Social Security
Social Security isn't divided, but it counts as income for alimony, and a former spouse may qualify for benefits on the other's record.
Palm Beach County
Delray Beach Divorce Lawyers
Divorce, custody, child support, alimony and property division across South Palm Beach County. Once you hire us, one attorney handles your case through the final order.
The Delray Beach Difference
Divorce Help for Delray Beach Families
Fairway Law Group represents families across South Palm Beach County from our Deerfield Beach office, a short drive south. The South County Courthouse is right in Delray Beach, on West Atlantic Avenue.
Our clients range from young families to business owners along Atlantic Avenue to couples in the 55-and-over communities west of town. The law is the same for all of them, but the priorities aren't, and a good plan starts with yours.
Delray Beach divorces are filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk and heard by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, at the South County Courthouse in Delray Beach or in West Palm Beach, with many hearings held by video. One spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months (Fla. Stat. § 61.021), and Florida is a no-fault state.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call
Your Discovery Call is free, with no obligation to hire the firm.
What Delray Beach Divorce Cases May Involve:
- Property & Business Assets. Judges start from an equal split of marital property (Fla. Stat. § 61.075). A business's growth during the marriage is often marital.
- Children & Time-Sharing. Florida starts with a presumption of equal time-sharing unless a parent proves otherwise (Fla. Stat. § 61.13).
- Parental Responsibility. Parents usually share major decisions about school, health care, and religion.
- Parenting Plans. Every case involving children requires a parenting plan.
- Relocation. Moving 50 miles or more for 60 days or longer generally requires written agreement or court approval.
Later-Life Divorce
Divorce After 60
A large share of Delray Beach divorces involve spouses in their 60s and beyond, many from the active-adult communities west of town. These cases turn on different questions:
Pensions and Retirement Accounts
Usually split by the portion earned during the marriage, often with a special court order.
Health Insurance
Health insurance usually can't continue on an ex's employer plan after the judgment.
Estate Plans
Estate plans need updating, and some changes don't happen automatically.
The Divorce Process
How Delray Beach Divorces Get Resolved
Step 1: Agreement
If you agree on everything, you sign a settlement agreement and the judge finalizes it. It's the fastest and least expensive path.
Step 2: Mediation
Most contested cases go to mediation before trial, and most settle there. See our guide to divorce mediation.
Step 3: Trial
If you can't agree, a judge decides. We prepare every case as if it could go to trial, which also tends to produce better settlements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Delray Beach Divorce Questions Answered
Where is a Delray Beach divorce filed?
With the Palm Beach County Clerk. The case is heard by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, often at the South County Courthouse on West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, or in West Palm Beach depending on the case assignment.
Can I meet with you without driving far?
Yes. Our Deerfield Beach office is a short drive south, and most meetings can happen by phone or video. Many court hearings are held by video too.
What family law services do you offer in Delray Beach?
We handle every part of a Florida family law case, with one attorney from start to finish:
- Divorce, contested or agreed
- Child custody and time-sharing
- Child support
- Alimony, for payors and recipients
- Property division
- High-asset and business owner divorce
- Paternity for unmarried parents
- Modifications when life changes
- Enforcement and contempt when orders are ignored
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Is divorce different after 60 in Florida?
The law is the same, but the issues change: Social Security, pensions, health insurance and estate plans take center stage. See divorce after 60.
Is there still permanent alimony in Florida?
No. Florida ended permanent alimony in 2023. Long marriages can still bring long durational alimony, capped at 75% of the marriage's length. See our alimony page.
How much does a divorce cost in Palm Beach County?
Filing costs about $400. Legal fees depend mostly on how much you disagree and how complex the assets are. See what a divorce costs and how our fees work.
My spouse already hired a lawyer. What should I do?
Get your own quickly, and don't sign or agree to anything until you do. An early, free Discovery Call is the first step before the other side sets the terms.