Divorce
Accomplished Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice, Florida Divorce Attorney
The successful divorce strategy starts by determining your goals
At the Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A., we ask as many questions of our Manatee and Sarasota Counties divorce clients as we answer. For instance, how worried are you about financial security? How important is it to you to see your children on their birthdays or during important holidays? Are the T.V., the couch and the silverware must-haves or negotiable items?
The road to reaching your divorce goals
Like any process, there are steps in a divorce procedure. We keep you informed about what is happening from the start and any changes that should be addressed along the way—especially when your best interests are at stake.
Steps along the divorce path:
- Gather your information: Even before you schedule a free phone consultation with our Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice, Florida divorce attorney, it is a good idea to gather all the documents, tax returns and any other paperwork you have regarding finances, property, investments, and all records pertaining to a business you own. Keep them handy, make copies of them, and make sure they are in a safe place.
- File or respond to a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: Basically, this is a declaration to the court that a divorce is being sought.
- If you are filing a petition, you file in the county of your residence and must prove that you’ve are married and a Florida resident for at least six months. If you are the filer, it will also include the terms you desire regarding issues such as child custody (parental responsibility), visitation (time-sharing), division of assets, division of debts, and alimony.
- If you receive a petition, you have only 20 days to respond so it is critical that you get good legal advice as soon as possible. As your advocates, we go over the terms and help you make decisions that reflect your best interests.
- Financial disclosure: Whether your means are relatively modest, or you are facing a high net worth divorce, each spouse is legally required to complete a financial affidavit that lists all income and assets, and expenses and liabilities and submit it to the court along with the Certificate of Mandatory Disclosure.
- Mediation: This is where parties have a chance to settle disputes and avoid a costly divorce court battle. Prior to mediation, the Financial Affidavit, Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure, and, if children are involved, a Parenting Plan must be drafted and filed. The mediator is a neutral party and does not take sides. As your legal representative, we help you make informed decisions prior to and during the mediation process.
- Trial: In the best of all worlds, you and your spouse have come to an agreement in mediation and can avoid litigation. If that is not possible, we are there to advocate for you regarding disputed matters and get you a favorable resolution.
Getting the best possible divorce resolution starts with getting the BEST POSSIBLE LEGAL REPRESENTATION
With 20 years of Florida divorce experience, our Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice, FL divorce attorney has the skill, knowledge and tenacity you need to get through this emotionally difficult process. Contact us or call our office at (941) 556-7020 to schedule a free 15-minute telephone consultation.
