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Florida Divorce Lawyers

Should you get divorced? Have you made the decision to get divorced, but don’t know how?

Making the decision to get a divorce in Florida is life changing and should not be taken lightly. Many people choose to seek counseling before deciding to finally call it quits.  However, if you have already made the decision to get a Florida divorce, speaking to a licensed Florida divorce attorney can help you better understand the legal consequences of divorce.

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Pinellas Family Lawyer
Excellent
4.8
Based on 35 reviews
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Catherine was amazing. She gave me so much advice and helped guide me in the right direction. I was completely lost and scared till I spoke with her. I now feel comfortable going through this process.
Only family law group I trust
Very professional. Looking forward to working with Roland.
My experience was delightful. They were very helpful and guided me in the right direction.
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Attorney Boyd and Attorney Collier are two of the most dedicated and professional family lawyers in Pinellas County. They will treat your case like their own and I would recommend them to anyone in need of family lawyers.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the great review!
Excellent legal advice. Very professional lawyers.
Attorneys Kathryn and Roland have keen legal minds and are an asset to the legal field.
I have come to know Roland Boyd and Kathryn Collier as professional colleagues and I can say that both are very intelligent and great lawyers. When someone asks me about a family law question, I have no hesitation to recommend that they consult with Roland, Kathryn, and Pinellas Family Lawyer!
I greatly appreciate all that Kathryn and her top notch team did to complete a rather unusual issue for me that started a very long time ago. Kathryn has a cool head, is very knowledgeable, and has a great staff. Debby and Shana were both available almost immediately whenever I had questions, and they were extremely friendly and a delight to work with. I highly recommend Kathryn's services to anyone in need of legal representation, and intend to return to her for my future needs.Robyn Porter
Roland and Kathryn are literally some the most competent lawyers I have met.
Roland and his team of lawyers provided exceptional legal services. I highly recommend them for anyone seeking reliable and knowledgeable legal representation.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the recommendation!
The lawyers here were very attentive and reassuring. They handled my issue every step of the way and I was very happy with the outcome. Would definitely recommend this lawyer!
Response from the owner: Happy we were able to help. Thank you for the recommendation!
Some of the best lawyers I've dealt with. I have and will continue to refer friends and family to them.
Response from the owner: Thank you! We always appreciate referrals.
Very helpful consultants, highly recommended
I greatly appreciate all that Kathryn and her team did to get me through a difficult time (divorce). Her knowledge, friendliness, support and availability were impressive, I made the right choice and I recommend her services to anyone in need of legal representation. Peter Vlastaras
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words!
I reached out to PFL for a legal name change, and Kathryn Collier represented me. She was absolutely amazing in seeing that my name change was done right, and not only that she saw to it that I got it done within a certain time line, due to getting married soon, and needing everything processed and done, in order to have all I need for a marriage license. Her team is the absolute best including Shana, and Debbie being there for me anytime I had a question about the process. Thank you PFL, and anyone that needs representation I highly recommend you see them!. Thank you!Craig Breezy
Smart, professional and upfront. Kathryn was awesome to work with. Thank you for the help Kathryn!
Response from the owner: Thank you Kevin!
Roland and Kathryn are top notch lawyers in their field. Would highly recommend to anyone.
I've had the opportunity to work with this firm on several occasions, and I can say without reservation that they are a quality family law firm. The attorneys are knowledgeable, aggressive, and accessible to their clients.
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Roland and Kathrine we’re both amazing I had no clue what I was doing with everything but they took the time to explain and help along this journey to be able to spend my time with my daughter thank you guys so much for everything
Response from the owner: Thank you! We're happy we could help such a great father & wish you and your family the best.
I'm still currently working with Kathryn Collier and from the very start she has gone above and beyond for my paternity case. Easy to talk to and very informative. I can garuntee from experience you will feel confident handling any issues with her by your side. If your like me and have never had to go to court for anything and are skeptical about anything you can definitely feel comfortable with Kathryn she has no problem breaking everything down and makes the process so easy. The only thing i regret is not getting in contact with her sooner. Iv also spoke to Mr.Boyd as well and he is just as informative and helpful as well. They are willing to help in any way they can and you can not go wrong with either one of them. Absolute relief letting them handle all the court matters. You can't go wrong choosing them to represent you!!!
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words!
I’m amazed at Kathryn & Roland's insight in handling complex legal issues and grateful for their aggressive approach as well as always responding back yo me in a timely manner. I've worked with 2 family law firms before this one, they are by far the most ethical, honest and knowledgeable attorney's I've worked with to-date. They are professional, and very client service-focused. Their entire staff is amazing. If you're going through any family law issue, this is the firm to call. I would give them 10 stars if I could.  Beyond being highly skilled and extremely knowledgable lawyer's Kathryn and Roland exhibit rare vesting in their clients that put you at ease about knowing that your case will be handled fully, professionally, and right the first time.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the great review. We've enjoyed working with you & hope we can continue to earn such praise.
Very professional and upfront with fees. I highly recommend as they handled my case from beginning to end and kept me updated on everything they were doing and the costs involved. If I ever need legal representation again I know where I will be calling.
Attorney Boyd is very talented & truly exceeded my expectations! I am very grateful for his expertise & service! I highly recommend him to anyone going through divorce!
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. It's always rewarding to help someone during the difficult and often stressful process of divorce.
Really awesome guy! He's helped me out more than once! Highly recommended!
Mr. Boyd was such a treat to work with! He made sure all our bases were covered and spent all the time necessary to make sure the documents I needed were perfect!
Attorney Boyd is very knowledgeable in the areas of divorce and child custody. All the documentation he prepared for me was professional and well-done. I really enjoyed working with him.
Response from the owner: Thank-you.
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Florida law is constantly changing and evolving. For example, new legislation, HB 521 was recently passed by the Florida Senate and House of Representatives. The new changes to Florida divorce law take effect on July 1, 2024. The following guide is meant to answer many spouses’ questions surrounding divorce. You should still consult with a licensed Florida divorce lawyer about your case, as each case is unique, and a good divorce lawyer will be able to discuss the specific facts of your case and advise you based on the most current Florida law.

This is a question only you can answer, but one of our Florida divorce lawyers can discuss your legal rights and responsibilities surrounding divorce so that you can make a more informed decision. Oftentimes, couples will seek counseling from a marital counselor to try to repair the marriage before making the decision to get divorced. You may still be considering divorce or experiencing one of the five stages of divorce. Whatever part of the divorce process you are in, Pinellas Family Lawyer is happy to consult you about how to handle your divorce best.

Florida law does not require the use of an attorney when getting divorced. However, it is highly recommended that you speak to a divorce lawyer before filing for divorce. A Florida divorce lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and advise you of the possible outcomes of your Florida divorce case, including alimony, property distribution, and child custody issues. A divorce lawyer can also help ensure that all of your divorce paperwork is completed correctly and assist you in completing the divorce process.

  • The cost of divorce in Florida can vary greatly depending on the issues involved (Do the parties have children together? Do the parties own a home together? etc.) and whether or not the parties are in agreement or mostly in agreement about things like alimony, equitable distribution, and child custody. Our firm typically offers uncontested divorce representation for $1,500 – $2,500 (plus court fees). If parties are not in agreement about absolutely everything in their divorce, mediation may be required, increasing the overall cost of the divorce to $4,000 – $10,000 depending on how much discovery is needed and how extensive the parties’ finances are.
  • When spouses cannot settle their case through the mediation process and need a formal divorce trial before a judge, it is not uncommon for each party to spend over $10,000 and, on rare occasions, closer to $100,000. The biggest aggravating factors in an expensive divorce are things like extensive discovery, including depositions, the involvement of forensic accountants (especially in cases involving family-owned businesses), extensive medical records (when mental health is at issue or when one party or their child has been a victim of domestic violence), or one party’s refusal to cooperate with the divorce process.

Typically, each spouse pays for their own attorney’s fees in Florida. However, in certain circumstances, one spouse may be ordered to pay the attorney’s fees of the other spouse. This can occur when one spouse can afford an attorney while the other does not. On rare occasions, the court may also award one spouse attorney’s fees for causing unnecessary litigation.

Everyone’s case is different, and while you may be able to find the oldest, the most experienced, or the most popular family law attorney near you, that doesn’t necessarily mean that lawyer will be the best divorce attorney for you personally.  A divorce attorney who has been practicing for many years may have seen a bit of everything and have a general idea of how to assist with your legal issue.  (They likely also charge a lot more than less experienced attorneys.)  But, if you are a mother trying to protect your children from an abusive father, your first pick likely wouldn’t be an attorney who focuses on “men’s only divorce.”  The better choice may be a child custody lawyer who has experience with domestic violence.  The point is that you have to find an attorney that fits your needs and your budget. Even with a seemingly simple divorce, it is always a good idea to have the assistance of a divorce lawyer to make sure everything is handled properly.  This can help save time, money, and headaches later. The best divorce lawyer will help you prepare for the future by helping you with equitable distribution, alimony, and creating a parenting plan that contemplates your current situation and possible life changes that may occur years later. At Pinellas Family Lawyer, we specialize in divorce and family law so we understand the current divorce laws and can advise you on what to expect from your divorce.

In Florida, anything spouses have accumulated during marriage is considered marital property and is subject to equitable distribution as part of the divorce. Property owned by one spouse before the marriage is not considered marital property and continues to belong to that spouse even after the marriage. Occasionally, non-marital property may become marital property depending on how the property is treated and/or titled after the marriage. There are little nuances within equitable distribution (such as how to value a family company or calculate appreciation of certain assets) that an experienced Florida divorce attorney can discuss with you in greater detail if they apply to your specific case. The recent passing of HB 521 changed equitable distribution laws in Florida. A Florida divorce attorney can also discuss protecting your assets by creating a pre- or postnuptial agreement before or after marriage.

The basis for paying alimony in Florida is the need and ability to pay, meaning if one spouse has the need for alimony, the other spouse has the ability to pay alimony. The court will consider the parties’ financial situation and determine if and how much alimony should be paid. Florida law recently changed to clarify the maximum amount of alimony one spouse should pay to another and spell out the maximum length of time the alimony or spousal support should be paid. Except for exceptional circumstances, “[a]n award of durational alimony may not exceed 50 percent of the length of a short-term marriage, 60 percent of the length of a moderate-term marriage, or 75 percent of the length of a long-term marriage.” Fla. Stat 61.08(8)(b)

This is often one of the most hotly contested parts of a divorce. Luckily, the Florida legislature has recently passed a law stating that equal time-sharing is presumed when making an initial child custody determination. However, this does not mean the court automatically awards both parents 50/50 time-sharing. The court must still review the 20 best interest factors in Florida Statute 61.13. While not always possible, settling your divorce outside of the courtroom through negotiation or mediation affords you the most freedom to design a parenting plan that is right for your family with much lower costs than having a trial where a judge will decide the parenting plan for you.

Married people who do not have children together can move out of state anytime but may be required to attend court in Florida. If a parent moves out of state after a divorce order and parenting plan have been entered by the court, the parents must agree on what the new schedule looks like or file a petition for relocation to seek the court’s assistance in determining the new long-distance schedule. If a parent moves before either party has filed for divorce, a petition for relocation may not be required, but the new home of the parent who moved out of state will have to be considered in deciding an appropriate parenting plan.

While there’s no easy answer to this one, there is a 20-day waiting period to get divorced in Florida, so the minimum time it can take to get divorced is 20 days. Our experience has shown that 30-60 days is typical for a simplified or completely uncontested divorce, but each judge’s calendar is different, and the case could take longer if the judge you are assigned has a busier docket. Contested divorces take longer as they require more discovery and exchange of documents between the spouses. If spouses can settle their differences through mediation, the process may take less than 6 months from start to finish, sometimes as little as 2-3 months. Cases that are heavily litigated may take 1-2 years or, in rare cases, even longer. How cooperative both spouses are during the divorce process will ultimately be the biggest factor in determining how long it will take to get your divorce finalized.

You or your divorce attorney must file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with your local clerk’s office.  You must also file several other family law forms and your divorce petition.  When filing for a Florida divorce, figuring out which forms to complete and how to complete them properly can be challenging.  Even if the correct divorce forms are used, you may be giving up valuable rights if your divorce papers are not filled out correctly.  A Clearwater, Florida, divorce lawyer can assist you in reviewing your case to ensure all necessary divorce paperwork is filled out and filed correctly.

Oftentimes, couples have differing views on how marital assets and liabilities should be divided during the divorce. Divorce with children can complicate the matter even further.  While some spouses may be able to end a marriage amicably, disagreements often arise regarding child custody and time-sharing arrangements, alimony, child support, or which spouse gets to keep the marital home.  An experienced Florida divorce lawyer can guide you through your divorce and help you come to an agreement with your ex regarding how much alimony should be awarded after your divorce is finalized, whether the family home should be sold, what happens to pensions or retirement accounts; how much child support will be paid to your current husband or wife after divorce; and what child custody arrangement you will follow post-divorce.

If you and your spouse cannot reach an agreement, a Pinellas Family Lawyer can represent you in your contested divorce, both at mediation and throughout litigation. A Pinellas Family Lawyer divorce attorney can explain the divorce process in Florida and advocate for you both in and out of court to help you achieve the results you seek during your divorce.

The Florida divorce process can be stressful and may last months or, in some cases, even years. Speak to Pinellas Family Lawyer today about hiring a divorce attorney to assist you throughout your divorce. Even if you feel you cannot afford a divorce attorney, there are some situations where the other party may be required to pay some or all of your attorney’s fees incurred during the divorce. You don’t have to face the complicated legal aspects of a Florida divorce alone.

Contact us or call 727-538-7741 for a confidential consultation today to see how a Pinellas Family Lawyer divorce attorney can help you with your Florida divorce.

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Call us today if you are contemplating divorce, have already been served with dissolution paperwork, or need help settling paternity or child custody disputes.