By Cynthia Veintemillas and Jeremy T. Simons Contest update: Because of a couple last minute adjustments, last week’s winner will  be announced next week. CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@simonslawfirm.com, subject line CONTEST ENTRY, and give me as much …

Contest update: Our winner from last week’s question is Curtis W. He has asked us to donate to the Tampa Bay Sentinels. With Tampa Bay Sentinel’s permission, we would like to make the donation directly to MacDonald Training Center on their behalf.  CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, …

Contest update: Our winner from last week’s question is Jeff C. He has asked us to donate to West Elfers Cemetery Preservation Assoc. Inc. Except for this week, all donations have been mailed.  Check with your charity to make sure they received the donations please.  CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is …

Contest update: Our winner from last week’s question is Patti C. She has asked us to donate to the West Pasco Pregnancy Center. The answer was the late Federal Bankruptcy Judge Paskay. The number of entries tripled from any previous contest! CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the …

Contest update: Our winner for the past two weeks is Kathy C.  She has asked us to donate to the Bishop Animal Shelter. We will be making two donations to the Bishop Animal Shelter on her behalf.  CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@simonslawfirm.com, subject line …

Contest update: Our winner last week was Mr. Saturn. He has asked us to donate to Metropolitan Ministries http://www.metromin.org/. The answer was Steve Stamkos who set an NHL all-time record with five overtime goals.  CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@…

Contest Update: Congratulations to Tim M. for getting last week’s trivia question correct.  The donation will be made to the Pasco PACE Center for Girls.  CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out hidden the trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@simonslawfirm.com, subject line CONTEST ENTRY, and give me as much …

Contest Update: We did not have a winner last week. The answer was England.  CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here). JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out hidden the trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@simonslawfirm.com, subject line CONTEST ENTRY, and give me as much information as you can about the nonprofit you want the donation to go to. I need to …

Contest Update: The winner from last week’s trivia was: Stephen A. There were several correct answers. Stephen A. was chosen in a random drawing. He has asked us to donate to Creative Clay Inc., a nonprofit based out of St. Petersburg, Florida. That being said, here are more details for this week’s contest: CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here). JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out hidden the trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons…

Editor’s note: CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here). JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out hidden the trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@simonslawfirm.com, subject line CONTEST ENTRY, and give me as much information as you can about the nonprofit you want the donation to go to. I need to verify it. I need your first name and the first letter of your …

Seeking an injunction to protect you from domestic violence or receiving a petition accusing you of domestic violence is a serious matter. But, before we get started, you should know about a contest I'll be running with each of my columns that can win money for your favorite charity: CONTEST ON/JTSCHARITY EVENT: JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in anarticle. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25.00 to charity. When you see at the start of an article the following: CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here) In short, figure out the answer …

Knowledge of your legal options is power. That is the fundamental point of my articles. If you are the victim of a crime, in most circumstances, the criminal court is not your only option. Let’s continue our goal to empower you with knowledge. There are four usual types of courts under State law: Criminal courts, Civil courts, Dependency courts, and Appellate courts. There are other courts, tribunals, administrative proceedings, and of course the Federal court system as well. Criminal courts handle criminal matters. Civil courts handle small claims cases, general litigation such as personal …

The physical repossession of a car is much easier than an eviction or a foreclosure.  In most finance agreements or lease agreements, the lending company has the right to repossess your vehicle if you miss your monthly payments.  We all know someone that has had a car repossessed. The towing company finds the vehicle somewhere and next thing you know, your car is gone. They may have found your car at your house, at the mall, at work, or tracked it with the GPS device that some dealerships place on your vehicle without your knowledge. Most people that have a car repossessed are not surprised. …

Florida’s alimony laws (also called spousal support) are evolving at a very rapid pace. There are currently two bills pending before the Florida Legislature that will once again change how a court awards alimony, the amount awarded, and the duration of the payments. The House version, HB 549, has already passed, and the Senate version, SB 748, is making progress.  Whether good or bad, it appears to me that a majority of the changes are intended to protect the person paying alimony and make it harder for the person receiving alimony. Also, a majority of the changes are for long-term marriages…

A significant part of my practice is to represent clients in hotly contested divorces. A contested divorce is financially beneficial to my practice. I would be lying if I said that I don’t reap a certain financial benefit by a divorcing couple that simply cannot get along at any stage of the divorce process. Some divorce attorneys (but honestly not most) actually encourage conflict to make sure the billable hours remain.  I am a divorced father of two wonderful children. Believe it or not, my ex-wife and I still get along almost all of the time. When we disagree, we are able to figure things …

Being a landlord is a tough business. Beyond the late payments and perhaps the constant maintenance, there are the problems when a tenant decides to stop paying rent and “squats” in the house until you do something.  I believe that the landlord/tenant laws for residential leases are pro-tenant. If the landlord’s “ducks” are all in a row, then the landlord can get the eviction. If a duck falls out of line, then the landlord may have to start over. Before we get into the analysis of residential landlord/tenant laws and processes, I feel obligated to say roughly where the idea for this article …

As most of you know, I like to have fun with articles at times when appropriate.  At the end of this week, the Super Bowl champion for 2011-12 will be crowned. While you are watching Tom Brady throw for 400 yards or being sacked six times by the very aggressive defensive line of the New York Giants, listen closely to some of the terms and phrases used during the course of the game.They are remarkably similar to legalese. I wonder what attorney has the privilege of writing the National Football League Rule Book available for download? To enjoy the Super Bowl properly, the most important thing …

We have all seen it: You are driving down the street and see a young child climbing around the back seat of a car without a seat belt. My first reaction is always, “What are those parents thinking. LOCK THAT KID UP!” Who knows what happens in the back of minivans with more room to move around. When I researched this article, I was dumbfounded on the lack of any bite to truly enforce child restraint responsibilities. The child restraint laws in Florida are short and to the point. Section 316.613, Florida Statutes, states in part, “For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must …

I know the rule around the water-cooler: Don’t talk about religion, sports, or politics. I am going to break all three rules. Here is the link to the case that is the subject of this article:  Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC, released on Jan. 11, 2012.  Constitutional lawyers will agree or disagree on its meaning and application. I will say that the Court’s opinion has a great discussion on the history of the First Amendment and why it became such a cornerstone of our country. First, let me outline the rough facts of the case before the United States Supreme Court…

Every single person that has minor children pays child support. Whether you are happily married, separated, divorced, or the parent of a child born without a marriage in place, you pay child support. Every time you buy food, toys, or pay the rent/mortgage, you are paying child support. The gas you spend to send your children to soccer practice or to the doctor’s office is supporting the children. When I took my children to see “Dolphin Tale” and when I take them to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (www.seewinter.com) that is supporting my children. However, society views the term “child support…