petition for dissolution may, in some instances, be a factor necessary to do equity and justice between the parties.  Clearly, a party should not be able to transfer significant assets outside the marital estate, wait two years, and then file for divorce.  Courts have considered waste and dissipation beyond two years under the catchall provision of section 61.075(1)(j).  Id.  But, the Court has great discretion in deciding whether to consider any evidence of waste or dissipation that occurred more years prior to the filing date.

Be Prepared: Get a Prenup Before Saying "I Do"

Most people like to think that they are prepared for the obstacles that they will face in life.  Like the Boy Scout motto, Americans like to “be prepared.”

And, just in case we are asleep at the wheel, there are people constantly reminding us every step of the way that we should protect ourselves.  It starts early.  For example, a parent might remind us to bring an umbrella – because it might rain.  As we get older, we learn to buy car insurance because we might have an accident.  People buy alarm systems to detect and deter intruders.  Working professionals buy insurance to protect against the unlikely risk of disability.  Most people buy life insurance to hedge against the risk that they might die.  And, if you have a mortgage, homeowner’s insurance is mandatory to protect against risks such as fire and wind.

Americans also like contracts.  Remember the license agreements that you had to accept just to install a game on your computer?  When you went off to college, your first credit card certainly came with a cardholder agreement.  If you wanted to rent an apartment, that definitely required a lease.  Did you want cell phone service?  You needed a contract.  If you go to work at a business, your employer might ask you to sign non-compete agreement.

But, for some strange reason, people enter into marriage with no contract or agreement whatsoever.  They just trust each other.  Remarkably, these are the same individuals who buy the life insurance and disability insurance, even though a 30-year-old man faces a 0.1% chance of dying before age 31 and less than 5% of wage earners are classified as “disabled.”  Yet, they turn a blind eye to the fact that more than 50% of marriages result in divorce.

A prenuptial agreement or “prenup” can protect you against losses that might result from your divorce.  If you don’t have a prenuptial agreement, what do you stand to lose?  You can start with giving away roughly half of the net worth that you worked so hard to accumulate during the marriage.  And, to the extent you earned them during the marriage, you will likely have to divide your pension, retirement benefits, and/or retirement accounts.  You may also have the privilege of paying a large percentage of your monthly salary to your “ex” as alimony.  And, without a prenup, you could be forced to pay off half of your ex’s bad debt.  You could even be saddled with half of your “ex’s” student loans. 

But, there is rarely someone in your corner to remind you about getting a prenup.  Until recently, that is.  Since the Great Recession, 3 out of 4 family law attorneys report that prenups are on the rise.  This may be due to the devastating impact of the financial collapse, which has made people questions how much they can earn in the future and makes them want to keep what they have earned. 

Recently, I have had several parents call my office about prenups for the children.  One retired military officer wanted a prenup for his son, who was about to start flight school.  The father was concerned that his son might lose half of his hard-earned military retirement pay if the marriage didn’t last a lifetime.  A mother recently called me because she had refused to pay for the wedding unless the couple signed a prenuptial agreement.  And, an accountant paying lifetime alimony called me last year in hopes that a prenup might avoid the same fate for his son.

In certain circumstances, a prenuptial agreement can make a marriage more likely to last.  A spouse is more likely to return to work or keep working if that he or she cannot rely on alimony in the event that the marriage breaks down.  And, in some cases, a spouse may be less likely to leave or look around if he or she knows that they will not be able to use the divorce to raid the other party’s retirement pay, pension, assets, and income.

Fortunately, despite what you might have heard, prenuptial agreements are enforceable under Florida law.  In 2007, the Florida Legislature passed the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act.  See Fla. Stat. § 61.079.  Under the Act, a premarital agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.  Id.  The Act allows Parties to negotiate and agree upon the following issues:  (i) the parties’ rights and obligations concerning any assets and liabilities; (ii) the right to buy, sell, use, transfer, or dispose of property; (iii) the distribution of property upon separation, dissolution, death, or other event; (iv) the right to alimony; (v) the making of a will or trust; and (vi) the disposition of life insurance proceeds.  See Fla. Stat. § 61.079(4)(a).  And, one Florida court specifically held that a prenup may be enforceable to protect a pilot's pension and military retirement pay.  See Gordon v. Gordon, 25 So. 3d 615, 617-18 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009).

Florida courts have held that the parties do not need to attorneys for a prenuptial agreement to be enforceable.  See Casto v. Casto, 508 So. 2d 330, 334-35 (Fla. 1987).  The Florida Supreme court has also held, however, that a prenuptial agreement may not be enforceable if the agreement was procured by as a result of fraud, deceit, duress, coercion, misrepresentation, or overreaching.  SeeCasto, 508 So. 2d at 333.  Additionally, a prenup may be set aside if there is a showing that the agreement is unreasonable on its face for failure to provide adequately for the challenging spouse coupled with a lack of adequate financial disclosure.  Id.  So, even though a lawyer is not absolutely necessary, an agreement is far more likely to be upheld with the assistance of counsel.  

If you have questions about prenuptial agreements, please contact us to consult an experienced Tampa divorce and family law attorney.

Life Insurance to Secure Alimony and Child Support

Clients often ask about whether the Court will require a party to procure life insurance to secure their alimony or child support obligation.  Like many legal questions, the answer is "it depends."

Courts do have the authority to order a party to provide term life insurance to secure his or her child support and alimony payments. See Fla. Stat. §§ 61.08(3), 61.13(1)(c); Sobelman v. Sobelman, 541 So. 2d 1153, 1154 (Fla. 1989). 

When determining whether life insurance is appropriate, the court will consider the need for the insurance, the cost and availability of the insurance, and the financial impact upon the obligor.  See Child v. Child, 34 So. 3d 159 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010); Plichta v. Plichta, 899 So.2d 1283, 1287 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005); see also Byers v. Byers, 910 So.2d 336, 346 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). 

Florida courts have held, however, that certain "special circumstances" must be present to require a payor to purchase life insurance on his or her alimony or child support obligation. See Child v. Child, 34 So. 3d 159 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010); Massam v. Massam, 993 So. 2d 1022 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008); Melo v. Melo, 864 So.2d 1268 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004); Frechter v. Frechter, 548 So.2d 712 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). 

But, the "special circumstances" are not particularly difficult to prove.  The special circumstances may be present where the former spouse would face difficult financial circumstances if the support payments were to cease upon the death of the obligor.  The circumstances may be present where the surviving party has limited earning capacity or children to support.  See, e.g., Child v. Child, 34 So. 3d 159 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010); Kotlarz v. Kotlarz, 21 So. 3d 892, 893 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009); Richardson v. Richardson, 900 So.2d 656, 661 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005); Massam v. Massam, 993 So. 2d 1022 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008);Davidson v. Davidson, 882 So. 2d 418 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004).

If the special circumstances are present, the Party requesting the life insurance must establish that the amount of insurance sought is available at an affordable cost.  See Massam, 993 So. 2d at 1022; Rubinstein v. Rubinstein, 866 So. 2d 80 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003); Zimmerman v. Zimmerman, 755 So. 2d 730 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000); and Schere v. Schere, 645 So. 2d 21 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994). 

If you have questions about alimony or child support, please contact us to consult an experienced Tampa divorce and family law attorney.

Prenuptial Agreements and Estate Planning Considerations: ‘Till Death Do Us Part

Nearly 80,000 Florida residents file for divorce each year.  And, Florida has the nation’s highest percentage of residents over the age of 65.  Many people enter into a second marriage with significant assets and adult children.  Accordingly, it is often important to consult an experienced Florida family law attorney for a prenuptial agreement that addresses address both marital and estate planning issues.

Florida adopted the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (the “UPAA”), which expressly provides that parties may reach a binding contract on the following issues:  (i) the parties’ rights and obligations concerning any assets and liabilities; (ii) the right to buy, sell, use, transfer, or dispose of property; (iii) the distribution of property upon separation, dissolution, death, or other event; (iv) the right to alimony; (v) the making of a will or trust; and (vi) the disposition of life insurance proceeds.  See Fla. Stat. § 61.079(4)(a).

It is imperative to understand the estate and probate rights that may be waived by a spouse.  See Fla. Stat. § 732.702.  For example, asurviving spouse normally has the right to receive an “elective share” of the deceased spouse’s estate (under current law, 30% of the elective estate as defined in Chapter 732, Part II, Florida Statutes).

A surviving spouse also has special rights to homestead real property.  A decedent may not freely devise homestead real property upon death if survived by a spouse or minor child.  See Fla. Stat. § 732.4015.  The surviving spouse is entitled to a life estate in the property or, upon election, an undivided one-half interest.  See Fla. Stat. §§ 732.401 and 732.4015.  The property is exempt from any claims by the decedent’s creditors.  See Art. X, Sec. 4, Fla. Const. 

Additionally, if a spouse dies intestate (i.e., without a will), a surviving spouse is entitled to a specific share of the estate.  See Fla. Stat. § 732.102.  If a person marries after making a will, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive an intestate share of the estate.  See Fla. Stat. § 732.301. A surviving spouse is also entitled to receive up to $20,000 in certain exempt property.  See Fla. Stat. § 732.402.  A surviving spouse is separately entitled to receive up to $18,000 in “family allowance” for support during the administration of an estate.  See Fla. Stat. § 732.403.  Finally, a surviving spouse has preference in appointment to serve as personal representative of a decedent’s intestate estate. 

All of these rights may be waived in a prenuptial agreement.  See, e.g., Fla. Stat. §§ 732.701 and 732.702 (to the extent the prenuptial agreement affects estate and probate rights, it must satisfy all other applicable formalities).  The prenuptial agreement, however, may include language requiring the parties to make a will or trust, to give a devise, or not to revoke a will or devise.  See Fla. Stat. §§ 61.079(4)(a) and 732.702.  A practitioner must be prepared to advise clients on any rights that are being waived and avenues to protect the client’s interests.

Do I have to pay child support if I receive disability payments from the government?

One common question is whether a parent has to pay child support if the children are receiving social security payments as a result of the parent's disability.

The short answer is that social security payments do not negate the obligation to pay child support.  A disabled parent, however, does receive credit for the social security paid for the benefit of the children.  In some cases, especially where the disabled parent has no other income, these payments may actually exceed the support obligation.  The fact of the matter is that, to make any determination, you should still have a Florida family law attorney or other qualified person apply the Florida child support guidelines, properly taking into account any social security benefits paid to the children.

Under the Florida child support guidelines, social security is treated as income for purposes of calculating the parents' child support obligation.  Specifically, under section 61.30(2)(a)(8), the social security benefits are treated as income to the disabled parent.  The disabled parent, however, also receives credit for paying support equal to the amount of the social security received on behalf of the children.  In other words, the social security funds are hypothetically earned by the disabled parent and paid by that parent to the children.

This rule was established by the First District Court of Appeals in Williams v. Williams, 560 So. 2d 308 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990).  In Williams, the trial court failed to credit a disabled father for social security payments received by the mother on behalf of their three children.  The court ordered that, in addition to the disability funds the mother received directly, the father also had to pay child support out of his own disability payments.  As a result, after satisfying his child support obligations, the father had no money from which to live.  The First District found that the court erred when calculating the child support guideline amount by failing properly to account for the social security payments received by the children.

In most cases, the social security payments will exceed the disabled parent's obligation to pay support.  This is especially true where the disabled parent has no other material income.

Smart Lawyer Gets No Sympathy from the Court

A story published by Law.com on Christmas Eve really got my attention.

So, when is it fair to revisit the terms of your divorce?  That may depend on who you are.

Yes, a final judgment or decree is supposed to be “final.”  But, in family law cases, there are occasions where it is completely appropriate and sometimes even necessary to change the terms of the final judgment or decree.

What justifies modifying a final judgment?  You obviously don’t want people going back to court every time they realize they left something out of their agreement or want something new.  At the same time, courts have to respect that circumstances do change.  This is especially true with continuing obligations such as child support, alimony, and visitation.

The law is pretty clear that you can revisit alimony, custody, time-sharing, and parental responsibility when there is a substantial change in circumstances.  Most states also require that the change is involuntary and unanticipated.

But, when is it appropriate to reconsider the equitable distribution of assets?  A high-ranking New York real estate attorney at the prestigious Paul Weiss law firm recently learned that he would receive no sympathy from the court when his circumstances changed for the worse.  

Steven Simkin had been married to his wife, Laura Blank, for more than 30 years.  They spent the better part of two years fighting over the value of certain real estate investments and Mr. Simkin’s law practice.  One item that was not subject to dispute was their account at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, which reflected a value of $5.4 million.  In the divorce, Laura Blank took $2.7 million in cash for her share of the Madoff investments.  Presumably for tax and other reasons, Mr. Simkin left most of the money in the Madoff investment fund.

As virtually everyone now knows, Bernie Madoff's investment fund was one of the largest ponzi schemes in the history of the world.  And, it turns out that Steve Simkin’s Madoff investments were completely worthless.  After learning that he paid his wife $2.7 million for her half of a worthless investment, Mr. Simkin asked a New York court to set aside the agreement.

On December 24, 2009, the New York Law Journal reported that the court denied any relief to Mr. Simkin. According to the report, Acting Supreme Court Justice Saralee Evans held that the Court simply would not revisit the parties’ settlement.  The Court reasoned that the account could have been converted to cash, so neither party was mistaken in their marital settlement agreement.  

But, what the Court apparently failed to consider was that, even if the money had been withdrawn, it still would have been subject to a “clawback suit” by the Trustee for the Madoff Estate.  The Trustee can recover withdrawals going back six years.  Nevertheless, Mr. Simkin is simply out of luck.  First, he lost $5.4 million in the Bernie Madoff fraud. Then, to add insult to injury, he unwittingly gave his wife $2.7 million for her share of the worthless Madoff investments.  Of course, there are many stories about people who were screwed by Bernie Madoff.  But, in this case, the family law judge decided that Mr. Simkin should bear 100% of the loss and his wife should keep the $2.7 million she took for her share of the sham investment. 

The Court simply had no sympathy for a man who had represented many of the world’s most sophisticated investors in their most important real estate deals.  I question whether the Court would have reached the same conclusion had the wife been left with the worthless investments. 

The only good news is that Bernie Madoff will be spending the rest of his life in prison as part of a 150-year sentence.  Unfortunately for Mr. Madoff, there are several inmates who apparently have a sense of rough justice that is even stronger than the Judge that slammed Steve Simkin.

AVVO Assigns Superb Rating to Attorney Richard J. Mockler

The lawyer rating website AVVO.com has assigned a Superb Rating to Attorney Richard J. Mockler.


AVVO Rating

Innovative Family Law Attorneys Open New Office in Tampa, Florida

The family and business litigation law firm of Richard J. Mockler, P.A. has opened its new office in historic Hyde Park. The warm and child-friendly environment is conveniently located at 305 S. Magnolia Ave., Tampa, FL 33606.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) December 10, 2009 –- The law firm of Richard J. Mockler, P.A. is pleased to announce the opening of its new Tampa office, located in beautiful Hyde Park. The office has a dedicated play area for children, and offers a warm, comfortable setting to meet with your attorneys or mediate family law matters.

Our attorneys approach every case with the same passion. We consult every client on their unique goals and interests, because no strategy fits all cases.

The Firm represents individuals in divorce, military divorce, and other family law matters, including cases involving child custody, child support, prenuptial agreements, alimony, equitable distribution, relocation, and more. The Firm also represents business litigation clients in partnership disputes and civil litigation involving fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, tortious interference, theft of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and other commercial claims. Attorneys Richard J. Mockler, Amy Bandow, and Adam B. Cordover are experienced in helping clients protect their rights and interests in complex legal battles and through life-changing circumstances.

The Firm’s lawyers have substantial experience working at the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms representing high-profile clients in their most important legal matters. “Our attorneys approach every case with the same passion. We provide the same representation to a mother trying to protect her family that we offer to the CEO of a major company. We consult every client on their unique goals and interests, because no strategy fits all cases. Our job is to help clients understand their options and pursue their cases diligently without wasting valuable resources on unnecessary conflict and needless litigation,” added shareholder Richard J. Mockler.

Richard J. Mockler is a family law attorney and business litigator that graduated from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law with honors, where he was elected President of the school’s Student Bar Association and selected as the Student of the Year in 2000. Mr. Mockler also earned a Master of Laws degree in Taxation from the University of Florida’s Graduate School. He started his career in Miami for a Wall Street law firm representing investment banks, major financial institutions, and other multinational companies. Prior to starting his own practice, Mr. Mockler also worked at Florida’s two largest law firms.

Amy Bandow is a Tampa divorce lawyer practicing primarily in the area of marital & family law. Ms. Bandow graduated from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. Prior to joining the Firm, she also worked in the litigation group at one of Florida’s largest law firms representing public companies and other institutional clients in high-stakes litigation matters.

Adam B. Cordover is a graduate of The American University in Washington D.C., where he earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in International Affairs. Mr. Cordover is experienced in the areas of divorce, adoption, dependency, paternity, and child support. In February 2009, the LAWYER Magazine recognized Mr. Cordover for his service to the community. Among other things, he volunteers through Bay Area Legal Services and the Guardian Ad Litem Program.

For more information or to consult a Tampa divorce lawyer, business litigator, or family law attorney, regarding divorce, military divorce, child custody, time-sharing, parenting plans, child support, division of assets,prenuptial agreements, alimony & spousal support, adoption, and other services, contact our office at 813-443-4634.

Please visit us on the web:
http://www.FamilyLawRights.com.

Please also visit our blogs and other sites:
http://familylawrights.blogspot.com
http://militarydivorcelaw.blogspot.com