Divorce
Contested and uncontested dissolution: property, support, and the parenting plan, from first filing to final judgment.
Read more →Fla. Stat. ch. 61 · Dissolution of marriage; support; time-sharing
Tallahassee Family Law Attorney
Family cases are the ones people carry with them. Toby Norris has handled Florida divorce, custody, and support matters for over two decades. The goal is always a resolution you can live with for years afterward.
Photograph: United States Courthouse, Tallahassee, by Carol M. Highsmith. Library of Congress (opens in a new tab), Prints & Photographs Division. Public domain.
What we handle
Norris Law represents parents and spouses throughout the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida in every kind of family matter, from an agreed divorce that needs to be done correctly and quickly, to a contested custody trial, to enforcing an order the other parent has been ignoring for a year.
Florida family law changed substantially in 2023. Permanent alimony was eliminated, and a rebuttable presumption in favor of equal time-sharing was added to the custody statute. If you are working from advice you received before then, or from what happened in a friend’s case a few years ago, some of what you believe about your case is likely out of date.
Select a topic
Family Law services
Child Custody & Time-Sharing
Parenting plans and schedules under Florida’s 2023 equal time-sharing presumption, plus enforcement when an order is ignored.
Read more →Child Support
Guideline calculations, imputed income, enforcement, and modification when your circumstances change.
Read more →Alimony
Spousal support after Florida’s 2023 reform, which ended permanent alimony and capped durational awards.
Read more →Division of Assets
Equitable distribution, tracing separate property, and valuing businesses and retirement accounts.
Read more →Paternity
Establishing legal fatherhood, an enforceable time-sharing schedule, and support for unmarried parents.
Read more →Modifications
Changing an existing custody, support, or alimony order after a substantial change in circumstances.
Read more →Typical sequence
The path a Florida family case takes
Divorce, paternity, and modification cases follow broadly the same route through the court.
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Filing and service
A petition is filed and formally served on the other party, who generally has 20 days to respond and may file a counter-petition of their own.
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Temporary orders, if needed
Where someone needs support, a schedule with the children, or exclusive use of the home immediately, the court can hold an early hearing and enter orders that hold while the case proceeds.
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Mandatory financial disclosure
Both sides exchange sworn financial affidavits and supporting documents. Parents of minor children complete the required parent education course.
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Discovery
Where facts or numbers are disputed: written questions, document requests, depositions, and, when a business or pension is involved, valuation experts.
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Mediation
A neutral mediator works with both sides toward a written agreement. Most cases resolve here, in whole or in part.
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Final hearing or trial
Whatever remains goes to a circuit judge. The case ends in a final judgment that is enforceable and, for some issues, modifiable later.
How family cases resolve
The large majority of family cases settle. Florida courts require mediation in contested matters before a final hearing, and most cases resolve at or before that point. That is usually the better outcome. It costs less, it finishes sooner, and it leaves the decision with the two people who know the family rather than a judge meeting them for the first time.
But settlement happens on terms, and the terms depend on preparation. A case that is organized, documented, and ready for a hearing settles better than one that is not. That is the work.
A word about children
Judges pay close attention to which parent supports the child’s relationship with the other parent. It is a statutory factor, and it carries real weight in practice. Parents who disparage the other parent to the children, interfere with contact, or use the schedule as a bargaining chip tend to damage their own position considerably.
Being firm about what your children need is a different thing from being destructive, and the distinction is usually visible to the court.
Also handled by this office
These matters are handled regularly but do not have their own page. Call and ask. The first consultation is free.
- Relocation
- Florida has a specific statute for moving with a child, and it is unforgiving of shortcuts. Relocating without consent or a court order can cost you the schedule you already have.
- High-Asset Divorce
- When the marital estate includes a business, a professional practice, deferred compensation, or significant real estate, the dispute stops being about who gets what and becomes about what things are worth.
- Military Divorce
- A military divorce is a Florida divorce with a federal layer on top. Residency, pension division, and the timing of the case all work differently when one spouse serves.
- Prenuptial Agreements
- A prenuptial agreement is not a prediction that the marriage will fail. It is a decision to settle the financial rules while both people are on good terms rather than in a courtroom.
- Domestic Violence Injunctions
- An injunction for protection is decided quickly and carries consequences that last far longer than the hearing. Both sides need to take the final hearing seriously.
Questions we hear every week
Family Law questions
How much will my family case cost?
An uncontested case with a signed agreement is a defined and comparatively modest piece of work. Contested cases are billed hourly and the cost tracks the amount of discovery and hearing time involved. We discuss fees plainly at the first meeting, and we will tell you when a fight is likely to cost more than it stands to win.
Do I need a lawyer for an agreed divorce?
Not strictly, but the paperwork has to be right and a judge will not fix a bad agreement later. If you have children, retirement accounts, real property, or any imbalance in financial knowledge between you, having the agreement prepared or reviewed by an attorney is worth it.
Which counties do you serve?
We appear throughout the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida, covering Tallahassee and Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Liberty, and Franklin counties, and handle matters elsewhere in Florida depending on the case.
How long will my case take?
An agreed divorce can be finalized in roughly one to three months. A contested case with discovery and a trial setting commonly runs from nine months to well over a year. The controlling variable is how much the two of you dispute.
Can I change lawyers if I already have one?
Yes. You have the right to choose your own counsel at any point. If you are considering a change, bring the papers from your case and we will give you a candid assessment of where things stand.
Talk with Toby about your case
Every case starts with a conversation. Tell us what you are facing and we will explain the options in plain language, with no obligation.