Filing for Divorce in Florida
In Florida, the official term for divorce is dissolution of marriage. You
or your spouse must live in Florida for six months before you can petition
here for a divorce. Florida has a no-fault divorce law, which means that
neither spouse is required to state
grounds for divorce, or to prove that the other has done anything wrong. Instead, either spouse
can file for divorce solely on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.
There are then two main ways to file for divorce.
In a simplified divorce:
- Both spouses agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
- No dependent children are involved.
- Both spouses sign a joint petition for dissolution in county court.
- The partners decide how to divide their shared property.
If there are dependent children involved in your divorce, you can still
pursue an uncontested or collaborative divorce, but you cannot go through
the simplified court process detailed above.
In a regular divorce:
- One spouse files a petition for dissolution of marriage.
- The other must file an answer within 20 days.
Our Palm Harbor & Clearwater divorce attorneys can help you navigate
either divorce process, helping you to protect your loved ones, your rights,
and your interests at every step of the way.
Types of Divorce Cases Our Team Handles
You and your spouse must resolve difficult questions about
child custody,
asset division, and alimony. You can do so either inside or outside of court. Whichever
legal process you face, our divorce attorneys can help you.
- Our Florida divorce attorneys can guide you through:
-
Collaborative Divorce – You and your spouse agree to avoid court, voluntarily cooperating
to reach an agreement without the interference of a judge.
-
Contested Divorce – You and your spouse head to court where a judge listens to both
sides and decides the case, issuing a court order.
-
Uncontested Divorce – You and your spouse agree to all terms and present a signed agreement
to the court for approval.
-
Divorce Mediation – A third party (the mediator) facilitates negotiations to avoid
a court hearing.
Even if you are faced with a
complex divorce, one that involves intricate finances and high net worth marital estates,
but you want to avoid going to court, our divorce attorneys may still
be able to help you resolve matters amicably.
Divorce Appeals in Florida
Under certain circumstances, a party who disagrees with the court’s
decision has a right to appeal.
The requirements for appealing a divorce decree in Florida are:
- The determination must be final.
- The appeal must be brought within a timely basis.
Our Palm Harbor and Clearwater divorce lawyers have specific training and
experience to draft detailed appellate briefs and to make cogent, compelling
arguments in appellate court. As a Board-Certified marital law attorney,
K. Dean Kantaras is up to the task.
Skilled Divorce Representation for Clearwater, Palm Harbor & All Florida
You can find the talented, compassionate, and ardent legal representation
you need for your divorce at K. Dean Kantaras, P.A. From a pre-filing
consultation all the way through a trial or even appeal if necessary,
we can provide the counsel and advocacy you need for every step of the way.
Call (727) 939-6113 today to learn more in a divorce consultation.
