Keeping the Family Home
One spouse may keep the home if they can refinance it and afford the property on their own. See who keeps the house.
Broward County
Pompano Beach & Lighthouse Point Divorce Lawyers
Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point families work with us on divorce, custody, child support, alimony and property division. Once you hire us, one attorney handles your case through the final order.
The Pompano Beach & Lighthouse Point Difference
How a Divorce and Custody Case Works in Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point
Our South Florida office is right next door to Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point, on Federal Highway just over the Deerfield Beach line. When your life is changing, it helps to have your lawyer close by. You can meet us in person on short notice and drop off documents without a long drive. And the person handling your case works in the same Broward court system that will hear it.
Both cities are in Broward County, so 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, in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Many shorter hearings are held by video, which saves the drive. One spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months (Fla. Stat. § 61.021), and Florida is a no-fault state. See the Florida divorce process and how long it takes.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call
Your Discovery Call is free, with no obligation to hire the firm.
What Pompano Beach & Lighthouse Point Divorce and Custody Cases May Involve:
- 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 Plans. Every case with children needs one, and specific wording can help prevent future disputes.
- Relocation. Moving 50 miles or more for 60 days or longer generally needs written agreement or court approval.
Home and Property
Canal Homes, Boats and the Family Budget
Lighthouse Point is known for canal-front homes with docks, and many Pompano families have their equity tied up in waterfront property too. Florida judges start from an equal split of marital property. See Fla. Stat. § 61.075. The questions that decide real outcomes are practical:
Determining the Home's Value
Homestead-capped tax values can be far below market value. Waterfront homes may require a real appraisal to determine their value.
Dividing the Boat
If the boat was purchased during the marriage, it is usually marital property. Both its value and any remaining loan need to be considered.
Dividing a Business
A business may also need to be valued and addressed as part of the property division. See divorce with a business.
The Divorce Process
How Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point 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
Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point Divorce Questions Answered
Where is a Pompano Beach divorce filed?
With the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Family cases are heard at the Central Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and many hearings are held by video.
How close is your office to Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point?
Very close. Our South Florida office is at 1430 S Federal Hwy in Deerfield Beach, just across the city line from both. Most clients can reach us in minutes.
What family law services do you offer in Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point?
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
Who keeps the waterfront house in a divorce?
There's no automatic answer. It depends on whether one spouse can refinance and afford it, what other assets can offset its value, and what's best for the children. See who keeps the house.
How much does a divorce cost in Broward County?
Filing costs about $400. Legal fees depend mostly on how much you disagree. See what a divorce costs and how our fees work.
Can I come in today or this week?
Often, yes. Being next door is the point. Call (954) 388-0646 and we'll find the earliest time that works, in person or by video.
I'm not sure I want a divorce yet. Should I still talk to a lawyer?
Yes. A confidential conversation doesn't commit you to anything, and knowing your options early protects you. See what to do before filing.