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Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2017

Update: State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, on Friday filed the Senate companion to the House bill, which she says is identical save for “a few punctuation differences.” State Rep. Colleen Burton will try again to overhaul the state’s alimony law, filing a bill on Wednesday. The Lakeland Republican still aims to toughen the standards by which alimony is […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2016

Alimony overhaul supporters may need to take a break next legislative session, state Sen. Kelli Stargel says. “I don’t know that I’m willing to take this on again next year,” she told FloridaPolitics.com on Tuesday. “Then again, a lot can happen between now and the next legislative session. But we need to discuss the merits of […]

Jim RosicaApril 12, 2016

As more than 100 of them crammed the waiting room and hallway of Gov. Rick Scott‘s office on Tuesday, advocates and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill had a hollering battle over the contentious legislation. The opponents, led by Florida National Organization for Women lobbyist Barbara DeVane, scheduled a meeting with Scott’s staff at 11 a.m. to […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2016

Supporters and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill will make their case at the Capitol on Tuesday. As Gov. Rick Scott reviews the legislation (SB 668), representatives of the Florida National Organization for Women, the League of Women Voters of Florida and other groups plan to meet with his staff at 11 a.m., according to FL-NOW lobbyist Barbara […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2016

State Sen. Kelli Stargel on Monday said Governor Rick Scott now has “all the information he needs” on her bill to overhaul the state’s alimony system. The measure (SB 668) was the final bill of the 2016 Legislative Session to be sent to Scott for review. It was delivered to his office after Stargel, a Lakeland Republican, briefly […]

Melissa RossMarch 10, 2016

Family law attorneys are blasting a sweeping overhaul of Florida’s divorce laws, saying they hope Gov. Rick Scott will veto SB 668. The measure does away with lifetime alimony in the state. Instead, the amount and duration of alimony would be determined by a formula. “It’s really going to affect women in a negative way,” said Jacksonville […]

Jim RosicaMarch 8, 2016

A bill that could end “forever alimony” is heading to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott after passing the Florida Legislature Tuesday. The House passed the Senate family-law bill (SB 668) by a vote of 74-38 after Democrats tried but failed to tack on a last-minute amendment to ensure the bill can’t be applied retroactively to old […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2016

The Florida House of Representatives on Monday began considering a bill to overhaul the state’s alimony and child custody laws. The Florida Senate already has approved the measure (SB 668), which changes the way judges may award spousal support with an eye on preventing what’s been derided by critics as “forever alimony” awards. State Rep. Colleen Burton, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

The Florida Senate on Thursday began considering a bill creating a legal presumption that parents deserve equal time with their children after a divorce. A vote on the measure (SB 250) could take place next week. In sum, it says starting with the assumption of 50-50 time-sharing at the beginning of custody cases is in […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 10, 2016

Equal time for both parents after a divorce would be the starting line in child custody cases under a bill heading to the Senate floor. The Rules Committee cleared the measure (SB 250) on a 7-4 party-line vote on Wednesday. The legislation, sponsored by Brandon Republican Tom Lee, creates a legal assumption that 50-50 time-sharing is in the best […]

Tag: child custody
Image via AP.

Alimony reform bill filed for 2017

Kelli Stargel says alimony reform may have to wait until 2018 session

Alimony bill supporters and opponents square off in Florida Capitol

Both sides of alimony reform putting pressure on Rick Scott

Kelli Stargel meets with Rick Scott on alimony bill

Family law attorneys blast alimony, child custody bill headed to Governor’s desk

Alimony overhaul bill heading to governor

Bill overhauling alimony, child custody hits House floor

Child time-sharing bill goes before full Senate

Bill on equal time in child custody heads to full Senate