Recently passed legislation awaiting the governor's signature or veto has the Florida court systems backing up with divorce cases. One way to avoid the backlog is to pursue a collaborative divorce. What is collaborative divorce and how can it help you avoid court?...
Handling complex divorce and family law cases for clearwater and surrounding communities
Family Law
Dignity
Where did dignity go? There is no dignity in anything anymore. Whether you think politics have always been sh*t (they have), the absolute lack of dignity is appalling. Regardless of the tribe to which you subscribe. People have no shame. When has it ever been...
Will nesting work for you?
When you are deciding what to do about your housing situation after your divorce, consider some alternatives to the traditional methods. Bird nesting is one such option. If you and your co-parent still get along decently, this is a good option to consider. First, make...
Is a home study necessary before a Florida stepparent adoption?
When you have a relationship with a stepchild in Florida, you may decide to try to make your parent-child relationship official through stepparent adoption. However, the process involved in adopting a child in Florida varies quite a bit based on whether you are...
Three tips to handle your marital home in divorce
You and your spouse have lived together in a single residence for years. Now that you are ending your marriage, the time has come to figure out what to do with your marital home. Whether you want to keep your marital house or not, you should have an idea of issues...
Navigating stepparent adoption
The definition of family is constantly evolving, but the law does not always keep pace. Navigating the legal nuances of stepparent adoption requires an understanding of the associated procedures. Stepparent adoption can be simple in situations where one biological...
What are signs of parental alienation after a divorce?
An intense and stressful divorce can leave you, your ex-spouse and your children feeling overwhelmed at everything that happened. Even after this rough time, you still may notice subtle signs of manipulation and alienation from your ex-spouse toward your children....
How do you tell your spouse you want a divorce?
You and your spouse tried counseling, taking time for yourselves and talking with loved ones. Still, your marriage feels empty. Divorce seems like the only sensible response to the matter, but how do you start that conversation? Psychology Today offers tips for...
What moves should you avoid when co-parenting?
Sharing parenting responsibilities with your ex may feel complicated at first. While working together for your children may be in the best interests of your little ones, you may still feel overwhelmed at times. According to Healthline, people make several mistakes...
What is the putative father registry?
Though there is no uniform definition of “father” in state statutes across the country, many states, including Florida, have different categories of fathers. Two common categories include “putative fathers” and “presumed fathers.” Which category you fall into will...

Caring, Personal Attention For Every Case
Christine S. Cook has earned a reputation in the legal community for her professionalism and among her clients for the care and personal attention she gives to every case.