Divorce Rate Falls in Florida

The Florida Department of Health released information recently indicating that, while the marriage rate in Florida is rising, the divorce rate fell to the lowest it has been in decades. Per every 100 marriages, there were 54 divorces finalized in Florida last year. This is the lowest divorce rate since 1960. In contrast, the number of marriages per year increased in 2014 for the first time after declining each year for the past ten years.

Divorce Rate in Florida Higher Than the National Rate

Even though the percentage of marriages that ended in divorce last year hit a long-time low, the divorce rate for the state of Florida is still higher than the rate for the entire United States. People are still filing for divorce on a regular basis and still face all of the legal issues that can be related to a divorce case. Only some of the legal issues in a divorce include as follows:

• Division of property — Florida law requires that all marital property must be divided in an equitable manner between the spouses. Identifying all marital property and deciding on a fair way to divide it can be complicated.
• Custody and parenting agreements — Courts are expected to seek out a custody and parenting arrangement that is in the best interests of the child. An agreement must be signed that sets out many details of parenting, including time spent with each parent, who will make certain decisions, and more.
• Child support — In most cases, one parent will have to provide child support to the other based on a specific formula set out by law. The formula takes into consideration the respective income and expenses of the parents as well as the necessary expenses for each of their children.
• Spousal support — In some instances, one spouse may have to provide alimony to the other depending on the length of the marriage, their respective contributions to the marriage, and their respective ability to support themselves immediately following the divorce.
• Enforceability of a premarital agreement — If the spouses signed an agreement prior to marriage regarding the division of property and alimony in the event of divorce, one spouse may claim that the agreement is not enforceable for a variety of reasons and the other spouse will have to defend the enforceability of the agreement.

Some divorces can be more complicated and have unique issues based on the circumstances of the marriage. It is important to have an attorney on your side who can identify and handle any issues that may arise in your divorce case.

A Skilled Family Law Attorney in Boca Raton Can Help You

If you are facing a divorce, child custody issues, child support disputes, or any other family law-related legal matter, you should not wait to consult with qualified family lawyer Alan R. Burton in Boca Raton today. Mr. Burton has extensive experience handling a wide array of divorce and family-related cases and will always stand up for your best interests throughout your case. Your family is important, so call today at 954-229-1660 for assistance.