A contested divorce is one where the spouses cannot agree on one or more of the issues that have to be resolved to end the marriage, whether that is property division, alimony, time-sharing, or child support. Anyone searching for a contested divorce lawyer in Tampa is usually past the point of a friendly split and needs an attorney prepared to litigate. Brodzki Jacobs handles contested and complex family cases across the Tampa Bay area, the kind that move through discovery, hearings, and sometimes trial rather than a quick settlement.
A contested divorce in Tampa runs a longer course than an agreed one. After the petition is filed in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, both sides exchange financial disclosures and move into discovery, where each gathers documents and testimony from the other. Temporary orders may be entered along the way to handle support, the marital home, or a parenting schedule while the case is pending.
Most contested cases in Hillsborough County are required to attempt mediation before they reach a judge for trial. A large share settle there, once both sides see the evidence and weigh the cost of continuing. A contested divorce attorney in Tampa prepares the case as though it will be tried, because that readiness is what produces a strong settlement when the chance to settle arrives.
If your spouse has hired aggressive counsel, is hiding assets, or is fighting over the children, a divorce attorney who mainly drafts agreements is not enough. Brodzki Jacobs brings litigation experience to contested divorce in Tampa, with the willingness to take a case to trial when a fair settlement is not on offer. Call 954-932-8300 to discuss what your case is likely to require.