For same sex couples in Orlando, divorce follows the same Florida statutes as any other dissolution, but a few issues tend to land harder. Marriage equality only became the law nationwide in 2015, which means many couples were together for years, sometimes decades, before they could legally marry. Florida generally measures a marriage from the wedding date, and that gap can shape how property and support are handled.
Brodzki Jacobs represents same sex spouses through divorce across the Orlando area, including the questions that come up around parentage and assets built before the marriage was recognized. The firm approaches these cases with the practical detail they require rather than treating them as routine.
The most common wrinkle is the length-of-marriage problem. A couple may have shared a home, finances, and children long before their legal wedding, yet a court looking at equitable distribution and alimony often starts the clock at the marriage date. A same sex divorce lawyer in Orlando can argue for how premarital contributions should be recognized, but the law in this area is still developing and the framing matters.
Parentage is the second recurring issue, and it is frequently the most emotionally charged. When only one spouse is a child’s biological or legal parent, the other parent’s rights are not automatic, even after years of raising the child together. If a second-parent adoption or a court parentage order was never completed, the non-biological parent may have to establish standing before time-sharing can even be discussed. Handling that question early is critical.
Property and support otherwise track standard Florida law. Marital assets are divided by equitable distribution, alimony is weighed under the same statutory factors, and any parenting arrangement runs through a parenting plan. The difference lies in how the timeline and parentage facts get presented, which is where experience with same sex cases pays off.
If you are a same sex spouse considering divorce in the Orlando area, the most useful first step is a conversation about your specific facts, particularly around how long you were together and whether both parents have legal standing with any children. Brodzki Jacobs can walk you through how those details are likely to affect your case. To talk through what your relationship and your family will mean for your divorce, you can meet with a same sex divorce attorney at Brodzki Jacobs by calling 954-932-8300.
