When you’re considering whether you should proceed with a divorce, it’s important to weigh your options and carefully consider the impacts of this process. However, you may be forgetting to take one important factor into consideration – if you meet the legal requirements to file for divorce. If you’re unsure if you’re eligible to pursue this process, you’ll want to keep reading. The following blog explores what you should know and the different kinds of divorce you can expect. You’ll also discover the importance of connecting with Tampa divorce lawyers to help guide you through these difficult matters.
Are There Legal Requirements for Divorce in Florida?
If you are considering divorce, it’s important to understand that you may be unable to go to the courthouse and file without ensuring you are eligible to do so. The first thing you must check is that you meet the residency requirements. In order to file for a divorce under Florida law, you or your spouse must have lived in the state as an official resident for at least six months prior to filing.
The only other requirement is that you must provide grounds for the dissolution of your marriage. Florida is a no-fault divorce state, meaning neither party has to prove wrongdoing by the other for a divorce to be granted. Instead, you’ll cite an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, meaning your relationship is broken past the point of repair. It’s important to understand that you must be able to show the marriage is beyond repair.
It’s important to note that you may also choose to file on the grounds that your spouse has been declared mentally incapacitated by the courts for at least three years prior to filing.
Are There Different Kinds of Divorces?
Once you meet the legal requirements to proceed with the divorce, it’s important to understand what you can expect. Typically, there are two primary kinds of divorce – uncontested and contested. An uncontested divorce occurs when both parties can agree on all major decisions regarding the dissolution of the marriage, like alimony, child support, custody, and property distribution. Because there are no disputes, the courts do not have to get involved, meaning the divorce can be over in as little as six weeks.
However, if the parties cannot agree on one or more matters during a divorce, it is considered contested. As such, the courts must get involved to issue a decision on the outcome of these matters. Because there is more back and forth between the couple and their attorneys and the intervention of the court, it can take much longer for a contested divorce to be finalized.
Getting divorced is an incredibly difficult matter, both legally and emotionally. That’s why working with an experienced attorney is in your best interest during these difficult times. At Tampa Law Group, we understand how complicated these issues are, which is why we are dedicated to helping you through these difficult times. Connect with our team today to learn how we can fight for you.
