Miami-Dade Divorce & Family Law Attorney
The Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC is a boutique divorce and family law firm located at 1221 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, Florida 33131. We represent individuals and families throughout Miami-Dade County in divorce, child custody, alimony, child support, paternity, and prenuptial agreements.
Miami-Dade County is one of the most populous and culturally diverse counties in the United States, home to over 2.7 million residents representing more than 100 nationalities. Family law matters in Miami-Dade reflect this diversity – cases frequently involve international assets, multilingual households, non-U.S. nationals, Hague Convention custody disputes, and cross-border enforcement of family court orders. Our firm has the experience and geographic focus to handle the full range of Miami-Dade family law matters from straightforward uncontested divorces to complex high-net-worth litigation.
Miami-Dade Family Court — The Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Divorce and family law proceedings in Miami-Dade County are handled by the
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, Family Division, located at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128.
The Miami-Dade Family Division handles all matters relating to dissolution of marriage, parental responsibility and timesharing, child support, alimony, paternity, domestic violence injunctions, and modification of family court orders. Miami-Dade Family Court is one of the busiest family court systems in Florida, and navigating its local rules, standing orders, and case management procedures requires an attorney with specific Miami-Dade experience.
Key procedural requirements in Miami-Dade Family Court include:
- Mandatory mediation before most contested family law matters can be set for trial
- Financial disclosure requirements including mandatory exchange of financial affidavits
under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285 - Mandatory parenting course completion before final hearing in cases involving
minor children under Fla. Stat. § 61.21 - Case management conferences in contested matters
- Guardian ad Litem appointment in contested timesharing cases involving the welfare of minor children
Divorce in Miami-Dade County
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. The sole ground for dissolution of marriage is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Fla. Stat. § 61.052. At least one spouse must have been a Florida resident for a minimum of six months before filing. Fla. Stat. § 61.021.
Miami-Dade divorce cases range from simple uncontested matters resolved through a Marital Settlement Agreement to complex contested proceedings involving significant marital estates, business interests, and international assets. Our firm handles the full spectrum including:
- Simplified dissolution of marriage
- Uncontested divorce and Marital Settlement Agreement drafting
- Contested divorce litigation
- High-net-worth divorce involving complex asset portfolios
- International divorce with cross-border asset and custody issues
- Gray divorce involving long-term marriages and retirement asset division
Equitable Distribution in Miami-Dade Divorces
Florida follows the principle of equitable distribution – marital assets and liabilities are divided fairly between spouses, though not necessarily equally. Fla. Stat. § 61.075. The court begins with a presumption that equal distribution is appropriate and may deviate based on statutory factors including each spouse’s economic circumstances, contributions to the marriage, and the intentional dissipation of marital assets.
Miami-Dade divorces frequently involve the following asset classes requiring careful valuation and distribution:
- Miami-Dade residential and commercial real estate
- Investment and brokerage accounts
- Business ownership interests and professional practices
- Retirement accounts including 401(k), IRA, and pension plans
- Deferred compensation, stock options, and restricted stock units
- Offshore and international accounts
- Cryptocurrency and digital assets
- Boats, vessels, and watercraft
- Art, jewelry, and collectibles
Child Custody and Timesharing in Miami-Dade County
Florida law governs parental responsibility and timesharing through a mandatory Parenting Plan. Fla. Stat. § 61.13. Effective July 1, 2023, Florida established a rebuttable presumption that equal timesharing – a 50/50 schedule – is in the best interests of the child. Fla. Stat. § 61.13(2)(c)(1).
Miami-Dade timesharing matters present unique challenges not commonly found in other Florida counties, including:
- International relocation requests and Hague Convention proceedings
- Timesharing arrangements for families with non-U.S. national parents
- Passport and international travel consent disputes
- Parenting Plans accommodating demanding professional and travel schedules
- Timesharing modifications following remarriage or new household circumstances
- Parental alienation in high-conflict Miami-Dade cases
Our firm handles the full range of parental responsibility and timesharing matters before Miami-Dade Family Court, from initial Parenting Plan drafting through contested litigation and modification proceedings. For more information visit our Miami child custody attorney page.
Alimony in Miami-Dade County Divorces
Florida’s alimony law was significantly reformed effective July 1, 2023. Permanent alimony was abolished. Courts may now award bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony based on the length of the marriage and the statutory factors set forth in Fla. Stat. § 61.08. The length of the marriage is the primary factor governing the type and duration of alimony available:
- Short-term marriage (under 7 years): durational alimony not to exceed 50% of the length of the marriage
- Moderate-term marriage (7 to 17 years): durational alimony not to exceed 60% of the length of the marriage
- Long-term marriage (17 years or more): durational alimony not to exceed 75%
of the length of the marriage
Our firm represents both payors and recipients of alimony throughout Miami-Dade County in negotiation, mediation, and contested litigation. For more information visit our Miami alimony attorney page.
Paternity in Miami-Dade County
In Florida, paternity must be legally established before an unmarried father has any enforceable rights regarding timesharing or parental responsibility. Fla. Stat. § 742.10. Paternity may be established voluntarily through a signed acknowledgment of paternity or by court order following genetic testing.
Miami-Dade paternity proceedings frequently arise in cases involving unmarried parents separating after the birth of a child, disputes over parental rights, and child support enforcement matters. Our firm represents both mothers and fathers in Miami-Dade paternity proceedings. For more information visit our Miami paternity attorney page.
Prenuptial Agreements in Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade’s diverse, internationally connected population makes prenuptial agreements particularly important, especially for non-U.S. nationals, high-net worth individuals, business owners, and anyone entering a second marriage with significant pre-marital assets. Florida prenuptial agreements are governed by the Florida Premarital Agreement Act, Fla. Stat. § 61.079.
Our firm drafts and reviews prenuptial and postnuptial agreements for Miami-Dade residents with particular attention to international asset structures and cross border enforceability. For more information visit our Miami prenuptial agreement attorney page.
Communities We Serve Throughout Miami-Dade County
Our firm represents clients in divorce and family law matters throughout Miami Dade County including:
- Brickell
- Coconut Grove
- Key Biscayne
- Coral Gables
- South Miami and Pinecrest
- Downtown Miami and Edgewater
- Miami Beach and South Beach
- Aventura and Sunny Isles Beach
- North Miami Beach and Miami Shores
- Doral and Hialeah
- Kendall, Cutler Bay, and Palmetto Bay
- Opa-Locka and North Miami
Free Consultation: Miami-Dade Family Law Attorney
If you are facing a divorce, custody dispute, alimony matter, or any other family law issue in Miami-Dade County, contact the Law Firm of Jeffrey Alan Aenlle, PLLC to schedule your free initial consultation. Call +1.786.309.8588 today.