Divorce Lawyers Melbourne, Florida
The divorce lawyers in Melbourne, Florida, at our law firm are committed to representing clients facing the stress of ending a marriage. We offer skilled guidance throughout the process, from financial documents to addressing child custody, spousal support, and dividing property. With experience focused on family law practices, we’re ready to handle uncontested cases or prepared for contested trials. Our divorce attorneys in Melbourne, FL, work to protect clients’ rights while delivering the results clients need to move forward.
Call 321-725-3425 or use our contact form to learn more or hire a family law attorney today.
Common Cases A Divorce Attorney in Melbourne, FL, From Our Law Office Can Help With
Contested and Uncontested Divorce in Melbourne
Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne, FL, handle contested and uncontested divorces in Brevard County.
- Uncontested divorce: Spouses agree on all legal matters. This means less time and stress because courts can approve cases without needing trials.
- Contested divorces: Conflict on one or more issues. This means trials are needed to resolve legal matters.
With either process, our family law firm is prepared for trial to ensure outcomes are in clients’ best interests.
High Net Worth and Private Divorce Cases
Our Melbourne divorce attorney team provides confidential legal representation for executives, professionals, public figures, and celebrities with family law cases requiring discretion and experienced financial analysis. We have extensive experience handling asset complexities. Our family law team offers knowledgeable guidance and the personalized attention needed to navigate large estates, business ownership, luxury real estate, and intellectual property rights. The family law lawyers at our law firm provide absolute discretion, focusing on processes that help avoid publicity. Our goal is to protect clients’ best interests financially while ensuring privacy to achieve the best outcome for high-asset divorces in Melbourne, FL.
International and Military Divorce
Our Melbourne divorce lawyer team offers experienced family law representation for residents working through international and military divorces in Brevard County. International cases often involve conflicts regarding jurisdiction and custody issues. Courts use specific laws to determine whether the state has authority over international child custody cases in Florida. When children are taken abroad without consent, our family law lawyers provide aggressive representation under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.
Military divorces involving Patrick Air Force Base staff are also common. Our divorce attorneys have experience guiding clients through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act when a party is actively serving. We’re also knowledgeable about the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act details.
Gray Divorce
Our divorce attorneys in Melbourne, FL, are committed to assisting clients in late-life marital dissolutions. We represent cases with specific needs involving retirements, pensions, and assets accumulated over decades. Our family law team assists clients in protecting financial security, planning for the future, and navigating the complexities of “gray divorce,” including future probate legal matters. We offer professional guidance for clients in structuring settlements that minimize future issues.
Same-Sex Divorce
A same sex marriage divorce lawyer in Melbourne, FL, from our law firm understands the specific needs and legal matters these cases can present. Since same-sex marriages weren’t recognized until 2015, one issue is marriages from other states before 2015. A Supreme Court ruling forces Florida to honor out-of-state same-sex marriages and marriage dates.
For cohabitating residents, Florida spousal support is calculated from the marriage date. The same applies to Florida property division laws. Custody is another legal matter. Under Florida adoption laws, only legal parents have automatic parental rights. If non-biological spouses don’t complete formal adoptions, custody cases may lack standing. Contact our law firm to learn more.
Is a Divorce Alternative in Your Family’s Best Interest?
In addition to the practice areas above, a divorce attorney in Melbourne, FL, from our law firm is also prepared to assist with the following areas of practice:
Divorce Mediation or Arbitration
Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne, FL, often guide clients through family mediation in Florida. Here, certified mediators help resolve family law matters. Some family law cases are eligible for arbitration. Here, private arbitrators hear disputed legal matters and issue resolutions that may be binding.
Collaborative Divorce
Our Melbourne divorce attorney team represents clients in Florida’s collaborative divorce process. Here, both parties hire family law lawyers and commit to resolutions outside of court intervention. The approach focuses on providing privacy, open dialogue, and personalized solutions to meet the family’s specific needs under the state’s dissolution of marriage standards.
Legal Separation vs. Divorce
Florida doesn’t recognize legal separation. Our family law attorneys can request temporary relief for secondary legal matters, but this will not end the marriage. Spouses must file for divorce under Florida Statute 61.052.
Marriage Annulment
Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne, FL, represent clients in annulment cases. Because Florida doesn’t have set statutes in place for annulments, judges decide these cases using case law to determine if marriages can end this way.
Void marriages in Florida include:
- Bigamy
- Incestuous marriages between close relatives
- Marriages involving minors without consent
Voidable marriages in Florida include:
- Fraud or concealing essential facts
- Duress or coercion
- Lack of capacity (mental illness or intoxication)
- Undisclosed permanent inability to consummate the marriage
Post-Judgment Modifications
Our divorce attorneys in Melbourne, FL, understand that family law matters may need modifications after filing. When substantial changes occur, Florida allows parties to request divorce adjustments by filing for modification.
Prenuptial Agreement
Our Melbourne divorce lawyer team frequently handles cases where a prenuptial agreement shapes the outcome of legal matters financially. Parties can determine before marriage how issues are handled if marital dissolutions occur in Florida prenuptial agreements. Florida courts generally enforce prenups, but family law judges may strike down provisions if agreements are unfair or illegal. If you need skilled representation for Melbourne, FL, prenuptial agreements, contact our law firm to learn about the steps and documents required.
Common Issues in Brevard County Divorce Cases
Our Brevard County divorce attorney team represents the following areas of practice under family law:
Child Custody
Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne, FL, work with parents involved in time-sharing issues. Judges decide child custody based on the best interest of the child. Florida custody laws focus on parental involvement, routines, safety issues, and other factors. When our family law attorneys provide legal assistance for child custody in Melbourne, FL, our goal is to advocate for children’s best interests while ensuring clients know what to expect and get the results they deserve.
Child Support
A divorce attorney in Melbourne, FL, from our team helps clients understand child support calculations and enforcement under Florida child support laws. Judges focus on parents’ ability to afford payments, time-sharing, and other elements. When providing child support legal assistance in Melbourne, FL, our law firm’s goal is to ensure parents are committed to providing the resources their children need and to secure the results clients and their children deserve.
Alimony and Spousal Support
Our Melbourne divorce lawyer team offers knowledgeable legal representation for clients who are unsure if spousal support is appropriate or what type of support fits their specific needs. Florida alimony laws give discretion to determine what each person deserves. This means skilled legal representation is crucial for success. Courts may award bridge-the-gap support to cover immediate needs, rehabilitative support to help individuals gain skills or education, or durational support to provide temporary resources. When our family law attorneys provide alimony assistance in Melbourne, FL, we set expectations based on detailed records and have extensive experience proving both needs and ability to afford payments.
Equitable Distribution (Property Division)
Our divorce attorneys in Melbourne, FL, guide clients through Florida’s property division process. We represent clients when dividing marital assets and also provide legal assistance for marital debt division in Melbourne, FL. The goal for property division in Melbourne, FL, is to divide finances in a way that’s fair, considering each person’s contributions and future needs.
Business Valuation in Divorce
A divorce lawyer in Melbourne, FL, from our law firm provides knowledgeable guidance when companies are part of marital estates. We offer skilled legal representation, focusing on the start-up and expansion phases. In Melbourne business owner divorce cases, courts require a fair market value. Professionals use one of three approaches:
- Asset-based: totalling assets and subtracting liabilities
- Income-based: projects future earnings and discounts them to present value
- Market-based: uses comparable businesses that have recently sold
For business-related representation, our divorce lawyers focus on management structure, owner involvement, and personal vs enterprise goodwill.
Divorce and Retirement Benefits
Our Melbourne divorce lawyer team assists clients in navigating complex retirement asset divisions. When splitting employer-sponsored accounts, a QDRO is required to transfer benefits without extra costs. For cases involving divorce retirement division in Melbourne, FL, our family law attorneys assist with other legal matters, like distinguishing contributions, dividing survivor benefits, and addressing inflation adjustments. We work closely with professionals to ensure clients are informed on how early retirements affect potential settlements, as no two cases are the same.
Marital Home and Real Estate
Our Brevard County divorce lawyers represent clients through the process of dividing real estate. Skilled representation helps unsure clients understand the details of their cases, especially for those whose properties represent a high degree of the marital estate. We work with professionals who inform clients on rights regarding equity, mortgages, and ensure clients can afford future tax implications. Our mission is to ensure final distributions are fair and enforceable.
Domestic Violence Injunctions
Our Melbourne family divorce lawyers rely on our law firm’s criminal defense experience when assisting with Florida domestic violence injunctions. When issued, these restrict contact, remove individuals from their homes, and affect time-sharing. In Melbourne domestic violence divorce cases, our family law attorneys defend clients against unfounded allegations and provide aggressive representation to advocate for victims needing safety. Our family law team navigates injunction hearings using extensive experience. We’re ready to step in today if you need help.
How to File for Divorce in Brevard County, Florida, and How Our Family Law Lawyers Handle the Process
Our divorce lawyer team explains the steps needed to file for divorce in Brevard County:
- Prepare the Petition: Sign a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, specifying whether the case is uncontested or if there’s conflict.
- File with the Clerk: Submit the petition to the Brevard County Clerk of Court and pay associated fees.
- Serve the Other Spouse: Done through the sheriff or certified server
- Respond to the Petition: The other party has 20 days to respond.
- Exchange Financial Disclosure: Both spouses must file financial affidavits and share documents showing income, debts, and assets.
- Hearing: If legal matters remain, family law judges often require mediation before hearings or trials.
- Final Judgment: Judges review agreements or resolve conflicts.
Your family divorce lawyer represents clients from drafting petitions to advocating at trial. Our team is prepared at every step. We offer skilled family law representation for a range of legal matters and ensure clients who hire us know what to expect. Our family law attorneys give every case the attention to detail it deserves across every area we practice to ensure success for our clients.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Melbourne?
The cost of divorce varies depending on whether the case is contested or uncontested, the complexity of issues, and court filing fees. Standard filing fees in Brevard County are around $400. Additional expenses may include service of process, mediation fees, and fees for outside professionals assisting.
Family Law Attorneys Assisting With Divorces Throughout Brevard County
- Palm Bay
- Titusville
- Cocoa Beach
- Rockledge
- Merritt Island
- Viera
Contact an Experienced Attorney From Our Divorce Law Firm in Melbourne, FL
Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne, Florida, offer the skilled guidance and representation clients need during this time of stress. We focus on our clients’ best interests at every step of the way. For trusted family law representation, contact our firm at 321-725-3425 or through our online form today.