How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer in Florida

The Florida Bar certifies attorneys as specialists in marital and family law under Rule 6-6 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The Florida Bar describes certification as its highest level of evaluation of a lawyer’s competency and experience in a given area of law. The board-certification program was approved by the Florida Supreme Court and established in 1982.

Certification is meaningful because of what it takes to earn. Under Rule 6-6, an applicant must have at least 5 years of Bar membership, show substantial involvement in marital and family law over the 5 years before applying (Bar materials describe minimums such as a set number of contested cases and at least 7 trials), complete 75 hours of approved continuing legal education in the field within the preceding 5 years, provide peer references, pass a confidential peer review and background check, and pass a written examination. The initial application carries a $250 fee.

Certification is uncommon. As of 2026, exactly 271 attorneys are board certified in marital and family law across all of Florida, according to the Florida Bar’s certification directory. That is well under 1 percent of Florida Bar members, so it is a strong signal rather than a routine credential.

There is important context here. Only board-certified lawyers may call themselves specialists or experts in the field. That said, many capable and experienced family lawyers are not board certified. Certification is a helpful indicator of depth, not a strict requirement for competent representation.

Anyone can check a Florida lawyer’s standing for free. The Florida Bar’s Find a Lawyer search at floridabar.org shows each attorney’s status (for example, Member in Good Standing), Bar number, and year of admission. It also displays a 10-Year Discipline History, and where sanctions exist the profile links to the underlying records.

Confirming that a lawyer is currently eligible to practice and reviewing any disciplinary history is a sensible first step before scheduling a consultation.

Family lawyers commonly charge an up-front retainer billed against an hourly rate, but the specific numbers vary widely from firm to firm. Any hourly rate or retainer amount you see quoted should be treated as an estimate from secondary sources, not an official figure.

Useful questions for a first meeting include what the consultation covers, how the retainer is billed and replenished, who will actually handle the day-to-day work on your case, and whether the firm offers limited-scope (sometimes called unbundled) help for specific tasks rather than full representation. Reading this guide does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your own situation, speak with a licensed Florida attorney.