Kristopher Kest

Divorce and paternity attorney, family law mediator, and Collaborative law practitioner for more than 14 years.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Income thresholds for court-mediations is increasing after 20 yrs. And it'll be determined on a per-person, rather than per-family, basis. Comments to proposed rule changes accepted through May 30.
https://t.co/eTEXaNbwNz

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Recent case reminds attorneys to be mindful, when drafting settlement agreements, to address any charging liens. Once you know about the lien, you have a duty to protect the lienor attorney's rights. Kaster Lynch v. Clydee, 3 DCA, 4/23/25.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Recent case reminders that life insurance to secure child support is not automatic. Alvarez v. Stochetti, 3d DCA, 3/12/25. Must show need, availability, and cost, and perhaps special circumstances. But it's still ok for parents to agree to carry reciprocal insurance.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Divorcing couples often label their soon-to-be ex-spouse as a narcissist. This article has reasons to re-think that label, or at least the use of it, in your divorce case.

https://t.co/36i7JXttel

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Changes are coming to the Rules of Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. None earth-shattering, but attorneys should be aware. Effective 7/1/2025. 2.514 changes rules on counting days. 2.515 defines attorney's signature block. 2.520 changes tech requirements for filing documents.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Happy Mardi Gras!

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Even though Mardi Gras day is more than a week away, Carnival Season is in full swing in New Orleans!
https://t.co/Rdl3LQh2Cj

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Date of valuation for house should be date of separation if moved-out spouse didn't contribute, per Silva v. Claffey, 4th DCA, 2/5/25. Opinion explicitly said the result didn't change just b/c the appreciation was passive or because the staying spouse didn't ask for assistance.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

The @tulanealumniorl is looking for a local Orlando alum to help with our social media presence. Please let us know if you are interested.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Some good tips for co-parenting communication. Some are obvious (don’t respond right away unless you have to), but they are worth reviewing if you’re in a challenging co-parenting relationship.
https://t.co/wLpo0SaUk8

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

This is wonderful resource, especially for young lawyers. It's an easy-to-use quick-reference guide for common discovery issues. https://t.co/8ImlVNLi0S
https://t.co/55YK07B0gv

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

If you find yourself facing divorce, consider Collaborative Divorce...a way of handling a divorce outside of the court system. It's voluntary and it approaches issues from a problem-solving, rather than win-lose, perspective. For more details, please visit https://t.co/Mv6chTeeHY

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Happy Holidays!  As of Jan. 1, changes to the mediation rules take effect. Most relevant changes are to the rules on confidentiality, 10.360.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

The appellate court was perturbed with the divorce court judge. Kranci/Kranci, 4th DCA, 11/20/2024. "A trial judge has no business conditioning a trial, or appearing to do so, upon a litigant's waiver of the right to appeal a pretrial ruling."

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

If you stipulate to the value of the house shortly before your divorce trial starts, are you stuck with that forever? Not necessarily, according to Kranci/Kranci, 4th, 11/20/24. Because trial was delay 2 yrs, judge should not have enforced the stipulation.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

If a parent is fired b/c of alcoholism, is that parent voluntarily unemployed? No, according to AA. v. M.A., 2d DCA, 11/1/24, b/c “[a]lcoholism is properly characterized as an illness”.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

The @tulanealumniorl is looking for help with social media. We have minimal presence on LinkedIn, FB, & X, but nowhere else. If you’re an Orlando-area Tulane alum & would like to help with social media, please let us know! [email protected].

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

Did you see? @GreenWaveFB is up to #20 after yesterday’s win! The @tulanealumniorl club’s watch party definitely had something to do with the win.  :)

Keep an eye out for our next event - a crawfish boil coming in March 2025. The one and only Howard Long will be our chef.

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

As we approach Thanksgiving week, this provides tips on co-parenting during the holidays, including recognizing opportunities to create your own new holiday traditions.
For my availability to mediate your case, please contact my fantastic paralegals. https://t.co/YFsjJrqdQi

[Kristopher Kest @AttorneyKest]

This case includes the most explicit statement I've seen distinguishing Fla. Stat. 61.08 from 61.14. Beans v. Beans, 1st DCA, 9/18/24. It explicitly states that in alimony modification proceedings, the court is to proceed under 61.14, & the requirements of 61.08 do not apply.