Uncontested Divorce Lawyer
What are the requirements for getting an uncontested divorce in Florida?
Technically, there is no law that defines an “uncontested divorce.” However, an uncontested divorce is typically considered one in which the parties are in complete agreement regarding all issues of the divorce, and no trial is needed. To file an “uncontested divorce,” you and your spouse must be in agreement on all issues prior to filing your divorce paperwork with the Court.
Even Tom Brady and Gisele filed for an uncontested Florida divorce (after mediation with their respective attorneys) showing that even high net worth cases and cases with minor children can be resolved through the uncontested divorce process.
Kathryn gave me great representation concerning my case. She was very professional and easily accessible. I highly recommend her and staff for any legal representation you may have.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words and recommendation!
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.
Response from the owner: Thanks Brian! Glad we could help.
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.
What issues must you and your spouse resolve to qualify for an uncontested divorce?
The 3 main issues that must be resolved to qualify for an uncontested divorce are equitable distribution, alimony, and parenting or time-sharing. These issues may be resolved between the spouses directly or the parties may reach a settlement agreement after attending mediation. It is highly recommended that each spouse be represented by a qualified divorce lawyer at mediation to ensure they understand their rights regarding equitable distribution, alimony, parenting issues, and what they are agreeing to at mediation.
- Equitable Distribution of Marital Assets and Liabilities – If you and your spouse acquired any assets (stuff you own) or liabilities (money you owe) during your marriage, then you do have marital assets and liabilities.
If you and your spouse have marital assets and liabilities, you will need to prepare and sign a Marital Settlement Agreement that spells out which spouse will be awarded each asset and liability. Before signing the marital settlement agreement, Florida law requires that you and your spouse need to make a full financial disclosure. The Financial Disclosure has two parts—a Financial Affidavit and an exchange of financial documents.
A Financial Affidavit MUST be filed with the Court before your divorce will be granted unless you filed a Simplified Divorce.
The exchange of financial documents can be waived if both parties agree. Otherwise, a full list of the required documents can be found in Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285.
- Alimony – You and your spouse must agree on whether either of you will pay alimony to the other, and if so, how much and for what duration. You may both agree to waive your right to alimony. If either spouse has questions about whether or not there should be alimony paid to a spouse, both spouses should consult a Florida divorce attorney to fully understand their rights. An agreement to pay alimony may be modifiable and have long-term consequences to the payor spouse.
- Parenting Issues – There are three different areas that must be addressed if you and your spouse have any dependent or minor children. (If you and your spouse have a child who will be dependent on you and your spouse into adulthood due to a disability, you should speak with a licensed family law attorney.) Even though you and your spouse may agree on a parenting plan, the court still must find that the parenting plan is in the best interest of the child.
- Parental Responsibility – In Florida, parental responsibility means who will make the major decisions affecting your child’s life. This typically includes decisions regarding medical care, education, and religious upbringing. Most parents agree to shared parental responsibility, meaning that you and your spouse will make decisions affecting the children together. If you and your spouse do not agree to shared parental responsibility, we recommend that you consult with a Florida divorce attorney.
- Parenting Plan – Before filing an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must prepare and sign a Parenting Plan. The Parenting Plan governs all aspects of your post-divorce co-parenting relationship. The Parenting Plan will address when the children will spend time with each parent (timesharing), holiday timesharing, communication between the parents, communication between each parent and the children, out of state travel, and many other issues. The Florida Supreme Court publishes a standard Parenting Plan form that you can reference here.
- Child Support – Under Florida law, both parents have an obligation to financially support their children. The Court will require you to file a document called a Child Support Guidelines Worksheet. The Child Support Guidelines Worksheet takes into account both parents’ income, certain expenses for the child (health insurance, child care, and non-covered medical expenses), and the amount of overnights each parent spends with the children. If you and your spouse want to deviate (agree to a different amount) from what you calculate on the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, you should contact a Florida divorce attorney as there are additional motions and evidence required in order for a judge to order an amount of child support that is different from what is calculated on the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet.
As you can see, if you have assets and minor children, you and your spouse have a lot of issues to work out prior to filing an “uncontested divorce.” Hiring a Florida uncontested divorce attorney can help you and your spouse make sure that you cover all your bases and that there are no delays in having your case finalized. A Florida uncontested divorce attorney can also represent you in mediation to help ensure you come to a fair agreement before filing an uncontested divorce.
As with any Florida divorce, there is a 20 day waiting period after filing an “uncontested divorce” before the judge can enter a Final Judgment dissolving your marriage so don’t expect the divorce to be finalized overnight. Some counties in Florida do however allow you to avoid court altogether & can often finalize the divorce shortly after the 20 day waiting period.
Pinellas Family Lawyer offers hassle free uncontested divorce representation for as little as $1250 plus filing fees for uncontested divorces with no assets and no children. Schedule a free 15 minute consultation with a licensed Florida divorce lawyer to start the uncontested divorce process.
FREE FAMILY LAW CONSULTATION
Call us today if you are contemplating divorce, have already been served with dissolution paperwork, or need help settling paternity or child custody disputes.
