When a married couple files for divorce in the state of Florida their marital assets and property will be divided in an equitable and fair manner. All attempts will be made by the court to see that any property or assets secured during the course of the marriage will be divided as equally and fairly as possible, however equitable distribution does not guarantee equal distribution. Any assets secured prior to the marriage will generally be returned to the original owner and will not be included as part of the equitable distribution process.
Factors which the courts will use to determine the division of assets include the length of the marriage, the contributions of each spouse to the assets and debts incurred during the course of the marriage, whether or not one spouse has hidden assets he or she hoped to avoid having included in the divorce agreement, any financial role one spouse played in the forwarding of the other spouse's education or career aspirations, and more. In cases where there is a child from the marriage, consideration will need to be given as to who will receive custody and if it is in the child's best interests for that parent to retain possession of the marital home. Various other factors will also need to be examined so as to determine alimony and where warranted, child support.
The most effective way to protect your interests and see to it that you receive your fair and equitable share of the marital assets is to hire a knowledgeable Jacksonville divorce attorney. Charles E. Willmott, P.A. has been practicing law for close to nearly 30 years and as a Board Certified divorce attorney he has the knowledge and expertise you want advocating on your behalf. To find out more about Florida's laws on asset division in a divorce, or to find out how you can benefit from legal representation during divorce proceedings, contact his firm and schedule an appointment to discuss your needs today.