Tampa divorce lawyer Damien McKinney shares a roadmap for dissolution in Florida.
Tampa divorce lawyer Damien McKinney shares an overview of the dissolution of marriage process in Florida. From first petitions to name changes, The McKinney Law Group is here to help clients achieve results that match your needs as closely as possible.
Understanding the dissolution process in Florida will help you feel calm and in control during a time that might otherwise be confusing or uncomfortable.
The goal is always a peaceful, efficient dissolution, but no two families or marriages are exactly alike — so the same goes for divorce. Contact Tampa FL divorce lawyer Damien McKinney and The McKinney Law Group to learn more about the details of your divorce.
Meet The Basic Divorce Requirements
To get divorced in Florida, you must be legally married in the first place and show that at least one partner has lived here for at least 6 six months.
We don’t need to worry about “grounds” the way we used to. The marriage just needs to be irretrievably broken. If there are matters of fault, we may return to them when it comes to child custody, time-sharing, or property division.
In Florida, you get divorced in a circuit court. A family law judge issues the final order.
Make A Plan with Your Divorce Lawyer
Communicate openly and honestly about what you need from your divorce. At The McKinney Law Group, we pride ourselves on listening carefully to discover a strategy that is right for you or your family.
During our initial conversations, we’ll review basics like:
- Why you’re divorcing
- Your children’s best interests
- What you owned before you married
- What you own together
- What you want from the divorce
- What Florida law requires or allows
- How you prioritize different outcomes
This conversation can be emotional for some people, but we’re prepared to guide you so that you feel as supported as possible. Contact Tampa Florida divorce lawyer Damien McKinney to start this conversation today.
Take Care of Your Forms
There can be a lot of paperwork during a divorce. We know how to prepare and submit all of it so that you can eliminate procedural worries. We have different forms, petitions, or motions based on the results you want.
You or your spouse gets the official divorce started with a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Whoever initiates the process serves the form to the other spouse via a process server, a third party who makes sure the paperwork gets into the right hands.
How we file this petition depends on your marriage, whether or not you have kids and other factors.
Please keep in mind if you or your spouse is a member of the military, your petition may be unique. We’ve worked with divorcing couples from Tampa’s Air Force base and others, so let us know right away if this is your situation.
Spouses who have experienced or are experiencing abuse require special attention, too. If this is your situation, please speak openly with us. We are here to protect your safety and confidentiality.
Answering And Negotiating
Once the initial paperwork is complete, we go through a phase of negotiating, so we can finalize.
You or your spouse might have to fill out financial disclosures, so we can determine property division. There might be matters of contention or disagreement that require additional process and paperwork, too.
This is the thick of the divorce for a lot of people, so we make sure to stay focused, act with integrity, and keep moving towards your desired results.
Trial or Meditation
You may be able to choose between trial or mediation.
In Tampa, divorce lawyer recommendations sway toward mediation, because it’s still legally binding, but can avoid some of the expenses and emotional upheaval of a trial.
If you’re facing a particularly bitter divorce or there are high-stakes issues that you cannot agree upon through negotiation or mediation, a trial may be better for you.
Finalizing Your Divorce
You can finalize your divorce and progress to the next chapter of your life once you have reached an agreement with your spouse in mediation or your divorce trial is over.
Your order will detail the outcome of everything we negotiated. This includes the restoration of a wife’s maiden name if requested, so you can update your personal documents and accounts, like a driving license or bank account, using the order, too.
Once you have the order, you are divorced.
The Emotional Yet Necessary Steps Involved in Divorce
The majority of people who are divorcing their spouse are probably going to feel some level of sadness, heartbreak, and fear of the unknown. An experienced Tampa divorce lawyer knows that divorce can be incredibly emotional for many people. So much so, that it can be challenging to endure each step without legal guidance along the way. Spouses who are preparing for divorce or are currently in the initial stages may need several questions answered. The primary question most divorcing spouses have is how many steps they have to complete before the divorce is finalized.
If you want to know more about what to expect in the divorce process, you can meet with a qualified divorce lawyer in Tampa, FL.