Are you getting a divorce in Dr. Phillips, FL? You need a skilled Dr. Phillips divorce lawyer to help you navigate the Florida divorce process and protect your legal rights so that you can focus on your family during this critical life transition.
The caring legal team at the Law Office of Paulette Hampilton Divorce Lawyers is available to take your call and explain the next steps. We have 15 years of combined experience and are ready to assist you with all aspects of your divorce.
Contact us today at (407) 420-2311 to schedule your free case evaluation and learn how we can help protect your future.
Why Choose the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers to Help Me With My Divorce in Dr. Phillips, FL?
When you choose the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers, you are getting fierce legal advocates who will work tirelessly for the best outcome possible. Our Dr. Phillips divorce attorneys are backed by over a decade of combined experience. Most importantly, we care about you and your future, which guides every interaction we have.
Because we offer a free case evaluation, you can learn more about the process of getting a divorce in Florida with no obligation to go any further. If you decide to move forward with a divorce, we will provide compassionate legal advocacy.
Reach out to our law office in Dr. Phillips, Florida, today to get started.
Legal Grounds for Divorce in Florida
There are only two legal grounds for divorce in Florida: your marriage is irretrievably broken, or one spouse has been mentally incompetent for at least three years. Thus, you don’t have to show that your spouse caused the need for divorce due to unfaithfulness, abuse, or a drug problem.
How to Initiate the Divorce Process in Florida
The divorce process is officially initiated when one of the spouses files a petition for the dissolution of the marriage. At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months to obtain a divorce in the state. In Florida, you can file for divorce—also known as a “dissolution of marriage”—in the circuit court of the county where you live. You must serve your spouse with the divorce petition and complete a signed family law financial affidavit as part of the process.
Your spouse will have 20 days to respond from the date they were served. If you and your spouse agree on the material terms of your divorce, such as property division and child custody, you can sign and submit a marital settlement agreement for the court to approve.
However, if you and your spouse disagree on any aspect of the divorce, you may need to go to trial to resolve the dispute. In that case, the court will apply Florida law to make key decisions about your case.
Legal Issues Involved in Divorce
Divorce can involve many critical legal issues, including the following:
Property Division
Any property the couple acquired during the marriage, with a few exceptions, is generally considered marital property and subject to division upon divorce.
This includes various types of property, including:
- Real estate, like the marital home
- Vehicles, boats, and planes
- Financial assets, such as bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds
- Retirement accounts
- Business interests
- Personal property, such as jewelry, collections, and furniture
Debts are also divided during divorce, including mortgages, car notes, credit card debt, and back taxes.
Spouses can reach an agreement on how to divide their property or debt, or they can let the court decide. If the court decides, it will use equitable factors to determine what is fair, such as the contribution of each spouse to the marriage, each spouse’s economic circumstances, and the length of the marriage.
Child Custody
Florida’s public policy, as outlined in Florida Statute Section 61.13, is that minor children should have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after their parents’ divorce and that parents should share in the rights and responsibilities of parenting. As such, Florida courts prefer to award joint custody for parental responsibility and timesharing.
Parental responsibility refers to the parent who has the legal right to make important decisions for the child, such as where the child attends school and what type of medical treatment they receive. Timesharing refers to a situation where each parent has the legal right to spend time with the child.
Parents are encouraged to work together and create a parenting plan. If they cannot agree on a plan, they can each present their own and allow the court to decide which plan or other arrangement is in the best interest of the child.
Child Support
It is the legal responsibility of both parents to provide financial support to their children. Florida uses a child support guidelines schedule to determine the appropriate amount of support, based on each parent’s income and the number of children in the household. Adjustments are made for substantial overnight stays and additional expenses each parent pays.
Spousal Support
In some cases, the court may award alimony to one spouse by the other upon request. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a payment or series of payments made by one spouse to the other.
To receive alimony, you must demonstrate that you need it and that your spouse has the financial ability to pay it. The court will then consider relevant factors to determine which type of alimony to award and in what amount.
Contact Our Dr. Phillips Divorce Attorneys Today for a Free Case Evaluation
If you are considering getting a divorce, an experienced Dr. Phillips divorce attorney from the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers can help. We have 15 years of combined experience helping clients with their divorce-related issues.
Call us today for a complimentary case evaluation.