Divorce Attorney St. Augustine, FL

Filing for Divorce in Florida: What You Need to Know

---

Divorce is one of the most consequential legal proceedings you will ever face. It determines who keeps the house, how your retirement is divided, whether you pay or receive alimony, and how much time you spend with your children. Every decision made during the divorce process has permanent financial and personal consequences — and the attorney who represents you will determine whether those consequences work for you or against you.

Christine Leonard, Esq. does not treat divorce as paperwork. She treats it as a strategic operation. Every case gets a custom-built legal strategy designed to protect your assets, your parental rights, and your future. She personally handles every filing, every hearing, every negotiation, and every trial. When you hire Christine, you get Christine — not a paralegal, not a junior associate, not a legal assistant learning on your dime.

Florida Is a No-Fault Divorce State

---

Under Florida Statute 61.052, you do not need to prove adultery, abuse, abandonment, or any other wrongdoing to file for divorce. You only need to establish that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." One spouse's declaration that the marriage is over is generally sufficient.

However, no-fault does not mean no-consequences. While you do not need grounds to file, factors like adultery, financial misconduct, dissipation of marital assets, and domestic violence can still influence critical decisions about alimony, property division, and child custody. An aggressive attorney knows how to leverage these factors strategically to strengthen your position.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce

---

Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on every issue: property division, debt allocation, child custody, child support, and alimony. These cases can be resolved relatively quickly — often in 4 to 6 weeks after filing. But "uncontested" does not mean "simple." Even when both parties agree, the settlement agreement must be carefully drafted to protect your interests. A poorly written agreement can cost you for years.

Christine Leonard reviews every uncontested agreement with the same meticulous attention she brings to a contested trial. She identifies risks, closes loopholes, and ensures the final document protects you completely.

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce means the parties cannot agree on one or more issues. Maybe your spouse wants the house. Maybe they are fighting for primary custody. Maybe they are concealing income to reduce alimony or child support obligations. Contested divorces require aggressive litigation, skilled negotiation, and an attorney who is prepared to take your case all the way to trial if necessary.

This is where Christine Leonard dominates. She has tried hundreds of contested divorce cases across Northeast Florida. She does not flinch at complex financial discovery. She does not back down from hostile opposing counsel. She prepares every contested case as if it is going to trial — because that preparation is what produces favorable settlements and courtroom victories.

The Divorce Process Timeline in Florida

---

Understanding the divorce process helps you prepare mentally and strategically. Here is what to expect when filing for divorce in Florida:

Step 1: Filing the Petition. One spouse (the petitioner) files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the circuit court. Florida requires that at least one spouse has been a resident of the state for at least six months before filing.

Step 2: Service of Process. The other spouse (the respondent) must be formally served with the divorce papers. The respondent has 20 days to file a response.

Step 3: Financial Disclosure. Both parties are required to provide mandatory financial disclosures, including income, assets, debts, and expenses. This is where hidden assets often surface — or fail to surface if your attorney is not thorough enough.

Step 4: Mediation. Florida courts require mediation in most contested divorce cases before the case can proceed to trial. Mediation provides an opportunity to resolve disputes with the help of a neutral mediator.

Step 5: Trial. If mediation does not resolve all issues, the case proceeds to trial where a judge makes the final decisions on property division, custody, alimony, and support.

Property Division in Florida Divorce

---

Florida follows equitable distribution principles, meaning marital property is divided fairly based on a variety of factors — not automatically split 50/50. The court considers the length of the marriage, each spouse's economic circumstances, contributions to the marriage (including homemaking and child-rearing), and any intentional dissipation or waste of marital assets.

For cases involving complex or substantial assets, Christine Leonard works with forensic accountants and valuation experts to ensure every asset is properly identified and valued. Learn more about how we handle complex estates on our high asset divorce page.

What to Expect When You Hire Leonard Legal

---

When you retain Christine Leonard as your divorce attorney, you get an attorney who is personally invested in your outcome. Here is what that looks like:

Direct attorney access. You communicate directly with Christine — not through a receptionist or paralegal filter. Your questions get answered. Your concerns get addressed. Your case gets the attention it deserves.

Aggressive preparation. Every case is prepared as if it is going to trial. Discovery is exhaustive. Financial analysis is thorough. Legal arguments are bulletproof. This level of preparation is what forces favorable settlements and wins at trial.

Strategic litigation. Christine does not take a one-size-fits-all approach. She builds a custom strategy based on the specific facts of your case, the tendencies of the opposing counsel, and the preferences of the assigned judge.

Relentless advocacy. From the first filing to the final judgment, Christine fights for the best possible outcome. She does not settle for less. She does not cut corners. She does not quit.

Related Practice Areas