• CHOOSE AN OFFICE:
• Baldwin Park
  
• Clearwater
  
• Orlando
  
• St. Petersburg
  
• Tampa
  

St. Petersburg Divorce Attorney Focused on Men's Family Law

Cordell & Cordell's St. Petersburg divorce attorney and family lawyers handle family law exclusively, which provides them an in-depth knowledge of Florida divorce laws and Florida child custody guidelines. Our family lawyers also focus on men's domestic litigation.

Men choose Cordell & Cordell's St. Petersburg divorce attorney and family lawyers because our focus on father's rights allows us to fully understand the challenges you will face in the family court system.

To schedule an appointment with a St. Petersburg divorce attorney, call 813-884-8888 or 1-866-DADS-LAW. Cordell & Cordell St. Petersburg Divorce Lawyers - Located at 111 2nd Avenue NE, Suite 900, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Phone: 813-884-8888 .

Frequently Asked St. Petersburg Divorce Questions

How long do I have to live in St. Petersburg to file for divorce?

In the state of Florida, a court cannot grant a valid judgment of dissolution of marriage unless one of the parties (not necessarily the petitioner) has resided in Florida for the six months before the filing of the petition.

Therefore, a nonresident spouse may file a petition for dissolution of marriage by pleading and proving the residence of the other party.

Is there a mandatory waiting period in St. Petersburg before a divorce can be granted? How long will a divorce take?

Florida does not require a mandatory waiting period before a divorce can be granted. Nevertheless, traditional due process standards apply to divorce proceedings.

Once a divorce case has been filed, a copy must be served on the respondent. After being served, the respondent has 20 days to file an answer admitting or denying the allegations contained in the petition.

If a response is not filed, the petitioner may file a motion for default with the clerk. This means that you may proceed with your case and set a final hearing, and a judge will make a decision, even if the other party will not cooperate.

However, you should be aware that even a case subject to default judgment or an uncontested divorce case might take several months to be finalized because family courts throughout the state of Florida generally have heavy caseloads.

Contested divorce cases may take several months to more than one year to complete from start to finish.

How can I serve my spouse in this St. Petersburg? If attempts to serve do not work, can I serve by publication?

When one party files a petition, or other pleading, the other party must be "served" with a copy of the document. This means that the other party is given proper notice of the pending action and any scheduled hearings.

Personal service of the petition for dissolution of marriage and summons on the respondent by a deputy sheriff or private process server is required in all original petitions for dissolution of marriage.

However, if you absolutely do not know where the other party to your case lives or if the other party resides in another state, you may be able use constructive service or service by publication. The law regarding constructive service is very complex and you should consult an attorney regarding these issues.

What are the specific forms I will need to file for a divorce in St. Petersburg?

You will need a Civil Case Cover Sheet, Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Notice of Social Security Number, Proof of Florida residency for at least six months, and a Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Affidavit (if there are children born of the marriage) to file for divorce.

There are other mandatory financial disclosure documents that need to be filed during the case.

Where should I file for divorce if I live in Pinellas County?

In Florida, original jurisdiction for dissolution of marriage proceedings is in the circuit court. Proper venue is the single county, located within one of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits, where the marriage last existed or the county where both parties were last present with a common intent to remain married.

Attorneys in the Florida offices of Cordell & Cordell accept cases from all Florida jurisdictions, but the St. Petersburg office practices mostly in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which includes Pinellas County and the cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

If venue is appropriate for Pinellas County, Florida, then your divorce case should be filed as indicated below:

If your address has one of the following ZIP codes: 33755, 33756, 33757, 33758, 33759, 33760, 33761, 33762, 33763, 33764, 33765, 33766, 33767, 33770, 33771, 33772, 33773, 33774, 33775, 33776, 33777, 33778, 33779, 33780, 33784, 33785, 33786, 34660, 34677, 34681, 34682, 34683, 34684, 34685, 34688, 34689, 34695, 34697 and 34698, then you should file your divorce case at the Clearwater Courthouse located at 315 Court St. in Clearwater.

If your address has one of the following ZIP codes: 33701, 33702, 33703, 33704, 33705, 33706, 33707, 33708, 33709, 33710, 33711, 33712, 33713, 33714, 33715, 33716, 33744, 33730, 33731, 33732, 33733, 33734, 33736, 33737, 33738, 33740, 33741, 33742, 33743, 33744, 33781 and 33782, then you should file your divorce case at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building located at 545 First Avenue North in St. Petersburg.

How much are filing fees at the local courthouse?

Delivering the petition for dissolution of marriage to the clerk of the circuit court is called filing a case, and a filing fee is usually required.

Filing fees are established by Florida Statutes, county ordinances, administrative orders, rules of court procedures, and special legislative acts. Thus, filing fees can vary from circuit to circuit, as well as from county to county within the same circuit.

In the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Pinellas County, the cost for filing a petition for dissolution of marriage is $408, which includes the Final Judgment recording fee. A counter-petition for dissolution of marriage costs $295 to file. The cost of issuance of a summons to effectuate service of process on your spouse is $10.

Click the link for additional information regarding filing fees in the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Pinellas County.

Are there any Pinellas County-Specific laws that are different from how other family law cases around the state are handled?

Each local court creates local rules and follows local practices. You should consult with an experienced family law attorney to be certain all rules and local practices are followed.

end faq

Cordell & Cordell St Petersburg Office