Tampa Contested Divorce Lawyer
Azhar Cheema, a contested divorce lawyer at Cheema Law, P.A., represents clients in contested divorce cases in Tampa and across Florida.
Experienced Contested Divorce Lawyer Serving Tampa
Azhar, family law attorney, helps clients address disputes that prevent a divorce from being resolved by agreement. He reviews the unresolved issues, available evidence, financial information, existing court filings, and each party’s position.
Some disagreements can be resolved through negotiation or mediation, while others may require discovery, motions, evidentiary hearings, or trial. Each case is prepared with both settlement and litigation in mind so that important court issues remain properly addressed.
Azhar has experience with family law negotiations, discovery, depositions, mediations, evidentiary hearings, and trials.
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Contested Divorce in Florida
A divorce can be contested even when both spouses agree that they want to end the marriage. A divorce is considered contested when the spouses cannot agree on one or more issues that must be resolved, such as property and debts, alimony, parental responsibility and time-sharing, child support, or attorneys’ fees and costs.
A contested divorce does not necessarily mean that the case will go to trial. The parties may resolve some or all of their disagreements through negotiation or mediation, while any issues that remain unresolved may ultimately be decided by the court.
Understanding the contested divorce process and the issues that may arise can help you evaluate your options and make informed decisions throughout your case. For more information about resolving a divorce by agreement, learn more about Uncontested Divorce and Settlement Agreements.
Requirements for Contested Divorce in Florida
Florida refers to divorce as a dissolution of marriage. To obtain a dissolution of marriage in Florida, at least one spouse must have resided in Florida for at least six months before filing the petition.
Dissolution may be granted when the marriage is irretrievably broken. The other spouse does not have to agree to the divorce for the marriage to be dissolved. If one spouse does not want the divorce or denies that the marriage is irretrievably broken, that disagreement does not necessarily prevent the other spouse from obtaining a divorce.
A spouse also does not have to prove marital misconduct by the other spouse simply to obtain a divorce. However, conduct during the marriage may still be relevant to certain issues.
How a Contested Divorce Moves Forward
01 — Petition and Response
02 — Financial Disclosure and Discovery
03 — Temporary Issues
04 — Negotiation and Mediation
05 — Trial and Final Judgment
Evidence That May Matter in a Contested Divorce
Income and Financial Records
Property and Asset Records
Written Discovery
Depositions
Witness Testimony
Professional or Expert Evidence
How We Prepare a Contested Divorce Case
Review the Disputed Issues
Examine Records and Evidence
Develop the Case Strategy
Prepare for Settlement and Court
Temporary Issues While the Divorce Is Pending
Some contested divorces take time to resolve, and certain issues may need to be addressed before the case reaches a final resolution.
Depending on the circumstances, a party may ask the court to enter temporary orders addressing matters such as time-sharing, child support, use of property, alimony, responsibility for certain expenses, or attorneys’ fees and costs while the case remains pending.
Temporary orders address issues during the litigation and do not necessarily determine how those issues will ultimately be resolved in the Final Judgment.
What Happens at a Contested Divorce Trial?
If the parties cannot resolve all disputed issues, the remaining matters may be presented to the judge at trial. Each party has an opportunity to present admissible evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and present arguments concerning the issues before the court.
The judge considers the evidence and applies Florida law to the unresolved issues.The court’s rulings are ultimately reflected in a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage and any related orders.
This page provides general information about Florida family law and is not intended as legal advice. Every case is different, and the law may change. You should consult an attorney regarding your individual circumstances.
Resolving a Contested Divorce Without a Final Trial
Being involved in a contested divorce does not prevent the parties from reaching an agreement later.
As financial information is exchanged and the disputed issues become clearer, negotiation may lead to progress that was not possible earlier in the case. Mediation can also provide a structured opportunity to address unresolved matters.
We review settlement proposals, identify terms that may resolve particular disputes, and explain how proposed agreements may affect property, finances, support, parenting arrangements, and other obligations.
The parties can also resolve some issues while allowing others to remain contested. When acceptable terms are reached, they can be documented through an appropriate settlement agreement or court filing.
When the Court Must Decide the Remaining Issues
When negotiation and mediation do not resolve the remaining disputes, the court may need to decide them.
A contested hearing or trial may involve financial records, documents, testimony, exhibits, witnesses, professional opinions, and legal arguments related to the matters still in dispute.
We prepare the evidence needed to present the client’s position clearly. This may involve organizing exhibits, preparing witnesses, addressing disputed financial information, and responding to evidence presented by the other party.
Attorney Azhar Cheema has experience with depositions, mediations, evidentiary hearings, and trials. When court intervention is necessary, the focus remains on preparing the issues the judge actually needs to decide.
Why Choose Attorney Azhar Cheema for a Contested Divorce
Direct Attorney Involvement
Litigation Preparation
Settlement With Court Preparation in Mind
Focused Case Strategy
Speak With a Tampa Contested Divorce Lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The parties may reach agreements on some issues while leaving others for the court to decide. A partial settlement can narrow the issues that remain disputed and reduce what ultimately needs to be addressed at trial.
Florida family law requires certain financial disclosure, and additional information may be obtained through discovery. If a spouse fails to provide information that is properly required, the other party may ask the court to compel disclosure or take other appropriate action to address the failure to comply.
A spouse’s failure to respond does not necessarily prevent the divorce from moving forward. Depending on the circumstances, the party who filed the petition may be able to seek a default and proceed without the other spouse’s participation. The court must still determine the appropriate relief and ensure that the requirements for entering a Final Judgment are satisfied.
There is no single timeline for a contested divorce. The length of the case depends on factors such as the number and complexity of disputed issues, the amount of discovery required, whether experts are needed, the parties’ ability to reach agreements, the number of court hearings, and the court’s schedule.
There is no set cost for a contested divorce. The total cost depends on the circumstances of the case and the amount of legal work required. Factors may include the complexity of the disputed issues, discovery, depositions, mediation, court hearings, expert involvement, settlement negotiations, and whether the case proceeds to trial.