Divorce

Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney

If you have been served with divorce papers in Florida, you only have 20 days to file a response with the family court. At the Law Offices of Patric L. Jones in Fort Lauderdale, we offer a free initial consultation by phone or in person to answer your questions about divorce and discuss your legal options.

Attorney Patric Jones represents clients who have been served with divorce papers or who are thinking about filing for divorce. Sometimes it helps to talk to a lawyer early in the process to discuss your goals and plan your strategy.

An important question in any divorce is how willing you and your spouse are to try reaching an agreement. A divorce can go one of two ways: an uncontested divorce, which is quicker, less expensive and less painful; and a contested divorce, which is slower, more expensive and more painful.

If you and your spouse are willing to work toward an agreement, your divorce can be relatively quick and painless. We handle uncontested divorces for a flat fee, rather than billing by the hour as most family law firms do.

A divorce settlement agreement can be fairly straightforward:

• Florida law calls for equitable distribution or marital assets and debt, which means we start off assuming everything will be divided 50-50 unless there is a good reason not to do so.
• One parent will have primary residential custody, and the other will have visitation. In determining who will be the primary custodial parent, the judge may look at who has been the primary caregiver in the past, as well as other factors.
• It makes sense to preserve your relationship with your spouse as much as possible by negotiating a fair custody and visitation agreement. Even after the divorce, you and your ex-spouse will need to work together to raise your children. You will have contact with your ex on many occasions involving your kids—even after they are grown.
• Child support is determined by a formula and there is very little room for negotiation. However, it is essential for both parents to understand child support laws and what to do if child support is not paid.
• If your situation changes significantly after the divorce, you can obtain a modification of child custody, visitation, or child support order.
• If the marriage was long-term, one spouse has certain financial needs, and the other has the ability to pay, a judge may order spousal support (“alimony”), at least temporarily.

The time a divorce takes from start to finish varies widely. For an uncontested divorce, it may only take a few months. A contested divorce can sometimes take six months to a year or more. The legal process can be slow and tedious, but attorney Patric Jones and our office staff will do what we can to help you through this stressful time.

Can I obtain a legal separation in Florida?

No. Legal separation is not recognized under Florida law. You are considered either married or divorced.

Free consultation with a lawyer by phone or in person: To discuss your divorce or family law issue with attorney Patric L. Jones, call 954-779-1994 or contact our law firm by e-mail. We serve clients throughout Broward County, Florida, from our office in Fort Lauderdale and our satellite office in Coral Springs.