St. Augustine · St. Johns County, FL

St. Augustine Family Lawyer.
St. Johns County — Seventh Judicial Circuit.

Steven C. Fraser represents St. Augustine families through divorce, child custody, alimony, mediation, and post-judgment modification. The St. Johns County Courthouse sits within St. Augustine itself, and the Seventh Judicial Circuit operates with practice patterns that differ from the Fourth Circuit covering Duval. With 25+ years of experience and dual Florida/DC bar admission, every case is handled directly — no associates, no handoffs.

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Quick Answer

Steven C. Fraser, Esq. — FL Bar No. 625825, DC Bar No. 460026, FL Supreme Court Certified Mediator (Cert. No. 37256 CFR) — serves St. Augustine (32080, 32084, 32086, 32092, 32095), Anastasia Island, St. Augustine Beach, Crescent Beach, Hastings, Elkton, World Golf Village, and Vilano Beach. Cases are filed and heard at the St. Johns County Courthouse, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine — Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Free consultation: 877-862-7188.

Family Law in St. Augustine

Seventh Judicial Circuit & St. Johns County Practice

St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in America — today a fast-growing St. Johns County market with a mix of long-tenured residents, recent transplants from the Northeast, and retirement-age households. Family law cases reflect that mix: long-marriage divorces with retirement-age alimony questions under the 2023 reform, transplant clients with out-of-state pre-marital assets, and a steady volume of uncontested divorces among families relocating to Florida.

The St. Johns County Courthouse is conveniently located in St. Augustine at 4010 Lewis Speedway. St. Johns sits in the Seventh Judicial Circuit alongside Putnam, Volusia, and Flagler — not the Fourth Circuit that covers Duval, Clay, and Nassau. Local rules, motion practice, and judicial assignment differ accordingly.

Practice Areas Served from St. Augustine

Full-Service St. Johns Family Law

Divorce

Contested and uncontested dissolution under Fla. Stat. § 61.001 et seq.

Divorce overview →

Child Custody

Parenting plans, 20 best-interest factors, § 61.13001 relocation.

Custody overview →

Alimony

2023 reform (SB 1416) — bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational; retirement-age modification.

Alimony overview →

Military Divorce

USFSPA, SCRA, TRICARE 20/20/20 & 20/20/15 — for service-connected St. Augustine households.

Military divorce →

Family Mediation

FL Supreme Court Certified Mediator (Cert. No. 37256 CFR). Available statewide.

Mediation →

Fees

Flat fee uncontested; hourly with retainer for contested matters.

Fee schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions

St. Augustine & St. Johns Family Law Questions

How do I file for divorce in St. Johns County?
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Florida residency for 6 months is required under Fla. Stat. § 61.021. The petition is filed with the St. Johns Clerk via the Florida E-Portal. The respondent has 20 days to answer after service.
Where is the St. Johns County family courthouse?
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The St. Johns County Courthouse is at 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084 — in St. Augustine itself. St. Johns is in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, separate from the Fourth Circuit covering Duval, Clay, and Nassau.
How does the 2023 alimony reform affect long marriages near retirement?
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Under SB 1416 (2023), durational alimony in a long marriage (20+ years) is capped at 75% of marriage length. The amount cannot exceed 35% of the difference between the parties' net incomes. Reaching reasonable retirement age is a statutory factor that may reduce or terminate alimony — a more defined framework than under prior law.
What if I moved to St. Augustine recently from another state?
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Florida requires 6 months of residency before filing. Out-of-state assets and debts remain marital, but tracing of pre-marital property follows the law where it was acquired. Out-of-state retirement plans — state pensions, federal pensions, military pensions under USFSPA — are divisible by Florida courts using the appropriate domestic-relations order.
What's the timeline for an uncontested divorce in St. Johns County?
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Uncontested without children can be finalized in as few as 30 days after filing. With children, there is a 20-day waiting period plus parenting-plan approval. Final judgments are typically entered after a brief final hearing or by default if uncontested paperwork is properly executed.

St. Augustine Free Consultation

Speak directly with Attorney Fraser. Phone or video. Same-week appointments.

Schedule via Calendly →📞 877-862-7188