Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC represents clients in divorce and family law matters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Located in Brickell at 1221 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, Florida 33131, the firm handles dissolution of marriage, alimony, timesharing, child support, paternity, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and equitable distribution for Fort Lauderdale residents in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County. Attorney Jeffrey Alan Aenlle has practiced Florida family law exclusively since his admission to the Florida Bar in 2011.
Family Law Representation in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County and one of the most prominent cities in South Florida. Home to a population of nearly 190,000 residents, Fort Lauderdale is known for its waterways, boating culture, international airport, thriving downtown corridor, and a diverse residential base that includes working families, professionals, business owners, retirees, and international residents with significant ties to South Florida. The city’s real estate market ranges from waterfront estates and deep-water boating properties to urban condominiums, townhouses, and established single-family neighborhoods, and family law matters arising from Fort Lauderdale frequently involve complex asset division, business interests, alimony disputes, and timesharing arrangements before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
The firm represents Fort Lauderdale clients in dissolution of marriage, uncontested and contested divorce, alimony, child support, timesharing and parental responsibility, paternity, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities, parental relocation, and post-judgment modification of existing court orders. Every matter is handled personally by attorney Jeffrey Alan Aenlle before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County.
Where Fort Lauderdale Family Law Cases Are Heard
Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County. All family law cases for Fort Lauderdale residents are filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County. The Broward County Courthouse is located at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.021, at least one of the parties must have been a Florida resident for a minimum of six months prior to filing a petition for dissolution of marriage.
Divorce in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.052, the only ground required to obtain a dissolution of marriage in Florida is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Neither party is required to prove fault, adultery, or misconduct. The no-fault standard applies equally to all Fort Lauderdale dissolution proceedings regardless of the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of the marriage.
Fort Lauderdale divorce proceedings frequently involve the equitable distribution of waterfront and non-waterfront real property, investment and retirement accounts, boat and marine assets, business interests, and other significant marital property. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.075, the court begins with the presumption that marital assets and liabilities should be divided equally between the spouses, subject to justification for an unequal distribution based on the statutory factors. The complexity of equitable distribution in Fort Lauderdale dissolution proceedings often requires the engagement of real estate appraisers, business valuators, forensic accountants, and other financial experts to accurately value and classify marital and nonmarital assets.
Waterfront Property and Marine Assets in a Fort Lauderdale Divorce
Fort Lauderdale is internationally known as the “yachting capital of the world,” and waterfront residential properties and marine assets are among the most significant and distinctive asset classes in Fort Lauderdale dissolution proceedings. A waterfront home or deep-water boating property purchased during the marriage with marital funds is a marital asset subject to equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. The valuation of waterfront property requires a qualified real estate appraiser with specific experience in the Fort Lauderdale waterfront market, where dock depth, water access, and proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway significantly affect property value.
Boats, yachts, and other marine assets acquired during the marriage are marital property subject to equitable distribution. Valuation of marine assets requires consideration of vessel age, condition, market comparables, outstanding financing, and the costs of maintenance and storage. Where one spouse contributed premarital funds toward the purchase of a waterfront home or vessel, a nonmarital interest claim may be asserted subject to proper tracing under Florida law.
Alimony in Fort Lauderdale Divorce Cases
Alimony is a significant issue in many Fort Lauderdale divorce proceedings, particularly in longer-duration marriages in which one spouse reduced or abandoned employment to manage the household or care for children. Under the 2023 amendments to Fla. Stat. § 61.08, effective for petitions filed on or after July 1, 2023, Florida courts may award durational alimony, rehabilitative alimony, bridge-the-gap alimony, or temporary alimony. Permanent alimony was eliminated for petitions filed on or after that date.
The court considers the statutory factors in Fla. Stat. § 61.08 in determining whether alimony is appropriate and in what amount and for what duration. These factors include the standard of living established during the marriage, the length of the marriage, the financial resources and earning capacity of each spouse, age and health, and each party’s contributions to the marriage including homemaking, child-rearing, and career-related sacrifices. For Fort Lauderdale marriages of moderate to long duration involving significant income disparity between the spouses, alimony analysis is a critical component of dissolution planning from the outset of the case.
Timesharing and Parental Responsibility in Fort Lauderdale
Timesharing and parental responsibility are among the most frequently contested issues in Fort Lauderdale family law proceedings. Florida law requires the court to establish a parenting plan under Fla. Stat. § 61.13 that addresses the timesharing schedule and the allocation of parental responsibility for major decisions affecting the child, including education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. Florida does not use the terms “custody” or “visitation.”
Effective July 1, 2023, Florida law establishes a rebuttable presumption that equal timesharing is in the best interests of the minor child. Either party may rebut this presumption through competent evidence that equal timesharing is not appropriate based on the statutory factors in Fla. Stat. § 61.13(3). In Fort Lauderdale, school zoning across Broward County Public Schools, transportation logistics between parents’ residences, and each parent’s work schedule are frequently important practical considerations in parenting plan negotiations and timesharing determinations before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Child Support in Fort Lauderdale Divorce and Paternity Cases
Child support in Florida is calculated under the income shares model set forth in Fla. Stat. § 61.30. The calculation considers the combined net income of both parents, the number of children, the cost of health insurance for the children, childcare costs necessary for employment, and the number of overnight timesharing days each parent exercises. Deviations from the guideline amount are permitted where the court finds that the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate, but any departure must be supported by written findings.
Child support orders are subject to modification upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances under Fla. Stat. § 61.30(1)(b). Common grounds for modification in Fort Lauderdale cases include a significant change in either parent’s income, a substantial change in the timesharing schedule, or a material change in the child’s needs. The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC handles both initial child support determinations and post-judgment modification proceedings for Fort Lauderdale clients before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Paternity in Fort Lauderdale
Paternity proceedings arise when a child is born to parents who are not married to each other. In Florida, establishing paternity through a court proceeding is the legal mechanism by which an unmarried father obtains enforceable parental rights and responsibilities, including timesharing and parental responsibility, and by which child support obligations are established. Under Fla. Stat. § 742.011, either parent may file a petition to determine paternity in the circuit court of the county where the child resides. An unmarried father has no enforceable parental rights in Florida until paternity is legally established.
Once paternity is established, the court will address timesharing, parental responsibility, and child support in the same proceeding. The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC represents both mothers and fathers in Fort Lauderdale paternity proceedings before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in Fort Lauderdale
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are valuable planning tools for Fort Lauderdale residents who own waterfront property, business interests, investment portfolios, or other significant assets prior to or during the marriage. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.079, a prenuptial agreement is enforceable in Florida if it is in writing, signed by both parties, and entered into voluntarily with full financial disclosure. A well-drafted prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can define the classification of specific assets as marital or nonmarital, establish agreed alimony terms, and provide financial clarity for both parties in the event of a future dissolution. The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC drafts and reviews prenuptial and postnuptial agreements for Fort Lauderdale clients and represents clients in dissolution proceedings where the enforceability of an existing agreement is at issue.
Serving Fort Lauderdale and Broward County
In addition to Fort Lauderdale, the firm represents clients throughout Broward County, including Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and surrounding communities. For a complete overview of the firm’s service area, visit our Broward County family law page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
Where is my divorce case filed if I live in Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale is located in Broward County. Your divorce case will be filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County, at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. At least one spouse must have been a Florida resident for a minimum of six months prior to filing the petition for dissolution of marriage under Fla. Stat. § 61.021.
How is waterfront property divided in a Fort Lauderdale divorce?
A waterfront home purchased during the marriage with marital funds is a marital asset subject to equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. Valuation requires a qualified real estate appraiser with experience in the Fort Lauderdale waterfront market, where dock depth, water access, and proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway significantly affect value. Common outcomes include one spouse buying out the other’s equity and refinancing, or an agreed sale with division of net proceeds. Where one spouse contributed premarital funds toward the purchase, a nonmarital interest claim may be asserted subject to proper tracing under Florida law.
Are boats and yachts divided in a Florida divorce?
Yes. Boats, yachts, and other marine assets acquired during the marriage are marital property subject to equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. Valuation requires consideration of vessel age, condition, market comparables, outstanding financing, and maintenance and storage costs. Where one spouse owned the vessel prior to the marriage or purchased it with premarital funds, a nonmarital interest claim may be asserted subject to proper tracing under Florida law.
How is alimony determined in a Fort Lauderdale divorce?
Florida courts consider the statutory factors in Fla. Stat. § 61.08, including the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, the financial resources and earning capacity of each spouse, age and health, and each party’s contributions to the marriage. The 2023 amendments to Fla. Stat. § 61.08, effective for petitions filed on or after July 1, 2023, eliminated permanent alimony and introduced durational caps based on the length of the marriage. There is no fixed formula. The court determines alimony based on the totality of the circumstances in each individual case.
Does Florida favor equal timesharing?
Yes. Effective July 1, 2023, Florida law establishes a rebuttable presumption that equal timesharing is in the best interests of the minor child under Fla. Stat. § 61.13. Either party may present competent evidence to rebut this presumption based on the statutory factors. In Fort Lauderdale, school zoning across Broward County Public Schools, transportation logistics between parents’ residences, and each parent’s work schedule are frequently important practical considerations in parenting plan negotiations and timesharing determinations before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
How is child support calculated in Florida?
Florida child support is calculated under the income shares model in Fla. Stat. § 61.30. The calculation considers the combined net income of both parents, the number of children, the cost of health insurance for the children, childcare costs necessary for employment, and the number of overnights each parent exercises. The resulting guideline amount may be adjusted where the court finds the standard amount would be unjust or inappropriate, but any deviation must be supported by written findings explaining the basis for the departure.
Are prenuptial agreements enforceable in Florida?
Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.079, a prenuptial agreement is enforceable in Florida if it is in writing, signed by both parties, and entered into voluntarily with full financial disclosure. A prenuptial agreement may address the classification of assets as marital or nonmarital, establish agreed alimony terms, and provide financial clarity for both parties in the event of a future dissolution. An agreement may be challenged on grounds including involuntariness, fraud, duress, or failure to provide adequate financial disclosure prior to execution.
How long does a divorce take in Broward County?
An uncontested divorce in Broward County where all issues are resolved prior to filing can be finalized in as little as four to six weeks. A contested divorce involving disputed property, alimony, or timesharing typically takes between six months and two years depending on the complexity of the issues, the court’s docket, and whether the matter proceeds to trial. Mediation is required in most Broward County family law cases before the matter can be set for trial and can provide an efficient path to resolution where both parties are prepared to negotiate in good faith.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
If you are facing a divorce or family law matter in Fort Lauderdale, contact the Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC today to schedule a free consultation. The firm represents clients at every stage of family law proceedings before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County.