St. Petersburg Divorce, Family Law & Estate Planning
If you live in St. Petersburg or anywhere in Pinellas County, legal issues tend to show up in real life, not in neat categories. A divorce can quickly become a time-sharing and child support issue. A new baby can raise paternity questions and necessitate updated estate planning. A remarriage can make beneficiary designations and protections for children from a prior relationship feel urgent.
At McNary Law, we help Pinellas County families work through divorce and family law matters while also planning ahead with wills, trusts, probate guidance, and advance directives. We also offer remote services for many matters, so you can handle a lot of the process from home when that is the better fit for your schedule, your family, and your peace of mind.
Family Law in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County
Family law cases in Pinellas County often involve more than just “filing paperwork.” Most people want answers to practical questions:
- What happens with time-sharing and parenting plans?
- How does child support work if income changes or a parent relocates?
- Can we keep this out of court through agreement or mediation?
- What should I do if my co-parent is not following the order?
Our family law work typically includes:
- Divorce and divorce planning
- Parenting plans and time-sharing
- Child support
- Paternity
- Modifications and enforcement
- Relocation cases
- Domestic violence injunctions and safety-focused planning
Florida divorce has a baseline legal requirement that surprises many people: to file for dissolution, one spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months before filing.
In real terms, that means the best starting point is usually a clear plan: what you want to accomplish, what you need protected right now (finances, parenting schedule, the home), and what documentation will support your goals.
Divorce in St. Pete: A practical, problem-solving approach
Divorce is not one-size-fits-all. Some couples want a respectful, efficient resolution. Others are dealing with high conflict, financial complexity, or serious trust issues. A good legal strategy is less about “being aggressive” and more about being clear, prepared, and realistic about what the court can order.
In many cases, progress comes from:
- Setting a workable short-term agreement while the case is pending
- Building a parenting plan that fits real schedules in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County
- Getting organized on finances early so equitable distribution discussions are grounded in facts
- Using negotiation or mediation when it can reduce cost and stress without sacrificing protections
Estate Planning for St. Petersburg and Pinellas County families
Estate planning is how you protect your family when life changes, and life changes a lot. In Pinellas County, we see estate planning become urgent after:
- Marriage or divorce
- A new child
- Buying a home
- A serious diagnosis in the family
- Caring for aging parents
- A move to Florida or a move within the state
A well-built plan often includes:
- A will (to direct what happens at death and name key decision-makers)
- A trust (commonly used to manage assets, avoid or streamline probate, and add control)
- Powers of attorney
- Advance directives like a health care surrogate designation and living will
Florida law defines “advance directives” broadly to include documents like a designation of health care surrogate and a living will.
For many families, trusts are useful because they can create a framework for administration during incapacity and after death. Florida’s trust statutes describe how express trusts operate and how they are governed.
If you are trying to decide whether a will is enough or a trust makes more sense, the right answer usually depends on your goals: privacy, probate avoidance, blended-family planning, minor children, special needs concerns, or asset protection planning.
Probate and estate administration in Pinellas County
Probate is the court-supervised process used to administer certain assets after someone dies. Whether probate is needed depends on how assets are titled and what beneficiary designations exist, among other factors.
A key legal concept is venue. Under Florida probate law, probate proceedings are generally filed in the Florida county where the decedent was domiciled.
When there is no effective estate plan, Florida’s intestate succession rules determine who inherits, including the surviving spouse’s share in certain situations.
If you are in St. Petersburg handling a loved one’s affairs, it helps to get clarity quickly on:
- What assets exist and how they are titled
- Whether a will or trust exists
- Whether creditor issues may be involved
- Whether there are family disputes or unclear beneficiary issues
Remote services for St. Petersburg and Pinellas County clients
Many legal services can be handled remotely, especially early strategy sessions, document review, estate planning meetings, and much of the information-gathering and drafting work. Remote options can be particularly helpful for:
- Busy professionals commuting across Pinellas County
- Parents coordinating time-sharing schedules
- Adult children assisting aging parents from outside Florida
When an in-person appearance is required, we will tell you plainly and early, so there are no surprises.
Local court and filing information for St. Petersburg
Below are common Pinellas County locations used for family law filings and related court services. Always confirm the correct division, room, and current hours before you go, because departments and procedures can change.
St. Petersburg Judicial Building
545 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Pinellas County Justice Center
14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762
Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (general contact and hours)
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 | (727) 464-7000 | Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon–Fri
Probate Court Records (locations listed by the Clerk)
Clearwater Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Room 106, Clearwater, FL 33756 | (727) 464-3321
St. Petersburg Branch, 545 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
E-Filing note (Florida Courts E-Filing Portal)
Florida provides a statewide e-filing portal at myflcourtaccess.com.
Note: E-filing rules and eligibility vary by filer type and case. If you are self-represented, confirm whether you should e-file or file in person for your specific matter.
Common Questions We Hear From St. Petersburg Clients
To file for divorce in Florida, one spouse must have resided in Florida for at least six months before filing. A local attorney can help you map out timing and proof issues if your move to St. Petersburg or Pinellas County was recent.
Parenting plans and time-sharing are typically addressed early, especially if there is no stable schedule. The goal is a workable arrangement that supports the child’s needs and reduces conflict. The exact details depend on your family’s facts and what the court approves.
It depends on how quickly financial documents are exchanged, whether time-sharing is contested, and whether the case settles early or requires hearings. Uncontested cases can move faster, while contested cases often take longer due to court scheduling and unresolved issues.
Sometimes probate can be avoided or reduced when assets are properly titled and coordinated with your plan. Probate venue is generally tied to the decedent’s Florida domicile. Whether probate is needed depends on the assets, beneficiary designations, and how everything was set up.
Usually, yes. Divorce, separation, remarriage, and changes in parenting arrangements can affect who can make decisions for you, who inherits, and who manages assets for minor children. Updating your will, trust, powers of attorney, and health care documents helps keep your plan aligned with your current reality and your goals.
Often, yes. Many estate planning steps can be handled remotely, including meetings, drafting, and document review. Some execution requirements may still need in-person signing and witnessing depending on the document, so we walk you through exactly what applies to your plan.