In Florida, it is not required for divorcing parties to hire an attorney. However, consulting with a divorce attorney is recommended to protect your best interests and those of your family. Child custody and parenting time, child support exceptions, property division, and asset and debt allocation can be complex matters that you do not want to overlook for your future after divorce.

A collaborative divorce team is typically a team of two attorneys, one for each party, along with a neutral financial planner and mental health specialist. Each spouse hires their own divorce attorney and agree to work with the other neutral specialists who help them create a fair divorce settlement. Ideally, the team works toward creating a solid agreement outside of the courtroom and the litigation process.

The collaborative process for the dissolution of marriage is not for everyone. However, when divorcing spouses can reach an agreement through this private method, lasting settlements generally result.

In Florida, there are several factors to consider for allocating assets, including businesses. It will depend on when the business was started, whether your business is considered a premarital asset and how much of a contribution your spouse made to the operation of the business during your marriage, among other factors. Consulting with an experienced family law attorney is highly recommended when you have a business interest at stake in your divorce.

No. Florida recognizes all marriages, and the laws for dissolution of marriage for all divorcing couples are the same.

Yes. Time-sharing is now the term Florida courts use for child custody agreements. Divorcing or separating parents can create their own agreement to address where their children will reside, and with whom and how each parent will spend time with their child. Parents can create their own time-sharing agreement that works for their family, provided it keeps the best interest of the children at the forefront of the agreement. If parents are unable to agree on their own, a family court judge will create the agreement based on the best interests of the children.