Case Name: Felix De Jesus GUERRA, Appellant, v. Angela GUERRA, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2016-09-28
Citations: 210 So. 3d 171
Docket Number: No. 2D15-2773
Parties: Felix De Jesus GUERRA, Appellant, v. Angela GUERRA, Appellee.
Judges: KELLY and ROTHSTEIN-YOUAKIM, JJ., Concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 210
Pages: 171–171

Head Matter:
Felix De Jesus GUERRA, Appellant, v. Angela GUERRA, Appellee.
No. 2D15-2773.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
Sept. 28, 2016.
Lisa P. Kirby of Lisa P. Kirby, P.A., Naples, for Appellant.
No appearance for appellee.

Opinion:
LUCAS, Judge.
Felix Guerra appeals the final judgment entered in his dissolution of marriage proceeding, as well as the order granting his former wife, Angela Guerra, an award of her attorney's fees and costs. We affirm the circuit court's judgment and order in all respects save one. Within the order, the circuit court included a provision characterizing its award of attorney's fees and costs as a form of support that "is not dischargeable in bankruptcy or by any other means." The entry of the award was appropriate under the facts of this case; however, we have held that prospective determinations purporting to decide whether support obligations will be dis-chargeable in bankruptcy are improper. See Roth v. Roth, 973 So.2d 580, 589 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008) (striking judgment's provision concerning nondischargeability of periodic payment award while husband's bankruptcy petition was pending); Meeks v. Meeks, 964 So.2d 185, 186 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007) ("We conclude that the trial court did not have the authority to make any binding legal ruling concerning the dis-chargeability of these debts in any future bankruptcy proceeding that might be filed.... "). We therefore reverse the portion of the order that pertains to bankruptcy dischargeability and remand this case with instructions to the circuit court to strike that provision from its order.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.
KELLY and ROTHSTEIN-YOUAKIM, JJ., Concur.