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To obtain a divorce in Florida, only one party needs to claim either irreconcilable differences or mental incapacity of the other spouse. The alleged incapacitated spouse must have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated for three years prior to the divorce filing.

The courts will determine whether a spouse is entitled to alimony based on a specific set of criteria. Thus, each case is unique and fact-specific. It is best to consult with an attorney.

Yes, in a contested divorce, both parties will have to attend mediation. Most divorces are settled in mediation. However, collaborative divorce mediation is another structured and non-costly alternative to traditional court divorces. Whenever possible, I highly, highly recommend collaborative divorce mediation.

No, time-sharing/visitation is not contingent upon payment of child support. One parent cannot deny another parent access to their child because of failure to pay child support.

No, Florida has abandoned the tender years doctrine, which presumed the mother to be the better caregiver. Under the tender years doctrine, no matter how active or fit a father was, courts often granted significantly more custody to a mother. Today, absent a showing that a father is unfit, courts will grant liberal time-sharing to both parents.

A final custody/time-sharing order will take some time and largely depends on the court’s docket. In the meantime, a temporary order can be issued fairly quickly.

Prior to requesting time-sharing, make sure you are involved and active in your child’s life. Help them with schoolwork and attend their extracurricular activities. Even better, volunteer at school (if you don’t have a ton of time, just for a field trip or special event) or as a coach. If your residence is new to them, make sure your child feels safe and comfortable in your home. You can either buy items or just hang up crayon pictures that you draw together. This includes feeding them nutritious meals. If you have scheduled visitation with them, always show up on time with a plan for the day. If you are doing something fun, take lots of pictures. Keep a daily journal.

It depends on whether there is a court order in place and, in the case of fathers, whether paternity has been established.

Some mistakes can be fixed by filing the proper paperwork with the court. Other mistakes which have resulted in the court issuing a final order are much more difficult to fix. With family law, time really is of the essence.

Child support is calculated using the Child Support Guideline Worksheet. The worksheet factors in the time spent with each parent, the parents’ incomes, and the child’s needs such as medical and daycare expenses and medical health insurance.

Yes, but there must be a showing of a material and substantial change in circumstances. The requested change must also be in to best interests of the child.

There is a huge range depending on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested and whether both parties can agree on a Marital Settlement Agreement, which includes property division and time-sharing of the children. At South Florida Legal Rescue, I am committed to providing clients with affordable prices.

Absolutely. Prior to leaving your spouse, you will want to gather as much paperwork as possible, including copies of your spouses most recent pay stubs and past three W-2s. This is especially true where your spouse is self-employed. A lot of information can be obtained through discovery, but it is easier and more reliable to gather this information yourself as a spouse may not comply with discovery requirements.

Change all your passwords and pins (computer, ATM cards, credit cards, ebay, amazon, etc.; basically if there is a password or pin, change it!) and keep the new passwords in a safe and secure place. Do not use passwords that your spouse can figure out, like your child’s middle name or even your childhood cat. You need to secure non-joint bank accounts by ensuring that only you have access to the accounts funds. Lastly, you need to get off social media. It is time to shut down that Facebook account. Even if your spouse does not have access to your page, someone sympathetic to your spouse may. An attorney can provide you with additional information.

No, Florida is a no-fault state. Thus, the marital indiscretions of one spouse will not result in the favorable treatment of the other spouse.

Yes. Courts may consider factors such as the length of the marriage, financial resources, earning capacity, and the needs of each spouse.

Florida courts focus on the best interests of the child when establishing parenting plans and timesharing arrangements.

Florida follows equitable distribution laws. Marital property is divided fairly based on the circumstances of the case, which may or may not result in an equal division.

An uncontested divorce may be completed in a matter of weeks. Contested divorces can take several months or longer depending on the issues involved.

The cost depends on the complexity of your case. Uncontested divorces generally cost less than contested cases involving custody, alimony, or significant marital assets.