Sarasota Family Law Blog

Did a withdrawal of affection signal that your divorce was near?

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in divorce on Friday, December 14, 2018.

In the beginning of a healthy love relationship, two spouses usually have deep levels of emotional engagement and intimacy. This is usually accompanied by lots of physical affection, like touching, hugging, kissing and other physical intimacies that spouses are supposed to enjoy. However, in the case of a marital breakdown, one signal that the relationship is in serious trouble happens when there is a withdrawal of affection -- which is also referred to as "emotional withholding."

Sometimes, the withdrawal of affection is one-sided, and the more affectionate spouse will be starved for attention and intimacy while the other spouse becomes cold and emotionally unreachable. Other times, the withdrawal of affection is mutual. This "disaffection" often accompanies statements from either side like, "We have fallen out of love."

When should parents avoid joint physical custody arrangements?

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in child custody on Friday, December 7, 2018.

There's a lot of talk these days about the numerous advantages of joint physical custody arrangements for both parents and their children. These arrangements involve the children living half the time with one parent and half the time with the other. Although it might seem like it's difficult for a child to have two homes, in fact, child and family psychologists agree that the benefits outweigh the difficulties as the children will get to spend as much time as they can with both sides of their family.

There are some circumstances, however, when joint physical custody might not be an excellent idea:

This is how to prepare for your child custody hearing

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in child custody on Friday, November 30, 2018.

It's normal to feel jittery and nervous before a child custody hearing. There are a few things you can do, however, to calm your nerves -- such as getting as prepared as possible before your trial. Here are some tips that we give to our clients before their child custody hearings so that they're as fully prepared as possible:

Get familiar with Florida state child custody rules

4 reasons why the holidays can be a marital breaking point

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

While the holiday season may be a time full of joy for some people, it may be a time of increased stress for others. If a couple is already experiencing tension, the holiday season can be the last straw that leads to a divorce. In fact, there is often a spike in divorce filings after the holidays.

But why does this happy time of year exacerbate marital struggles? Here are some reasons why the winter holidays can be a breaking point for some couples.

Drug abuse destroys marriages: Here's why

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in divorce on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

Drug abuse can create a problem for your marriage -- and, if you know what's good for you, it will probably bring your marriage to an end. Nevertheless, it takes time for spouses to realize that the addicted spouse isn't going to change. Yes, miracles do happen, but unless the addicted spouse has the strength to overcome the addiction, things are going to remain miserable for the sober spouse until he or she decides that enough is enough.

Why does it take so long for the sober spouse to end the marriage?

Child custody: Unmarried couples have disputes, too

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in family law on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

It should go without saying, but many cases involving visitation disputes aren't divorce cases. There are a great number of people who have children together but who never got married.

Custody disputes come up often in that situation because there are laws that presume that the mother should have sole physical custody. It's normal to see a father lose his bid at custody against a mother who is a good mother in this situation.

A custody modification could help you see your kids more often

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in child custody on Friday, November 9, 2018.

Child custody disputes are some of the most complicated proceedings because they're not something that can be resolved without hurting someone involved. Whether it's a child who hears their parents argue or parents who feel slighted, it's normal for someone to feel they're getting less than they're entitled to.

If you feel you aren't getting the time you need with your child due to the parenting plan you have in place, it's possible to modify that plan by seeking a modification through the court. Your attorney can help you prepare the request, but you'll need to show the judge why you deserve more time with your children.

Is it a good idea to move during a divorce?

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in divorce on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.

After a divorce, you might wish to relocate to start fresh. Once your divorce is settled, this is a good plan. However, it's normally not a great idea if your divorce is still in progress.

There are a few reasons to wait to move until you absolutely have to. Here's what you should know.

Why is divorce contagious?

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq on Friday, October 26, 2018.

Many of the factors that contribute to a high risk of divorce make sense, such as your financial circumstances or the age when you got married. However, other factors can be subtle and seem irrelevant.

One of these is having divorced friends. According to a multi-university study, your chances of divorce go up 75 percent when you have friends who have also ended their marriages, reports the Chicago Tribune. Even friends of friends still have an impact, leading to a 33 percent increase. Does this mean that divorce is contagious or trendy? While a couple's divorce can negatively affect friends' marriages, it often helps those who already have the desire to leave.

Father loses right to parent his child in Florida ruling

On behalf of Tinley M. Rudd of Law Offices of Tinley M. Rudd, Esq posted in family law on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

Determining who the father of a child is becomes an important step for many reasons. Besides the obvious concern of knowing who the child's father is for parental responsibility, knowing your child's genetic background is important.

Unfortunately, it is possible for fathers who are not married to lose their parental rights, which was shown by a Florida judge's ruling that he would not maintain his parental rights due to the child being born in wedlock to another man.