A Contested Divorce Attorney For Men in St. Petersburg

Going through a divorce is rarely an easy process. After all, you put a significant amount of your time, emotions, and energy into maintaining your relationship. That it has come to a necessary end can understandably be draining. However, one of the elements that can make the process more manageable is the knowledge that you’ll soon be able to move on with your life in a positive way.

As such, you are likely to want the divorce process to proceed as smoothly and quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there are aspects that can present hurdles to this. One of the obstacles men in St. Petersburg face is the prospect of a contested divorce. This can add significant time and complexity to what you hoped would be a relatively simple divorce.

Handling a contested divorce in a swift and effective manner is not something you should attempt on your own. Having experienced legal counsel in your corner can empower you to navigate the issues behind your spouse’s contest and overcome the hurdles so you can move on with the life you deserve. As the renowned divorce attorneys for men in St. Petersburg, FL, In Law We Trust Divorce and Family Lawyers should be on your radar. Since 2014, the law firm of In Law We Trust Divorce and Family Lawyers, has been repeatedly selected by the National Trial Lawyers of America as one of the Top 40 under 40 in Florida. We’ve also been a featured member of The National Academy of Family Law Attorneys since 2019, as well as included in Super Lawyers each year since 2017. Our dedication, passion, and skills have earned our firm the reputation of being attorneys that husbands can trust to get fair representation in challenging divorce cases.

What is a Contested Divorce?

So, what is considered a contested divorce? This doesn’t mean that your spouse is refusing to allow the divorce to proceed. You have the power to divorce whether or not your ex is in favor of it. Rather, a contested divorce arises when there are disagreements in the terms of the divorce between spouses. This can take the form of child custody arrangements, financial division, and alimony or spousal support amounts, among others.

In some instances these may be perfectly legitimate disagreements between what each party considers to be fair. However, the situation isn’t always quite this straightforward. There may be elements of greed involved, in which your spouse may be seeking a larger amount of your shared or personal assets than they’re entitled to. It’s also not uncommon for a contested divorce to be a form of revenge. Your spouse may be trying to make the divorce process as difficult and expensive for you as possible as a form of punishment for the divorce or the circumstances that led to it.

This can certainly be a frustrating situation to be facing. The good news is that a family lawyer dedicated to representing men in St. Petersburg will have experience in this situation. They’ll not only recognize the signs of an unnecessarily contested divorce but also have the tools you can use to navigate it. Together, you’ll develop a strategy to address the issues leading to the contested divorce in a fair way.

How Long Does it Take?

One of the questions most divorcing men will have in the event of a contested divorce is of what the likely time frame will be. This is only understandable, as you want to move on with your life. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. There are various elements that go into navigating a contested divorce.

Firstly, once you’ve engaged your lawyer, they’ll start to research the circumstances of your case. Then, they’ll file a petition for dissolution of marriage with the court. Following this, there will be a period of discovery. This is where the attorneys of both partners undertake investigations into aspects such as finances, childcare situations, and assets, among others. The aim of this is to gain evidence that can be used to support or defend claims related to the contested components of the divorce. Usually, this is followed by a period of mediation, with the goal to have each spouse agree to fair terms. If this isn’t possible, the case will then go to court.

The speed with which this is carried out can be dependent on the complexity of the case and the willingness of both parties to reach fair agreements. In the worst case scenarios, the time can also be extended as a result of waiting for court dates and resulting appeals. As such, a contested divorce in St. Petersburg can take anything from a few months to several years.

Again, your choice of family law attorney tends to make a significant difference to your experience. You need to work with a professional that has access to resources and skills that make a thorough and accurate discovery process possible. This may include having access to third parties such as forensic accountants in high net worth contested divorces. They’ll also need to be experienced negotiators to guide you through the mediation process. In the event that your case needs to go to court, you should ensure that your representative is able to take an aggressive yet measured approach.

What if the Case hasn’t Gone Your Way?

There may be several reasons why your contested divorce hasn’t been finalized fairly. One reason is that you may have wanted to end the process as quickly as possible and simply agreed to your spouse’s terms in court without considering the full repercussions. Alternatively, your previous legal counsel may not have had the skills or experience to represent you effectively, resulting in poor terms. In some cases, you may have been unfairly treated as a result of the Florida family court system’s reputation for favoring mothers in divorces and custody cases.

The good news is that you’re not powerless in these scenarios. You can work with an attorney to file an appeal with courts. However, this must be performed within 30 days of the previous court ruling. You and your attorney then have the chance to present evidence to the District Court of Appeals to show unfair treatment or your legitimate reasons why you feel a new arrangement should be made. It’s important to note that this can still add time and expenses to your contested divorce and your lawyer can provide you with insights into the likelihood of success so you can make an informed choice.

Helping Husbands Navigate Contested Divorces in St. Petersburg, FL

Most divorcing men would like a smooth, fast, and fair divorce process. Regrettably, your spouse may not be willing to allow this to happen and instead prompt a contested divorce. As such, it’s important to connect with a skilled and experienced divorce attorney that has the resources and knowledge to help you navigate the situation. The law firm, In Law We Trust Divorce and Family Lawyers, has spent years successfully representing men in St. Petersburg, FL throughout challenging cases. The earlier in the process you can contact us to begin a review of your case, the faster and more effectively we can start to address the hurdles you face. You deserve a fair divorce outcome and we are dedicated to helping you achieve this.