FISHER'S
LAW OFFICE NEWSLETTERS
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Welcome to the NEWSLETTER of Fisher's Law Office, providing you with legal information you can use in your everyday life. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call or send us an e-mail today. 1. MAJOR CHANGES IN DIVORCE LAWS The Florida Supreme Court has made major changes to the way divorce procedures work. Beginning January 1, 1996, anyone who files for divorce, or for a modification of alimony or support, must send extensive financial disclosure to the other party. These disclosures include a special lengthy Financial Affidavit, pre-answered written questions and three years of federal tax returns. Also, copies of recent pay stubs and copies of any recent loan applications made must be disclosed. (See Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285.) 2. MAJOR CHANGE IN THE LAW OF "NECESSITIES" For over 100 years, spouses in Florida have been responsible for each other's medical bills and expenses for the necessities of life. On December 21, 1995, the law was changed by the Florida Supreme Court in the Connor vs. Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center case (Fla. Sup. Ct. No. 84,000). In the Connor case, the Florida Supreme Court threw out the requirement that a spouse is responsible for the other spouse's medical bills and food. The radical Florida opinion puts Florida in a class with only three other states that no longer have any law of necessaries. The other states are Alabama, Maryland and Mississippi. 3. DIVORCE REFUND ALERT If you were divorced since 1990 and paid a tax to transfer a home into your name, you may be entitled to a refund of taxes paid! Miami Judge Juan Ramirez, Jr., ruled in January, 1996, that transfer taxes on divorced spouses are "illegal and improper". 4. WHY IS FLORIDA'S ECONOMY DOING SO WELL? The answer may lie in the 1947 law called the Taft-Hartley Act. This Act allowed states to pass so-called "right to work" laws. Only 20 states besides Florida have "right to work" laws. Almost all of them are in the South and West. Florida and Texas are two of the biggest States that have these statutes. Many people are calling for a federal law to allow people to freely work without paying mandatory union dues throughout the country. Until this new law passes, however, Florida will remain a competitive State and its economy should continue to expand. 5. WEIRD LAWS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
6. ABOUT TO GO INTO A DIVORCE SITUATION? HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT DO'S AND DON'T'S
7. HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WASTES YOUR RETIREMENT MONEY! When you reach age 62 and retire, any minor children you have will be entitled to social security benefits. You do not have to be disabled and your children do not have to be disabled to receive this free benefit. Under the federal law, your children get this benefit even though they contributed nothing to the Social Security system through payroll taxes! (See 42 U.S.C. 402(d)). 8. MORE WEIRD LAWS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
9. WHY ARE STUDENTS DOING SO BADLY IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS? Answer: Their teachers can't even pass a tenth grade math test! It's true, the CLAST teacher test is given to all Florida teachers. This test is based on what children in the tenth grade should know. According to Frank Brogen the Education Commissioner, only 51% of teachers can pass a tenth grade skill test on their first attempt. Maybe it's time that Florida students be given vouchers so that they can choose where they want to go to school. 10. SKIN CANCER: THANK THE FLORIDA STATE GOVERNMENT Be prepared to get skin cancer a little sooner. The Environmental Regulation Commission has lifted a ban on leaking air conditioner systems. Under the new law, repair shops now are allowed to put freon into cars even though the freon leaks right into the air! Many believe that Florida's increasing skin cancer rates are caused by leaking car air conditioners. 11. WHY WILL SOCIAL SECURITY BE BROKE WHEN YOU RETIRE? Answer: Because all of the trust money is being spent and not saved! It's true. Since 1983, the U.S. government has been accumulating extra money to pay for babyboomers' retirement. According to William Raspberry of the Washington Post, by the year 2010 the savings account is supposed to have 2.3 trillion dollars in it (that's $2,300,000,000,000). Unfortunately, none of the money is being saved for future retirees. Instead, the government is using it for current operating expenses. Therefore, don't count on any retirement money from the U.S. federal government when you retire. 12. HOW CAN YOU GET SOME OF YOUR RETIREMENT MONEY NOW FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHILE THERE STILL IS MONEY IN THE ACCOUNT? Answer: Claim that you are an alcoholic. It's true. Over 200,000 people have claimed that they are alcoholics and drug addicts and are receiving $844.00 a month each! This money is being taken out of your retirement fund, reducing the amount available to people who work for a living. |