When a family is in the middle of something this hard, the last thing you need is a law firm that hands you a quote and shows you the door. Kalish & Jaggars, PLLC was built on a different idea: that you deserve to understand the law that applies to your situation, see a clear strategy before you commit to anything, and hear from your attorneys throughout. That is the experience the firm brings to Miami-Dade County families who are facing divorce, custody disputes, and the full range of family law matters the South Florida courts handle every year.
The firm’s Miami office at 701 Brickell Avenue is available by appointment. Clients across Miami-Dade can also work with the Kalish & Jaggars team by video or by phone, and the West Palm Beach office handles matters for the full South Florida region in person.
Schedule a no-pressure consultation: call (561) 709-6488 or book a consultation online. You will leave the first conversation with a real sense of what Florida law says about your situation and a clear picture of the next step.
Family Law We Handle in Miami-Dade County
Kalish & Jaggars represents Miami-Dade clients across the full scope of Florida family law:
- Divorce: Florida requires equitable distribution of marital assets — not a simple equal split — and the outcome of a contested case turns on the financial facts specific to your marriage. We handle contested and uncontested divorce representation, including financially complex and high-asset cases.
- Custody and Time-Sharing: Florida’s statutory framework centers on the best interests of the child, evaluated under the factors in §61.13. Every parenting plan must address both time-sharing schedules and decision-making rights. We handle negotiation, establishment, modification, and enforcement in Miami-Dade courts.
- Child Support: Florida’s income shares model under §61.30 governs how child support is calculated. We handle initial orders, modifications when income or circumstances change substantially, and enforcement tied to Florida’s statutory guidelines.
- Alimony and Spousal Support: Florida’s 2023 alimony statute significantly restructured spousal support, eliminating permanent alimony and revising durational limits based on the length of the marriage. We handle all forms of support analysis, negotiation, modification petitions, and termination proceedings under the current law.
- Property and Asset Division: Correctly distinguishing marital from non-marital assets under §61.075 is where many contested cases turn. Miami-Dade’s asset landscape often involves business interests, investment portfolios, international assets, and multi-property real estate. We handle the full scope of equitable distribution, including retirement accounts subject to QDRO and deferred compensation.
- Paternity: Florida’s paternity statutes under Chapter 742 establish enforceable rights for both parents once legal fatherhood is determined, including time-sharing rights and support obligations. We handle paternity establishment and all related parental rights matters.
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: A well-drafted marital agreement that clearly defines financial boundaries before conflict arises can prevent the most costly disputes entirely. We handle drafting and review of agreements built to meet Florida’s enforceability requirements.
Miami-Dade Communities We Serve
We serve clients throughout Miami-Dade County. Whether your case involves the family courts in downtown Miami or a dispute that started in the far reaches of the county, we handle Miami-Dade matters and will confirm your community’s coverage when you call.
Greater Miami and Brickell
Miami, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay
Miami Beach and the Barrier Islands
Miami Beach, Surfside, Bay Harbor Islands, Bal Harbour, North Bay Village
North Miami-Dade
North Miami, North Miami Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Miami Lakes, Opa-locka, Miami Gardens, Miami Shores
West Miami-Dade
Doral, Sweetwater, Kendale Lakes, Kendall, Tamiami, Westchester, West Miami, Medley, Virginia Gardens
South Miami-Dade
Homestead, Florida City, Cutler Bay, Leisure City, Richmond Heights, Goulds, Perrine, Naranja
Miami Keys and Coastal Communities
Key Biscayne, Virginia Key, Biscayne Park
If your neighborhood is not listed, call us and we will confirm. Most Miami-Dade communities fall within our service area.
Additional Counties We Serve
In addition to Miami-Dade county, Kalish & Jaggars serves clients in the following counties, primarily by virtual appointment and by phone, with in-person meetings available as needed:
Where You Are, Where Your Case Is Heard
Miami-Dade family law cases are handled in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Knowing which courthouse manages your docket, and having attorneys who are familiar with that environment, matters before the first filing goes in.
Primary Service Area
Miami-Dade CountyCourthouse
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
(Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Family Division)
The Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center houses the Family Court Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Dissolution of marriage, custody and time-sharing, child support, and paternity matters for Miami-Dade County are filed and heard there. The courthouse is located in downtown Miami adjacent to the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building complex. Clients traveling from Brickell, Coral Gables, or the barrier islands should plan for downtown Miami parking and courthouse security procedures before any appearance date.
Why Miami-Dade Families Trust Kalish & Jaggars
The first call is not a sales call.
When you contact us, the goal of the initial conversation is not to close a retainer. It is to listen to what is actually happening, explain the law that governs your situation in plain English, and give you a strategy before you decide anything. You talk, we listen, we teach you the relevant law, we answer your questions, and then fees come up. You are not handed a quote at the end of a twenty-minute call.
Two cases in Miami-Dade are never identical.
A high-asset divorce in Brickell has a different financial profile than an uncontested matter in Homestead. A custody modification in North Miami Beach involves a different set of facts than a paternity establishment filed from Coral Gables. We approach each matter as its own case, building strategy around what is actually in front of us rather than running the same playbook regardless of circumstances.
You will know where your case stands.
One of the most consistent complaints clients have about law firms is silence. We are built around the opposite: regular communication, real-time case updates, and attorneys who are reachable. You will not spend weeks wondering what is happening or what comes next. Our communication structure is a documented part of how we practice, not a promise that disappears after the retainer is signed.
Financially complex matters are within our scope.
Miami-Dade’s asset landscape includes business interests, investment portfolios, international assets, and multi-property real estate. We handle divorces where the financial picture is not simple, including equitable distribution disputes involving retirement accounts, deferred compensation, and professional goodwill under Florida Statute §61.075. If your case involves financial complexity, that is not a reason to look for a different firm.
Preparation, not promises.
No attorney can guarantee a result in a contested family law case. What we commit to is preparation: understanding the facts, knowing the applicable Florida law, anticipating the other side, and showing up ready. That is the version of “we will fight for you” that actually holds up when the case gets hard.
Ready to talk? Call (561) 709-6488 or contact us for a no-pressure consultation.
What to Expect When You Call
Our consultation process is straightforward and built around three things you need before any decisions get made:
- We listen first. Tell us what is happening. The short version is fine, and we will ask the questions that matter.
- We explain what Florida law says. In plain English. No lecture, no scare tactics, no pressure.
We map the next step. You will leave the consultation with a clear sense of what comes next: filing, responding, gathering records, or taking time to think it through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will my Miami-Dade family law case be filed?
Miami-Dade family law cases are filed in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Family Court Division operates out of the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center at 175 NW 1st Ave in downtown Miami. Dissolution of marriage, custody, paternity, and support matters for Miami-Dade County are all handled within that circuit.
Do I have to come into the Miami office, or can we work virtually?
The Miami office is available by appointment. Most of our work can be done by video and phone, and many Miami-Dade clients never need to travel to an office at all. If you would like an in-person meeting, the Miami Brickell location accommodates that with advance scheduling. The West Palm Beach office is also available to Miami-Dade clients who prefer in-person meetings at our main location.
I live in Miami-Dade but my spouse recently moved out of state. Can you still help?
Yes. If your children have been living in Miami-Dade, Florida courts typically retain jurisdiction over custody and time-sharing matters under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). Florida courts can also handle divorce and property division even when one spouse has relocated. The specifics depend on the timeline and where key events occurred — that is a question we can address directly in a consultation.
What does it cost to hire a family law attorney in Miami-Dade?
Fees vary based on the complexity of the case, the issues in dispute, and how much court involvement is required. We discuss fees transparently as part of the consultation, after listening to the facts and explaining the law. There is no fee quote before that conversation because a flat number without context is not useful to you.
How long will my divorce or custody case take in Miami-Dade?
Florida requires a minimum of 20 days from the date of service before a final judgment can be entered in an uncontested divorce. Contested matters — especially those involving custody disputes, financial complexity, or contested assets — typically take longer and depend on the court’s docket and the parties’ ability to reach agreement on key issues. Your consultation will include a realistic timeline discussion based on your specific facts.
I am not sure what kind of legal help I need yet.
That is exactly what the first conversation is for. You do not need to know whether you need a full divorce, a custody modification, or a support enforcement action before you call. Tell us what is happening and we will help you understand what the law offers and what the available paths look like.
Talk to a Miami-Dade Family Law Attorney
Our Miami-Dade County family law attorneys know the Eleventh Circuit, know the path through a difficult case, and will walk you through what comes next before you commit to anything. Miami-Dade families deserve guidance that is substantive, honest, and built around their specific situation — not a script.
At Kalish & Jaggars, every strategy meeting is designed to leave you with a clear picture of your legal options and what Florida law says about your case — before you commit to anything.
Our Miami family law office at 701 Brickell Avenue is available by appointment, and our team is reachable by video, phone, or in person. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
Call (561) 709-6488 or schedule a free consultation. Available by video, phone, or in person at our Miami or West Palm Beach office.
