With a divorced population of 13.6%, the city of Fort Lauderdale is home to many individuals who have sought legal advice on family law matters. Sandy T. Fox has been named a Florida Bar Board Certified specialist in Marital and Family Law. If you need an attorney to handle a divorce in the Fort Lauderdale area, you can consult the Law Offices of Sandy T. Fox, P.A. We are proud to advocate for individuals going through the process of dissolving a marriage, and we will take the time to understand your individual needs.
Protect Your Rights When Dissolving a MarriageIn Florida, dissolving a marriage requires proof that a valid marriage occurred, that at least one of the spouses has been a Florida resident for six months prior to filing, and that one of two grounds for divorce exists. Either the marriage must be irretrievably broken, or one of the spouses must have been adjudged mentally incapacitated for the prior three years. Although fault is not required to obtain a divorce in Florida, it may be a consideration for the court in determining the distribution of marital assets, alimony, and parental responsibilities.
There are two options for filing for divorce in Florida. A regular dissolution of marriage is the most common procedure. Either spouse can file for divorce, in the county they last lived together or in the county where either spouse resides, with a petition for dissolution of marriage. The other spouse must file an answer to the petition within 20 days of receiving notice. Regular dissolution requires each spouse to turn over financial documents and affidavits attesting to their assets. If the spouses agree on property division, parental responsibilities, alimony, and other matters, the court may accept and include their written agreement in the final judgment. If the spouses cannot come to an agreement on certain matters, it may lead to a trial at which each side presents its case on the issue, and the judge will determine the final outcome.
Spouses can file for a simplified dissolution of marriage if they both agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken and agree to use this simplified procedure, they have no minor, dependent, or minor adopted children, the wife is not pregnant, one of the spouses has lived in Florida for the prior six months, they have reached an agreement as to the division of their property and debts, and neither spouse is seeking alimony. Although an attorney is not required for spouses to file for simplified dissolution of marriage, it is advisable to seek legal guidance to protect your interests after the divorce. For example, it may be particularly useful in reaching an agreement on property division or deciding whether to waive certain rights to which you may be entitled.
Discuss Your Divorce with a Fort Lauderdale AttorneyAt the Law Offices of Sandy T. Fox, P.A., we practice exclusively in Marital and Family Law. Our divorce lawyers can represent Fort Lauderdale residents in child support and alimony proceedings, including the modification of final judgments, among other matters related to the dissolution of a marriage. Schedule a free initial consultation with the Law Offices of Sandy T. Fox, P.A. by phone at 800.596.0579 or online.