Divorce Lawyer in Sarasota
Board-Certified Divorce Representation for Sarasota Families
Divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences you will face. Separating from a spouse can affect your finances, family relationships, and daily life. The Sarasota divorce lawyers at Schipani Law Group, P.A. understand the legal and practical issues involved in a dissolution of marriage and handle the process from the initial filing of paperwork through final resolution. Our family law practice covers property division, child custody, child support, alimony, and post-judgment modifications.
Attorney Phil Schipani is board-certified in Family and Matrimonial Law by The Florida Bar and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. When you work with our firm, you work directly with an attorney throughout your case and aren’t handed off to a paralegal. We respond to client communications within 24 hours.
Call a divorce lawyer in Sarasota at (941) 499-8154 to discuss your situation, or Contact Us Online Through Our Request Form.
Divorce Issues We Handle in Sarasota, Florida
Our Sarasota divorce attorneys advise clients on financial, support, and parenting issues. During your consultation, we can explain which of the following issues are likely to be part of your case and how Florida law may apply to your circumstances.
Family law issues can include:
- Property and debt distribution: We have experience in complex asset division, including high-net-worth divorce and business valuation and division. Florida’s equitable distribution framework addresses marital assets and liabilities, including real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, and debt, and begins with a presumption of equal division subject to statutory factors.
- Alimony: If you need to seek alimony or respond to a spousal support claim, we can help evaluate the appropriate type and amount given your circumstances.
- Child support and child custody: Parenting matters, including parental responsibility, time-sharing, and a written parenting plan, can be among the most contested issues in a divorce. Our lawyers can help you evaluate proposed schedules and parenting arrangements.
- Same-sex divorce: We handle property division, alimony, child custody, child support, and post-judgment modifications in same-sex divorce cases. Learn more about our representation for domestic partners.
If you and your spouse agree on every issue, your divorce may proceed as an uncontested matter. In Florida, divorces are based on the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, which is known as a no-fault dissolution. Florida doesn’t require either spouse to prove marital misconduct as a basis for divorce.
When spouses can’t agree on parenting, child support, alimony, or the equitable division of marital property and debts, the court may decide the unresolved matters under Florida law based on the evidence and the family’s circumstances. In parenting disputes, the child’s best interests guide the court’s decisions. Marital misconduct doesn’t establish grounds for divorce, but conduct with financial consequences, such as the dissipation of marital assets, may affect related decisions.
Sarasota County family law cases are handled in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Our attorneys regularly appear in these courts and can explain how local procedures apply to your case and which issues are likely to be contested.
Keep Control Over Your Divorce
For some spouses, collaborative divorce offers a way to negotiate outside a traditional trial. At Schipani Law Group, P.A., our divorce lawyers serving Sarasota, FL, can represent you in a collaborative matter and advise you as you work toward an agreement. The process allows you to participate directly in developing terms that address your family’s needs.
In a collaborative divorce, both parties work with counsel toward a negotiated resolution of property distribution, alimony, and other issues. Potential benefits of collaborative divorce include:
- Supporting a more private separation or divorce process
- Creating a property agreement peacefully
- Maintaining good relations with your ex
- Working together as a family, which is particularly beneficial if you have children
How We Guide You Through the Florida Divorce Process
We explain how a typical case may move from filing a petition through financial disclosures, negotiations, mediation, and, if needed, a final hearing. Knowing what each stage requires can help you make informed decisions and work more effectively with your Sarasota divorce attorney.
As your case progresses, we help you gather and organize the documents the court requires, such as financial affidavits, pay stubs, tax returns, and records of assets and debts. Florida family law proceedings require financial disclosures, and those disclosures must be updated when financial circumstances materially change. For cases involving minor children, Florida requires the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course to be completed and documented before a final judgment can be entered. We discuss settlement options early so you can weigh the benefits of mediation or negotiated agreements against the time and expense of litigation. When disputes can’t be resolved, we prepare you for hearings in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit by reviewing likely questions, courtroom procedures, and how your testimony fits into the overall presentation of your case.
Throughout this process, we stay focused on your long-term goals, whether that means protecting a business, ensuring a stable parenting schedule, or addressing financial support as you plan to rebuild after divorce. We regularly update you on deadlines and court dates so you can prepare, and we discuss the range of possible outcomes at each decision point.
Our Divorce Attorneys’ Credentials in Collaborative & Contested Matters
Attorneys who practice collaborative divorce are expected to complete additional training in collaborative law. Attorney Phil Schipani is board-certified in Family and Matrimonial Law by The Florida Bar and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Attorney Colleen Norman is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law Mediator. A family law mediator facilitates discussion but doesn’t make legal decisions for either spouse. Her mediation experience informs settlement discussions and the distinction between facilitated resolution and litigation. Attorney Mara Levy La Porta has training in collaborative law as well.
When you work with a Sarasota divorce lawyer from our team on a collaborative matter, we help you prepare for each meeting, understand the legal implications of your proposals, and stay focused on long-term goals rather than short-term frustration. When a case requires courtroom representation, we prepare for hearings, evidence, and testimony in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.
We also coordinate with any neutral professionals involved in your case, such as financial professionals or mental health counselors, to clarify what information is needed and when.
Discuss your divorce, property, parenting, support, or collaborative law concerns with our Sarasota team. Contact us at (941) 499-8154 to schedule a consultation.