15 YEARS IN BUSINESS!
I can hardly beleive that 15 years ago this week I opened my law office. I cannot even remember all the changes since then. However, some do stick out in my mind. For example, my Husband and I welcomed 2 beautiful additions to our family in the intervening years. We moved the office from our first location on West Bay to our current home on Seminole Blvd. And the economy, well, collapsed. When I opened my office I had a total of 8 files. Since then I have the opportunity to represent hundreds of people. I am so grateful for the chance to contribute to my family, my community and my profession all these years.
Current events and family law trends
CONTACT US
10410 Seminole Blvd., Suite 3
Largo, Florida 33778
(727) 584-2528
gale@galehmoore.com
http://www.galehmoore.com/
Largo, Florida 33778
(727) 584-2528
gale@galehmoore.com
http://www.galehmoore.com/
Posts
Gale H. Moore
About Me
- Gale
- I am a sole practitioner lawyer focusing on marital and family law matters. I opened my own practice in 1998 and truly enjoy helping my clients through this often difficult time. I am able to provide my clients personalized attention.
CASE LAW UPDATES
Decided by our appeallate court on 7/29/09, Kamenski v. Kamenski, overruled a lower court's ruling denying a request for a downard modification of alimony. At the time of the final hearing the Wife earned $17,000.00 annually while the Husband earned $54,000.00 annually. Three years later when the Husband requested the modification the Wife's income had risen to $41,000.00 while the Husband's income had decreased to $50,000.00. The trial court denied the Husband's request to reduce his alimony but the appellate court ruled the changed incomes were not anticipated and were significant and therefore the lower court ruling was reversed.
Top 5 Things Your Divorce Lawyer Needs to Know:
1. Personal data about you, your spouse, and your children (if any). For example:
- your names (maiden name, too, if applicable);
- your home and work addresses and telephone numbers;
- your ages and places of birth;
- your Social Security Numbers;
- your states of health -- both mental and physical; and,
- your Green Card(s) and immigration papers (if applicable).
2. Facts about your marriage.
- When and where did you get married?
- Did you sign a prenuptial agreement?
- Have either of you been married before?
3. Financial information.
- What assets/debts did each of you bring into the marriage?
- What are your incomes?
- What are your expenses -- jointly and individually?
- What are the names and addresses of your employers?
- How much money do both of you have invested?
- Has either of you invested in insurance or a pension plans?
- What property do you own?
- Was the property purchased before or after the marriage?
- Do you have a mortgage, and how much is still owed?
4. A budget detailing how much you spend every month on:
- housing,
- food,
- clothing,
- personal grooming,
- gifts,
- child care,
- vacations, etc.
5. Legal documents. For example:
- Prior or pending lawsuits;
- bankruptcy suits;
- judgments & garnishments; and,
- deeds.
- your names (maiden name, too, if applicable);
- your home and work addresses and telephone numbers;
- your ages and places of birth;
- your Social Security Numbers;
- your states of health -- both mental and physical; and,
- your Green Card(s) and immigration papers (if applicable).
2. Facts about your marriage.
- When and where did you get married?
- Did you sign a prenuptial agreement?
- Have either of you been married before?
3. Financial information.
- What assets/debts did each of you bring into the marriage?
- What are your incomes?
- What are your expenses -- jointly and individually?
- What are the names and addresses of your employers?
- How much money do both of you have invested?
- Has either of you invested in insurance or a pension plans?
- What property do you own?
- Was the property purchased before or after the marriage?
- Do you have a mortgage, and how much is still owed?
4. A budget detailing how much you spend every month on:
- housing,
- food,
- clothing,
- personal grooming,
- gifts,
- child care,
- vacations, etc.
5. Legal documents. For example:
- Prior or pending lawsuits;
- bankruptcy suits;
- judgments & garnishments; and,
- deeds.
"Heat is in proportion to the want of true knowledge." - Lawrence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, 1760
STATUTORY CUSTODY FACTORS
For purposes of establishing or modifying parental responsibility and creating, developing, approving, or modifying a parenting plan, including a time-sharing schedule, which governs each parent's relationship with his or her minor child and the relationship between each parent with regard to his or her minor child, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration. Determination of the best interests of the child shall be made by evaluating all of the factors affecting the welfare and interests of the minor child, including, but not limited to:
(a) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be reasonable when changes are required.
(b) The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after the litigation, including the extent to which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties.
(c) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the child as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent.
(d) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
(e) The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with special attention paid to the needs of school-age children and the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the parenting plan. This factor does not create a presumption for or against relocation of either parent with a child.
(f) The moral fitness of the parents.
(g) The mental and physical health of the parents.
(h) The home, school, and community record of the child.
(i) The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.
(j) The demonstrated knowledge, capacity, and disposition of each parent to be informed of the circumstances of the minor child, including, but not limited to, the child's friends, teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things.
(k) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the child, such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime.
(l) The demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each parent to adopt a unified front on all major issues when dealing with the child.
(m) Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, regardless of whether a prior or pending action relating to those issues has been brought.
(n) Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding any prior or pending action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect.
(o) The particular parenting tasks customarily performed by each parent and the division of parental responsibilities before the institution of litigation and during the pending litigation, including the extent to which parenting responsibilities were undertaken by third parties.
(p) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to participate and be involved in the child's school and extracurricular activities.
(q) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to maintain an environment for the child which is free from substance abuse.
(r) The capacity and disposition of each parent to protect the child from the ongoing litigation as demonstrated by not discussing the litigation with the child, not sharing documents or electronic media related to the litigation with the child, and refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent to the child.
(s) The developmental stages and needs of the child and the demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to meet the child's developmental needs.
(t) Any other factor that is relevant to the determination of a specific parenting plan, including the time-sharing schedule.
(a) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be reasonable when changes are required.
(b) The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after the litigation, including the extent to which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties.
(c) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the child as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent.
(d) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
(e) The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with special attention paid to the needs of school-age children and the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the parenting plan. This factor does not create a presumption for or against relocation of either parent with a child.
(f) The moral fitness of the parents.
(g) The mental and physical health of the parents.
(h) The home, school, and community record of the child.
(i) The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.
(j) The demonstrated knowledge, capacity, and disposition of each parent to be informed of the circumstances of the minor child, including, but not limited to, the child's friends, teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things.
(k) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the child, such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime.
(l) The demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each parent to adopt a unified front on all major issues when dealing with the child.
(m) Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, regardless of whether a prior or pending action relating to those issues has been brought.
(n) Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding any prior or pending action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect.
(o) The particular parenting tasks customarily performed by each parent and the division of parental responsibilities before the institution of litigation and during the pending litigation, including the extent to which parenting responsibilities were undertaken by third parties.
(p) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to participate and be involved in the child's school and extracurricular activities.
(q) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to maintain an environment for the child which is free from substance abuse.
(r) The capacity and disposition of each parent to protect the child from the ongoing litigation as demonstrated by not discussing the litigation with the child, not sharing documents or electronic media related to the litigation with the child, and refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent to the child.
(s) The developmental stages and needs of the child and the demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to meet the child's developmental needs.
(t) Any other factor that is relevant to the determination of a specific parenting plan, including the time-sharing schedule.
BIOGRAPHY
Admitted: 1993, Florida State Courts; 1993, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida; 1993, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1999, United States Supreme Court; Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator
Law School: Stetson Law School, J.D., 1993
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. - Political Science, 1990
High School: St. Mary's Episcopal School, 1987
Memberships: Clearwater Bar Association, Chair - Family Law Section 2010-present (Board Director 2009-2010); The Florida Bar, Equitable Distribution, Support and Rules & Forms Committee member; Inns of Court (Canakaris - family law); Kiwanis Club, Largo/Mid-Pinellas - Board of Directors 2010-present, Secretary 2011-2012; Mid-County Bar Association (Pinellas County); St. Anne of Grace Episcopal Church (Bishop's Committee); Daughters of the American Revolution - Moore's Creek Chapter
Biography: Starkey Elementary School Student Advisory Committee, 2005-2009, (Vice Chair, 2007-2009); Justice Teaching Participant; Law Day Speaker; Center Against Spouse Abuse, Volunteer - 1999; Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education Committee (2009-present), Vice Chair 2011-2012
Awards and Recognitions: Paul Barnard Award for Clinic Excellence (Public Defender Clinic - Stetson Law School), 1993; Clearwater Bar Foundation Pro Bono Award, 1999; Clearwater Bar Foundation Excellence in Pro Bono Award, 2006
Law School: Stetson Law School, J.D., 1993
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. - Political Science, 1990
High School: St. Mary's Episcopal School, 1987
Memberships: Clearwater Bar Association, Chair - Family Law Section 2010-present (Board Director 2009-2010); The Florida Bar, Equitable Distribution, Support and Rules & Forms Committee member; Inns of Court (Canakaris - family law); Kiwanis Club, Largo/Mid-Pinellas - Board of Directors 2010-present, Secretary 2011-2012; Mid-County Bar Association (Pinellas County); St. Anne of Grace Episcopal Church (Bishop's Committee); Daughters of the American Revolution - Moore's Creek Chapter
Biography: Starkey Elementary School Student Advisory Committee, 2005-2009, (Vice Chair, 2007-2009); Justice Teaching Participant; Law Day Speaker; Center Against Spouse Abuse, Volunteer - 1999; Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education Committee (2009-present), Vice Chair 2011-2012
Awards and Recognitions: Paul Barnard Award for Clinic Excellence (Public Defender Clinic - Stetson Law School), 1993; Clearwater Bar Foundation Pro Bono Award, 1999; Clearwater Bar Foundation Excellence in Pro Bono Award, 2006