What If I Can’t Afford A Divorce Attorney In Florida?
We regularly speak with people who need counsel but do not have the funds to get started. Here is a practical roadmap.
What if I can’t afford a divorce attorney in Florida?
Community Resources
- Community Legal Services of Mid Florida and similar organizations evaluate financial eligibility and may provide free or reduced-fee help.
- Court self-help centers offer forms and brief consultations, usually with newer lawyers. These resources are better than going in blind, but they do not replace full representation.
The Reality of Fee Contribution
Florida courts can order the higher earner to contribute to the other side’s fees. In Central Florida, judges often require parties to attempt mediation before hearing temporary fee requests. That means you may need to fund the case through the early stages before you can ask the court for help.
How We Structure Retainers
We use a refundable deposit model that functions like pay-as-you-go. Clients maintain a set balance, monthly bills are drawn from it, and they replenish it as the case moves forward. This can lower the barrier to entry compared to massive retainers, while keeping the case properly funded.
Caution on Extremely Low Retainers
Extremely low retainers often signal inexperience or unsustainable staffing. The wrong lawyer can leave you worse off than representing yourself. If you must represent yourself for a period, invest time in forms, deadlines, and basic procedure, then add counsel as soon as you can.
Build Personal Runway
- Keep your own small reserve.
- Maintain a credit card in your name.
- Understand your cash needs through mediation.
Bottom Line
There is no public defender for divorce. Combine community resources with a realistic plan to bridge the gap until a fee contribution request can be heard.
Sean Smallwood is an Orlando divorce attorney for the law firm Sean Smallwood, Orlando Divorce & Family Law P.A. where he represents clients in all areas of family law and divorce. 100% of the practice is devoted to family law. As an attorney in Orlando, he has helped many families with a wide variety of family law cases including Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, and many other issues.