Tips, Trends, & News
Proving The Authenticity of an Immigration Marriage – Why You Should Have an Immigration Lawyer with You During a Stokes Interview…
The Stokes interview is a second chance for the married couple to convince the USCIS officer of their marriage’s authenticity. Usually, it is scheduled when the immigration officer has some doubts after holding the initial status interview. That is why the...
Immigration Tips – The 3 Main Categories For Green Card Eligibility…
Florida is a popular spot for immigrants looking to become citizens of the United States. A person that is not a citizen of the United States would need a green card to be able to live and work in the country. It also allows them to be able to leave and come back to...
What Is A Guardian Ad Litem And Do I Need One In My Custody Case?…
In a high-conflict divorce or child custody case, a Florida court may appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to help investigate the dispute and ensure that a child’s best interests are fully protected. If you are interested in having a guardian ad litem appointed in your...
A Few Things To Keep In Mind When Preparing For Your Immigration Interview…
An immigration interview with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can be a nerve-wracking experience. One of the most asked questions is what is going to happen at my immigration interview and how do I need to prepare? While interviews are a normal part...
How Co-parent Actions Directly Impact Their Children…
A divorce or separation is one of the greatest challenges a child can face. Divorce or separation is often filled with anger, hurt, resentment, and sadness. If parents let their conflict run rampant it can cause permanent harm to their children. If the parents can...
How To Know When You Are Eligible For US Citizenship…
Leaving behind everything you have ever known in your country of origin takes an immense amount of courage and sacrifice. For many, once they have lived in the United States for a few years it only seems right to take the steps to become a US citizen. Knowing you will...
A Quick Guide To The Naturalization Process…
In the state of Florida and all around the United States, there are millions of immigrants that came from various countries around the world. Packing up and moving to a new country can be an arduous process that is filled with emotional, physical, financial, and legal...
Expungement Tips – How To Seal And Expunge a Criminal Record…
In the state of Florida, it is legal for some people to seal and/or expunge their criminal records. By doing so, this can keep future employers, banks, creditors, landlords, as well as colleges or universities from seeing the mistakes of your past. Being able to keep...
Why Settlements Are Advantageous For Many Divorces and Relationships With Shared Children…
For many cases, rather than going to trial, a marital settlement occurs that ends the case. Settlements serve as an alternative path from litigation through trial. Most settlements are achieved by negotiation between the attorneys and the parties agree to terms of...
A Quick Guide To Naturalization In Florida…
Many immigrants to Florida have a goal to become a U.S. citizen. There are many legal issues that must be resolved and an application process that must be fulfilled, including taking a naturalization test. How Can I Apply For U.S. Citizenship Or Naturalization In...
Are You Eligible To Have Your Record Sealed Or Expunged In The State Of Florida?…
There are certain qualifications you must meet to have your criminal record sealed or expunged. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has established a list of guidelines that will determine your eligibility. If you have ever been found guilty of any crime,...
Tips On Helping Your Children Adjust To A Breakup Or Divorce…
Divorce can end some unhappy, unhealthy unions, and in the end, can become the best solution for a struggling family. But if you’re a parent going through it, you’re probably thinking about more than just yourself. The decision to get divorced is hard, especially when...
4 Ways to Stay Mentally Healthy During a Divorce…
The emotional “stages” of dealing with divorce are essentially identical to the “stages of grief,” according to Reiss. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The stressors that led to divorce, the process itself and, the after divorce each...
What To Expect Financially When Divorcing After Age 50…
Divorce rates in the United States are declining—except for people over 50. In fact, since 1990, the divorce rate for people over 50 has doubled. As married couples grow older, the glue that holds many marriages together dissolves, be it children, shared interests, or...
5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Ask Your Friends For Divorce Advice…
Through life’s trials and tribulations, it is important to have a tribe– friends you can count on to help overcome any hardships that may come your way. As you navigate your divorce, you will probably think the best advice you can get will come from your...
What a Guardian Ad Litem Is And How It May Affect Your Divorce Proceedings…
A Guardian ad litem serves as an advocate for the child and is charged with the duty of representing the child’s best interest, which may not be the same as what the child wants. A guardian ad litem will conduct an independent, objective investigation of the...
What Courts Take Into Consideration During A Custody Hearing…
Child custody battles can be painful for everyone involved. Unfortunately, when a divorce occurs with children, it can sometimes get even messier trying to decide who the child/children should live with. There isn’t a guarantee that a judge will side with you or your...
Tips for Understanding The Equitable Distribution Of Marital Assets In Florida…
Unforeseen things happen in life and one of them is divorce. Almost 50 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation. Researchers estimate that 41 percent of all first marriages end in divorce. However, every marital dissolution is...
How Child Custody Agreements In Florida Are Focusing More On Parental Responsibility and Time-Sharing…
The divorce rate in Florida is around 50% in first marriages. Many of these couples have children and require a child custody agreement. Florida abandoned the traditional terms of custody in favor of parental responsibility and time-sharing. Florida’s custody...
Should I Keep The House Or Should My Ex?
There are many emotions involved during a divorce and whether to keep the house or not is no exception. As stressful as it may be, you must take into consideration things such as maintenance and budget. Consider How It Fits Into Your Daily Life If you have children,...
Divorce Tips – 6 Tips For A Smoother, Quicker Divorce…
Aiming for a successful outcome is probably what anyone undergoing a divorce has in mind. Unfortunately, there are no classes you can take to ensure that your divorce will end successfully. The good news is you can hire a family law attorney who can navigate with you...
What To Do If Your Child Refuses To Let You See Your Grandchildren…
Oftentimes, grandparents play an integral role in their grandchildren’s lives. Whether it be simply spending quality time or actually assisting in raising their grandchildren, grandparents are important to fostering and developing our next generation. As a...
Why You Should Have a Prepared Last Will and Testament…
There are many cautionary steps that one can make to insure the safety of one’s self and/or family; having an updated and prepared Last Will and Testament is one of the most important of those cautionary steps. What is a Last Will and Testament? A Last Will and...
Child Support and the Government Shutdown
If you are a federal employee and are paying child support, then this is for you! Do you know that you are still responsible for supporting your child(ren) regardless of the fact that you are not receiving a paycheck, child support garnishments are not available or...
Akilah Harris Recognized For Pro Bono Work With Broward Legal Aid
Since 2015, Ms. Harris has assisted Legal Aid clients facing a variety of family law issues and has been a key contributor to the Mission United Veterans Pro Bono Project.
COVID-19 Update from Akilah Harris, PLLC (4/2/20)
It is safe to say that we have experienced the most emotional and intense few weeks of our lifetime. The impact of the coronavirus has affected individuals, families, and companies in South Florida, the United States, and throughout the world. We offer our sincerest...
Paying Child Support and Executing Time-Sharing During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The most recent child support statistics come from the “Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support” report done in 2015. This report states that in 2015, 33.7 billion dollars was owed with only 60% of those funds received by custodial mothers and fathers....