Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys

An uncontested divorce in Broward County typically resolves in 30 to 90 days after filing. Contested cases generally take eight to twenty-four months, and complex financial or custody matters can extend longer depending on discovery and court scheduling.

No. Florida is a no-fault state. The petitioner only needs to allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Fault can still affect issues like alimony or parenting in limited circumstances.

Most Florida divorces resolve through negotiation, mediation, or the collaborative process without a contested trial. A brief final hearing is generally required to enter the judgment even when the case is fully settled.

Florida follows equitable distribution. Marital assets and debts are divided fairly — which usually, but not always, means equally. Non-marital property remains with the original owner.

No. A single lawyer cannot represent both spouses. One spouse may proceed unrepresented, but each party is entitled to independent counsel.

Cost in a Broward County divorce depends on how much of the case is contested. An uncontested dissolution with a written marital settlement agreement is the least expensive path, while contested matters involving business valuation, forensic accounting, or a timesharing trial cost substantially more because they require discovery, experts, and court time. Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire discusses fee structure and likely cost drivers at the outset of every engagement.

Florida is an equitable distribution state, not a community property state. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.075, courts begin with the premise that marital assets and liabilities should be divided equally, then adjust based on statutory factors such as each spouse's economic circumstances, contributions to the marriage, interruption of a career, and intentional dissipation of assets. An equal split is the starting point, not a guaranteed result.

An uncontested Florida divorce means both spouses agree on every issue — property division, alimony, timesharing, and child support — and sign a marital settlement agreement and, if there are children, a parenting plan. A contested divorce means at least one issue remains unresolved, which triggers mandatory financial disclosure, discovery, court-ordered mediation, and potentially trial before a circuit judge.

Florida does not require an attorney to file for dissolution of marriage, and simplified dissolution exists for couples with no children and full agreement. Representation matters most when there are minor children, a business or professional practice, retirement or deferred compensation, real property, or an alimony claim, because those rights are difficult to reopen once a final judgment is entered.