Fort Lauderdale Divorce & Mediation Attorney

Divorce changes your finances, your home, and your relationship with your children all at once. The way you get through it shapes how those things look years from now. Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. is a Fort Lauderdale family law firm that represents spouses and parents in divorce, mediation, child custody, child support, and alimony matters throughout Broward County, Boca Raton, and St. Augustine. Whether your case can be settled at a kitchen table or will need to be argued in front of a judge, our Fort Lauderdale divorce and mediation attorney helps you understand your options under Florida law and choose the path that protects what matters most to you.

Some couples agree on almost everything and need a carefully drafted marital settlement agreement. Others need help reaching agreement through mediation or collaborative divorce. Some face a spouse who will not negotiate in good faith, and that calls for firm representation in court. We handle all three. Our office is located at 105 South Avenue of the Arts in Fort Lauderdale, and the first 15 minutes of your consultation are free. Call 954-945-7591 to talk through your situation.

About Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A.

Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. is a family law firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that practices family law exclusively. The firm represents clients in divorce, divorce mediation, collaborative divorce, child custody and timesharing, child support, alimony, property division, paternity, relocation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, stepparent adoption, and post-judgment modification. It serves Broward County, Boca Raton and southern Palm Beach County, and St. Augustine and St. Johns County. The firm’s approach pairs practical legal advice with genuine counseling. Clients who understand their options and stay steady through the emotional side of divorce make better decisions, so we treat guiding you through that as part of the job. The goal in every case is a resolution that is fair, enforceable, and reached as efficiently and economically as your circumstances allow.

Family Law Services for Fort Lauderdale Spouses and Parents

Divorce, Contested and Uncontested

Florida is a no-fault divorce state. A spouse only needs to show that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Either spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months before filing. An uncontested divorce resolves every issue by agreement and can often be finalized without a trial. A contested divorce requires the court to decide the issues the spouses cannot settle. We bring the same attention to financial disclosure, drafting, and detail to every divorce we handle, because a weak agreement causes as many problems as a poorly tried case.

Divorce Mediation and Collaborative Divorce

Mediation brings both spouses together with a neutral mediator to negotiate a settlement in confidential sessions. Most contested family cases in Florida go through mediation before trial, and many cases settle there. Collaborative divorce goes further. Both spouses and their attorneys commit to resolving the case outside of court, often with the help of a neutral financial professional or a family communication professional. These approaches give spouses more privacy and more control over the outcome, and they often cost less than litigation.

Child Custody, Timesharing, and Relocation

Florida does not use the word custody in its statutes. Instead, courts decide parental responsibility, meaning who makes major decisions about the child, and timesharing, meaning the schedule each parent spends with the child. Every case involving minor children requires a parenting plan. We help parents build plans that work in real life. We also represent parents in custody and timesharing disputes, including relocation, emergency timesharing, and the enforcement of existing schedules.

Child Support

Florida calculates child support under statutory guidelines. The calculation considers both parents’ incomes, the number of overnights each parent has, health insurance costs, and child care expenses. We handle initial support determinations, modifications after a substantial change in circumstances, and enforcement when payments stop.

Alimony

Spousal support in Florida changed significantly in 2023. We help clients seeking support and clients who may be asked to pay it. That includes negotiating the amount and duration of alimony, and later modifying or terminating it when the law allows.

Property and Debt Division

Florida divides marital assets and debts through equitable distribution. The starting point is an equal split, but the court can adjust it based on statutory factors. Many South Florida divorces involve real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, and stock compensation. These assets require careful valuation, and some need a qualified domestic relations order to divide them without tax penalties.

Paternity, Adoption, and Other Family Matters

Unmarried fathers do not have enforceable timesharing rights until paternity is legally established. We represent mothers and fathers in paternity actions and the parenting plans that follow. The firm also handles stepparent adoption, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, guardianship, and the limited circumstances in which Florida grandparents can seek visitation.

What Florida’s 2023 Family Law Changes Mean for Your Case

Two laws passed in 2023 changed how divorces in Fort Lauderdale are negotiated and decided. Any agreement signed today should reflect them.

Permanent alimony is gone. For cases filed after July 1, 2023, Florida recognizes three forms of alimony.

• Bridge-the-gap alimony lasts no more than two years.
• Rehabilitative alimony lasts no more than five years and requires a specific plan for retraining or education.
• Durational alimony is not available after a marriage of less than three years. After a marriage of less than 10 years, it can last up to 50 percent of the length of the marriage. After a marriage of 10 to 20 years, it can last up to 60 percent. After a marriage of 20 years or more, it can last up to 75 percent.

The amount of durational alimony is generally capped at the lesser of the recipient’s reasonable need or 35 percent of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes. The law also allows the paying spouse to seek a modification upon reasonable retirement.

Equal timesharing is now the starting point. Florida law now presumes that equal timesharing is in a child’s best interests. A parent who wants a different schedule must rebut that presumption with evidence. This change affects how parenting plans are negotiated in mediation and how contested custody cases are tried.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Divorce

Many cases move between these approaches. A litigated case can settle at mediation, and a mediated case can return to court if talks break down. Your attorney should be prepared for both.

How a Divorce Moves Through the Local Courts

Fort Lauderdale divorces are filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit at the Broward County Judicial Complex, 201 SE 6th Street. The process begins with a petition for dissolution of marriage. Next comes mandatory financial disclosure, which requires a financial affidavit plus tax returns, bank and retirement statements, and records of debts. Parents of minor children must also complete a parenting course. The court cannot enter a final judgment until at least 20 days after the petition is filed. Well-prepared uncontested cases often finish within a few weeks to a few months. Contested cases take longer, depending on how many issues are disputed and on the court’s calendar.

Boca Raton divorces are handled in Palm Beach County’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, typically at the South County Courthouse in Delray Beach. St. Augustine cases are filed in St. Johns County at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center. The divorce laws are the same statewide, but each courthouse has its own procedures, scheduling practices, and mediation programs. Knowing those details prevents delays.

Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce in Fort Lauderdale

How long does a divorce take in Broward County?

An uncontested divorce in Broward County can be finalized in as little as a few weeks once the paperwork is complete, because Florida requires only a 20-day wait after filing. A contested divorce usually takes several months to more than a year, depending on the number of disputed issues and how quickly financial disclosure is completed.

What is the difference between an uncontested divorce and mediation?

An uncontested divorce is an outcome in which both spouses agree on every issue. Mediation is a process that helps spouses reach that agreement with the help of a neutral mediator. Many uncontested divorces are the result of successful mediation.

Is mediation required in Florida divorce cases?

In most contested Florida family cases, yes. Courts routinely order spouses to attend mediation before a final hearing. What is said in mediation is generally confidential and cannot be used as evidence in court, which encourages honest negotiation.

Can one attorney represent both spouses?

No. A Florida attorney cannot represent both spouses in a divorce because their interests conflict. One spouse can hire an attorney while the other represents themselves. We recommend that each spouse at least have an attorney review the settlement agreement before signing.

Does Florida still award permanent alimony?

No. Florida eliminated permanent alimony in 2023. The available forms are now bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony. Each has limits on duration, and durational alimony has a cap on the amount.

Do Florida courts favor mothers in custody cases?

No. Florida law does not favor either parent based on gender. Since 2023, courts start from a presumption that equal timesharing is in the child’s best interests. A parent who seeks a different arrangement must prove that it better serves the child.

How is property divided in a Florida divorce?

Florida uses equitable distribution. Marital assets and debts are divided fairly, starting from an equal split, and the court can adjust the split based on factors such as each spouse’s contributions and economic circumstances. Property owned before the marriage or received individually by gift or inheritance is generally nonmarital and stays with that spouse.

Can a parent move away with a child after a Florida divorce?

Not without the other parent’s written agreement or a court order. Florida’s relocation statute applies when a parent wants to move 50 miles or more from their current residence for at least 60 consecutive days. A parent who moves without following the statute can face serious consequences in the custody case.

Can a divorce settlement be changed later?

Child support, timesharing, and most alimony can be modified after a substantial change in circumstances, such as a major income change or a relocation. Property division generally cannot be modified once the final judgment is entered. That is why getting the agreement right the first time matters so much.

What does a consultation with Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. involve?

A consultation is a confidential conversation about your situation, your goals, and the options available under Florida law. There is no obligation, and the first 15 minutes are free.

Serving Families Across Broward County, Boca Raton, and St. Augustine

Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. represents clients throughout Fort Lauderdale, including downtown, Victoria Park, Rio Vista, Colee Hammock, Las Olas, Harbor Beach, and the beach communities. The firm also serves families across Broward County, including Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Plantation, Davie, Weston, Sunrise, Lauderhill, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and Hallandale Beach. In Palm Beach County, the firm represents clients in Boca Raton and the surrounding southern county communities. In northeast Florida, the firm serves St. Augustine and families throughout St. Johns County, with an emphasis on mediation and uncontested divorce.

Talk With a Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney Today

You do not have to make decisions about your marriage, your children, or your finances without clear information. Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. will walk you through your options under current Florida law, explain what each path is likely to involve, and help you move forward with confidence. Call 954-945-7591 or contact our Fort Lauderdale office to schedule a consultation. The first 15 minutes are free.