Standard of Review
The standard of review is the level of scrutiny an appellate court uses when examining a lower court's decision in a Florida divorce case. Some rulings, like a judge's factual findings or discretionary decisions on alimony or time-sharing, are reviewed deferentially for an "abuse of discretion," while pure legal questions are reviewed fresh ("de novo"). This standard often determines how hard it is to overturn a trial court's decision on appeal.
Last updated June 21, 2026
Legal Definition
The standard of review is the legal benchmark an appellate court applies to a trial court's ruling — commonly de novo for questions of law, abuse of discretion for discretionary family-law rulings, and competent substantial evidence for factual findings.
Example
On appeal, the abuse-of-discretion standard of review made it difficult to disturb the trial judge's time-sharing schedule.
Related Terms
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