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Navigating an Orlando, Florida Area Divorce

What do you need to know when navigating an Orlando, Florida area divorce? Start by asking yourself the following questions:

• First, have you attempted to reconcile? 
• Will you attend counseling to save the marriage? 
• Is your spouse currently with someone else? If so, is your spouse spending marital money on that someone else? 
• Are you past trying to save the marriage? 
• Will you and your spouse have attorneys, or will you each represent yourself (Pro Se)? 
• Will you do Mediation prior or after filing for divorce? 
• Will this be an uncontested or contested dissolution of marriage? 

Many people think they will do an uncontested divorce. However, their spouse, prior to filing, does not agree with what they want. That is usually an indicator that it will be contested. How close or how far apart that you are on these issues is a good indicator whether you will be facing an amicable divorce or a contested divorce: 

• Are you and your spouse able to sit down and agree on what you each shall receive in equitable distribution? 
• Are you and your spouse in agreement as to time sharing? 
• Are you and your spouse in agreement as to alimony? 
• Are you in agreement regarding who will pay attorney’s fees or if you will each pay your own attorney’s fees? 
• Are you in agreement as to whether one spouse will pay alimony? 
• Are you in agreement as to how long and how much money will be paid for alimony?

If you can decide on how you will proceed with the case, that will save you on the expenses of attorney’s fees. Consider the following: 

• Will you mediate prior to filing for dissolution of marriage? 
• Will you proceed collaboratively, or will you amicably sit down and draw up a Marital Settlement Agreement after filing the pleadings? 
• Do you think you will need to go to mediation to finalize the settlement agreement? 
• Will you file all the dissolution of marriage pleadings along with the Marital Settlement Agreement? Or will you file all the pleading then finalize the Marital Settlement Agreement? 
• Will one or both of you obtain an attorney? 
• Will you have a contested dissolution of marriage? How contested will it be? 
• Will it be acrimonious? If you anticipate it will be acrimonious, do you have the funds to expend for such litigation? Will you have to borrow to pay for such litigation? 
• Does your spouse make so much money that you should receive attorney’s fees? 
• Do you have funds to live on pending receiving temporary attorney’s fees? 
• Do you have enough funds to hire an experienced attorney who will charge a fee for an initial consultation and a higher hourly rate? 
• Do you have money for a large retainer if you are hiring an experienced attorney? 

If your divorce case does go to trial, there may be a need for seeking outside experts, which is also a financial burden you need to consider. Before deciding to go to trial, consider the following questions:

• Do you have funds for hiring experts? 
• Will you attempt to ask the court to have your spouse pay for the experts? 
• What experts do you need to hire? A financial expert such as a forensic accountant? A custody evaluator? A Guardian ad Litem? 

These are all things you should be contemplating if you are about to navigate an Orlando, Florida divorce.  If you have more questions regarding a Marital and Family Law matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation. You may also visit my website at: https://www.annmariegildenlaw.com 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney client privilege.