Waterfront Homes
Florida's homestead tax cap keeps assessed values far below market, so get a real appraisal. See who keeps the house.
Broward County
Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyers
For Fort Lauderdale and Broward County families, we handle divorce, custody, child support, alimony and property division. Once you hire us, one attorney handles your case through the final order.
The Fort Lauderdale Difference
How a Fort Lauderdale Divorce and Custody Case Works
Our South Florida office is in Deerfield Beach, a short drive north. Fort Lauderdale divorces are heard downtown at the Broward County Central Courthouse.
Fort Lauderdale divorces often involve waterfront homes, boats, businesses, and investment accounts. They also involve people whose lives and kids' routines are here. We start by showing you where you stand on all of it, clearly and honestly.
Fort Lauderdale divorces are filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts and heard by the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit at the Central Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, with many hearings held by video. One spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months (Fla. Stat. § 61.021), and you don't need to prove fault.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call
Your Discovery Call is free, with no obligation to hire the firm.
What You Can Expect in a Fort Lauderdale Divorce & Custody Case:
- Property & Financial Assets. Waterfront homes, boats, businesses, and investment accounts may all need to be addressed.
- 50/50 Time-Sharing. Equal time-sharing is presumed best unless a parent proves otherwise (Fla. Stat. § 61.13).
- Shared Decisions. Parents usually share decisions about school, health care, and religion.
- Parenting Plan. Every case with children needs one, with specific wording to help prevent future disputes.
- Relocation. Moving 50 miles or more for 60 days or longer generally requires written agreement or court approval.
Marital Property
Waterfront Homes, Boats and Businesses
Judges start from an equal split of marital property. See Fla. Stat. § 61.075. In Fort Lauderdale, the hard part is usually valuing what's there:
Boats and Vehicles
These are marital property if bought during the marriage, and often financed. They need a valuation and a plan for the loan.
Businesses and Professional Practices
Growth during the marriage is often marital. See divorce with a business and high-asset divorce.
Hidden or Mixed Money
Separate funds mixed into joint accounts can become marital. Financial disclosure is how the paper trail comes out. See mandatory disclosure.
The Divorce Process
How Fort Lauderdale 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
Fort Lauderdale Divorce Questions Answered
Where is a Fort Lauderdale divorce filed?
With the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Family cases are heard at the Central Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Do you have an office in Fort Lauderdale?
Our South Florida office is in Deerfield Beach, a short drive north on Federal Highway or I-95. Most meetings can also happen by phone or video, and we appear at the Fort Lauderdale courthouse regularly.
What family law services do you offer in Fort Lauderdale?
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
How much does a divorce cost in Broward County?
Filing costs about $400. Legal fees depend mostly on how much you disagree. A business or waterfront property adds valuation work. See what a divorce costs and how our fees work.
Who keeps the boat in a Florida divorce?
If it was bought during the marriage, it's usually marital property. One spouse can keep it and offset its value with other assets, or it can be sold. Who takes on the loan matters as much as who takes the boat.
How long does a divorce take in Broward County?
An agreed divorce can take a few weeks to a few months. A contested one often takes six months to a year or more. See how long a divorce takes.
Should I talk to a lawyer before I file?
Usually, yes. What you do before filing, with money, the house and the kids, can shape the whole case. See what to do before filing, then book a free Discovery Call so you know your next step.