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St. Petersburg Divorce Lawyer
Going through a divorce is one of the hardest things you’ll ever face, and you don’t have to face it alone. For more than 18 years, our family law team at the Coleman Law Group has guided St. Petersburg spouses through contested and uncontested divorce, high-asset property division, and alimony – with a free, confidential consultation to start.
18+ Years Serving Florida Families
St. Petersburg & Pinellas County
Our Approach
How We Protect Every Step
Compassionate, focused legal support — because you deserve to be treated like a person, not a case number.
We listen first, strategize second
Every family's story is different, and yours deserves to be heard. We start by understanding your goals for your future, then build a plan around them.
We handle the paperwork and court deadlines
From the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to final judgment, we manage the filings so you can focus on your family, not the fine print.
We build the right case for your situation
Whether your divorce is amicable or headed for a courtroom fight, we tailor our strategy to how contested or uncontested, your case really is.
We fight for a fair division of assets and alimony
You've worked hard for what you have. We fight to secure the equitable distribution and alimony outcome you deserve.
We keep you informed at every stage
Divorce can feel uncertain enough already. No mystery, no silence. You'll always know where your case stands.
18+ Years of Experience
What to Know About Divorce in Pinellas County
Whether your marriage is ending quietly or headed toward a courtroom fight, the choices you make in the first few weeks shape everything that follows. For more than 18 years, our attorneys have guided St. Petersburg and Pinellas County spouses through exactly these decisions, and we bring that same experience to your case.
Uncontested and simplified divorce. If you and your spouse agree on everything – property, debts, and alimony – and have no minor or dependent children, Florida offers a simplified dissolution of marriage under Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.105. It’s faster and less costly than a standard petition, but the agreement you sign is still permanent, which is why it’s worth having an experienced eye review it before you finalize anything.
Contested divorce. When spouses disagree on property division, alimony, or the terms of the split, a case proceeds as a standard dissolution. Many contested matters still resolve through negotiation or mediation rather than trial – but when they don’t, you want an attorney who has actually stood in front of a Pinellas County judge and knows how local courts approach these disputes.
High-asset divorce. St. Petersburg’s waterfront homes, investment properties, and growing base of business owners and professionals mean many local divorces involve more than a simple 50/50 split. Business valuations, real estate portfolios, retirement accounts, and investment holdings all require careful, defensible analysis – not guesswork. We work with forensic accountants and appraisers to make sure nothing is undervalued or overlooked.
Alimony under Florida’s current law. Florida eliminated permanent alimony for cases filed on or after July 1, 2023. Courts can now award only temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony, with durational alimony capped at a percentage of the length of the marriage and limited to no more than 35% of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes. Understanding how these caps and categories apply to your specific marriage is exactly the kind of nuanced analysis that comes from handling these cases day in and day out.
Because no two marriages – and no two divorces – look alike, we take the time to understand your specific situation before recommending a strategy. That’s what nearly two decades of experience in Pinellas County family courts looks like in practice.
If custody or child support is also part of your situation, we handle those matters too.
- A Heart For People
You don’t need a strategy figured out today. You have to make the call, and we’ll listen, tell you honestly where you stand, and build the plan from there. Our dedicated team of lawyers will show up for you the way we’d want someone to show up for our own family.
Local to St. Petersburg
We Know Pinellas County Family Court
Filing for divorce in Pinellas County? Our attorneys maintain a constant presence in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. We facilitate every step of your case, beginning with your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the St. Pete Judicial Building and continuing through the Unified Family Court.
We accept clients in Old Northeast, Historic Kenwood, Snell Isle, Crescent Lake, Shore Acres, Disston Heights, Downtown, and Tierra Verde, as well as surrounding Pinellas County communities.
Circuit
Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County
Filing Courthouse
St. Petersburg Judicial Building
545 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Family Case Management Unit
727-464-7000
Filing Fee (verify before filing)
Approx. $409 - confirm at mypinellasclerk.gov
Local Insight
Divorce Issues We See Often in St. Petersburg
Every St. Petersburg family’s situation looks a little different, and we’ve walked alongside many of our neighbors through these exact circumstances. Wherever you see yourself below, please know you’re not the first, and you won’t be facing it alone.
Waterfront and second-home property division. From Snell Isle and Old Northeast to Coquina Key and Tierra Verde, St. Petersburg has one of the densest concentrations of waterfront and investment property in Tampa Bay. Dividing a marital home with a dock, a rental condo downtown, or a second property elsewhere in Florida raises valuation and equitable distribution questions that a generic asset split doesn’t cover. We work with local appraisers to get this right.
Seasonal and part-year residency. St. Petersburg has a large seasonal and snowbird population. If you or your spouse split time between Florida and another state, establishing the six-month Florida residency required to file here can itself be a threshold issue, one we help clients document properly before filing.
Business owners and self-employed professionals. Downtown St. Petersburg’s growth in small businesses, medical practices, and professional services means we regularly handle divorces where a business interest, not just a paycheck, needs to be valued and divided.
Gray divorce and long-term marriages. Our experience with Pinellas County’s retiree community means we are well-versed in handling the unique challenges of long-term divorces, specifically regarding pension valuation, Social Security planning, and durational alimony requirements.
We serve clients across St. Petersburg’s neighborhoods, including Old Northeast, Historic Kenwood, Snell Isle, Crescent Lake, Shore Acres, Disston Heights, Downtown, and Tierra Verde, as well as surrounding Pinellas County communities.
Coleman Law Group: Advocates for Families and Fresh Starts
The Coleman Law Group believes that effective legal representation goes beyond strong advocacy – it requires personal attention and genuine compassion. Led by Constance D. Coleman, our firm is committed to client-centered representation and personalized support throughout every stage of your case, backed by more than 18 years of legal experience. We know that reaching out for help is not always easy, and we’re honored when a family trusts us to walk beside them through it.
When your marriage or your financial future is on the line, you need an attorney who will fight for what matters most to you. At The Coleman Law Group, we handle contested and uncontested divorce, high-asset divorce, and alimony – with the same care and skill that has guided our clients for nearly two decades.
Choosing The Coleman Law Group means choosing a legal team that puts you first – not just your case. We listen to your concerns, advocate relentlessly on your behalf, and stand with you every step of the way until your case is resolved.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Here are a few clients we’ve had the privilege of helping secure the justice and compensation they deserved.
10.0
Constance D. Coleman
Top Attorney
Florida Legal Elite
Rising Stars
Constance Coleman
SuperLawyers.com
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that you’re probably clouded with plenty of questions, and perhaps, worries at the moment. This is completely normal. That said, here are honest answers to queries we usually hear from St. Petersburg clients.
Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce in St. Petersburg?
It isn’t legally required, but it’s a smart move. Even amicable divorces involve binding paperwork on property division and support – a lawyer makes sure your agreement is fair and enforceable before you sign.
How long does a St. Petersburg divorce actually take?
By law, there’s a minimum 20-day waiting period after filing before a final judgment can be entered. A truly uncontested, simplified dissolution can sometimes be finalized in a matter of weeks; a contested divorce involving asset or alimony disputes typically takes several months to over a year.
What's the difference between contested and uncontested divorce?
An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on all major issues – property, debts, and alimony. A contested divorce means one or more issues are disputed and may require negotiation, mediation, or a judge to decide.
What makes a divorce "high-asset"?
There’s no fixed dollar threshold – a divorce is generally considered high-asset when it involves complexity beyond a simple split: a business interest, multiple properties, investment or retirement accounts, or significant separate versus marital property questions. These cases benefit from experienced valuation and negotiation, since mistakes here can be costly and hard to undo.
How is property divided in a St. Petersburg divorce?
Florida is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital assets and debts are divided fairly – not necessarily equally. Factors include each spouse’s financial situation, contributions to the marriage, and the length of the marriage.
Has Florida alimony law changed recently?
Yes. Florida eliminated permanent alimony for cases filed on or after July 1, 2023. Courts can now award only temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony, with durational alimony capped at a percentage of the marriage’s length and limited to no more than 35% of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes. An attorney can walk you through how this affects your specific situation.
Will I have to go to court for my divorce?
Not always. Many cases settle through negotiation or mediation without a trial. But if an agreement can’t be reached, your attorney should be fully prepared to represent you in front of a judge.
I was just served divorce papers. What should I do first?
Take a breath – this feels overwhelming, but you have time to do this right. Don’t respond on your own, and don’t ignore it, since Florida has strict deadlines for responding to a divorce petition. Contact an attorney right away so someone is in your corner from this point forward.
Do you also handle child custody or child support?
Yes, those matters are addressed on a dedicated page so we can give them the depth they deserve. Visit our child custody & support page for guidance specific to timesharing, parenting plans, and support calculations.
Courthouse & Filing Reference — Pinellas County
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Filed with | Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court (Sixth Judicial Circuit) |
| Clerk's office phone | 727-464-7000 |
| Local filings/hearings | St. Petersburg Judicial Building, 545 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 |
| Contested-matter courthouse | 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 |
| Residency requirement | 6 months in Florida (Fla. Stat. § 61.021) |
| Minimum waiting period | 20 days after filing before final judgment |
| Filing fee (as of early 2026) | ~$409, plus a modest fee for service of process — verify current amount with the Clerk |
| E-filing | Most petitioners file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; a courthouse visit isn't always required |
| Simplified dissolution | Available under Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.105 for uncontested, no-minor-children cases with no alimony sought |
Figures above change periodically. Confirm current fees and procedures with the Pinellas County Clerk before relying on this page for filing decisions.