Let’s face it. You didn’t get married expecting it to fall apart, seriously. And yet, here you are undergoing the toughest phase of life – divorce.
There may be disagreement between you and your spouse on who keeps house, assets or about the custody of children. Whatever be the reason, one thing is clear: it’s not going to be easy. If you’re not able to come to a consensus, going for a contested divorce in Florida is the best option. Just keep reading to understand what is contested divorce in Florida, how it works, cost and time etc.
What Makes a Divorce “Contested” in Florida?
A divorce becomes contested when spouses disagree on one or more key issues. The issues can be anything such as property division, alimony, time-sharing, child support, or all of the above. This means that a judge needs to intervene to sort the matter and give the final judgement.
How Does Contested Divorce in Florida Work?
Let’s have a look at the key aspects involved in contested divorce in Florida.
Filing and Response
One of the spouses files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The other spouse is then served and has 20 days to respond. The options include agreeing, contesting, or filing a counter-petition with their own demands.
Financial Disclosure and Discovery
Both sides have to put their finances on the table. That means income, assets, debts, bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, and retirement accounts, everything has to be disclosed. If someone hides assets or drags their feet, subpoenas can force the issue.
Temporary Relief Hearing
If there are kids involved or one spouse needs financial support, a judge can step in early and set some temporary orders. This includes child support, temporary time-sharing or even temporary alimony. Yet, it’s not the final ruling, but it keeps things from falling apart while the process runs its course.
Mediation
When couples go through a contested divorce in Florida, mediation is not optional, it’s compulsory. Florida law requires it before anything goes to court. This calls for the formation of a neutral third party that sits with both sides and tries to help them reach an agreement.
In fact, a lot of divorce cases actually settle here. It’s worth taking seriously because a negotiated outcome means you are the one controlling the result and not the judge.
If It Goes to Trial
When mediation doesn’t work, the case is headed toward trial. A judge hears the evidence and gives their final judgment on everything that’s still disputed. As Florida follows equitable distribution, marital assets and debts are divided fairly.
Parental responsibility, like who makes big decisions for your children, gets decided here too (if it hasn’t been resolved earlier).
What Does Contested Divorce in Florida Cost and How Long Does It Take?
This is usually where it hits hardest. Contested divorces in Florida typically take around 6 to 18 months. It has been noted that some complex cases can even stretch to two years or more. The cost for contested divorce starts around $5,000 if things settle early and can climb past $50,000 if it goes to trial. The logic is clear: the more you fight, the more you spend, and the longer your life stays in limbo.
Conclusion
Most contested divorce cases indeed settle at the mediation stage before a judge ever rules. The goal isn’t to win. It’s to reach something you can actually live with and move forward from.
If you’re facing a contested divorce in Florida, the best move right now is to get informed, get organized and get the right people around you. The process may be long, but it’s manageable. Knowing what’s ahead puts you in a better position than most people who walk into it blind.
