Divorce Attorneys in Tampa Protect Your Interests and Get Results

Just because something in life is unexpected or not how you planned, doesn’t necessarily mean it is negative. Most people can’t imagine divorce having the potential to be positive, but it can.

Getting a divorce can be difficult. The road that leads to a better future might not be an easy one. However, with the right help, a strong support system, and the guidance of those who know the process, not only is a positive outcome possible, it’s likely. RTRLAW can help you on your way to the future you and your family deserve.

Do I Really Need a Divorce Attorney?

Divorce can be done without the help of an attorney, but usually not without the extensive, often confusing paperwork and convoluted rules and laws in Florida, not to mention the various disagreements that can arise between the two separating parties. The reality of a divorce is often much more complicated than you might think, and the work involved in actually settling a divorce can be overwhelming for many people. There are many decisions to be made in a divorce, and it’s unlikely that both parties will see eye to eye on all of them. It’s highly unlikely you’ll receive the best results possible without the help of an experienced divorce attorney.

From dividing up marital property to parental custody and visitation, there are many decisions that can lead to high emotion, heated exchanges, and even more animosity between divorcing parties.

In cases like these, the best option is to find an experienced and compassionate Tampa divorce attorney who understands what you’re going through and knows the local legal system and the process involved. You can avoid costly mistakes and bad decisions made out of emotion by teaming up with a skilled divorce attorney, like the ones at RTRLAW.

What Are Grounds for Divorce in Tampa?

Florida is a “no-fault” divorce state. In simple terms, it means that you’re able to get a divorce without the requirement of placing blame on a specific person to justify the separation. You can simply file for divorce with the reasoning that your marriage is “irretrievably broken.”

That is a term used in the law to express that the marriage is past the point of repairing. There is another option for grounds for divorce, in which a spouse is mentally incapacitated for more than three years, but this is a much more specific and less-used grounds for divorce.

Am I Eligible for Divorce in Tampa?

In addition to the grounds for divorce, there are certain requirements to be eligible to file for divorce in the state of Florida. The primary one is that at least one of the two parties in the marriage must have lived in the state for at least six months before filing for divorce with the court. The only exception to the rule regarding a six-month residency in the state is if one of the two divorcing parties is a military member who lives in Florida but is currently stationed outside of the state.

You must make the divorce filing in the county in Florida where one of the two parties in the divorce currently resides. If these requirements are met, then you are eligible to file for divorce.

How is Property Divided in a Divorce in Florida?

Florida law states that division of property between spouses should be fair and equitable. However, fair and equitable does not always mean equal.

Considerations are often made to a 50/50 split of marital assets when other relevant factors are at play. There can be many considerations that alter what would be considered fair, including:

• Marriage length
• Economic circumstances of each spouse
• Interruptions in career or education
• Specific and special contributions to the marriage
• Any wrongful conduct
• Liabilities incurred by the spouses which may or may not affect the joint assets

These are some of the more common considerations that will be made by a judge when deciding how to divide the marital assets.

Is Alimony Required After a Divorce in Florida?

While there is no law stating that alimony is required in a divorce, Florida is a state where one of the parties may be required to pay alimony.

Unlike child support, in which calculations are made to come to a specific amount, alimony is calculated based on the need of the one spouse and the ability of the other spouse to pay it. For instance, if one spouse makes considerably more than the other (or one spouse does not have a career as a result of decisions made in the marriage), the lesser-earning spouse could be eligible for alimony paid for by the higher-earning one.

For long-term marriages, alimony can even become a permanent lifetime support. In marriages of longer than 17 years, a spouse can be ordered to pay permanent lifetime alimony that lasts until one of the parties passes away or until the alimony recipient remarries.

The truth is that judges have a great deal of discretion in determining the amounts of alimony payments, which is why it’s best to have a skilled divorce attorney on your side to make sure that these decisions are made fairly and you have someone to advocate for your rights.

Can I Get an Uncontested Divorce in Tampa?

An uncontested divorce is an option in Florida. It’s commonly known as a “dissolution of marriage.” This basically means you and your spouse agree on needing a divorce, and you agree on all the issues that come up in a divorce: dividing property, handling debts, paying alimony, and any child support and custody issues.

This is where it gets tricky, and that is why retaining an experienced divorce attorney can be your best choice. If you’re divorcing someone, the likelihood is that you didn’t agree 100% with each other’s decisions. That difference of opinion is likely to extend to these important divorce decisions.

Rather than agreeing to something you don’t understand or may regret later simply in the name of keeping a divorce amicable, you should speak with an attorney who can make sure you know the full impact of each decision. Many people make decisions they later regret regarding property division, alimony, or the handling of debt. However, they have no recourse once the uncontested divorce is complete. It’s best to avoid the potential of regret and future problems by working with a divorce attorney through this complicated process.

Let Us Help You with Your Divorce

Getting a divorce is a stressful time filled with complicated decisions, high emotions, and huge life changes. No one should have to deal with all of it alone. You have a career to continue and a new life to build, and every moment you spend staring at documents and trusting your future to decisions made by someone you’re separating from is time away from what is most important.

At RTRLAW, our Tampa family law attorneys are ready to help you. Our compassionate and dedicated lawyers know what is at stake for you, and we’re ready to help you fight for your rights and to get the result you want. Let us help you begin the first step into your new life by giving you peace of mind for the future and answering the questions you have today.

If you’re ready to explore your legal options, contact RTRLAW today by calling our Tampa office at (813) 370-0229 or our toll-free number, 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) now and we can get started right away with a no-obligation case review.