Crucial Changes to Florida Alimony and Child Support Statutes Families Need To Know

Major revisions to Florida Alimony and Child Support Laws, which were recently passed by the Florida Legislature and signed off by Governor Crist,  significantly changes the financial  outcome for divorced couples and family members as well as notably impacts parental rights, responsibilities, tax implications and scheduled visitation of minor children in common.  The new guidelines define and revise what were once “grey” areas by giving greater definition to the types of alimony, length of marriages and child support calculations.  Though these sweeping changes will ensure more just outcomes for some, these laws are also complex and can be confusing, at Brodie & Friedman, P.A. we have been drawing on our 20 years of combined experience to expertly counsel clients through these new laws, resolve concerns, relieve anxiety, and develop practical solutions to these difficult family-related legal challenges.

Because it is crucial that our clients—and the general community--understand the major modifications to the alimony and child support laws, we are dedicated to being at the forefront with knowledgeable counsel and giving individualized and detailed attention to each family, recognizing that every family and the issues at hand are unique.

The new amendments for Spousal Support (recently put into place):

• allow for an award of more than one type of alimony: Bridge-The-Gap alimony to support a spouse’s transition from being married to being single, Rehabilitative Alimony, durational Alimony, Permanent Alimony and Child Suppor
• provides for the modification and termination for categories of alimony awards
• revise factors to be considered in whether to award alimony or maintenance
• define rebuttable presumptions for the classification of the length of marriages as short-term (less than 7 years), moderate-term (greater than 7 years but less than 17 years),or long-term marriage (17 years or greater)
• provides for the determination of the length of a marriage
• outline sources of income that are now considered assets in alimony and property award determination
• removes the first three combined monthly net income amounts on the guidelines schedule

The amendments for Child Support (effective January 1, 2011):

• eliminate the 25% discount that has long been applied to amount of day care of paying parent
• reduce the parenting adjustment application from 40% to 20% of overnights per year.
• revise the deviation factors that a court may consider when adjusting a parent's share of the child support award
• provide that the burden of proof is on the party seeking to impute income to the other party
• prohibit imputation of income for out-of-date records or unprecedented earnings
• create a rebuttable presumption of census-level wages if information about earnings level is not provided
• provide principles for implementing the support guidelines schedule along with effective date for monthly net income amounts
• require all child support orders after a certain date to contain certain provisions

Partner Jason A. Brodie, Esquire Named “Rising Star” By Superlawyers Magazine

We are pleased to announce Jason A. Brodie, Esquire has been recognized by our peers as a “Rising Star” in Family Law in the 2010 edition of Florida Super Lawyers magazine.  Since no more than five percent of lawyers in Florida receive this distinction, this is an honor for Jason, as well as the entire Brodie & Friedman, P.A. team.  We take pride in the fact that the selection for “Rising Star” is decided by fellow attorneys who are asked to nominate colleagues they know through first-hand observation to be outstanding lawyers.  Recognized by bar associations and courts across the country for its integrity and sophistication, the selection process is done by an attorney-led research team who rigorously evaluates each candidate for certain criteria, including their credentials, licensing and professional achievement.

As a champion of Florida families for a decade, Jason works closely with our clients to resolve concerns, relieve anxiety, and develop practical solutions to avoid or defend against difficult family-related legal challenges. Demonstrating the understanding, compassion and recognition that each family deserves and his ability to deal with the issues at hand, makes our team unparalleled on a broad range of issues, which include, Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Timesharing, Alimony & Spousal Support, Domestic Violence, Paternity, and Equitable Distribution (Property Division).

Jason earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with honors from the University of Florida in 1997 and his J.D. (Juris Doctor) in 2000 from the University of Miami, School of Law. Upon his admittance to the Florida Bar, Jason began his legal career in South Florida with a boutique law firm. Jason took his experiences from this firm and decided that by co-founding our practice in Boca Raton, it would better afford him the opportunity to give every client the individualized attention they deserve. Jason is a member of the Florida Bar, the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the South Palm Beach County Association.

Jason has been featured on local and national media sharing his family law expertise and counsel regarding timely “headline” news stories on NBC Today, MSNBC, Fox News, Nancy Grace, WPTV NewsChannel 5, WPBF Channel 25 and WPEC Channel 12.


Active in the community, he has served on his community’s bylaws committee for two years and now serves on it nominating committee. He is a member of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, and sponsors community events such as the Allianz Championship, a Champions PGA Tour event that benefits Boca Raton Community Hospital, and the Palm Beach County March of Dimes Signature Chefs & Wine Extravaganza. He also supports Stand Among Friends that promotes opportunities for people with disabilities to live a life without limits and experience the highest degree of independence and success in their communities; the Anti-Defamation League, the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency that fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all, as well as advocacy organizations that provide safe havens for victims of domestic violence such as Women In Distress of Broward County.


A Maryland native, Jason has called Florida home for more than 17 years. He and his wife Jaclyn, who is also an attorney, are the proud parents of two children.


Brodie & Friedman, PA is located at The Milan at Town Center, 1675 North Military Trail, Suite 550, Boca Raton, FL 33486. For more information, call 561-392-5100.

Reception Held to Further The Mission of Four Nonprofits and Celebrate Firm News and Growth

More than 100 Palm Beach County business leaders and colleagues gathered recently at Woodfield Country Club to help us celebrate our good news, growing firm and expanding families. Most importantly though, it provided us a platform to improve the lives of families in South Florida not only through our work, but through the causes we believe in and to promote four local nonprofit organizations, Women In Distress, March of Dimes, Junior League of Boca Raton, and Stand Among Friends. We have chosen to champion these organizations this year because their good work and missions match our firm’s focus of supporting “families in need”.


During the reception, Jason was recognized for his recent recognition by Super Lawyer’s magazine, naming him as a “Rising Star” in his concentration of family law voted by his peers. Jason noted that “giving back” is a vital part of what makes for a good, impassioned “family” lawyer. Jason then spoke about Joshua being named the Best Lawyer in the Boca Forum’s Best of Boca, in 2007 and 2009. Jason also shared with guests the important strides and critical needs of each of the four organizations and encouraged them to stop by the organization showcases and learn more about their visions, donate time and/or money, and share the organizations missions with friends, family and colleagues.


We also encourage people to join us as we serve on the committee for the September 24, 2010 March of Dimes Signature Chefs & Wine Extravaganza, in supporting the 100 Men Initiative for Women In Distress, and sponsoring of the annual Stand Among Friends concert fundraiser and golf tournament.


About Brodie & Friedman, P.A.
Serving as champions of Florida families for more than a decade, we work closely with clients to resolve concerns, relieve anxiety, and develop practical solutions to avoid or defend against difficult family-related legal challenges. Demonstrating the understanding, compassion and recognition that each family deserves and their ability to deal with the issues at hand, makes us unparalleled on a broad range of issues, which include, Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Timesharing, Alimony & Spousal Support, Domestic Violence, Paternity, and Equitable Distribution (Property Division).


Brodie & Friedman is headquartered at The Milan at Town Center 1675 N. Military Trail, Suite 550, Boca Raton, Florida 33486.
For more information, call 561-392-5100 or visit http://www.brodiefriedman.com/.