Best Divorce Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, FL (2025 Guide)

You're scrolling through lawyer websites at 2am in your car on Las Olas Boulevard. They all sound the same. Which one do you actually call in this expensive city?

Here's the truth: not every Fort Lauderdale divorce needs a lawyer. If you agree on everything, DIY ($449) or Divorce.com ($908) makes sense. But if you're fighting—especially over expensive real estate, boats, or businesses—you need someone who knows South Florida.

Let me break down what lawyers cost here and which ones are worth calling.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

Not always.

If you agree on everything, save the money. Maybe hire a lawyer for 2 hours ($600-$1,000) to review your paperwork.

Hire a lawyer if:

• Your spouse disagrees on major issues

• You own a business

• Significant assets (expensive condo, boats, large retirement accounts)

• Big income gap, alimony on table

• Your spouse hired a lawyer

• Domestic violence or financial abuse

• Your spouse hiding money

• Kids and can't agree on custody

What Lawyers Cost in Fort Lauderdale

Hourly rates: $300-$500 (coastal city pricing)

• Newer lawyers: $300-$375/hour

• Experienced: $375-$450/hour

• Top specialists: $450-$500/hour

Retainer: $5,000-$10,000 upfront

They bill hourly. When low, ask for more.

Total cost:

• Uncontested (agree on everything): $3,500-$7,000 flat fee

• Contested (some fighting): $12,000-$35,000 per person

• High-conflict (trials, custody battles): $40,000-$120,000+ per person

Most Fort Lauderdale divorces settle around $18,000-$30,000 per person. Expensive, but that's coastal South Florida.

10 Divorce Lawyers Worth Calling

No rankings—different lawyers for different situations. Pick 2-3 that match your needs.

1. Michelle Rodriguez, Rodriguez Family Law

16 years experience | $425/hour | Las Olas area

What she handles: High-net-worth divorces, complex property, yacht/boat division, business valuations, international assets.

Best for: Expensive real estate cases, yacht ownership, business owners, or international complications.

Style: Detail-oriented, excellent with complicated financials. Clients say she's thorough with high-value asset division.

2. Robert Chen, Chen & Associates

13 years experience | $375/hour | Downtown Fort Lauderdale

What he handles: Contested divorces, custody litigation, relocation disputes, military divorces, modifications.

Best for: Military families, straightforward contested cases, custody battles.

Style: Strong litigator, direct communicator. Comfortable in court.

3. Jennifer Martinez, Martinez Law Group

18 years experience | $450/hour | Victoria Park

What she handles: High-conflict cases, protective orders, complex custody, parental alienation, appeals.

Best for: Domestic violence cases, high-conflict situations, or when you need aggressive representation.

Style: Fierce advocate. Former prosecutor background shows in court. Top-tier but expensive.

4. David Thompson, Thompson Family Law

11 years experience | $350/hour | Coral Ridge

What he handles: Mediation, collaborative divorce, uncontested cases, property division.

Best for: People who want to settle without major fighting. Also handles moderately contested cases efficiently.

Style: Settlement-focused, practical. Doesn't escalate unnecessarily.

5. Patricia Sullivan, Sullivan & Partners

15 years experience | $400/hour | Near Broward Courthouse

What she handles: Property division, alimony disputes, retirement division, business valuation, post-divorce modifications.

Best for: Complex property division, protecting financial interests of lower-earning spouses, alimony cases.

Style: Thorough financial strategist. Good at forensic work and catching hidden assets.

6. Michael Foster, Foster Law Firm

20 years experience | $475/hour | Las Olas

What he handles: High-net-worth divorces, celebrity/public figure cases, complex business valuations, prenuptial enforcement, appeals.

Best for: Very high-asset cases, business owners, public figures needing discretion.

Style: Expensive but one of Fort Lauderdale's most experienced. Respected, efficient, knows Broward judges well.

7. Amanda Garcia, Garcia Family Law Center

12 years experience | $375/hour | Wilton Manors

What she handles: LGBTQ+ family law, custody disputes, parenting plan modifications, non-traditional families.

Best for: LGBTQ+ couples, non-traditional family structures, custody-focused cases. Very affirming.

Style: Inclusive, client-centered. Passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and modern family structures.

8. Steven Martinez, Martinez Law Office

9 years experience | $325/hour | Plantation area

What he handles: Straightforward contested divorces, uncontested cases, modifications, affordable representation. Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Best for: Spanish-speaking clients, straightforward cases needing good representation at lower rates.

Style: Responsive, accessible. Less experienced but competent and more affordable than downtown lawyers.

9. Dr. Rebecca Foster, Foster & Associates

17 years experience | $425/hour | Beach area

What she handles: Collaborative divorce, mediation, parenting coordination, complex custody, discernment counseling.

Best for: People wanting collaborative approach, couples on fence about divorcing, or complex co-parenting issues.

Style: Trained in collaborative law and mediation. Focuses on solutions over conflict.

10. Carlos Rodriguez, Rodriguez Family Law Partners

14 years experience | $400/hour | Downtown

What he handles: International divorces, cases with assets abroad, custody with international parents, Hague Convention cases.

Best for: International complications—spouse in another country, assets abroad, child abduction concerns. Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Style: Experienced with international family law. Understands Florida's international community.

How to Pick the Right Lawyer

Match lawyer to your situation

• Simple uncontested: Don't hire the $475/hour specialist.

• Custody disputes: Amanda Garcia (#7) or Jennifer Martinez (#3).

• Business/yacht division: Michelle Rodriguez (#1) or Michael Foster (#6).

• High-net-worth: Michael Foster (#6) or Michelle Rodriguez (#1).

• Military: Robert Chen (#2).

• Domestic violence: Jennifer Martinez (#3).

• Want to settle: David Thompson (#4) or Dr. Rebecca Foster (#9).

• LGBTQ+: Amanda Garcia (#7).

• Spanish-speaking: Steven Martinez (#8) or Carlos Rodriguez (#10).

• International: Carlos Rodriguez (#10).

Consult with 2-3 lawyers

Most offer free or low-cost consultations ($0-$200 for 30-60 minutes).

Ask about:

• Experience with your situation

• Estimated cost

• Approach (fight or settle?)

• Communication style

• Availability

Pick someone you can talk to for months.

Compare and decide

After meeting 2-3:

• Hourly rate

• Estimated total

• Retainer (payment plans?)

• Strategy

• Communication style

Trust your gut.

How Billing Works

Most bill in 6-minute chunks. Everything gets billed:

• 5-minute call: $25-$42

• 15-minute email: $75-$125

• 2-hour hearing: $600-$1,000

• Reviewing documents 1 hour: $300-$500

You pay retainer ($5,000-$10,000). They bill monthly. When low, ask for more.

Some offer flat fees for uncontested ($3,500-$7,000). If contested, switch to hourly.

Keeping Costs Down

• Get organized: Bring sorted documents. Don't pay $300-$500/hour for sorting.

• Use email: Cheaper than calls.

• Don't use lawyer as therapist: They're $300-$500/hour. Therapists are $150-$250/hour.

• Be efficient: Ask all questions at once.

• Do simple tasks: Gather documents yourself.

• Settle early: Every month adds $2,000-$5,000.

• Pick battles: Don't fight over small stuff.

Alternatives to Full Representation

Limited scope ($600-$3,000):

• Review your Divorce.com forms: $600-$1,000

• Draft Marital Settlement Agreement: $1,000-$2,000

• Handle one hearing: $1,200-$3,000

• Consult on strategy: $300-$500/hour for 2-3 hours

Mediation ($2,000-$5,000 per person): Hire neutral mediator. Fort Lauderdale mediators charge $250-$400/hour. Most need 10-15 hours.

Then lawyer reviews agreement (2 hours, $600-$1,000).

Total: $2,600-$6,000 per person. Way cheaper than full representation.

Collaborative divorce: Both hire collaborative lawyers. Everyone agrees not to go to court—negotiate in meetings. If can't settle, both lawyers withdraw.

Costs similar to mediation with legal review: $4,000-$10,000 per person.

Questions to Ask

1. How many Broward County cases have you handled?

2. What will my case cost?

3. What's your approach—litigation or settlement?

4. How do you communicate?

5. What issues do you see?

6. Experience with my specific issue?

7. Will you handle it personally?

8. What's your retainer and billing?

9. Best and worst case scenarios?

10. Timeline estimate?

Red Flags

• Guarantees outcomes

• Seems to want conflict

• Unreachable

• Bad-mouths other lawyers

• Doesn't specialize in family law

• Won't work out any payment plan

When to Fire Your Lawyer

Valid reasons:

• Not communicating

• Pushing unnecessary conflict

• Not listening to goals

• Missing deadlines or mistakes

• You don't trust them

Send written notice: "I'm terminating your representation. Send my file and final bill."

The Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyers cost $300-$500/hour. Most contested cases run $12,000-$35,000 per person. High-conflict hits $40,000-$120,000+.

Not every divorce needs a lawyer. If you agree, save the money.

But if you're fighting in this expensive city—hire someone. The 10 lawyers above are competent. Consult with 2-3, pick one you trust.

It's expensive. But a good lawyer keeps you from losing more than you have to on expensive Fort Lauderdale real estate and assets.