Florida Divorce: Mediation or Litigation?
Considerations for resolving divorce and family law disputes through mediation or litigation.
Read Article →St. Johns Law GroupFamily Law
Family Law
St. Johns Law Group Family Law Attorneys
St. Augustine Divorce & Family Law Attorneys
Divorce. Children. Support. Property. Mediation. Family Law Litigation.
St. Johns Law Group’s St. Augustine family law attorneys represent individuals and families in divorce, time-sharing and parenting matters, child support, alimony, paternity, modifications, adoption, guardianship, parental-rights proceedings, injunctions, and other Florida family law matters throughout St. Augustine, St. Johns County, and Northeast Florida.
Our family law team includes experienced courtroom advocates, a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator, and an attorney whose practice spans both family law and bankruptcy—allowing SJLG to address settlement, litigation, and financial issues that may overlap with divorce.
✓St. Augustine’s Largest Full-Service Law Firm
✓Contested & Uncontested Divorce Representation
✓Family Law Litigation + Mediation + Guardianship + Guardian ad Litem
St. Johns Law Group
St. Augustine Area’s Largest Law Firm
15 Attorneys
Full-Service Legal Team
300+ Years
Combined Legal Experience
100+ Jury Trials
Trial Experience Across the Team
1,000s of Closings
Real Estate Transactions
Explore Our Family Law Practice
St. Augustine Divorce & Family Law Legal Services
Go directly to the SJLG service or resource page addressing your specific divorce, parenting, support, mediation, or family law matter.
Divorce & Separation
Children, Parenting & Family
Financial & Post-Judgment
Mediation & Family Resources
Florida Divorce Process
From Initial Strategy to Final Judgment
Every case is different, but a Florida dissolution of marriage commonly moves through these stages.
1
Evaluate
Identify children, finances, property, immediate concerns, and goals.
2
File
Prepare or respond to the petition and address preliminary issues.
3
Disclose
Exchange required financial information and conduct discovery as needed.
4
Negotiate
Develop proposals for parenting, support, property, and settlement.
5
Mediate
Attempt resolution through mediation or negotiated agreement when appropriate.
6
Resolve
Finalize by agreement or proceed through hearings and trial when necessary.
Divorce Representation
Contested, Uncontested & Complex Divorce
The right strategy depends on the issues in dispute, the parties’ ability to reach agreement, the financial picture, and whether children are involved.
Contested Divorce
Representation when spouses disagree about parenting, support, property, debt, the marital home, business interests, or other significant issues.
Explore Contested Divorce →Uncontested Divorce
Guidance when the parties can reach agreement on the material terms of their dissolution and need properly prepared agreements and court filings.
Explore Uncontested Divorce →Complex & High-Asset Divorce
Team-based counsel for matters involving businesses, multiple properties, investments, complex compensation, significant debt, tax considerations, or disputed valuations.
Explore Family Law Services →Children, Parenting & Family Protection
Parenting, Guardianship & Guardian ad Litem Matters
Legal issues involving children and vulnerable family members can extend beyond divorce and parenting plans. St. Johns Law Group handles parenting disputes, guardianship proceedings, adoption, parental-rights matters and Guardian ad Litem issues.
Guardianship and Guardian ad Litem are different. A Florida guardianship can give a court-appointed guardian legal authority concerning the person, property, or both, depending on the proceeding. A Guardian ad Litem serves a different, child-focused role in appropriate litigation.
- Parenting plans and time-sharing schedules
- Shared and sole parental responsibility issues
- Modification and enforcement of parenting plans
- Minor and adult guardianship proceedings
- Guardian advocacy and related guardianship matters
- Guardian ad Litem issues in family-law proceedings
- Adoption and termination-of-parental-rights matters
Family Law & Guardianship CounselParenting • Guardianship • Guardian ad Litem • Adoption
Financial Issues in Divorce
Support, Property, Debt & the Marital Home
Divorce can require careful analysis of income, assets, liabilities, real estate, business interests, retirement accounts, and support obligations.
Child Support
Guidance concerning Florida child-support calculations, income, expenses, enforcement, and modification.
Child Support →Alimony
Analysis of Florida spousal-support issues, financial circumstances, statutory factors, and modification questions.
Alimony →Equitable Distribution
Identification and division of marital assets and liabilities, including investments, retirement assets, and complex property.
Property Division →Marital Real Estate
Coordination with SJLG real estate counsel when a divorce involves sale, refinance, title, deed, valuation, or ownership issues.
Real Estate Counsel →Debt & Bankruptcy
Divorce can intersect with significant marital debt, creditor pressure, foreclosure, and bankruptcy. Stephen Doty practices in both family law and bankruptcy and can help evaluate how these issues may affect one another.
Bankruptcy & Debt Relief →
Resolve When Possible
Florida Family Law Mediation
Mediation gives parties an opportunity to resolve divorce, parenting, support, property, and post-judgment issues with the assistance of a neutral mediator. SJLG’s family law team includes Rachael W. Greene, a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator.
Representation at Mediation
Our family law attorneys prepare clients for mediation, develop settlement positions, evaluate proposed terms, and advocate for workable agreements.
Mediation vs. Litigation →Neutral Family Law Mediation
Rachael Greene serves as a neutral mediator in family law matters, including divorce, parenting, support, equitable distribution, and modification disputes.
Explore the SJLG Mediation Center →
Schedule a Divorce Mediation
Uncontested Divorce MediationStandard weekday mediation scheduling.Schedule Mediation
Uncontested Divorce Mediation — WeekendWeekend scheduling option for uncontested matters.Schedule Weekend Mediation
Contested Divorce MediationStandard weekday mediation scheduling for contested matters.Schedule Mediation
Contested Divorce Mediation — WeekendWeekend scheduling option for contested matters.Schedule Weekend Mediation
Beyond Divorce
Guardianship, Adoption & Other Family Matters
St. Johns Law Group assists families with legal issues that extend beyond an initial divorce or parenting case, including guardianship, adoption, parental rights, modifications and enforcement.
Post-Judgment Modifications
Representation concerning changes to child support, alimony, time-sharing, parenting arrangements and other modifiable obligations when circumstances change.
Modification Services →Guardianship
Counsel concerning minor and adult guardianship, guardian advocacy, emergency proceedings, guardianship administration and related contested matters.
Guardianship Services →Adoption & Parental Rights
Legal guidance for stepparent, relative and adult adoption, consent issues and related parental-rights proceedings.
Adoption Services →Enforcement & Contempt
Assistance when a party allegedly fails to comply with support obligations, parenting plans, settlement agreements or family court orders.
Enforcement Matters →
A Full-Service Advantage
Divorce Often Crosses Into Other Areas of Law
Complex family law matters can involve real estate, closely held businesses, taxes, estate planning, probate, bankruptcy, and litigation. SJLG can draw on attorneys across related practices when those issues arise.
Real Estate
Marital homes, investment property, deeds, title, sale, refinance, and ownership issues.
Business & Corporate
Closely held companies, ownership interests, agreements, and business-related property issues.
Estate Planning
Updating wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary planning, and post-divorce documents.
Litigation
Broader trial resources for complex disputes and related civil litigation.
Bankruptcy & Debt Relief
Coordinated advice when divorce, marital debt, creditor problems, foreclosure, or bankruptcy issues overlap.
Family Law & Bankruptcy Team
Meet the Family Law Team
Three family law attorneys are supported by three dedicated legal professionals: Becky Ferris supports Rachael Greene, Morris McEvoy supports Felecia Walker, and Judy Padgett supports Stephen Doty. Together, the team handles divorce, parenting, support, financial issues, litigation, mediation, guardianship, and related bankruptcy matters.
Family Law Attorney • Certified Mediator • Guardian ad Litem
Rachael W. Greene
Family law attorney and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator handling divorce, parenting disputes, mediation, and Guardian ad Litem matters.
View Profile →Assistant: Becky Ferris
Family Law • Probate • Guardianship Attorney
Felecia Walker
Experienced advocate handling divorce, child custody, parenting plans, modifications, probate, guardianship, and contested litigation.
View Profile →Assistant: Morris McEvoy
Family Law • Bankruptcy • Debt Relief Attorney
Stephen Doty
Family law and bankruptcy attorney helping clients address divorce, financial obligations, marital debt, and bankruptcy issues that can arise during major personal and financial transitions.
View Profile →Assistant: Judy Padgett
Senior Paralegal • Mediation Coordinator
Becky Ferris
Supports Rachael Greene and the family law and mediation practice, including mediation scheduling and case logistics.
(904) 907-2562 Directrferris@sjlawgroup.com
Senior Paralegal • Family Law
Morris McEvoy
Supports Felecia Walker with family law case preparation, client coordination, discovery, filings, and litigation support.
(904) 516-0715 Directmmcevoy@sjlawgroup.com
Paralegal • Family Law • Bankruptcy
Judy Padgett
Supports Stephen Doty in family law and bankruptcy matters, assisting with client coordination, case preparation, document management, filings, and related case support.
(904) 907-2569 Directjpadgett@sjlawgroup.com3 Family Law AttorneysFocused counsel for divorce, parenting, support, financial issues, and contested family matters
3 Dedicated AssistantsAttorney-specific support for client coordination, case preparation, mediation, litigation, and bankruptcy matters
Family Law + BankruptcyStephen Doty and Judy Padgett add coordinated bankruptcy and debt-relief capability when financial issues overlap with family law
Why St. Johns Law Group
Family Law Representation With Litigation & Mediation Resources
Focused Family Law Team
Attorneys experienced with divorce, children, support, property, modifications, mediation, and contested proceedings.
Certified Mediation Capability
A Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator provides additional insight into settlement and dispute resolution.
Full-Service Support
Related real estate, business, bankruptcy, estate planning, probate, and litigation issues can be coordinated within SJLG.
Local & Regional Practice
Family law representation based in St. Augustine and serving clients throughout Northeast Florida.
Florida Family Law FAQs
Common Divorce & Family Law Questions
What is the difference between a contested and uncontested divorce?
An uncontested divorce generally means the spouses have reached agreement on the material issues. A contested divorce involves one or more unresolved issues that may require negotiation, mediation, hearings, or trial.
How does Florida address child custody?
Florida family law generally uses the concepts of parental responsibility, parenting plans, and time-sharing. Courts evaluate parenting arrangements under the child’s best interests.
Do divorcing parents need a parenting plan?
Cases involving minor children commonly require a parenting plan addressing parental responsibility, time-sharing, communication, and other parenting issues.
How is child support determined?
Florida child support involves statutory guidelines and financial information, including income and other factors applicable to the family’s circumstances.
How is marital property divided?
Florida uses equitable distribution principles to identify and allocate marital assets and liabilities. Complex cases may involve real estate, businesses, retirement accounts, investments, and disputed classifications or values.
Is alimony available in Florida?
Alimony depends on current Florida law and the facts of the marriage, including financial circumstances and applicable statutory factors. The type, amount, and duration require case-specific analysis.
Can a parenting plan or support order be modified?
Some family law orders can be modified when the legal requirements are met. Whether modification is available depends on the order, the requested change, and the circumstances.
What happens during divorce mediation?
A neutral mediator facilitates settlement discussions. The parties may address parenting, support, property, debt, and other issues in an effort to reach an agreement rather than have unresolved matters decided at trial.
What does a Guardian ad Litem do?
A Guardian ad Litem may be appointed to investigate and provide the court with a child-focused perspective concerning the child’s best interests in a family law proceeding.
What is the difference between guardianship and a Guardian ad Litem?
They are different legal roles. A Florida guardianship can give a court-appointed guardian specified authority concerning another person’s care, decisions, property, or both. A Guardian ad Litem serves a different child-focused role in appropriate litigation and does not become the child’s legal guardian merely by serving as Guardian ad Litem. Learn about Florida guardianship →
What if bankruptcy or significant debt is involved in my divorce?
Bankruptcy and divorce can affect one another, particularly when the spouses have substantial marital debt, jointly held property, support obligations, a mortgage, or creditor claims. The timing and legal effect of a bankruptcy filing can be important. SJLG attorney Stephen Doty practices in both family law and bankruptcy, allowing these overlapping issues to be evaluated together. Explore Bankruptcy & Debt Relief →
What if my spouse will not follow a court order?
Depending on the circumstances, enforcement or contempt remedies may be available. The appropriate procedure depends on the order and alleged noncompliance.
Northeast Florida Family Law Counsel
Areas We Serve
St. Johns Law Group represents divorce and family law clients in St. Augustine, St. Johns County, and communities throughout Northeast Florida.
St. Johns County
St. Augustine • St. Augustine Beach • Ponte Vedra • Ponte Vedra Beach • Nocatee • SilverLeaf • St. Johns • Julington Creek • Fruit Cove • World Golf Village • Vilano Beach
Jacksonville & Duval County
Jacksonville • Jacksonville Beach • Neptune Beach • Atlantic Beach • Mandarin • San Marco • Southside • Baymeadows
Flagler County
Palm Coast • Flagler Beach • Bunnell • Beverly Beach and surrounding communities
Clay County
Green Cove Springs • Fleming Island • Middleburg • Oakleaf • Keystone Heights
Putnam County
Palatka • East Palatka • Interlachen • Crescent City • Welaka
Additional Northeast Florida Communities
Other Northeast Florida family law matters may be handled as appropriate based on jurisdiction and the circumstances of the case.
Recent Legal Insights
Recent Family Law Articles
Recent SJLG resources addressing Florida divorce, parenting, mediation, support, modifications, and related family law issues.
St. Johns Law GroupFamily Law
Family Law
St. Augustine Divorce Mediation
Family law mediation resources for divorce, parenting, support, property, and settlement issues.
Read Resource →St. Johns Law GroupFamily Law
Family Law
Child Custody & Parental Responsibility
Florida parenting, time-sharing, parental responsibility, and child-focused family law resources.
Read Resource →St. Johns Law GroupFamily Law
Family Law
Child Support & Modification
Florida child-support and modification resources for changing financial or parenting circumstances.
Read Resource →St. Johns Law GroupFamily Law
Family Law
Florida Alimony & Spousal Support
Guidance on alimony, financial circumstances, statutory factors, and modification issues.
Read Resource →St. Johns Law GroupFamily Law
Family Law
Equitable Distribution in Florida Divorce
Resources addressing marital assets, liabilities, property division, and financial issues in divorce.
Read Resource →Family Law Consultation
Talk With a St. Augustine Family Law Attorney
If you are considering divorce, facing a parenting or support dispute, seeking a modification, or dealing with another Florida family law matter, tell us about your situation.
Phone(904) 495-0400
Emailinfo@sjlawgroup.com
St. Augustine Office104 Sea Grove Main Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32080
St. Augustine, Florida 32080
Dedicated & Responsive®
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