Florida law starts from a straightforward premise: when a marriage ends, marital assets should be divided equally. But what happens when one spouse has already been quietly — or not so quietly — eroding the marital estate before the court can divide it? Florida courts have a name for that conduct,…
In Florida divorce cases, the lifestyle maintained during the marriage plays a significant role in determining alimony awards. Judges often consider the standard of living that both spouses enjoyed during the marriage to assess the amount and duration of support necessary to ensure fairness. While statutory guidelines and factors outlined…
In Florida, equitable distribution of assets and liabilities is a fundamental aspect of divorce proceedings. Under Florida Statute §61.075, courts divide marital assets and debts in a manner that is fair—but not necessarily equal. The process often involves the creation of an equitable distribution grid, a tool that organizes and…
When a married couple files for divorce in Florida, there will be an “equitable distribution” or the division of marital assets and liabilities. The legal requirements imposed upon the parties, and which must be followed by Florida courts, is set out in Florida Statute § 61.075. While the law strongly…
Florida law recognizes assets acquired during the marriage as “marital” assets. This includes businesses that were created during the marriage and the law presumes that marital assets should be divided equally in a divorce. In other words, if you or your spouse created a business during the marriage, it is…
In a Florida divorce, the court will divide “marital” assets and liabilities. The law refers to this as “equitable distribution.” In distributing the assets, the court is expected to treat both spouses fairly and equitably, although not always equally or the same. Each party should receive a similar value of…
There is also no mandatory timeframe for how long a divorce will take. The specific facts and circumstances of your case will determine the duration of your Florida divorce. Here are the two biggest variables that can result in a short divorce case, or alternatively, result in protracted divorce litigation:…
Divorce is tough. It’s a difficult time emotionally, and you have a lot to do as you begin a new life after the marriage. One of those “to-do” items should always be to reevaluate your estate plan. If you need an estate planning attorney in Okaloosa County, Walton County, or…
From a Divorce Attorney: What is Co-parenting? Co-parenting is when two parents work together cooperatively for the child’s best interests. The following language comes from Florida Statue 61.21.: “A large number of children experience the separation or divorce of their parents each year. Parental conflict related to divorce is a…
To obtain a divorce in Florida, a party only needs to prove that the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” Florida is a no-fault state and either party may obtain a divorce regardless of marital misconduct. However, that doesn’t mean misconduct will not have an effect on the outcome of the divorce. …
