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Offering 50 Years Combined Experience in Marital and Family Law
Divorce Attorneys Orlando
The experienced Orlando divorce attorneys at The Sanders Firm, P.A understands the hardship that a divorce can bring to an individual's life. Therefore, we strive to be there for our clients during this challenging and stressful time by providing them with the proper representation. Our law firm has years of experience and has guided hundreds of clients in Orlando throughout the divorce process.
Divorces are usually very personal lawsuits. Typically, a court is asked to make impactful decisions that can change the lives of the individuals and any children that are involved. If your divorce leads to a trial, a judge will have to divide assets and liabilities, determine if alimony is appropriate, and dictate how much time each parent will spend with the child. Furthermore, a judge will have to calculate child support, dissolve the marriage itself, and make other personal decisions.
With that said, it's critical you have an Orlando divorce attorney with the skill, ability, and reputation to represent you as their litigator in the courtroom. You don't want an attorney that settles your case without fighting for your best interests.
Although most people never think they will have to deal with a divorce when they get married, sometimes that's the unfortunate reality. At The Sanders Firm, P.A, we know divorce.is never an easy thing. However, you can depend on us to help you through the process every step of the way.
Divorce in Florida
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. The two requirements that must be proven to obtain a divorce in most Florida cases are showing that the marriage is irretrievably broken and residency.
In Florida, it is not necessary to show mental cruelty, abuse, abandonment, or have a legal separation. If one spouse testifies that the marriage cannot be put back together, that is, the marriage is irretrievably broken, a divorce will be granted. In rare circumstances, a court can order a cooling-off period or require counseling. If one spouse is adamant that the marriage is broken, a judge usually will not delay the case moving forward.
A person must be a resident of Florida for six months before filing for a divorce in Florida. Residency is usually proven by the filing of a Florida Driver's license or an affidavit sworn to by another Florida resident that the party has met the six-month residency requirement. Only one spouse is required to satisfy the six-month residency requirement for Florida to grant a divorce.
A divorce may also be granted in Florida if a spouse is guilty of being incompetent for three years.
Every marriage is unique, and every divorce is equally unique. The stated purpose of the divorce statute, if a marriage cannot be saved, is to promote the amicable settlement of disputes that arise between parties to a marriage and to mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and their children caused by the process of legal dissolution of marriage.
Divorce cases can be resolved in several ways. The process can be as simple or complex as the circumstances unique to the conflict and the parties. Some other cases that may arise from a divorce include domestic violence and spousal support cases.
Many couples can reach an agreement on most or all of their issues in regard to their case. When this occurs, it is recommended that the bullet points of the agreement, usually referred to as a "kitchen table agreement" be presented to an experienced family law attorney to draft a proper marital settlement agreement. The martial settlement agreement acts as a binding contract that the court, once ratifies, reserves jurisdiction to enforce.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that an attorney be present to draft the agreement and, if necessary, a different attorney is obligated to review the contract before signing and filing the agreement with the court. A final judgment is drafted, which allows the court to ratify and accept the marital settlement agreement and reserves jurisdiction to enforce it in the future
Under this scenario, a short hearing before the judge is all that is required to obtain the divorce. If children are involved, a parenting plan must also be drafted and filed with the court. Divorcing by agreement is by far the least expensive and least traumatic way to divorce.
Divorce Mediation
Many couples wish to resolve their case out of court but need assistance doing so. Mediation and collaborative law are processes that can help you resolve the situation out of the courtroom.
A mediator is a neutral, third party who is trained to encourage and facilitate negotiations. A mediator can't decide a case but can help settle it. A settlement reached in mediation is almost always binding and can partially or fully resolve the case. Nearly all family law cases will be referred to mediation. Approximately eighty percent of cases settle at mediation. Tristan Sanders is a Supreme Court of Florida Family Law Mediator who has acted as a Mediator in over five hundred mediations since 2007 and has assisted Central Florida families in reaching out of court resolution on their terms.
Meet the Team
We strive to provide professional, proactive, and passionate marital law representation.
Many cases can be settled pre-litigation, saving the family thousands of dollars avoiding the stress and conflict inherent in litigation.
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Areas of Practice
- Adoption
- Alimony
- Asset Valuation
- Adultery
- Business Valuation
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Collaborative Divorce
- Contempt/Enforcement
- Divorce
- Domestic Violence
- Equitable Distribution
- High Asset/Complex Divorce
- Marital Settlement Agreements
- Modification of Final Judgments
- Name Changes
- Parental Responsibility
- Parenting Plans
- Paternity
- Pre-Nuptial Agreements
- Relocation
- Time-Sharing
Collaborative Law
Collaborative Law is a team-based approach to family law that takes place outside the courtroom. Both lawyers, a financial neutral, a mental health neutral, and each of the two parties work together to arrive at a solution in a non-confrontational way. While a judge may not have access to every piece of information in a family law case, collaborative law emphasizes complete transparency and allows both parties and the collaborative team to make fully-informed, mutually beneficial decisions. Divorce Lawyer, Tristan Sanders, is a member of the Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida.Child Support
Child support calculations under the Florida Statute Guidelines involve a number of factors ranging from net income to tax exemptions. While these factors tend to fall within the basic expectations of most parents self-calculating child support, there are others, such as the number of overnights a child spends, that can drastically affect child support orders. Most parents are unaware of the inner workings of Florida’s child support guidelines until their child support calculations force a payment that is unsustainable. The experienced family law attorneys at the Sanders Firm can help you ensure child support is calculated correctly the first time.Alimony
Alimony calculations in the state of Florida depend on two basic factors – the duration of your marriage and the type of alimony recommended for your unique set of circumstances. Each of the four types of alimony has specific qualifications, set time limits, and other basic requirements. Alimony payments can affect the financial health of both spouses over the course of several years and even a lifetime. Hiring a family law attorney like The Sanders Firm ensures your calculations will accurately reflect your family’s needs.Domestic Violence
If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence – whether physical or sexual assault, battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, or any other action that has caused you injury – contact the authorities. Afterward, don’t hesitate to contact The Sanders Firm. Our compassionate, discreet family law attorneys have the experience to ensure your injunction for protection proceeds efficiently, allowing you to feel safe in your home once again. Alternately, The Sanders Firm addresses domestic violence injunction defense as well as dating violence, repeat violence, and stalking, since these issues often precede contentious divorce proceedings.Equitable Distribution
When two parties divorce in Florida, property and assets obtained during the marriage are subject to equitable distribution to both parties. Equitable distribution aims to allow each party to leave the marriage with their own property as well as a proportional share of what was earned during the marriage. However, some items, such as homes, stock options, and retirement savings, can have both premarital and marital aspects, and can be difficult to proportion and divide. Attorneys at the Sanders Firm have over 50 years of experience with equitable distribution and can help you navigate the technicalities involved in the divorce process.Modification Cases
While judgments in alimony, child support, and child custody cases are considered final, the decisions in each of these types of cases are dependent on one or both party’s financial, legal, and sometimes emotional circumstances at the time. Circumstances change, often altering the individual’s ability to adhere to the specifications set forth by the judgment. In some cases, the individual may request a modification to the original judgment. Modifications require fact- finding and mediation and should be handled by an experienced family law attorney. The Sanders Firm can help you determine your risks and the likelihood your modification request will be successful.Paternity
Most people think of paternity as the simple establishment of one individual as a child’s biological father. However, legal paternity also determines the father’s rights and obligations to a child that was born outside the boundaries of marriage. Without legal paternity, the biological mother’s status as sole legal custodian of the child limits the father’s ability to have any involvement in the child’s life. Adjudication of paternity must come before any child support or child visitation hearing takes place. Discuss your paternity case with the Sanders Firm to begin positive movement toward your parental rights and obligations.Client Reviews
We treat our clients like family because that's how we'd want to be treated. See what our clients have to say about their experience working with us below, or if you're a current or past client, we'd very much appreciate if you wouldn't mind taking a moment leave us a review of your own.Even though the situation may be sad and tough the Sanders group always makes you feel like you are the only client. The whole staff goes out of their way to treat you with respect, and I was always pleased with the outcome. Thank you!
I rode divorce the roller coaster for well over a year and the Sanders Firm helped me to finalize my MSA. I'm so thankful this chapter is finally over and I am thankful for the assistance they were able to provide me!
I was referred to attorney Sylvia Sanders from a close friend of mine who had unfortunately experienced divorce. I came to her as client in need of legal counsel, Sylvia is more than qualified in this area. I had a complex international situation and let's categorize me as the underdog. Sylvia kept me focused on best needs for the children, she made sure to protect our collective best interest, and made sure that I was moving forward in this manner, removing the emotions. Sylvia held my hand and my heart strong and delicate at the same time and navigated the rough waters for me through one of the difficult times in my life. She was an anchor and someone now looking back, was my lawyer, now is my friend.
I was referred to Attorney Tristan Sanders by a friend of mine who was searching for a good divorce attorney. She said she spoke to this lawyer and he sounded really good over the phone but she decided not to go through with her divorce. So I said ok let me give him a call. From the minute I called and got right through to Tristan I knew he was the right person for me. He took his time to explain and throughly answer all my questions and concerns. This was a free consultation and he did not rush me at all. I had no doubt he was the right attorney for me. He and Chari (paralegal) made this such a smooth, easy and quick process for me. I was kept informed on what was taking place and what was needed to be completed. If you’re looking for a good attorney please contact Tristan Sanders. You would not be disappointed!
From the moment I contacted this firm until the end of my divorce (two years) Mrs Sanders and her team were extremely proficient and very detail oriented. She was straightforward with me and always was available or returned my calls in a timely manner. I would recommend this firm to anyone who is in need of a family attorney.
Over the past several years, Sylvia has represented me on two separate family law matters. That being said, she was an obvious choice for the second matter based on the representation I had received on the first one. Sylvia's ability to strategize as well as provide sound legal advice allowed me to achieve results that were better than expected in both cases. Don't let the relative small size of the firm make you skeptical of the big firm representation she is able to provide!
Sincerely, J. N.
When I was looking for a divorce lawyer, I was not sure of the right questions to ask or who may be a good fit for my situation. I selected Silvia Sanders and it seemed all my problems became ours. I cannot say enough about her expedient efficiency and professional manner through this emotional roller coaster. Silvia was always there to answer any questions I had. I highly recommend The Sanders Firm.
Great people and very smart. Couldn't be happier with the representation and the high level of customer service.
I never knew working with a lawyer could be so easy. Getting a divorce can be an absolutely terrible experience; working with Silvia was anything but.
I was referred to Tristan Sanders by word of mouth. He did an outstanding job resolving my child support issue. He knew what needed to be done from the first phone conversation and resolved my issue in a timely manner, for a very reasonable price, never charging more than the amount quoted up front. Very happy with my decision to go with the Sanders Firm!
The Sanders Firm was an absolute Godsend to myself and my family. When I needed a divorce attorney, Silvia was quick to answer the phone herself and saw me immediately. She quickly changed the way I had come to view lawyers, which was not good before I worked with her. She is diligent and thorough and works with you as much as possible to get through your ordeal. The overall experience I had was nothing short of excellent and our proceeding went in our favor, even with heavy resistance from my ex. The Sanders Firm is very professional, personable, works extremely hard for its clients and will be the only Firm I will ever turn to should the need for an attorney be necessary.
I went to the Sanders Firm in the middle of my case after being ripped off from another firm. Tristan shared with me what the price would be around upfront and in the end it was that price. I talked to Tristan fro free many times before I decided to make the switch firms and I realized I could trust him completely with my case. Tristan & Chari helped me every step of the way of this complex process with emotional support, guidance, and advice. They cared about me as person and I was not just dollar signs in their pocket. Tristan's experience made this case run smoothly and the outcome was better than expected!
I vividly recall the sinking feeling, not knowing who to turn to when my familial situation arose. I scoured the web searching for the best and by pure dumb luck, found the Sanders Firm. Tristan, Sylvia, and Chari spent nearly two hours at first meeting just chatting, assessing my situation from all angles. By the time I walked out that door we had a strong plan in place, and they began fighting to protect my interests. My situation was resolved as quickly as possible without having to go court. I walked away knowing with absolute certainty that hiring the Sanders Firm was the best choice I could have made. For this I am grateful, and I strongly recommend you take this advice to heart and make the same wise decision.
Tristan Sanders is an amazing attorney. He listened to the facts in my case and took the time to explain how the law applied to my situation. Tristan developed a strategy and plan to achieve my goals. I am so grateful to Tristan and his team at The Sanders Firm. Tristan, Silvia and Chari are quite an impressive team. They were always responsive to my questions and concerns and never made me feel as though I was was asking too many questions. You can trust Tristan will have your back, and give you honest advice. It was such a comfort to me to have such a sincere and authentic person helping me. I was simply blown away by how genuinely Tristan cared and how hard he worked to make sure the optimum resolution was achieved. I have, and would recommend Tristan and the entire Sanders Firm to anyone! Thank you!!
From the time I started to call attorneys, most refused to even speak with me with paying money upfront, or made me speak to an assistant. Tristan however talked to me personally for close to 40 minutes to explain collaborative divorce. I hired him on the spot.
Throughout the Collaborative Divorce process Tristan always listened and looked out for my needs and my best interests while caring about fairness for both parties involved. And most importantly what was best for our kids.
Both he and his staff were quick to respond even after business hours. I highly recommend Tristan and the Sanders Firm. He was the best choice at a very difficult time.
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