How is alimony calculated in Florida after the 2023 reform?

Florida no longer awards permanent alimony. The court considers the length of the marriage, both parties' incomes, the standard of living during the marriage, and a number of other statutory factors to award durational, bridge-the-gap, or rehabilitative alimony. The maximum durational alimony is now generally limited to a percentage of the marriage length.

Will my child custody case be heard in Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach County?

Generally, custody jurisdiction follows the child's home state and home county. If your child has lived in Broward County for the last six months, the case will typically be heard in Broward. Lateshia practices regularly in all three South Florida counties and is admitted to practice statewide in Florida.

Can I represent myself in an uncontested divorce?

You can — but small drafting mistakes in the marital settlement agreement can cause years of enforcement headaches later. For uncontested cases, Lateshia offers flat-fee document preparation that is typically less expensive than fixing a DIY filing later.

What is a parenting plan and is it required?

Yes. Florida law requires a parenting plan in every case involving minor children. The plan addresses time-sharing, decision-making authority, communication, and how the parents will handle disputes. Courts will not finalize a divorce or paternity action without one.

Agreed Divorce Lawyer Plantation FL

Divorce in Florida — Contested & Uncontested

Florida is a no-fault divorce state, which means you don't have to prove wrongdoing to dissolve a marriage. What you do have to do is divide assets, debts, parental responsibilities, and (when relevant) alimony. Lateshia handles both uncontested divorces — where flat-fee representation is often appropriate — and fully contested matters involving complex assets, custody disputes, and relocation.

Uncontested divorce — flat fee available
Contested divorce — retainer-based with payment plans
High-asset division and business valuation
Out-of-state and military divorces

Child Custody & Time-Sharing

Florida law presumes equal time-sharing is in the best interests of the child unless evidence shows otherwise. The work is documenting that evidence — and presenting it credibly to a Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach County family court. Lateshia's DCF background gives her a working knowledge of how courts evaluate parental fitness, dependency factors, and the specific concerns that move custody outcomes.

Time-sharing schedules and parenting plans
Modifications when circumstances change
Relocation petitions (in-state and out-of-state)
Paternity establishment and disestablishment
Domestic-violence and protective injunctions

Alimony & Child Support

Florida revised its alimony statute in 2023 — eliminating permanent alimony and reshaping how durational, bridge-the-gap, and rehabilitative alimony are calculated. Lateshia stays current on these changes and walks every client through how the new law applies to their specific income, marriage length, and standard of living.

Durational, bridge-the-gap, and rehabilitative alimony
Child support calculation and enforcement
Modifications based on income or custody changes
Contempt and enforcement actions

Domestic Violence Injunctions

Injunctions for protection (sometimes called restraining orders) can be sought ex parte — without the other party initially present — and are heard within 15 days. Lateshia represents both petitioners seeking protection and respondents defending against allegations.

Domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking injunctions
Modifications and dissolutions
Defense against false or overbroad allegations

How a family law matter typically moves at Lateshia Frye Law

1. Initial consultation

We meet — in person in Plantation, by phone, or by video. You explain the situation. Lateshia tells you what's likely, what's possible, and what's not.

2. Strategy & engagement

If we move forward, you receive a written engagement letter with a clear scope and fee structure. Payment plans are available for most family law matters.

3. Filing & representation

Lateshia drafts and files the necessary pleadings, handles discovery, negotiates with opposing counsel, and represents you at every hearing through resolution.

What outcomes look like

Most uncontested divorces resolve in 60–90 days. Contested matters with custody disputes typically run 9–18 months in Broward and Miami-Dade County. You'll get a realistic timeline at the consultation — not a generic estimate.

"You'll know more about your case leaving our consultation than you did walking in. That's the only promise I make."

If you'd like to walk through your specific facts with Lateshia, the next step is a consultation. Schedule one here →

What an Agreed Divorce Actually Requires in Broward County

An agreed — or uncontested — divorce means both spouses have reached a mutual understanding on every issue: property division, any alimony, and, if children are involved, a complete parenting plan with a time-sharing schedule. Florida courts will not finalize the divorce until every one of those items is documented correctly and filed with the Broward County Circuit Court's Family Law Division.

Broward County has specific local administrative requirements around mandatory disclosure forms, financial affidavits, and parenting course completion that differ from other South Florida circuits. Missing a local form or filing documents in the wrong sequence can stall a case that should close in 60–90 days. Lateshia handles the paperwork, coordinates the filings with the Broward Clerk of Courts, and flags anything that could slow your final judgment down.

For couples in Plantation and surrounding Broward communities — Davie, Sunrise, Lauderhill — the Broward Family Court hub on North Perry Avenue in Fort Lauderdale processes these filings. Knowing the clerk's current processing windows and the assigned judge's standing orders matters when you need a predictable timeline.

Marital settlement agreement drafted to Florida statutory standards

Required financial affidavits prepared and cross-checked

Parenting plan and time-sharing schedule (when children are involved)

Mandatory parenting course coordination before final hearing

Filing and coordination with Broward County Circuit Court

Why Agreement Alone Does Not Mean You Don't Need a Lawyer

Many Plantation couples arrive at an agreement on their own — and that is a good starting point. The legal risk is in the written document, not the conversation. A marital settlement agreement that is vague about how a retirement account is divided, silent on what happens if one spouse refinances the marital home, or missing a required QDRO provision for a pension can produce years of enforcement disputes after the divorce is final.

Lateshia reviews the terms you have already discussed, identifies gaps a Broward County judge is likely to question, and drafts language that holds up. For couples who are mostly aligned but have one or two sticking points — a business interest, a rental property, a question about durational alimony under Florida's 2023 reform — she can also help bridge those issues without escalating to full contested litigation.

Flat-fee representation is available for straightforward uncontested matters. Cases with minor children, significant assets, or any alimony component are scoped individually so the engagement matches the actual complexity.

Common questions

How long does an agreed divorce take to finalize in Plantation, FL?

Most uncontested divorces in Broward County resolve in roughly 60–90 days from the date of filing, assuming all documents are correct and both parties have completed the required parenting course (when children are involved). Errors in the marital settlement agreement or missing financial disclosures are the most common reasons timelines stretch — getting the paperwork right on the first filing is what keeps that window realistic.

Can we use one lawyer for an agreed divorce, or does each spouse need their own attorney?

In Florida, one attorney can only represent one party — the attorney cannot give independent legal advice to both spouses simultaneously. Lateshia represents one spouse in the matter. The other spouse may review the documents, consult a separate attorney, or choose to proceed without representation; that is their right. What Lateshia ensures is that the documents are legally sound and that her client's interests are clearly protected in the final agreement.

What happens if we agree on most things but not everything — can the case still be uncontested?

Yes, in many situations. If the disagreement is narrow — say, the division of one account or the specifics of a holiday time-sharing schedule — those gaps can often be resolved through negotiation before filing, keeping the case uncontested. If a resolution cannot be reached on a specific issue, that item can be submitted to the court while the rest of the agreement stands, though the case then becomes partially contested. Lateshia will give you a clear assessment of where your case actually sits at the initial consultation.

Family Law attorney serving Plantation & South Florida.