Fort Pierce Divorces Lawyer

Get a better understanding of the options you have for ending your marriage by discussing your concerns with a Fort Pierce divorces lawyer.

Ending a marriage is always a difficult decision, and in addition to the emotional pain and stress, many people feel overwhelmed by the legal process. It can be hard to know what to do first, and sometimes people worry about the financial ramifications of a divorce. Others are concerned about the well-being of their children, and the emotional toll of a custody battle.

Petition for a Dissolution of Marriage

Once you have decided to move forward with the divorce, the first thing your Florida divorce attorney will need to do is file a Petition for a Dissolution of Marriage with the local court’s Family Department. The court will serve your spouse with the paperwork and allow some time for a response.

If you and your spouse are ending the marriage on generally good terms, and can agree on how to divide things like assets and child timesharing, your divorce can be completed without a trial. However, many divorces are contested, meaning the parties have not come to an agreement on their own. In this case, the court will schedule a hearing, and the discovery process begins, with both sides gathering evidence to present their case. Often, couples are able to come to an agreement during discovery.

Trial

If your divorce does reach trial, the court will distribute marital assets as equitably as possible. In general, marital assets are those acquired during the marriage, including income earned and property purchased. Non-marital assets are those acquired by one party prior to the marriage, such as a car you owned before getting married.

In most cases, these remain with the original owner, while the court divides marital assets between the parties. There are a variety of laws regarding what is marital property, and your Florida divorce lawyer can answer any questions you have.

Alimony

Alimony or spousal support is another common cause for concern during divorce. Under Florida divorce law, a court can order alimony if it is “well-founded.” The court will consider a wide range of factors, including standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and each spouse’s age and physical health. The judge will also consider each party’s income, and whether one spouse left a career to care for the couple’s children. If you believe you should receive alimony, your Florida divorce lawyer can advise you about what documents and other evidence you will need to present your case.

In some cases, one spouse may be granted temporary alimony or support during the divorce proceedings, if he or she needs help with immediate financial needs. For example, suppose that Bob decides to leave his wife of fifteen years, Mary, so he can move in with his new girlfriend. While they are dealing with divorce proceedings, Mary still needs to pay household bills, buy groceries, and purchase clothing and other supplies for the couple’s children.

She left her career years ago to care for the couple’s children, and has no financial support since Bob left. The judge might grant a request for temporary support, ordering Bob to pay so much per month to Mary until the divorce is finalized. At that time, a new alimony agreement will be reached.

Consulting a Fort Pierce Divorces Lawyer

If you have questions or concerns about divorce, family law, or other Florida legal services, please contact Apfelbaum Law for a consultation. We can be reached at 772-236-4009, or contactus@alawfl.com.