Family Law Attorney for Seminole County

A family law attorney for Seminole County families

If you live in Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Longwood or anywhere else in Seminole County, your divorce, custody, child support or alimony case is normally filed with the Seminole County Clerk of Court and heard at the county courthouse in Sanford. That court is part of Florida's Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, which covers Seminole and Brevard counties.

Many people searching for a Seminole County family law attorney want the same things: someone who explains the process in plain language, in English or Spanish, and a clear price from the start. That is how we work. Attorney Luis A. Morales reviews your situation, explains your options and gives you a flat fee in writing before any work begins.

Luis Morales Legal is a small family law firm based in downtown Orlando that represents clients before the court in Sanford. We are not a large Seminole family law firm with a team of associates: your case is handled by the attorney you talk to.

Family law services in Seminole County

• Divorce. A divorce attorney for Seminole County cases, contested or uncontested. When there is no agreement on property, debts, children or alimony, we represent you in mediation and at hearings in Sanford. If you agree, see our uncontested divorce service.
• Child custody and time-sharing. A Seminole child custody attorney for time-sharing disputes, temporary orders and changes to existing custody orders, focused on your children's best interests.
• Parenting plans. Florida courts approve a parenting plan in every case with minor children. As your parenting plan lawyer, we draft it, negotiate it or ask the court to modify it when circumstances change.
• Child support. A Seminole child support attorney to establish, collect or modify support under the Florida child support guidelines, including cases with the Department of Revenue.
• Alimony. Requesting or defending against alimony in a divorce, and modifying or ending an existing alimony order.
• Paternity, relocation and more. Paternity cases for unmarried parents, relocation with a child, enforcement of orders, prenuptial agreements and stepparent adoption.

Requirements to file for divorce in Seminole County

• Six months in Florida. At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the 6 months before the petition is filed. It is usually proven with a Florida driver's license, ID card or voter registration.
• No-fault divorce. Florida does not require proof of adultery or abandonment. It is enough that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
• The right county. A case is generally filed where the responding spouse lives or where the couple last lived together as a married couple. If that county is Seminole, the case goes to the court in Sanford.
• Married somewhere else. A marriage performed in Puerto Rico, another state or another country can be dissolved in Florida once the residency requirement is met.

For more detail, read our guide to divorce in Florida and the list of Florida divorce forms.

How a family case works in Seminole County

Every case is different and the judge may order additional steps, but most divorce and custody cases follow this path:

1. Free 15-minute call. You tell us your situation by phone. We tell you what kind of case you have, what you need and the flat fee.
2. Petition filed. We prepare the petition (for dissolution of marriage, paternity, support or modification) and file it with the Seminole County Clerk of Court.
3. Service. The other party must be formally served unless they sign and accept the papers. After service, they have 20 days to respond.
4. Financial disclosure. Both sides exchange financial affidavits and required documents, such as pay stubs and tax returns.
5. Parenting course and mediation. In a divorce with minor children, the parents take a parent education course. When there are disagreements, mediation is normally required before trial.
6. Final judgment. The judge signs the final judgment. In a divorce, it cannot be entered until at least 20 days after the petition is filed.

Types of cases

Child custody and parenting plans in Seminole County

Florida law does not use the word "custody" in its orders. It speaks of shared parental responsibility (both parents make major decisions about the child) and time-sharing (the schedule of when the child is with each parent). Both are set out in the parenting plan.

The judge decides based on the best interests of the child, looking at factors such as each parent's ability to put the child's needs first, the child's routine and school, and each parent's involvement in the child's life. If you are looking for a child custody attorney in Altamonte Springs or anywhere else in the county, those cases are heard by the family court in Sanford. A Seminole parenting plan attorney can help you propose a schedule that works for your family and that the court can approve.

Alimony in Florida

Since 2023, Florida law no longer allows new awards of permanent alimony. The types available are temporary (while the case is open), bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative and durational alimony, each with its own limits. The court looks at one spouse's need, the other's ability to pay, the length of the marriage and other factors. An alimony attorney in Seminole County, FL can explain whether alimony is likely in your case and how it affects the rest of the settlement.

Documents to gather

You do not need everything for the first call, but this list helps you prepare:

• Marriage certificate (with a translation if it is not in English)
• Proof of Florida residency: driver's license, ID card or voter registration
• Recent pay stubs and tax returns from the last few years
• Bank, retirement, loan and credit card statements; deeds and vehicle titles
• Children's birth dates, school, schedules, child care costs and health insurance
• Any existing custody, support or protection order, from Florida or elsewhere

Flat fees for family cases in Seminole County

You know the cost from the start. Prices cover the firm's fees; the court filing fee (about $400 to file a Florida divorce) and other costs are separate. We confirm the price in writing. See also how much a divorce costs in Florida.

The first 15-minute phone call is free.

How to choose a family law attorney in Seminole County

Whether you are comparing Seminole County family law attorneys or a family law lawyer in Altamonte Springs, these questions help:

• Is the lawyer admitted in Florida? Check The Florida Bar's directory at floridabar.org. Only lawyers certified by The Florida Bar may call themselves specialists.
• What is the total cost? Ask for the price in writing and what it includes. With us, the flat fee is agreed before we start and can be paid in installments.
• Who handles your case? Ask who will talk to you and who will attend hearings. Here, attorney Morales handles your case personally.
• Is it explained in your language? Understanding every document you sign matters. We work in English or Spanish, whichever you prefer.

Attorney Luis A. Morales

Luis A. Morales has been a lawyer since 2001 and is admitted to practice in Florida and Puerto Rico. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a military legal officer.

He handles each case personally, in English or Spanish, from his office at 390 N Orange Ave, Suite 2300, in downtown Orlando. As a family law attorney for Sanford, FL and the rest of Seminole County, he represents clients before the court in Sanford and can meet with you in person or by phone. Learn more about our family law practice.

Frequently asked questions