On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
Each state has different requirements when it comes to annulling or dissolving a marriage. Florida is no different. For couples and individuals who are contemplating a divorce, it is important to be familiar with the requirements.
Ultimately, you will need to have been a resident of the state for at least six months. If you recently moved to Florida from another state and want to get a divorce, it will have to wait until you can meet the residency requirements. In addition, Florida courts require couples to wait 20 days after filing the paperwork for divorce before it can be finalized.
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. This, of course, makes it easier to qualify for a divorce. In order to satisfy the requirements for a no-fault divorce, though, it must be shown that you and your spouse have differences that cannot ever be reconciled, or that one spouse is incapacitated mentally.
Divorce law in any state, including here in Florida, can be challenging and confusing. Although there are do-it-yourself divorce forms, it isn’t recommended that Florida couples take this route. More often than not, these forms do not contain all the necessary information to complete a divorce successfully. In addition, if you run into any obstacles, or find out that your spouse has been hiding money from you, it will be difficult to undo what has already taken place. An experienced family law attorney is recommended to help in all aspects of the process, including filing appropriate paperwork in a timely manner, negotiating fair settlement terms, and — when necessary — litigating issues in court.
When you need a family law lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, you can contact us by calling 954-533-2756 for a free consultation.
FindLaw, “Florida Legal Requirements for Divorce“, Accessed on Oct. 11, 2015