Divorce Attorney in Tampa, Florida

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Divorce can be messy and confusing, to say the least. Many people have images of divorce as an extremely intimidating and exhausting battle. However, the right divorce attorney can make all the difference. At the Law Offices of Manuel Fajardo, our lawyer is highly rated on Avvo and has more than two decades of experience working in family law.

Divorcing in Western Florida?

Whether you are divorcing in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco County, our Tampa-based firm has represented clients from all walks of life. We genuinely care for the people we serve, and we want to address both your emotional and legal needs.

The Divorce Process: How to File for Divorce in Florida

The process of filing and carrying out a divorce can be complex, whether you are the individual who is filing, or you have been served divorce papers by your spouse. There are many steps to take and documents to submit, and any errors delay the process, costing you both time and money.

The divorce process in the state of Florida is comprised of several steps:

• Filing a petition for divorce with the court. After one spouse has filed, the other spouse must be officially served with the petition and will have 20 days to respond.
• A case management conference is then scheduled by the court within 90 days of the petition being filed. This conference is mandatory and requires that the involved parties file certain pleadings, such as a financial affidavit, completion of a parenting class and child support guidelines worksheet, and completion of financial disclosure.
• Once the initial paperwork has been filed, the process of financial discovery begins. This involves the two parties obtaining and providing their financial information to one another, including their income, assets, and debts.
• Should minor children be involved, issues related to the custody of the children and visitation rights for the other party must be addressed and resolved. Other issues, such as child support, childcare, and medical/dental expenses may need to be addressed as well.
• Following financial discovery, a mediation conference is held. Most divorce cases settle during mediation, with an agreement drafted and signed.
• If an agreement is not reached through mediation, a temporary relief hearing is held to address immediate issues such as alimony, child custody, visitation, and attorney fees.
• If the judge must decide the final outcome of the divorce, a pretrial conference is held, followed by a final hearing one month later. In the final hearing, all matters related to the divorce will be decided upon by the judge.

The Law Offices of Manuel Fajardo has been assisting individuals in their divorce cases for over 24 years. Our legal team possesses the skill and wherewithal to obtain successful outcomes on behalf of our clients and ensures that those clients' needs are being met while doing so.