Hollywood Divorce Attorney
The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC represents clients in divorce and family law matters in Hollywood, 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 Hollywood 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 Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood is a coastal city in southern Broward County situated between Fort Lauderdale to the north and Hallandale Beach to the south, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the City of Pembroke Pines to the west. With a population of over 150,000 residents, Hollywood is one of Broward County’s largest and most diverse cities, featuring a mix of beachfront condominiums, established single-family neighborhoods, townhouse communities, and a thriving downtown known as Young Circle. Hollywood’s resident population includes working families, retirees, professionals, small business owners, and a significant number of residents with ties to both Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Family law matters arising from Hollywood reflect the full range of issues addressed by Florida family law, from contested divorces involving the family home and retirement accounts to timesharing disputes, alimony claims, paternity proceedings, and post-judgment modification matters before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
The firm represents Hollywood 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 Hollywood Family Law Cases Are Heard
Hollywood is located in Broward County. All family law cases for Hollywood 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 Hollywood, 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 Hollywood dissolution proceedings regardless of the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of the marriage.
Hollywood divorce proceedings frequently involve the equitable distribution of the marital home, beachfront or waterfront condominiums, retirement and investment accounts, vehicles, and small business interests. 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. For many Hollywood families, the marital home or condominium is the most significant financial asset in the dissolution proceeding and requires careful attention to current market value, outstanding mortgage obligations, and each spouse’s financial ability to retain or refinance the property going forward.
The Marital Home and Condominiums in a Hollywood Divorce
Hollywood features a diverse real estate market that includes beachfront and oceanview condominiums along Hollywood Beach, established single-family neighborhoods west of Federal Highway, and newer townhouse and condominium developments throughout the city. A home or condominium purchased during the marriage with marital funds is generally a marital asset subject to equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075.
Common outcomes in Hollywood divorce cases involving real property include one spouse buying out the other’s interest and refinancing the mortgage solely in that spouse’s name, an agreed sale of the property with division of the net proceeds, or a deferred sale arrangement that allows minor children to remain in the home until a specified triggering event. Where one spouse made a down payment using premarital funds or received the property as an inheritance, a nonmarital interest claim may be asserted subject to proper tracing under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. A current appraisal by a qualified real estate appraiser is essential to accurate valuation of Hollywood real property at issue in a dissolution proceeding.
Alimony in Hollywood Divorce Cases
Alimony is a significant issue in many Hollywood 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 Hollywood marriages of moderate to long duration involving 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 Hollywood
Timesharing and parental responsibility are among the most frequently contested issues in Hollywood 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 Hollywood, school zoning within Broward County Public Schools, transportation logistics between parents’ residences, and the distance between Hollywood and other South Florida communities where a parent may relocate are frequently important considerations in parenting plan negotiations and timesharing determinations before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Child Support in Hollywood 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 Hollywood 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 Hollywood clients before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Paternity in Hollywood
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 Hollywood paternity proceedings before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County.
Serving Hollywood and Surrounding Broward County Communities
In addition to Hollywood, the firm represents clients from Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, and other Broward County communities. For a complete overview of the firm’s Broward County service area, visit our Broward County family law page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hollywood Divorce Attorney
Where is my divorce case filed if I live in Hollywood, Florida?
Hollywood 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.
What happens to the family home in a Hollywood, Florida divorce?
A home or condominium purchased during the marriage with marital funds is generally a marital asset subject to equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. Common outcomes include one spouse buying out the other’s equity and refinancing the mortgage, an agreed sale with division of net proceeds, or a deferred sale arrangement for families with minor children. Where one spouse contributed premarital funds or an inheritance toward the purchase, a nonmarital interest claim may be asserted subject to proper tracing of those funds under Florida law.
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.
How is paternity established in Florida?
Paternity may be established in Florida through a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents, or through a judicial proceeding under Fla. Stat. § 742.011. In a contested paternity case, the court may order genetic testing to determine biological parentage. Once paternity is established, the court will address timesharing, parental responsibility, and child support in the same proceeding. An unmarried father has no enforceable parental rights in Florida until paternity is legally established.
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 Hollywood, school zoning within Broward County Public Schools, transportation logistics between parents’ residences, and the distance between Hollywood and other South Florida communities are frequently important considerations in parenting plan negotiations and timesharing determinations before the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
How is alimony determined in a Hollywood, Florida 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.
Can I modify my child support or timesharing order after the divorce?
Yes. Both child support and timesharing orders are subject to modification upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances that is material, permanent, and unanticipated at the time of the original order. For child support, common grounds include a significant change in either parent’s income or a substantial change in the timesharing schedule. For timesharing, the moving party must demonstrate that the modification sought is in the best interests of the child. The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC handles post-judgment modification proceedings for Hollywood clients in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
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 Hollywood Divorce Attorney
If you are facing a divorce or family law matter in Hollywood, 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.