How to File for Divorce in Florida
In the state of Florida, if you no longer want to be married, you can seek a divorce. It’s important to know how to go about doing this if you are unfamiliar with the state’s divorce laws. Certain aspects can affect filing.
In order to file for divorce in Florida, you or your spouse must have been a resident of the state for at least six months. You have to file in the specific county’s Circuit Court. If you meet certain criteria, you can file a Simplified Dissolution petition. Those requirements include the following:
• The wife is not pregnant
• There are no minor children within the marriage
• Both spouses agree on how to divide the property and debts
• Both spouses have agreed to sign the papers in the court and attend the final hearing
The other option is to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in your county’s Circuit Court.
It’s also important to know that Florida is a no-fault divorce state, which means neither spouse is required to provide specific grounds for the divorce. Instead, you can simply state that the marriage is irretrievably broken, which also means you have irreconcilable differences. The other reason you can state on the petition is that one party is mentally incompetent.
After a petition has been filed, the other spouse has 20 days to file an answer. This may include a rebuttal against the terms that the filing spouse has requested, such as alimony and child support amounts. The answer must be filed within this time frame or the individual may lose their rights even if they have included a Counter Petition. It can be sent via regular mail or even emailed.
If you are planning to file for divorce in Florida, you need the Law Office of Amber Boles on your side. Contact the Law Office of Amber Boles at your earliest convenience to start your petition with experienced Tampa divorce lawyers.
