Business Details
25 Years
experience
Trusted Fort Lauderdale Family Law Services
At Sandra Bonfiglio., we bring over two decades of dedicated experience in Florida family law to every case we handle. Founded in 2001, our practice focuses on guiding clients through complex legal challenges related to divorce, child custody, alimony, and other family matters with compassion and precision. Our team, led by attorney Sandra Bonfiglio, prioritizes personalized attention and transparent communication, ensuring clients understand their rights and options throughout the process. With a background in teaching family law at Nova Southeastern University and active membership in the Florida State Bar Association's Family Law Section, we combine academic expertise with practical advocacy.We approach every case with a commitment to resolving disputes efficiently while protecting our clients' interests, whether through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. Our goal is to help families navigate transitions with clarity and confidence, focusing on solutions that promote long-term stability and well-being for all involved.
Services
Divorce
Child Custody
Child Support
Paternity
Stepparent Adoption
Legal Separation
Property Division
Military Divorce
Postnuptial Agreements
Grandparents Rights
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- Certified expertise in family law with over 20 years of experience
- Client-focused approach prioritizing individual needs and goals
- Proven track record in complex divorce and custody cases
- Transparent communication with personalized case strategy development
- Active involvement in legal education and professional family law associations
Services
Divorce
Our firm handles all aspects of Florida divorce proceedings, including uncontested, contested, and collaborative divorces. We guide clients through property division, spousal support negotiations, and child-related matters while minimizing conflict. With extensive courtroom experience, we protect clients' rights through mediation or litigation when necessary, ensuring compliance with Florida's residency requirements and procedural rules.
Child Custody
We represent parents in creating time-sharing arrangements that prioritize children's best interests. Our services include establishing shared parental responsibility, developing detailed parenting plans, and addressing relocation concerns. We handle temporary custody orders during divorce proceedings and modifications post-judgment while ensuring compliance with Florida's updated laws regarding domestic violence considerations in custody determinations.
Child Support
Our attorneys help establish and modify child support orders based on Florida's guidelines and recent legal changes. We handle income imputation calculations, overnight custody adjustments, and health insurance cost considerations. We also assist with enforcement actions against non-paying parents and defense against improper modification requests, ensuring accurate application of the tiered support structure for shared custody arrangements.
Paternity
We assist unwed parents in establishing legal parentage through voluntary acknowledgments or court proceedings. Our services include paternity defense against state-initiated support claims, custody and visitation rights advocacy, and termination proceedings when appropriate. We help fathers protect their parental rights in contested cases and navigate the Putative Father Registry requirements under Florida law.
Stepparent Adoption
Our firm guides clients through the complete stepparent adoption process, including parental rights termination and finalization hearings. We handle contested cases requiring consent waivers, prepare all necessary documentation, and ensure compliance with Florida's 12-year-old child consent requirements. We coordinate birth certificate amendments and Social Security number changes post-adoption while addressing potential inheritance implications.
People
Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A
Attorney & Founder
Licensed Florida attorney with over two decades of family law experience. Established her own firm in 2001 after teaching family law at Nova Southeastern University. Active member of Florida State Bar Family Law Section and Broward County Bar Association.
Questions
Does Florida require fault-based grounds for divorce?
Florida is a no-fault divorce state requiring only the irretrievable breakdown of marriage. While traditional fault grounds like adultery aren't required, domestic violence evidence can influence custody and property decisions.
How are child custody arrangements determined?
Florida courts prioritize shared parental responsibility unless harmful to the child. Factors include each parent's living situation, child's needs, and ability to cooperate. Parenting plans address time-sharing schedules and decision-making responsibilities.
Can child support be modified?
Yes, modifications are available if there's a significant change in income, child's needs, or custody arrangement. Modifications require court approval and must meet Florida's 3-year review requirements.
What are grandparents' visitation rights?
Florida law allows grandparents to seek visitation, but courts prioritize parental rights. Success requires proving parental unfitness or that visitation serves the child's best interests through substantial evidence.
How does military status affect divorce?
Military divorces require special consideration for residency requirements, pension division under USFSPA, and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Florida courts follow federal guidelines for service-related custody arrangements.
Can I represent myself in family court?
While possible, family law's complexity makes legal representation advisable. Even in uncontested cases, an attorney ensures proper documentation, protects rights during property division, and prevents costly mistakes in custody matters.
Reviews (7)
Katie Benjamin
Jan 30, 2022
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I hired Sandra Bonfiglio for my child support modification.She is unethical and should be barred. She dragged it out over 2 and half years and drained me over $20,000 and withdrew on me right before the Judge was going to award me attorney fees. She dropped the ball and did not even get a motion for contempt on my ex husband. What a waste of time and money I didn't have to begin with no child support. She wl dragged it out and then withdrawal on you because the judge took to long to make a ruling on c
Fernanda Silva
Jan 26, 2022
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness
Thank You for all of your help Sandra. Also thank you Lisette for helping Rene and I along the way as well. Both of you are amazing!!! Very helpful and patient with our thousands of questions. Very reliable as well. Very grateful to you both.
Thank You for all of your help Sandra. Also thank you Lisette for helping Rene and I along the way as well. Both of you are amazing!!! Very helpful and patient with our thousands of questions. Very reliable as well. Very grateful to you both.
Dalia Sabier
Oct 28, 2021
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Attorney Bonfiglio and her staff are amazing! Extremely nice and super responsive and answered every question I had! Recommend 100%
Debbie Aguilar
Jun 12, 2021
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I recently went through a divorce. Unfortunately, the first lawyer just took the retainer and did absolutely nothing for me so I fired her. Sandra was referred to me through someone else who said she was incredibly good and that I would be pleased with the outcome. That referral was a life saver for me! After I initially met with Sandra I knew she would fight for me and get me to the best possible outcome which she did. She was always accessible, professional, on point, followed up, gave me options, followed my requests when she could and really became someone I could lean on as well as Lisette
Wanda Latorre
Feb 15, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness
I retained Attorney Sandra Bonfiglio for my divorce. She listened to my concerns and worked hard to provide the best outcome. The team she works with as also a great asset and always there to answer any of my questions. I high recommended Attorney Sandra Bonfiglio.
I retained Attorney Sandra Bonfiglio for my divorce. She listened to my concerns and worked hard to provide the best outcome. The team she works with as also a great asset and always there to answer any of my questions. I high recommended Attorney Sandra Bonfiglio.
Joel Fiala
Nov 10, 2020
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Sandra and her staff were extremely helpful and cost effective in my case. She is very upfront and does an excellent job of being direct with her client and managing expectation. I would recommend her to anyone. She is extremely knowledgeable and well-respected in her field.
Sandra and her staff were extremely helpful and cost effective in my case. She is very upfront and does an excellent job of being direct with her client and managing expectation. I would recommend her to anyone. She is extremely knowledgeable and well-respected in her field.
H. E.
Aug 10, 2020
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If you are going through a divorce or need any help with family law then I highly recommend you to contact Sandra Bonfiglio for help with your case. I did and I cant thank her enough. She stepped in after a long legal battle and within weeks closed the case with the results I hoped for. She first met me for the initial consultation and listened to all of the case details, asked the right questions and asked me for additional documents so she can further learn the case, after giving her the additional documents she made a legal plan and started working on the case, filing and responding to motions
