Getting a divorce in Miami

Simplified divorce least costly, least complex legal process

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For an overview, please see “Divorce in Florida.” More details and related information can be found at “Getting a divorce in Jacksonville” and “Getting a divorce in Jacksonville, Part 2.” There’s a good of information among those three pieces.

Dealing with domestic violence an urgent need

But one thing we need to address more in depth here is domestic violence. Legal authorities and family-law experts say that at the very least, the Petitioner (or plaintiff, in some states–in order words, the one who files the lawsuit) should have an attorney in order to ensure the filing is legal and the decree enforceable. They also recommend both parties to budget time and finances for counseling because divorce can be emotionally traumatic. However, most important, experts agree that if domestic violence is part of the family equation, the violence must be addressed immediately.

Many resources in Florida

State-wide resources that can help include:

Florida Department of Children and Families;

Florida Coalition against Domestic Violence;

A.A.R.D.V.A.R.C.’s Florida: Domestic Violence Resources page;

Community Action Stops Violence;

WomensLaw.org’s page, Florida: Legal Statutes;

Florida Department of Corrections’ “The Magnitude of Domestic Violence.”

Local resources comprise wide variety

In the Miami-Dade area are a variety of governmental and private resources, including:

the county’s Domestic Violence Oversight Board;

Domestic Crimes Bureau–Order of Protection;

Domestic Violence Injunctions;

State Attorney services: Domestic violence and stalking assistance;

Clerk of the Courts, Domestic violence page;

Miami-Dade Police Domestic Violence (response) Unit;

Commissioner’s Domestic Violence page;

the Advocate Program.

Family law division of circuit court

From the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida:

The Family Division hears cases concerning dissolutions of marriage, child custody and support, adoptions, paternity, modification proceedings, name changes, URESA (interstate child support enforcement), and domestic violence permanent injunction cases where there is an open family court action. The judges and support personnel are located at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center. The Family Division is located at 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami Florida 33128. For further information please call 305-349-5937. Hours of Operation 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, excluding Holidays.

Simplified Divorce

From the Clerk of Courts:

A simplified divorce is an inexpensive way of ending a marriage.

Requirements

In order to file a simplified divorce both parties must meet the following requirements:

There can be no minor or dependent children born from the marriage nor can the wife be pregnant.

If there is property, division of property has been agreed to and a written property division agreement must be filed with the court at the time of initial appearance.

You cannot have any unresolved financial obligations.

One of the parties must be a Florida resident for at least six months prior to the date of filing and your residency must be corroborated by a witness.

Both parties will be required to complete a marital settlement agreement.

If you and your spouse do not meet all . . . requirements, we cannot assist you in the preparation of your divorce petition.

Free evaluation

We can help. If you’re ready to begin the search for a compatible, well trained, experienced divorce attorney, you can start with our free case evaluation. If you need more information, please browse our site, using the tabs at the top of the page.