Port Orange, FL asked in Business Law, Libel & Slander, Family Law and Contracts for Florida

Q: How to stop ex-daughter-in-law from using family name for her non-profit in FL?

My ex-daughter-in-law has opened a non-profit using our family name without permission, despite reverting to her maiden name and stating she never wanted to be associated with our family name. She was found by Illinois DCFS to have abused and neglected her four children, for whom she now has no legal rights. She is in contempt of court for non-payment of child support since 2022 and is seeking modifications in family court, under case number 2023 31828 FMCI in Volusia County, FL. Additionally, she has publicly slandered our family on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. What legal steps can we take to stop her from using our family name for her non-profit?

1 Lawyer Answer

A: You may need to initiate a lawsuit for defamation. Depending on the nature of her statements, it may be defamation per se. Nevertheless, you will likely need to prove some economic damages which is often the primary hurdle in these cases.

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