Separate vs. Marital
Premarital assets, inheritances and gifts are usually separate, until they're mixed with marital money. Tracing them takes records.
Orange County
Winter Park Divorce Lawyers
We handle divorce, custody, alimony and property division for Winter Park families, including complex, high-asset cases. Once you hire us, one attorney handles your case through the final order.
The Winter Park Difference
Winter Park Divorce and Custody
Winter Park divorces often involve established careers, professional practices, family businesses, and long marriages. That means more at stake, and often more privacy to protect. We handle these cases carefully, without letting them become more public or more expensive than they need to be.
Our Central Florida office is a short drive away in Orlando, and Winter Park divorces are heard at the Orange County Courthouse downtown.
Winter Park is in Orange County, part of Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit. Divorces are filed with the Orange County Clerk of Courts and heard at the Orange County Courthouse, 425 N. Orange Avenue, in downtown Orlando, 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 Winter Park Divorce and Custody Cases May Involve:
- Established Careers & Businesses. Divorces may involve professional practices, family businesses, and other assets built during a long marriage.
- 50/50 Time-Sharing. Equal time-sharing is presumed best unless a parent proves otherwise (Fla. Stat. § 61.13).
- Shared Decisions. Parents usually share major decisions about school, health care, and religion.
- Parenting Plans. Every case with children needs a parenting plan, 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.
Complex Assets
High-Asset Divorce in Winter Park
Judges start from an equal split of marital property. See Fla. Stat. § 61.075. In complex cases, what decides the outcome is classification and value:
Professional Practices and Businesses
A medical, legal or consulting practice, or a family company, often needs a formal valuation. See divorce with a business.
Investments and Retirement
Brokerage accounts, deferred compensation and retirement plans each divide differently.
Full Disclosure
Both spouses must share detailed financial records. See mandatory disclosure and hidden assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Winter Park Divorce Questions Answered
Where is a Winter Park divorce filed?
With the Orange County Clerk of Courts. The case is heard by the Ninth Judicial Circuit at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, or by video for many hearings.
Can I meet with you near Winter Park?
Our Central Florida office is in Orlando, a short drive away, at 722 W Smith Street. Most meetings can also happen by phone or video.
What family law services do you offer in Winter Park?
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 my divorce going to be public?
Court filings are generally public records, but settling through negotiation or mediation keeps most financial details out of the file. Strategy from the start matters here.
Is my professional practice marital property?
Often, at least the growth during the marriage. How much depends on when it started, how it's valued, and whether a prenup applies. See divorce with a business.
How much does a high-asset divorce cost?
More than a simple one, mainly because of valuation and financial experts. Settling early is the biggest cost-saver. See what a divorce costs and how our fees work.
I think my spouse is hiding assets. What can I do?
Florida's mandatory disclosure rules, subpoenas and forensic accounting can uncover a lot. Act before settlement, not after. See hidden assets, and bring what you know to your free Discovery Call.
Are court filings public?
Generally, yes. Court filings are part of the public record.
Can mediation help protect our privacy?
Settling through negotiation or mediation can keep more of your finances and family life out of the public record than going to trial.
What if my case has to go to court?
Careful drafting can still help limit what becomes part of the court file.
Can couples protect their privacy before getting married?
Yes. Couples planning a marriage can use a prenuptial agreement to settle many financial and property questions privately in advance.