A proposed revamp of the state’s alimony laws is off the table for the 2020 legislative session, according to Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel, the Senate sponsor of the proposal. The News Service of Florida reported on Tuesday February 25, 2020 a proposed revamp of the state’s alimony laws is off the table for the 2020 … Continue reading →

This past Saturday, Ward Damon partner Dane Leitner and I spent the day sharing our love of law with 100 youths at Youth Law Day.  This annual event invites kids and teens to learn more about civics and our legal system from real judges and attorneys at the Palm Beach South County Courthouse in a … Continue reading →

2nd Annual Mental Health Summit Friday – April 3, 2020 – West Palm Beach, FL (CLE Pending, Anticipated 6.0 CLE hours) The Center for Child Counseling, Inc, is proud to be hosting our 2nd Annual Family Law Mental Health Summit on April 3rd, 2020!  Keynote speaker is past Family Law Section Chair, LAURA DAVIS SMITH & … Continue reading →

Upcoming CLE Programs: 2nd Annual Mental Health Summit with Keynote Speakers Laura Davis-Smith and Dori Foster-Morales April 3, 2020 - West Palm Beach, FL Click Here to Register!   Click Here for Early Bird Registration - Only $75 for 2 Hours of CLE   January Squibs Edited by Caryn A. Stevens Appeals: Thompson v. Melange, … Continue reading →

NON-FINAL ORDERS  Cross-appeal notice due within 15 days of appellant’s notice of appeal or within the time prescribed for filing a notice of appeal, whichever is later 9.130(g) Initial brief and Appendix are due within 15 days of filing Notice 9.130(e) Answer Brief due 30 days from service of Initial Brief 9.210(f) Reply Brief due … Continue reading →

Yesterday, the First DCA issued an opinion that affirmed a trial court treating a 16 year, 11 month marriage (just one month shy of the statutory presumption of a “long-term” marriage. See § 61.08(4), Fla. Stat.) as a "long term marriage" as one month is a "de minimis" period given the length of the marriage.  Eliminates any … Continue reading →

Register by 2/18 for 50% discount on registration! Early Bird Registration = $75 Regular Registration = $150 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOTE:  Program will be archived immediately after premiere and available for viewing for 6 months.  You do NOT have to participate in LIVE broadcast to receive CLE credit. NOTE:  This … Continue reading →

Recently, I was asked to return to my high school, Gulliver Preparatory (Miami, FL),  to participate in a panel discussion about community engagement.  It was truly a great panel including the President/CEO of the Miami Dolphins/Hard Rock Stadium and a bunch of other Gulliver alumni who are rockstars in their own right, and me. With … Continue reading →

Click Here to download my 2019 summaries of EVERY family law case published in Florida. Cheers! -eddie

Originally published in the Family Law Section's Commentator, Fall 2019 “Invincible” [Note: The author intentionally places quotation marks around the title to communicate that the author does not agree with the use of the term.] by Eddie Stephens, Esquire While most disputes are, and should be, resolved without resorting to litigation, there are always those … Continue reading →