Florida

Overview Winning a small claims case is only half the journey—the real work often begins when you try to turn a paper judgment into actual money. “Collection” means lawfully locating the debtor’s income or assets and using court-approved tools to convert part of those resources into payment, while complying with exemptions, due-process, and fair-debt rules.…

Overview Hiring a lawyer to file for divorce (dissolution of marriage) in Florida converts a complex, deadline-driven process into a managed legal project with strategy, documentation discipline, and courtroom advocacy built in. While Florida’s family forms are public and many cases settle without trial, the reality is that contested parenting schedules, support (child support and…

Overview Filing for divorce (dissolution of marriage) in Florida is paperwork-intensive, but predictable if you know exactly which documents courts expect and why each item matters. At minimum, the court needs a verified petition that tells the judge who you are, where you’ve lived, whether there are minor children, and what relief you’re seeking (property…

Overview In Florida, alimony (spousal support) is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other intended to address need and ability to pay after divorce. It is not automatic. A judge first decides whether the requesting spouse has a genuine financial need and whether the other spouse has the ability to pay. If both…

Overview The statute of limitations defines how long you have to file a small claims case in Florida after an incident occurs. Missing that deadline means forfeiting your right to recover money, no matter how valid the claim. In Florida, these deadlines vary depending on the type of dispute—written contracts, oral agreements, property damage, or…

Overview Florida’s residency requirement is the legal gateway to filing for divorce (dissolution of marriage) in the state. Under Florida Statutes §61.021, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Florida for the six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition. “Resident” here means more than passing through; it reflects domicile—your true,…

Overview In Florida, “child custody” is addressed through two related concepts: parental responsibility (who makes major decisions for the child) and time-sharing (the schedule for where the child lives and when). Courts start from the public policy that children benefit from frequent and continuing contact with both parents who are willing and able to act…

Overview The Florida small claims pretrial conference is the pivotal first court appearance in nearly every small claims case. After you file your Statement of Claim and the defendant is properly served, the court schedules this conference to determine whether the dispute can be resolved quickly—often through same-day mediation—or whether it must proceed to trial.…

Overview In Florida, marital property is divided under the doctrine of equitable distribution, which means the court aims for a fair—not automatically 50/50—allocation of assets and debts acquired during the marriage. The judge starts with the presumption that an equal split is fair, then considers statutory factors to justify any unequal division. The process turns…

Overview A simplified dissolution of marriage is Florida’s most streamlined way to obtain a divorce when—and only when—both spouses qualify and fully agree on every material issue. It is designed for cooperative, low-conflict circumstances: no minor or dependent children (and no pregnancy), no request for alimony by either spouse, a complete agreement on how to…