At Weiner & Weiss, LLC, we recognize that going through a divorce can be extremely difficult. We also understand that each relationship is unique and that no standard resolution fits every family’s needs. When you become our client, you can be sure we’ll take the time to listen to your concerns, identify important issues and develop a plan focused on the optimal resolution for you and your family. Our family law attorneys have more than 45 years of combined experience handling divorce cases in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We are ready to put our knowledge and experience to work for you.
In Florida, the legal term for divorce is “dissolution of marriage,” and every divorce is granted on a no-fault basis. No-fault divorce means a petitioner does not have to allege or prove specific marital misconduct to convince a court to dissolve the marriage. So, even if a spouse has committed adultery or exhibited cruelty toward a spouse, those issues are not relevant to the proceedings.
Under Florida law, all you must prove to obtain a no-fault divorce is that your marriage is irretrievably broken or that one of the parties is mentally incapacitated. To show that a marriage is irretrievably broken, you can simply testify to the fact, such as by saying, “We lead separate lives” or “We do not love each other anymore.”
Although Florida family law has abolished fault grounds for divorce, fault may be considered under certain circumstances in the award of alimony, equitable distribution of marital assets and debts and determination of custody and parental responsibility. However, the consideration is economic rather than moral. For example, a spouse who has spent marital assets on a paramour can be penalized in the alimony or property ruling. Likewise, if an addicted spouse has been spending a significant amount of money on a drug or alcohol addiction, a court can award the innocent spouse a substantial portion (more than 50 percent) of the existing marital estate.
The no-fault rule does not mean that all divorces in Florida are uncontested. Spouses may disagree over certain issues, such as child custody, property distribution, child support and spousal support. When divorcing spouses go to trial to resolve such issues, the case is called a contested divorce. On the other hand, cases that do not go to trial are called uncontested cases. In uncontested cases, issues are generally resolved through mediation and negotiated agreement.
The term “uncontested” can, in fact, be misleading, as divorcing spouses may spend months arguing over the terms of an agreement before resolving their differences. A truly uncontested case only occurs when there is complete agreement at the time of filing for divorce and little need for negotiation.
At Weiner & Weiss, LLC, we handle contested and uncontested divorce cases with equal commitment to achieving good results for our clients.
If you’re contemplating divorce, you probably have many process questions: How long will it take? How much will it cost? What papers must I file, and when? There are so many factors influencing the time and expense, not to mention the stress, of divorce that it’s impossible to give an estimate. However, we can outline the general process to give you an idea of what most parties go through:
Our goal is to provide you with highly responsive counsel and capable representation throughout every step of the divorce process. Whether you have a cooperative and reasonable spouse with whom a swift settlement is possible or your situation requires aggressive litigation to protect your parental and property rights, we are prepared to deliver the quality legal services you require.
If you are considering divorce, please contact Weiner & Weiss, LLC for experienced, supportive representation. Based in Boca Raton, we serve clients throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties in southeast Florida. Call us at (561) 391-1333 or contact our office online to schedule a consultation.