Do You Need Fault Grounds To Get A Divorce In Fort Lauderdale? Legal Requirements Under Florida Law

Fort Lauderdale marriages end for a variety of reasons, or even for no specific reason at all.  Many people think they need to prove wrongdoing, such as adultery or abandonment, before filing. In reality, Florida law makes it much simpler.

Florida is a no-fault divorce state. Rather than proving your spouse did something wrong, you only need to show that your marriage is “irretrievably broken.” However, it can impact your rights to money, property, and children.

Our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer explains the difference between the legal requirements for filing and how fault factors into divorce settlements.

What Florida Law Says About Grounds for Divorce in Fort Lauderdale

Sustaining a marriage and riding out rough patches is not easy. What motivates a spouse to finally call it quits and file for a divorce in Fort Lauderdale? According to the Institute for Family Studies, common reasons include:

• Adultery;
• Physical or emotional abandonment;
• Drug, alcohol, or gambling addictions;
• Disagreements over money;
• Lack of shared goals;
• Domestic violence or other criminal Behavior;
• Intimacy issues;
• Simply growing apart over the years.

The Florida Statutes don’t require grounds to file a divorce petition in Broward County courts, just that the marriage is irretrievably broken. However, while grounds are not required to get a Fort Lauderdale divorce, they can impact your rights in a divorce settlement.

How Fault Grounds Can Impact Your Rights In A Divorce Settlement

If you or your spouse engaged in marital misconduct, let your divorce lawyer know immediately. While it doesn’t impact your right to divorce, how each spouse conducted themselves during the marriage can influence settlements and any final divorce orders issued through the Broward County Family Court.

Common ways fault grounds factor into Fort Lauderdale divorce proceedings:

• Marital property division: If a spouse depletes marital assets, it can entitle you to a greater share in property division.
• Alimony: Having an affair prevents you from receiving alimony payments.
• Child time-sharing: Domestic violence or any behavior that could put your child at risk can impact child time-sharing rights.
• Court costs and legal fees: A spouse’s marital misconduct could result in the judge ordering them to pay all or a portion of their partner’s court costs and legal fees.

While divorce grounds are not required in Fort Lauderdale, they can influence how judges allocate assets, determine spousal support, and structure parenting plans.

Contact Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer To Discuss How Marital Misconduct Could Impact Your Case

Marriages fail for a variety of reasons. While you do not need fault grounds to file for a divorce in Fort Lauderdale, it can impact your rights in divorce settlements or final orders.

At Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices, we protect clients throughout Broward County, providing caring support and the fierce legal representation they need to get what they are entitled to in a settlement. To discuss how marital misconduct can impact your rights in court, contact our experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer. Request a confidential consultation in our office today.

Sources:

ifstudies.org/blog/reasons-people-give-for-divorce

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.052.html