Melissa Harrison Earns Paralegal Studies Degree

Melissa Harrison Earns Paralegal Studies Degree

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Congratulations to legal assistant Melissa C. Harrison, who recently graduated from Keiser University with an Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts with specialties in politics and photography from New School University in New York City. She is a New Jersey native and has lived in various cities in the Northeast United States and Mexico. She moved to Naples in 2017 and began her career in the legal field as a receptionist and legal assistant with Nicole L. Goetz, P.L.

Child Life Wish List Program

Nicole L. Goetz P.L. Supports Golisano Children’s Hospital Wish List Program

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Donate a toy and help brighten a child’s day. The attorneys and staff at Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. in Naples are teaming up to collect donations for the Golisano Children’s Hospital Child Life Wish List program. Donations to the program help hospitalized children and siblings and are used in activity rooms and for birthdays to keep patients happy, engaged and feeling good about their treatments. The Child Life Wish List contains items for infants and toddlers, preschool and school-age children and teens as well as sensory items and travel-size toiletries. You also can choose a toy that means something to you or that will bring meaning to a child’s life. You may drop off donations at the Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. office at 4933 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 201, in Naples, or call (239) 325-5030 for more information. If you would like to donate directly to the hospital, take donations to 9981 S. Healthpark Drive in Fort Myers and leave them at the front desk. Please donate to help show children who are receiving treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital that they do not have to face their burdens by themselves.

Bounds of Advocacy

Nicole L. Goetz Facilitates Publication of New ‘Bounds of Advocacy’ Professional and Ethical Practice Guidelines for Florida Family Lawyers

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During her tenure as 2017-2018 Chair of The Florida Bar Family Law Section, attorney Nicole L. Goetz created the ad hoc Bounds of Advocacy Committee and appointed members from throughout Florida to update the “Bounds of Advocacy” practice guide to reflect recent and significant changes that impact the practice of Florida family law. The “Bounds of Advocacy” outlines goals for family lawyers in Florida, and guides Florida lawyers through the quagmire of professional and ethical dilemmas that are unique to the practice of family law. The publication offers goals for professional cooperation, competence and advice, conflict of interest, fees and children. It suggests a higher level of practice than the minimum baseline of conduct required by The Florida Bar rules—and spells out guidelines for situations that often arise in family law where the rules don’t provide sufficient guidance.

Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. - Family Law Section of the Florida Bar Award

Nicole L. Goetz Honors Florida Bar Family Law Section Members During Annual Awards Ceremony

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Nicole presenting award

Attorney Nicole L. Goetz of Nicole L. Goetz, P.L., as 2017-2018 Chair of The Florida Bar Family Law Section, presented numerous awards during the section’s Annual Awards & Installation Luncheon in June. The awards honored members’ dedication, hard work, enthusiasm and service in leadership roles and on section committees during the 2017-2018 Florida Bar year. As Immediate Past Chair, Nicole remains active in the Family Law Section as a member of its Executive Committee.

Family Law

Nicole L. Goetz Presents Family Law Section Chair’s Honorarium to Golisano Children’s Hospital

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5,000 dollar check presentation

Each year, the Chair of The Florida Bar Family Law Section presents an honorarium to a deserving charitable organization. Nicole L. Goetz served as the 2017-2018 Section Chair and presented her $5,000 honorarium to Lee Health Foundation to benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida Pediatric Oncology Unit. Nicole L. Goetz P.L. Paralegal Lisa M. Singleton accepted the donation during The Florida Bar Annual Convention in June. The Singleton family has had an extremely positive experience with Golisano, a state-of-the-art, family-centered, full-service children’s hospital.

Nicole L. Goetz Wins Key Family Law Appellate Case

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In Barlow v. Barlow, Case No. 2D16–1837, attorney Nicole L. Goetz represented former husband Matthew Barlow in an appeal that challenged provisions in a final judgment of dissolution of marriage related to the calculation of alimony and child support, the award of the marital home to the former wife and a special provision requiring the parties to share the costs of major repairs to the former marital home. The appellate court found that the trial court erred in the manner in which it included bonus income in the former husband’s gross and available net income. The appellate court reversed and remanded the judgment of dissolution of marriage for recalculation of the alimony and child support awards and for reconsideration of the feasibility of maintaining the marital residence. The court affirmed the final judgment of dissolution of marriage in all other respects.

Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. - Family Law Section of the Florida Bar Award

Nicole L. Goetz Chairs Florida Bar Family Law Section

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Attorney Nicole Goetz of Nicole L. Goetz P.L. in Naples has been elected to serve as the 2017-2018 Chair of The Florida Bar Family Law Section; a 3,700-member, statewide, voluntary legal organization dedicated to high standards of professionalism in legal advocacy for Florida’s families.

Active service in legal community leadership roles is a hallmark of Goetz’s professional career. She is a member of the American, Florida and Collier County Bar Associations. She is a longtime member of The Florida Bar Family Law Section Executive Council, and has earned numerous section awards for her leadership roles on section committees. She also is a frequent lecturer on family law.

Office Chairs

Nicole L. Goetz P.L. Welcomes New Team Member

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The firm is pleased to announce that a new member has joined the Nicole L. Goetz P.L. team.

  • Receptionist and legal assistant Melissa C. Harrison is a New Jersey native who lived in various cities in the northeast United States and Mexico before moving to Naples in 2017. She graduated from New School University in New York City with a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts with specialties in politics and photography. She has worked in the hospitality industry, where she honed many of her business skills including office management, customer service and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Ms. Harrison is currently pursuing a degree in paralegal studies.
Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. - Family Law Section of the Florida Bar Award

Nicole L. Goetz Elected Chair-Elect of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar

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Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. is honored to announce that Nicole L. Goetz has been elected Chair-Elect of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar.  Ms. Goetz will also serve as Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar for 2016-2017.  Ms. Goetz limits her practice exclusively to Marital and Family Law at the trial and appellate levels.