Florida is a no fault divorce state. This means that the petitioning party (person who files for dissolution of marriage) does not need to prove the marriage is broken (irreconcilable differences). This policy makes the divorce process in Florida relatively clear. The Florida divorce process involves some initial steps that we can outline for you in general terms. Jonathan Jacobs is a divorce attorney in Orlando and a divorce attorney in Clermont Florida with knowledge of the steps in a divorce in Florida. Schedule your consultation today and start planning for your future. Jacobs Law Firm may be reached at 407-335-8113.
Steps in a Divorce in Florida
The steps in a divorce in Florida first involve deciding whether divorce is appropriate for you, your spouse, and your children (if any). Once you have decided to obtain a dissolution of marriage, the initial divorce process in Florida involves retaining a divorce attorney capable of litigating your case. Your lawyer will help you organize your personal and financial information, evidence, and potential exhibits in order to streamline the process of dissolving your marriage. The timeline for divorce in Florida (generally speaking) may take as few as 21 days if uncontested or if the Respondent is defaulted, or many months if the case is highly litigated.
Once our office has collected your essential information, we will schedule a longer consultation with you to explain the Florida divorce process and attempt to match the facts of your case with Florida marital law. Our consultation is designed to inform you about the process, and to help you understand the role the court may play in your divorce.
Florida Divorce Process
Technically, the divorce process in Florida officially begins when a petitioner files his/her divorce pleadings and related documents with the appropriate family law circuit court. The initial pleadings and related documents may include the Petition for Dissolution, Notice of Social Security Numbers, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, Financial Affidavit, a Civil Cover Sheet (automatically generated in most cases), Notice of Related Cases, and a Notice of Confidential Filing Within Court File. This is not an all-inclusive or exclusive list of what must be filed, or what you may require, but it is generally helpful to make a list of the documents you require for your case to move forward in a timely manner. Organization is vital to the dissolution process.
When you are ready to speak with a family law attorney about your contested or uncontested divorce, call us for a free phone consultation. 407-335-8113.