Top Divorce Lawyers in Jacksonville

When you need a Jacksonville divorce lawyer

An uncontested divorce with no kids and few assets can sometimes be done with limited help, but most Jacksonville divorces benefit from a lawyer. Talk to a Jacksonville divorce lawyer if:

• You have children and need a parenting plan or time-sharing schedule.
• You and your spouse disagree about property, the house, or retirement accounts.
• Alimony is on the table and you are unsure how Florida's new durational rules apply.
• Your spouse has already hired a lawyer, or there is a history of hiding assets.
• There is any safety concern, and you may need a protective injunction.

What a Jacksonville divorce lawyer costs

In Jacksonville, an uncontested divorce handled flat-fee typically runs $1,500 to $3,500. Contested cases are billed hourly at roughly $250 to $450 against a retainer, and total cost depends on how much you and your spouse fight over custody, support, and property; many contested cases land between $7,000 and $20,000 or more. Mediation, which Duval County usually requires before trial, often settles the case for far less than a full trial. Get the fee structure and retainer terms in writing.

How a Jacksonville divorce case moves — and the deadlines

• File the petition: one spouse must have lived in Florida six months; the petition is filed in the Fourth Judicial Circuit for Duval County.
• Financial disclosure: both sides exchange mandatory financial affidavits and documents.
• Mediation: Duval County typically requires mediation before trial; many cases settle here.
• Finalize: after the 20-day waiting period, an uncontested case can be finalized in weeks; a contested case can take many months to over a year.

For a national overview, see our divorce guide, or browse all Jacksonville lawyers. Jacksonville also has dedicated pages for Jacksonville personal injury, Jacksonville criminal defense, Jacksonville bankruptcy.