Florida Bar News – Bilbrey to Lead LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of the Florida Bar

      Christine Bilbrey Christine Bilbrey, the Bar’s senior practice management advisor and “The Florida Bar’s LegalFuel Podcast” host, has been named director of LegalFuel: the Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar. “We are all fortunate Christine has accepted this leadership position within the Programs Division,” said Programs Division Director Terry Hill. “I am…

Florida Bar News – Successfully Defending a Family Law Dissolution Agreement May Not Yield Attorney’s Fees

Parties in family law cases who successfully defend dissolution-related agreements are not entitled to attorney fees if those contracts allow fees only for enforcing the contract, according to the Supreme Court. The court on October 7 ruled that F.S. §57.105(7) does not apply to such agreements. That statute converts unilateral fee awards into reciprocal awards.…

Florida Bar News – Elder Law Section Sets Sights on ‘GRANNY SNATCHING,’ Undue Influence

Prosaically, it’s known as the Uniform Guardianship Jurisdiction Act. Less formally, it’s knows as the effort to stop “granny snatching.” “We don’t like granny snatching,” said Elder Law Section Treasurer Shannon Miller, who also serves on the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers’ Guardian Improvement Task Force.   That’s why the section will be pursuing a…

Florida Bar News – Bill would Make Juvenile Confessions Inadmissible if Obtained by ‘DECEPTION’

Rep. Travaris “Tray” McCurdy A Central Florida lawmaker has filed a measure that would make juvenile confessions inadmissible if obtained by “deception.” Rep. Travaris “Tray” McCurdy, D-Orlando, filed HB 109 September 15. The bill faces hearings in the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee and Judiciary before reaching the House floor. So far, there is no Senate…

Florida Bar News – Bill would Ease Requirements for Returning Felons to Obtain Occupational Licenses

Rep. Kevin Chambliss Released felons would have an easier time qualifying for an occupational license under a bipartisan criminal reform measure that has been filed in the Florida House. Rep. Kevin Chambliss, D-Miami, filed HB 87 on September 13. Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood and chair of the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, is a co-sponsor. The measure would allow…

Florida Bar News – Business Law Section to Offer a Financial Literacy and Legal Assistance Program for Veterans

Kacy Donlon The Business Law Section, two legal aid programs, a South Florida bankruptcy judge, and United Way’s Mission United program are combining to offer a financial literacy and legal assistance program for veterans in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The planners hope that the October 30 Veteran’s Financial Literacy Program will be a template for…