The county seat of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale is home to over 165,000 residents. While much of its revenue comes from tourism and the boating industry, the growth of its downtown into a commercial center has led to the construction of many new office buildings, hotels, and high-rise condominiums. As of 2010, about half of the households in the city consisted of families, and over 30% consisted of married couples. Pursuing a divorce is a difficult decision that likely will affect many other aspects of your life, especially if you have children and substantial assets. Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Carmen G. Soto can guide you through the legal process and carefully protect your interests.
Attorney Soto has been practicing family law in South Florida for 15 years, and she offers flexible payment plans to clients that are designed to accommodate their financial circumstances. The Law Offices of Carmen G. Soto are located within easy walking distance from the new Broward County courthouse, so we do not charge any travel costs or parking fees when we go to court on your behalf. Our staff speaks Spanish.
Pursuing a Divorce in Broward CountyFlorida is a no-fault divorce state that provides for two types of divorce: simple and regular. For either type of divorce, one spouse must have lived in Florida for six months prior to filing for divorce, and the marriage must be irretrievably broken, which means that it has fallen apart beyond repair.
In order to proceed with a simple divorce, there must be no minor children from the marriage, the wife must not be pregnant at the time the petition is filed. The parties must sign a Marital Settlement Agreement. The latter form must be completed even if the couple does not own property.
In a regular divorce, one spouse files a petition to end the marriage with the clerk at the local circuit court. The spouse who files for divorce is known as the “petitioner,” and the other spouse is known as the “respondent.” The request must claim the marriage is irretrievably broken and state what the spouse wants out of the divorce. The filing spouse must make sure his or her partner is notified of the divorce.
A regular divorce may be contested or uncontested. In a contested divorce, spouses are unable to agree on the division of marital property, marital debt, or issues involving minor children. To have these issues addressed, both spouses typically appear in front of a judge, who will decide each issue. For example, the judge will determine child custody and visitation arrangements by considering the best interests of the children. The petitioning spouse is required to attend the final hearing.
In an uncontested divorce, both spouses must agree to all issues related to marital property, marital debt, and their minor children. These matters must be detailed in a “Marriage Settlement Agreement” that must be signed by both parties.
Consult a Knowledgeable Divorce Lawyer in Fort LauderdaleGoing through a divorce is a challenging process, but the skilled legal professionals at the Law Offices of Carmen G. Soto can make it as smooth as possible for you. Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney Carmen G. Soto works diligently on behalf of people who are dissolving a marriage or resolving related issues, such as child custody, child support, alimony, and the division of property. She also represents residents of Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Lauderhill, Weston, Tamarac, Margate, Hallandale Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, and other cities in Broward County. Call us at 954-523-0703 or contact us online for a free consultation with a family law attorney. Nosotros tambien hablamos español.