Orlando Family Law Attorney
Divorce
The Process Of Filing For Divorce
The process for filing for a divorce varies from state to state. If you are filing for a divorce in Florida, one of two spouses must have lived in the state for at least six months prior to filing the petition with the court. The party filing for divorce can file in the county where both parties last lived together as Husband and Wife as long as one party still lives in that county.
Either spouse will need to file a form called the Petition for the Dissolution of Marriage. Upon doing so you will need to serve the petition to the other party. Once the petition is served the other person will have 20 days to respond.
In Florida when you file a petition for dissolution of marriage, one of the other important documents that you must also prepare and submit to the court is a financial affidavit. A financial affidavit generally discloses your income, expenses, assets, and debts to the court.
In Florida if the parties are not able to come to an agreement on the terms of the divorce then they must attend mediation. Mediation is a process where an impartial third party will try to help resolve the pending issues, and if possible, help the divorcing spouses reach a final agreement. If this process does not work then the parties will have to go to trial.
Paternity in Florida
Establishing paternity can be very beneficial to your child and to yourself as well. Not just men can file for paternity…pregnant women, a child who is unsure of who is father is, or a man believes he has impregnated a woman can all file for paternity. When this action has been taken the court system will provide a custody plan as well as make known any child support fees. Each party will be able to present their case to the judge.
Let Alison M. Lopes be there to guide you. She understands that every family and their situation is different, so it is important to know the law and the process. Let us help you gain your rights.