florida, just been served with divorce papers and cannot afford a lawyer, what do i do?

by Ms. Eulalia Schultz II 4 min read

What if I cannot afford a lawyer? If your income is very low, you may qualify for free representation from Legal Aid. And if your spouse earns substantially more than you do, the court might order your spouse to pay your attorney's fees at the end of the case.

How do I respond to a Florida divorce summons?

Respond immediately: Call an experienced Tampa, FL divorce attorney for assistance. In responding to divorce papers in Florida, you can file an 'answer', a 'counterclaim', or both. Simply put, the answer is a response to your spouse's allegations, statements, or complaint.Oct 17, 2019

How can I get a divorce lawyer with no money in Florida?

If you have a civil legal problem but cannot afford to hire a private lawyer, you still may have access to the legal system through your local legal services-legal aid organization which provides free or low cost legal services to persons with low incomes.Jun 2, 2021

What happens after divorce papers are served in Florida?

As mentioned earlier, you have 20 days to respond to your spouse's petition for divorce. If you do not respond within 20 days, your divorce case may proceed towards a default divorce. You should focus on protecting your legal rights after being served with divorce papers in Florida.Feb 16, 2021

What qualifies you for legal aid in Florida?

Eligibility Guidelines To obtain free assistance, you must be eligible for services by meeting guidelines based primarily on income, assets, and household size. Generally, you will be eligible if your income does not exceed 125% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

What is wife entitled to in divorce in Florida?

Earning capacity and education of both parties. Contribution of each spouse to the marriage, including financial contributions. Tax treatment of both parties. Both parties' parenting responsibilities.Feb 28, 2022

What is a contested divorce?

What is a contested divorce? A contested divorce is a more complicated procedure and will involve the divorcing couple having to attend court hearings (usually two). If the respondent wants to defend the divorce, they will then have a further month to submit their answer (which is similar to a statement).May 11, 2021

How long after filing for divorce are papers served in Florida?

Serving the Petition Your spouse must be served within 120 days of when you file the petition. In most cases, spouses are served within one week of the petition being filed with the court.Sep 15, 2020

What happens if spouse does not respond to divorce papers Florida?

When a party does not respond to a petition, a default divorce can be entered. Typically, when served with a Florida divorce petition, there are only 20 days to file a response. If a response is not filed on time, the petitioner (person filing the case) can request a default divorce be entered against the other party.Sep 22, 2020

How long does it take to be served with divorce papers in Florida?

Answer Period – 20 days After the process server delivers the Summons and Petition to the other party, they have 20 days to file an answer. This is normally a predictable period of time.Mar 10, 2018

Can u get legal aid for a divorce?

Can I get Legal Aid? Legal Aid is no longer available for most divorce cases, although there are limited circumstances in which it may be granted.Oct 15, 2021

Does Florida have free legal aid?

If you cannot afford a lawyer, legal help is available at free or reduced fees. Organizations below can help in many areas of law beyond family law.

How do you deal with legal problems?

6 steps to dealing with a legal issue or disputeHave a plan in place to deal with a legal issue or dispute. ... Review the Contract (if relevant) ... Speak to a Lawyer. ... Attempt to reconcile. ... Arbitration (if possible) ... Litigation. ... Conclusion.Mar 20, 2015

What is a limited scope divorce?

Having a limited scope reduces your divorces’s legal fees, and is completely manageable if you do not go to court. Your lawyer can help you with some of the following: There are two types of separation: simple separation and legal separation. For a simple separation, there is no legal intervention.

How much does a divorce lawyer charge?

Most lawyers charge a retainer of $3,500 to $10,000 per spouse, and this is only the first fee you will have to pay. Most people don’t have that kind of money to spare.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony or spousal support. Property and debt allocation. This route allows both parties to actively control their spousal rights and obligations without having to go to court. Your separation agreement must pass legal muster, so you will need a bit of help from a divorce lawyer.

What are the two types of separation?

There are two types of separation: simple separation and legal separation. For a simple separation, there is no legal intervention. If you have no other variables like children, debt, or property, simple separation is the easiest and most affordable route.

Can you walk away from a marriage?

In a separation, you can walk away from the marriage as swiftly and painlessly as possible, but you’re still legally married. If there are still legal obligations, you’ll need to fulfill them. For example, if your ex was in an accident, you’d have to make all the medical decisions for them if they could not.

Serving Your Spouse in Florida

First off, no matter where your spouse lives (even if he or she lives with you presently), you yourself can never be the person who performs service of the divorce papers. In most cases, you will need to have a sheriff serve the papers or hire a private service processor certified in the county in which service is made.

When Your Spouse is Outside of Florida or You Cannot Find Him or Her

Things get more complicated when your spouse is no longer in Florida or cannot be found (and spouses serving overseas in the military are protected by their own set of rules regarding service of divorce papers).

Legal Help in Your Florida Divorce Action

No matter where you are in the divorce process in Florida, from initial consideration to ongoing litigation, The Law Offices of Ira M. Marcus, P.A. in Miami can help. Contact our office today to set up a consultation with a trusted and caring family law attorney.

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Served with Divorce Papers in Fort Myers, Florida?

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If you have been served with divorce papers in Florida, you shouldcontact a lawyerimmediately, as you only have 20 days to prepare a response. The term divorce papers are commonly used to refer to a document called the Initial Petition for Divorce. It is merely the paper that gets the divorce rolling. Once you have bee…
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Respond to Divorce Papers with A Counter-Petition?

  • Your lawyer will file the answer and often will also file a Counter-Petition for divorce with the court within the time limit. The effect of the Counter-Petition is that neither party can decide to end the litigation unless both parties agree to it. The party filing the Counter-Petition can raise separate claims in the counter-petition and both parties have a right to have their claims heard by the cou…
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What Happens If I Fail to Respond to The Divorce Papers On-Time?

  • If the 20 days lapses and you have failed to file a response to the divorce papers, also called the initial petition for divorce, the other side can obtain a default judgment of divorce against you. Additionally, your lawyer can discuss with you the different types of divorces that you can get in Florida: A Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, Uncontested Divorce and Contested Divorce and w…
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Divorce Attorney – Fort Myers, Florida

  • Our Fort Myers divorce attorneys can help you with your divorce. We offer free consultations. GET THE HELP YOU NEED. CALL (239) 800-0399NOW! This line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are serving Fort Myers and surrounding cities and counties in Southwest, Florida such as Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Charlotte and Hen…
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