Boca Raton Divorce Lawyers
The goal in a divorce is rarely just to be finished. It is to come out with a fair share of what was built, a workable schedule with your children, and support obligations you can live with for years. Williams & Varsegi, LLC is a boutique firm that practices exclusively in divorce and family law, representing clients throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County, including Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Parkland, and Delray Beach. Our cases range from high-net-worth, high-conflict disputes to uncontested and simplified matters.
Anyone searching for a Boca Raton divorce lawyer is usually dealing with questions that are more specific than “how do I file.” How is a closely held business treated? Will equal time-sharing be the starting point now? How long could alimony last after a marriage of fifteen years? Florida changed its rules on several of these points in recent years, and the answers differ from what friends, relatives, or older websites may tell you.
Florida requires only that the marriage be irretrievably broken, and at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months before filing.
How Florida Law Shapes a Boca Raton Divorce
Florida is a no-fault state. The ordinary ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken, and the only alternative ground, mental incapacity, requires that the spouse have been adjudged incapacitated for at least the preceding three years. In practice, nearly every case rests on the first ground, which means fault does not decide who gets the divorce. Fault can still matter in narrow ways: a court may consider adultery and its economic impact when setting the amount of alimony.
Property division begins from a different premise than many people expect. A Florida court first sets apart each spouse’s nonmarital assets and liabilities, then starts with the premise that the marital assets and liabilities should be divided equally. An unequal split requires justification, and any distribution, equal or not, must be supported by written findings that identify the assets, value the significant ones individually, and explain the reasoning. The date that separates marital from postmarital acquisitions is the earliest of a valid separation agreement date, another date set in such an agreement, or the filing of the petition. Lawmakers amended the statute in 2024 on how certain assets are defined, including the marital interest in a closely held business and interspousal gifts of real property, which matters for many South Florida owners.
For couples with a premarital agreement, Florida’s Uniform Premarital Agreement Act controls. The agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties, it takes effect on marriage, and it needs no consideration beyond the marriage itself. After the wedding it can be changed only by a signed written agreement. It cannot reduce a child’s right to support, and it can be challenged if the challenger proves it was involuntary or the product of fraud, duress, coercion, or overreaching, or that it was unconscionable when signed and fair disclosure of the other party’s finances was not provided.
Why Choose Williams & Varsegi, LLC for Divorce in Boca Raton
Williams & Varsegi, LLC practices only divorce and family law, and its attorneys bring over 30 years of experience to clients in Boca Raton and across Palm Beach and Broward Counties. The firm’s lawyers are Katie Varsegi and Emerald Williams. Because the practice is limited to family law, the team knows how Florida’s divorce statutes are applied in the Palm Beach County courts and has handled the full range of cases, from simplified dissolutions to contested trials with business valuations and expert testimony. When a case needs financial support, the firm works with forensic accountants, business valuators, and other experts.
Clients work directly with experienced attorneys who know their case, and the firm’s reviews reflect that. Clients describe the team as responsive and knowledgeable, one reviewer credited an attorney with keeping every promise made at the first consultation, another said the process felt smoother and less anxious over more than three years of representation, and the firm carries a 5-Star Rating from client reviews. The attorneys are skilled negotiators and experienced litigators with extensive courtroom experience, so a case that can settle is approached with that in mind, and a case that cannot is prepared for trial from the start. The firm also handles divorces involving physicians, federal employees, and police and fire personnel, where pensions, benefits, and professional licenses add layers to the analysis.
Issues That Drive Divorce Cases in Boca Raton
- Equitable Distribution of Marital Property: The starting premise is an equal division of marital assets and liabilities, with unequal results requiring justification and written findings. Boca Raton cases often involve real estate, investment accounts, retirement plans, and stock-based compensation.
- Closely Held Businesses and Professional Practices: Disputes center on whether the business is marital or nonmarital, how much of its value is marital, and what it is worth. A 2024 amendment addressed how the marital interest in a closely held business is defined, so older assumptions may no longer hold.
- Time-Sharing and Parental Responsibility: Florida law now presumes, subject to rebuttal, that equal time-sharing is in a child’s best interests. Parents who want a different schedule must be prepared to present evidence for it.
- Child Support Calculations: The statutory guideline amount is presumed correct, and deviations beyond five percent need written findings. For combined net income above the top of the schedule, support is the schedule minimum plus a percentage of the excess: 5.0% for one child, 7.5% for two, and higher for larger families.
- Alimony Under the Current Framework: Florida recognizes temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony. Permanent alimony was eliminated for cases decided under the 2023 law, and the monthly amount is capped at the lesser of the recipient’s reasonable need or 35% of the difference between the parties’ net incomes.
- Relocation of a Parent With Children: A move of at least 50 miles from the prior residence lasting at least 60 consecutive days is a relocation under Florida law, and it triggers notice, objection, and hearing procedures.
- Premarital Agreements: Enforcement turns on voluntariness, disclosure, and unconscionability, and these agreements often decide how much of a high-asset divorce is actually in dispute.
- Domestic Violence Concerns: An injunction can be sought whether or not a divorce is pending, and its existence can affect temporary time-sharing and the pace of the case.
What to Do When You Are Preparing for or Facing a Divorce in Boca Raton
Start by confirming residency. At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for six months before the petition is filed, and a petition filed too early can be dismissed. Then gather the financial record before anyone changes behavior: tax returns, pay records, bank and brokerage statements, retirement account statements, mortgage and deed records, business financials, and a list of debts. Florida requires full financial disclosure in a divorce, and having your own documents organized lets your lawyer test the other side’s disclosures against reality.
Palm Beach County divorces are heard in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s Family Court. For Boca Raton residents, Delray Beach is the nearest of these. Broward residents in Coral Springs and Parkland fall under the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit’s Family Division, so where a case is filed depends on where the parties live.
Timing rules matter. A final judgment cannot be entered until at least 20 days after the petition is filed, though a court can act sooner if delay would cause injustice. The way a case is classified, the cut-off date for marital assets, and when a separation agreement is signed can all affect the outcome, so signing anything before speaking with a lawyer is a common and costly mistake. Other frequent mistakes include moving money without a documented reason, posting about the case online, and agreeing to a temporary parenting arrangement that later becomes the status quo. If safety is at issue, a temporary injunction can be issued without notice to the other side for up to 15 days, with a hearing set at the earliest possible time, and petitions can be filed at the North County or South County Courthouse.
Choosing the Right Divorce Path
An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on property, support, and parenting, is the fastest and least expensive route, but it still benefits from legal review so the agreement is complete and enforceable. A contested divorce involves discovery, depositions, expert witnesses, and possibly trial. Florida also has a simplified dissolution of marriage for couples with no minor children, no pregnancy, full agreement on assets and debts, and mutual waiver of alimony, with at least one spouse meeting the six-month residency rule.
Collaborative divorce and mediation sit between these poles. In a collaborative process, both sides and their attorneys commit to resolving issues without court intervention, often with financial specialists and child specialists. Mediation uses a neutral third party, is commonly required before trial, and resolves many cases before a judge ever rules. A Boca Raton divorce attorney should be able to tell you which path fits your finances, your level of conflict, and your children’s needs, and should be ready to move to litigation if the other side makes settlement impossible.
Alimony and Modification After the Divorce
Alimony length is tied to the length of the marriage, measured from the date of marriage to the date the dissolution action is filed. A marriage under 10 years is short-term, 10 to 20 years is moderate-term, and 20 years or more is long-term. Bridge-the-gap alimony cannot exceed 2 years and cannot be modified in amount or duration. Rehabilitative alimony is capped at 5 years and requires a plan. Durational alimony cannot be awarded after a marriage of less than 3 years, and its length cannot exceed 50% of a short-term marriage, 60% of a moderate-term marriage, or 75% of a long-term one.
Modification rules were also tightened for cases filed after July 1, 2023. A court must reduce or terminate alimony upon finding a supportive relationship with an unrelated person, where the older law said “may.” A paying spouse who reaches normal Social Security retirement age or the customary retirement age for the profession can seek a reduction or termination if retirement has been taken or actionable steps toward it are underway, and the request can be made up to 6 months before an anticipated retirement. Permanent alimony awards entered before the change remain in effect but can be modified under the modification statute.
Boca Raton Divorce Questions Answered
How long does a divorce take in Boca Raton?
Florida imposes a minimum of 20 days from filing before a final judgment can be entered, though a court may act earlier if injustice would result from the delay. An uncontested case with complete paperwork can finish soon after that. Contested cases with business valuation, custody disputes, or heavy discovery take considerably longer, often a year or more.
Who has to live in Florida, and for how long?
At least one spouse must have been a Florida resident for six months before the petition is filed. Boca Raton residents who recently moved from another state should confirm this before filing.
Does a spouse’s business get divided?
The marital portion can be. The first questions are whether the business or part of its growth is marital, and what the marital interest is worth. Florida amended its equitable distribution statute in 2024 on how a marital interest in a closely held business is defined, so classification and valuation require current analysis and often a business valuator.
Will I get equal time with my children?
Florida law now presumes, subject to rebuttal, that equal time-sharing is in a child’s best interests. A parent seeking something different must overcome that presumption with evidence. Changing a schedule later requires showing a substantial and material change of circumstances, and the old requirement that the change be unanticipated no longer applies.
Can I move away with my children during or after the divorce?
A relocation is a move of at least 50 miles lasting at least 60 consecutive days, excluding temporary absences for vacation, education, or a child’s health care. If a parenting plan is in place, the move requires either agreement or court approval. A written objection must be filed and served within 20 days of service of the relocation petition, and the court sets a temporary hearing within 30 days of a motion and a nonjury trial within 90 days of the notice, absent good cause.
What happens to child support when parents earn a lot?
The guideline schedule has a ceiling on combined net income. Above it, the amount is the schedule minimum plus a set percentage of the excess income, which varies with the number of children. A parent who exercises at least 20% of overnights, roughly 73 nights a year, qualifies for a time-sharing adjustment in the calculation.
Can I get a protective injunction while the divorce is pending?
Yes. A domestic violence injunction can be sought whether or not another action is pending, but the pending case must be disclosed in the petition. A temporary injunction issued without notice lasts up to 15 days, and a hearing is set at the earliest possible time.
Serving Divorce Clients Across Boca Raton and South Florida
Our work starts in Boca Raton and extends through the neighborhoods and nearby communities that make up South Palm Beach County, including Delray Beach and the surrounding areas. We also represent clients across Palm Beach County and Broward County, including Coral Springs and Parkland, along with the wider South Florida region.
Whether the case involves a family home, a business, a professional license, or a parenting plan that needs to hold up for years, the firm approaches it with attention to the courts that will actually decide it. Divorces for Palm Beach County residents are heard in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and Broward residents proceed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Speak With a Boca Raton Divorce Attorney at Williams & Varsegi, LLC
The decisions made in the first weeks of a divorce, about finances, living arrangements, and what to sign, tend to shape the result more than anything said at the end. A conversation with a Boca Raton divorce attorney at Williams & Varsegi, LLC can clarify where you stand, which path suits your case, and what to gather before anything is filed. Call to schedule a consultation and bring your questions.
