DIVORCE DOCUMENT SERVICES

Are you considering a divorce? Don't worry, you're far from alone. Many people think about divorce for months or even years before filing paperwork. It's estimated that up to 50% of all first marriages will end in divorce, which is even higher with second marriages.

Although divorce has always been a part of life, divorce has become more common, and changes in the laws have made divorce much easier. The fact is that life is too short, and a fresh start is what many people seek.

Our offices can assist you with three types of divorce.

UNCONTESTED DIVORCE
In Florida, an uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree on all issues, leaving nothing for the judge to decide on your behalf.

You must agree on all of the following:
Assets. You must agree on how all of your assets and debts will be divided, regardless of whose name they are in. Assets are usually considered to be cars, boats, motorcycles, trailers, stocks, bonds, notes, IRA's, 401Ks, or any other retirement plans, real estate, including your marital home.

Child support. In most cases, child support is mandatory in Florida and uses an "Income Shares Model." This means the child should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together. This amount is then divided between the two parents based on their incomes.

Custody and Visitation. Florida refers to custody arrangements and visitation as "time-sharing." Parents must establish the responsibilities for the everyday duties related to raising a child, including the time-sharing schedule arrangements that specify the time the child will spend with each parent. This allows you and your spousce to design your own parenting plans.

Debts. The division of all debts, regardless of whose name they are in, must be decided on. This includes any loans, mortgages, and credit cards.

CONTESTED DIVORCE
Suppose you have tried to get your spouse to agree to the above for an uncontested divorce, and they will not approve. In that case, our office can have a process server serve your proposed divorce documents to your spouse. Your spouse will be required to respond within 20 days, or we will enter a default against them.

In most counties, whether your spouse responds or not, mediation will be ordered by the court, and you will come to an agreement with the help of a trained mediator. If an agreement is still not met, the judge will make all decisions using Florida Statutes and previous case law.

LOST SPOUSE DIVORCE
If your spouse has disappeared, and you cannot find them, we can prepare all the documents and publish an ad in the newspaper to get your divorce. Be aware that this is a time-consuming process that requires a diligent search to find and serve your spouse before the court will award you the divorce. This should be your last resort used only if there is no possible chance of finding your spouse.

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