Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer
Experienced Fort Lauderdale Lawyers in Your Corner in Florida Divorce Proceedings
Obtaining a divorce in Florida requires more than just proving you meet the technical requirements and following the required procedures. There are important decisions that must be decided in a divorce, and if the parties cannot agree between themselves, these matters must be litigated in court. The decisions made by a judge become binding court orders that will affect you and your children for years to come. It is vital to get these matters decided correctly at the outset with your rights and interests protected.
The Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyers at Edward J. Jennings, P.A. have over 30 years of experience in Florida divorce and family law. From our office in Fort Lauderdale, we help clients through Florida divorce matters throughout Broward County. See more below about Florida divorce laws and requirements, and call our office to find out how we can help in your unique situation.
Florida Divorce Laws and Requirements
A petition for divorce in Florida can be filed so long as either spouse has been a resident of the state for at least six months. Florida no longer has any fault-based grounds for divorce; aside from mental incapacity, most divorce filings are based on an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (no-fault divorce). Although fault does not have to be proven, the party filing the petition will still need to demonstrate facts showing the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
After a petition is filed with the court and served on the other party, the court will order both spouses to make certain required financial disclosures. The judge may also enter temporary orders while the divorce is pending. These orders could include alimony to be paid during the duration of divorce proceedings (alimony pendente lite), as well as orders regarding parenting and timesharing.
The judge may order the parties into mediation. If mediation fails or was not ordered, and if the parties cannot settle their issues on their own through a marital settlement agreement, litigation and a courtroom hearing will be required to decide all outstanding or contested issues in the divorce, including child custody, child support, alimony and the property division.
Mothers’ Rights – Traditionally it is the mother who stayed home to raise the kids, while the father provided the primary source of income. Even in dual-income households, the mother often has had to quit her job or forego career advancement in order to care for the family and manage the household. We fight for the rights of a working mother or stay-at-home mom to get the financial support for the education or training she needs to become self-supporting, or to continue raising young children and giving them the care and attention they need.
Fathers’ Rights – If the father did not shoulder as much of the parenting load as the mother during the marriage, this fact can work against the father when determining custody issues in a divorce. Florida law supports the concept of shared parenting decisionmaking and meaningful relationships for the kids with both parents, but having an effective advocate for the father remains essential. We fight for the rights of fathers to participate fully in parenting plans and timesharing, and to be treated fairly in any alimony or child support determinations.
Children’s Rights – Children have a right to be financially supported by both parents and to have a meaningful, substantial relationship with both parents, so long as no relationship is abusive. When deciding timesharing, courts may consider the child’s preference on living arrangements, if the judge believes the child has the intelligence, understanding and experience to give a meaningful opinion to the court. All decisions that affect a child should consider that child’s best interests first and foremost. We counsel our clients appropriately, and fight to see their children are treated fairly and respectfully in any family law matter.
Edward J. Jennings is Here for You and to Help You through Your Florida Divorce
Edward J. Jennings, P.A. is here for you with compassionate, dedicated and effective representation in the resolution of divorce and all related issues, including post-divorce matters such as relocation, modification and enforcement of court orders. If you are considering divorce in Broward County, or if you have been served with divorce papers by your spouse, contact our office in Fort Lauderdale to speak with one of our dedicated and successful Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyers.
