Plantation Divorce Lawyer & Family Law Attorney
Quick Answer
How long does a divorce take in Plantation, Florida?
Fla. Stat. § 61.19 sets a 20-day floor: no final judgment of dissolution may be entered until at least 20 days have elapsed from the filing of the original petition, unless the court finds that injustice would result from the delay and enters judgment earlier. § 61.021 adds the threshold condition that “one of the parties to the marriage must reside 6 months in the state before the filing of the petition,” and § 61.052 lets the court grant the dissolution on a finding that the marriage is irretrievably broken. An uncontested Plantation divorce therefore closes in about four to eight weeks; a contested one in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit generally runs eight to eighteen months.
Plantation is a residential and business community in central Broward County. Pazos Law Group represents Plantation residents in divorce, child custody, and complex family law matters.
How long does a divorce take in Plantation, Florida?
Florida is a no-fault state. Fla. Stat. § 61.052 lets the court dissolve a marriage that is “irretrievably broken,” and § 61.052(2) requires proof that the residency condition in § 61.021 — 6 months in the state before the petition is filed — has been met. Under § 61.19 the judgment cannot be entered until at least 20 days have elapsed from filing, absent a showing that the delay would cause injustice.
In Plantation, cases involving established single-family neighborhoods such as Plantation Acres and Jacaranda, and long marriages take longer than the statutory minimum because valuation under § 61.075(7) and disclosure have to happen first. Agreed cases: about four to eight weeks. Contested cases in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit: usually eight to eighteen months, depending on the judge’s calendar and whether mediation under § 44.102 resolves the case.
How much does a divorce cost in Plantation, Florida?
The Broward County Clerk of Courts publishes the current dissolution of marriage filing fee and related charges on its own fee schedule rather than in the statutes; check the clerk’s filing fee schedule before you budget, because the clerk revises it.
Legal fees vary by complexity and no honest range is a quote. For Plantation cases the pattern is consistent: an uncontested divorce without children commonly falls in a $1,000–$2,500 flat-fee band, with minor children $1,500–$3,500, and a standalone marital settlement agreement $750–$1,500. Contested representation generally begins with a $5,000–$15,000 refundable retainer applied against hourly time.
Cost is also a function of what has to be proved. Tracing nonmarital claims under § 61.075(6)(b), valuing assets as of the date set under § 61.075(7), and dividing retirement under § 61.076 all take expert work. Fla. Stat. § 61.16 permits a fee award to level the playing field when one spouse controls the money.
Where do I file for divorce in Broward County, Florida?
You file in the circuit court, not a city court. For Plantation that means the Family Division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (17th), with the Broward County Clerk of Courts accepting the petition at the Broward County Judicial Complex, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. All filings go through the statewide e-filing portal.
The petition must establish the § 61.021 residency condition — 6 months of Florida residency by one party before filing — and § 61.052(2) requires corroboration of it. Once filed, § 61.19 starts the 20-day clock before a final judgment can be entered. The Florida State Courts System maintains a general overview of Florida family courts.
Who can file in Plantation under Fla. Stat. § 61.021?
Fla. Stat. § 61.021 states the rule in one line: “one of the parties to the marriage must reside 6 months in the state before the filing of the petition.” Only one spouse needs it, the six months must precede filing, and § 61.052(2) requires the fact to be corroborated by a Florida driver license, a voter registration card, or a third party’s testimony. Where a Plantation spouse spends part of the year abroad, actual residence — not citizenship or immigration status — is what the statute measures.
How is property divided under Fla. Stat. § 61.075?
Equal is the starting point, not the guaranteed outcome. Fla. Stat. § 61.075(1) requires the court to “begin with the premise that the distribution should be equal,” and then permits an unequal split only if the enumerated factors justify it. For Plantation spouses holding established single-family neighborhoods such as Plantation Acres and Jacaranda, and long marriages, the fight is usually about classification rather than the percentage.
Three subsections do most of the work. Section § 61.075(6)(b) identifies nonmarital property. Section § 61.075(6)(a)1.b captures the enhancement in value of nonmarital property produced by marital effort or marital funds. Section § 61.075(7) fixes the date on which assets and liabilities are valued. Retirement is handled separately under § 61.076.
Can my spouse move away with our children after the divorce?
Not unilaterally. Fla. Stat. § 61.13001 governs relocation of a parent with a child and is triggered by a move of 50 miles or more from the principal residence at the time of the last order, for at least 60 consecutive days. It requires either written agreement of the other parent or a petition to relocate; a move made without one is grounds for the court to order the child returned and to weigh the conduct in a § 61.13 modification. For Plantation families with employment or family ties outside South Florida, this is the statute to read before signing a lease.
Is time-sharing presumed equal in Florida since July 1, 2023?
Yes. Florida law changed on 1 July 2023: § 61.13(2)(c)1. now presumes that equal time-sharing is in the best interests of the minor child, and the presumption is rebuttable by a preponderance of the evidence. For Plantation parents this reframed the negotiation — equal time is the default the court begins from, and the § 61.13(3) best-interest factors are the evidence used to move away from it. Relocation more than 50 miles away is separately governed by § 61.13001.
How is child support calculated under Fla. Stat. § 61.30?
Fla. Stat. § 61.30 is a guidelines statute. Each parent’s net income is determined, the combined figure is run against the statutory support schedule, and the obligation is divided in proportion to income with health insurance and work-related child care added on. Written findings are required to depart from the guideline amount by more than 5 percent.
The single largest variable in most Plantation cases is the overnight count. Under § 61.30(11)(b)8., a parent who has the child for at least 20 percent of the overnights is exercising a “substantial amount of time” and the gross-up method applies. Because § 61.13(2)(c)1. now presumes equal time-sharing, that threshold is met far more often than it was before July 2023.
Is mediation required before a contested hearing in Plantation?
Almost always. Fla. Stat. § 44.102 gives the court power to refer a case to mediation and § 61.183 covers mediation of contested family issues. In the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, referral is routine, and most Plantation dissolutions settle there rather than at trial — which is also the largest single cost saving available in the case.
Fla. Stat. § 44.405 protects the process by making mediation communications confidential and privileged except as that section provides. The mediator does not report to the judge on who was reasonable; the only thing the court sees is whether the case settled and, if so, the signed agreement.
What kinds of alimony can a court award under Fla. Stat. § 61.08?
Fla. Stat. § 61.08, as rewritten in 2023, offers a court four options and no more: temporary alimony during the case, bridge-the-gap alimony for identifiable short-term needs, rehabilitative alimony supported by a specific and defined plan, and durational alimony. Permanent alimony was abolished. Before awarding any of them the court must find that one spouse has an actual need and that the other has the ability to pay.
Section § 61.08(8) then limits how long a durational award may run by reference to the length of the marriage, so a Plantation spouse can model the outside case rather than guess at it. Because alimony and § 61.075 equitable distribution are decided in the same judgment, the two are almost always negotiated as one package.
Statutory citations link to the official text published by the Florida Legislature. General information about Florida family courts is published by the Florida State Courts System. This page is general information about Florida law, not legal advice for your case.
Divorce in Plantation: An Overview
Looking for a Plantation family law attorney? Pazos Law Group represents Plantation families in divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, paternity, and post-judgment modifications. The City of Plantation has a strong residential and business community in central Broward County. Divorces in Plantation often involve home equity, business interests, retirement accounts, and standard parenting issues for school-age children.
Why Local Experience Matters
Plantation cases benefit from counsel familiar with the 17th Circuit's pace, the local mediation pool, and the practical realities of dividing common South Florida household assets.
Family Law Services for Plantation Residents
Pazos Law Group represents Plantation clients in the full range of family law matters:
- Divorce — contested and uncontested dissolution of marriage under Florida law.
- High-Net-Worth Divorce — complex marital estates involving businesses, real estate, equity compensation, and international assets.
Where Your Case Is Heard
Plantation divorces are heard in the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Family Division, at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale.
Plantation-Specific Divorce Considerations
Plantation incorporated in 1953 and grew through Broward’s mid-century suburban expansion. Today the city contains a mix of established single-family neighborhoods (Plantation Acres, Jacaranda, Plantation Gardens) and major employment corridors (the Plantation Walk and Westgate Square business districts, the Sawgrass-adjacent office parks). This mix produces a recognizable demographic in divorce cases: established suburban professionals, often dual-income, frequently with mature children entering or in college.
Plantation Acres is one of Broward’s few remaining equestrian-zoned neighborhoods inside an urban municipality. Properties of one to five acres with horse and livestock allowances are common, and the same equine valuation issues that come up in Davie cases apply here. Beyond horses, the larger Plantation Acres lots often include guest houses, workshops, or detached structures used for businesses — outbuildings whose value contributes disproportionately to the property and which require functional appraisal during equitable distribution.
The Plantation corporate corridors house regional offices for several Fortune 500 companies, including DHL, American Express, and Motorola Solutions. Executive divorces in this area frequently involve equity compensation issues that are not intuitive: restricted stock units (RSUs) vesting on different schedules than the marriage timeline, performance shares with multi-year measurement periods, and stock options with exercise windows that may close mid-divorce. Florida applies the time-rule formula and other equitable distribution approaches to these assets, but the methodology varies based on whether the compensation was for past or future services, which often requires testimony from the spouse’s HR or legal department.
Plantation cases are heard in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Family Division, at the Broward County Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale — about 15 minutes from Plantation via University Drive or Broward Boulevard. The 17th Circuit’s judges are experienced with corporate executive compensation matters given Broward’s large corporate footprint, and the court’s case management protocols accommodate the document-intensive discovery these cases require.
About Pazos Law Group
Pazos Law Group is a South Florida family law firm founded by Nadia Pazos, who has practiced since 2005 and is licensed in both Florida and New York. Nadia holds the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell — Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating — and by Avvo Clients’ Choice. The firm serves clients in English and Spanish throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
Faster, lower-cost options in Plantation: if you and your spouse agree on the major issues, an uncontested divorce or a predictable flat-fee divorce is usually the fastest, least expensive path for Plantation families.
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★“After consultations at other law firms, I knew immediately I wanted to go with Nadia. Not only was I made to feel so comfortable during the worst time of my life, but I was always kept informed. She truly cares about achieving the best.”
— Tracy Putter, Google Review
★★★★★“Nadia and her team were a pleasure to work with, especially during tough times. They managed to navigate some sticky situations with creativity and delivered the best results I could have hoped for. I highly recommend Pazos Law Group.”
— Brian Coolidge, Google Review
★★★★★“My divorce was really complex and as soon as I met Nadia and I explained my case, I knew that I had to go with her, not only because she is very professional but also because she has an excellent team.”
— Anayda Frisneda, Google Review
Reviews reflect the experiences of individual clients. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the grounds for divorce in Florida?
Florida is a no-fault state. The petitioner needs only to allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Mental incapacity is also a recognized ground in limited circumstances. Fault is not required, though certain conduct may affect property division and support.
Will my divorce be public record in Plantation?
Yes. Florida court records are generally public, including divorce filings. Limited mechanisms exist to seal portions of a file under specific circumstances. Negotiated settlements with confidentiality clauses can help limit public disclosures.
What is equitable distribution?
Equitable distribution (Fla. Stat. § 61.075) is the framework Florida courts use to divide marital property and debts. The court starts with a presumption of equal division and then considers statutory factors that may justify an unequal split.
How much does a divorce cost in Plantation?
Beyond the court's filing fee, the total cost depends primarily on whether your divorce is uncontested or contested. An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on all terms, is significantly less expensive. Contested cases involving disputes over assets, support, or time-sharing cost more because they require negotiation, discovery, and sometimes trial.
How long does a divorce take in Florida?
Florida law requires a minimum 20-day waiting period after the petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized (Fla. Stat. § 61.19). A fully uncontested divorce can conclude in roughly four to five weeks. Contested cases typically take several months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the issues and the court's calendar.
Will I lose my house in the divorce?
The marital home is subject to equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. "Equitable" means fair, which is not automatically a 50/50 split. Common outcomes include one spouse buying out the other's share, selling the home and dividing the proceeds, or deferring the sale (often when minor children remain in the home). A home owned before the marriage may be partly or fully non-marital.
Who gets custody of the children in Florida?
Florida uses the terms "time-sharing" and "parental responsibility" rather than "custody." Courts decide based on the best interests of the child under Fla. Stat. § 61.13. Since 2023, Florida law applies a rebuttable presumption that equal (50/50) time-sharing is in the best interest of the child, which a parent can overcome with evidence.
Should I move out before filing for divorce?
Moving out does not forfeit your ownership interest in the marital home or your parental rights. However, it can affect temporary living arrangements and the day-to-day time-sharing pattern a court may later formalize. If children are involved, speak with an attorney before relocating.
Request a Confidential Consultation in Plantation
Tell us about your situation and Nadia Pazos will follow up personally. Bilingual · Hablamos Español · 305-482-1262.
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Also Serving Broward County
Pazos Law Group represents clients throughout Broward County. Other locations we serve:
- Davie Divorce Attorney
- Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
- Hollywood Divorce Attorney
- Miramar Divorce Attorney
- Pembroke Pines Divorce Attorney
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- Plantation Prenuptial Agreement Attorney
- How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Florida in 2026?
- How Long Does a Divorce Take in Miami-Dade?
- Florida Alimony: The 4 Types After 2023 Reform
- which co-parenting app fits your parenting plan — features, costs and court-record considerations side by side.
- what SB 1416 changed about Florida alimony — the end of permanent alimony and the new durational limits.
- when a forensic accountant is worth hiring — tracing assets, valuing a business and testing income claims.
- paternity and time-sharing for fathers — legal rights for married and unmarried fathers alike.
- run the numbers with our free tools — quick estimates before you talk to anyone.
Speak with a Plantation Family Law Attorney
Pazos Law Group offers confidential consultations for Plantation clients in divorce, child custody, and complex family law matters.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationThe information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or sharing this content does not create an attorney-client relationship with Pazos Law Group. Florida law and the application of statutes change over time; please consult a licensed Florida attorney about your specific situation.