When a marriage ends or a custody arrangement stops working, the weeks and months that follow can feel like standing in open water with no sense of which way is shore. If you are searching for a family law attorney in St. Lucie County, you do not need someone who will hand you a price quote and send you home. You need a firm that will sit down with you, explain what Florida law actually means for your situation, and hand you a strategy before you leave. That is what Kalish & Jaggars, PLLC does in St. Lucie County.
Our West Palm Beach office is the closest staffed location to St. Lucie County, and we serve clients throughout the county by phone and secure video as well. Whether you are in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Tradition, or anywhere in between, evening and weekend appointments are available and we are reachable 24/7.
Schedule a no-pressure consultation: call (561) 709-6488 or book a time online. You will leave with a clear picture of where you stand and what comes next, not a sales pitch.
Family Law We Handle in St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County families bring us a wide range of matters. Below is what our attorneys handle and where you can read the full details:
- Divorce: Florida law requires equitable — not equal — distribution of marital assets, and the outcome of a contested case depends on the financial facts specific to your marriage. We handle straightforward uncontested filings and contested, high-asset cases requiring full litigation strategy.
- Child Custody and Timesharing: Florida courts use “timesharing” as the statutory term, and every parenting plan must be built around the best interests of the child under the factors in §61.13. We handle parenting plan establishment, modification, and enforcement actions when existing orders are not being followed.
- Child Support: Florida’s income shares model under §61.30 governs how child support is calculated. We handle initial calculations, modifications when income or circumstances change, and enforcement when payments stop.
- Alimony and Spousal Support: Florida’s 2023 alimony statute restructured durational limits and eliminated permanent alimony. The type and duration of support available depends on the length of your marriage and other case-specific factors. We handle analysis, negotiation, and modification petitions under current law.
- Property Division and Equitable Distribution: Distinguishing marital from non-marital property under §61.075 is often where contested cases turn — particularly when retirement accounts subject to QDRO, business interests, or real estate with mixed ownership history are involved. We handle the full scope of equitable distribution matters.
- Paternity: Florida’s paternity statutes under Chapter 742 give both parents enforceable rights once legal fatherhood is established, including timesharing and support obligations. We handle establishment proceedings and related parental rights matters.
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: A well-drafted marital agreement that clearly defines financial expectations can prevent the most contested disputes from arising at all. We handle drafting, review, and enforcement for both prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
St. Lucie County Communities We Serve
St. Lucie County sits on Florida’s Treasure Coast, between Palm Beach County to the south and Martin County to the north. Kalish & Jaggars serves the full county, including:
Port St. Lucie
Tradition, St. Lucie West, Torino, Rosser Reserve, Veranda Gardens, Sandpiper Bay
Fort Pierce
Downtown Fort Pierce, Lakewood Park, White City, Midway, Indian River Estates
Unincorporated Communities
Hutchinson Island (St. Lucie portion), Indrio, Walton, Weatherbee, Morningside, Savanna Club
Don’t see your community listed? Call us and we will confirm coverage. Most St. Lucie County clients work with us remotely through phone and secure video, so location within the county is rarely a barrier.
Additional Counties We Serve
Additional Counties We Serve
In addition to St. Lucie 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
St. Lucie County family law cases are filed and heard in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Here is how our nearest office maps to that courthouse:
Kalish & Jaggars Office
West Palm Beach
2161 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd
Suite 302
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Primary Service Area
St. Lucie CountyMartin County
Palm Beach County
and surrounding Treasure Coast communities
Courthouse
St. Lucie County Courthouse
218 S. 2nd St.Fort Pierce,
FL 34950
19th Judicial Circuit
Family law matters in St. Lucie County go before the Circuit Court in Fort Pierce, which handles divorce filings, parenting plan approvals, child support orders, and modification hearings under the 19th Judicial Circuit. Our West Palm Beach office is roughly 60 miles south on I-95, and many St. Lucie County clients handle their consultations and ongoing communication by phone or video. Our team is familiar with the 19th Circuit’s filing requirements and local procedural rules, and handles all filling with attention to distinctions between 15th and 19th Circuit practices.
Why St. Lucie County Families Trust Kalish & Jaggars
Our intake is a strategy session, not a quote.
When you call or book a consultation, you are not getting a 20-minute sales pitch. You will talk, we will listen, and then we will explain what Florida law means for your specific situation. You will leave with a roadmap for what comes next and a transparent conversation about fees. That structure is by design, and it is different from what most firms offer.
We build the case before the filing date.
Preparation defines outcomes in family law. Whether you are facing an uncontested divorce, a contested custody dispute, or a high-asset property division, our team builds the documentation, financial analysis, and legal strategy before anything is put in front of a judge.
Transparency is not a courtesy; it is a commitment.
You will know where your case stands. You will not go days without an update or wonder what is happening. Our clients receive regular communication, and our attorneys are accessible when questions come up. That promise is built into how we practice.
We handle complex matters across the full Treasure Coast.
High-asset divorces, business valuations, relocation disputes, enforcement actions when an ex-spouse goes off-script — these matters require attorneys who understand Florida’s equitable distribution framework at a statute level and know how to prepare a case for the procedural realities of the 19th Circuit. We handle that full range across St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties.
We give you honest assessments, not forecasts.
No attorney can promise you a specific outcome. What we can do is give you a clear-eyed picture of where you stand, what the law says, and what your realistic options are. That honesty, delivered early in plain English, is what allows you to make confident decisions rather than reactive ones.
Ready to talk? Call (561) 208-1859 or schedule 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 pausing to think it through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will my St. Lucie County family law case be filed?
St. Lucie County family law matters are filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, with many cases handled at the St. Lucie County Courthouse located at 218 S. 2nd St. in Fort Pierce. Depending on your ZIP code and the nature of your case, filing procedures and court assignments may vary. The Circuit Court handles divorce, custody and timesharing, child support, paternity, and modification proceedings, and your case will be assigned to a Family Law Division judge.
Do I have to come into the West Palm Beach office, or can we work remotely?
Many St. Lucie County clients work with us entirely by phone and secure video without ever coming to West Palm Beach. For the initial consultation, document review, and most ongoing case communication, remote access works well. If a matter requires an in-person meeting, we will arrange it. You will not lose access to experienced legal counsel because of distance.
My spouse recently moved out of state. Can Kalish & Jaggars still help with our St. Lucie County case?
Yes. If the divorce was filed in Florida, or if your children have lived here long enough to establish Florida jurisdiction, we handle the case. Interstate complications — including questions about which state’s court has jurisdiction over custody matters, governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) — come up regularly in South Florida families, and we work through them regularly.
I am not sure yet whether I need a divorce attorney or just some advice. Is that okay?
It is exactly what the consultation is for. Many people who contact us are still deciding what they need. You do not have to have a plan before you call. Bring the facts, and we will help you understand your options, the likely path your situation would take, and what it would cost to move forward. No pressure, no commitment required.
What does it cost to hire a family law attorney for a St. Lucie County case?
Fees depend on the complexity of your matter, the level of conflict involved, and the scope of work required. We discuss fees transparently during the consultation so there are no surprises. That conversation is part of our intake process, not an afterthought.
How long does a divorce or custody case take in St. Lucie County?
Uncontested divorces can resolve in a matter of weeks once all paperwork is complete. Contested matters are harder to predict and depend on court scheduling, the level of dispute, and whether settlement is reached before a hearing. We give you realistic timelines during your consultation based on what we know about your situation and the current 19th Circuit caseload.
Talk to a St. Lucie County Family Law Attorney
Our St. Lucie County family law attorneys know the 19th Circuit, know the path through this kind of case, and will walk you through what comes next before you commit to anything. St. Lucie County families deserve guidance that is substantive, honest, and built around their specific situation — not a script.
At Kalish & Jaggars, the strategy meeting is designed to leave you with a clear picture of your options and what Florida law says about your situation — before you commit to anything.
Our West Palm Beach family law office is approximately 60 miles south of Fort Pierce and serves as the primary contact point for all St. Lucie County clients. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
