Sarasota Family Law And Criminal Defense Law Blog

When people in Florida get into the dating scene, physical attraction may be one significant factor bringing them together. According to surveys, people are likely to approach individuals they consider up to 25 percent more attractive than themselves on most online dating sites. While people may have widely varying views on which physical traits are most beautiful or appealing, social standards of beauty play a major role in individual tastes as well as general perceptions of how well a couple is matched. Several studies aimed to determine how couples perceived to have an appearance gap were affected by the difference.

According to one study, women who perceived their partners to be much less attractive than themselves in a self-reported survey were also more likely to flirt with others and feel uncommitted to the relationship. Of course, given that these were evaluations provided by the women themselves, the answers may reflect more complex issues than a gap in attractiveness. They may indicate boredom, contempt or resentment in the relationship, all of which are likely factors to lead to divorce. Other studies found that issues also arose when partners considered less attractive became jealous or controlling of the more attractive partner.

People in Florida who are deciding to divorce may be concerned about how their retirement funds will be distributed. In many cases, 401(k)s and similar funds are some of the largest assets held by a couple, so it is important to handle the distribution of these funds properly. If they are not divided correctly, both divorcing spouses could face costly taxes and other penalties.

According to a survey of divorce lawyers, 62 percent of divorcing couples fight over the future of their retirement funds. Given the major financial effects of divorce, it is not surprising that all three of the most common issues related to assets. Alimony and business interests rounded out the top three most contentious issues. Even when the couple and their lawyers have reached an agreement on a fair property division settlement, the process that follows can be critical in making sure that it proceeds successfully. The only way to legally divide a 401(k) or similar workplace retirement fund is through the use of a qualified domestic relations order. A QDRO is a court order; it is not included in the divorce decree even though it reflects the same content.

Determining custody arrangements in a divorce is typically one of the most contentious issues that couples face. Many discover that thinking outside of the box yields a better solution for them.

One non-traditional solution is known as "bird's nest" custody. It takes its name from the animal kingdom, where both female and male birds share the foraging and nest-building duties for their young.

A DNA test may be able to prove to almost 100 percent accuracy that a Florida resident is the parent of a child. It could also disprove an allegation that an individual is the parent to a particular child. Establishing paternity is important because it is usually the first step in obtaining a child support order when the child's parents are not married.

It can also be used in cases where parents apply for government resources such as Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF). In this scenario, the mother's partner is not automatically considered to be the father. However, it is not necessary to take a DNA test to establish paternity. In some cases, the parents can voluntarily acknowledge who the baby's father is. In the event that a DNA test is conducted, the process will remain confidential, and labs tend to have strict rules about chain of custody during the testing process.