Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 61.001 (2025)
Purpose of chapter.
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61.001 Purpose of chapter.—
(1) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied.
(2) Its purposes are:
(a) To preserve the integrity of marriage and to safeguard meaningful family relationships;
(b) To promote the amicable settlement of disputes that arise between parties to a marriage; and
(c) To mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and their children caused by the process of legal dissolution of marriage.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 39
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1972–2026 · leading case: Sobelman v. Sobelman, 541 So. 2d 1153 (Fla. 1989).
Sobelman v. Sobelman, 541 So. 2d 1153 (Fla. 1989). “§ 61.001(1), Fla. Stat. (1985). This preamble sets the tone for how the judiciary should interpret the provisions of chapter 61.”
Perlow v. Berg-Perlow, 875 So. 2d 383 (Fla. 2004). “§ 61.001(2), Fla. Stat. (2003) (emphasis supplied).”
Rosen v. Rosen, 696 So. 2d 697 (Fla. 1997). “, § 61.001, Fla.Stat. (1995). Thus, section 61.”
Lashkajani v. Lashkajani, 911 So. 2d 1154 (Fla. 2005). “, § 61.001, Fla.Stat. (1995). *1160 Rosen v.”
Bane v. Bane, 775 So. 2d 938 (Fla. 2000). “Lastly, our reasoning is consistent with the legislative direction that the provisions of chapter 61 are to be "liberally construed and applied," § 61.001(1), and also with our holding in Rosen that section 61.”
Sumlar v. Sumlar, 827 So. 2d 1079 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002). “" § 61.001(c), Fla. Stat. (2000). Under the traditional rule, "[n]either attorney's fees nor costs may be awarded as punishment, no matter how deserving the punishment.”
In Re Report of Fam. Ct. Steering Comm., 794 So. 2d 518 (Fla. 2001). “[6] The Committee's recommended guiding principles also are consistent with the legislative policy in section 61.001, Florida Statutes (2000), which provides that the purpose of chapter 61 (the chapter concerning dissolution of marriage, support, and custody) is: "(a) To…”
Florida Bar v. Brumbaugh, 355 So. 2d 1186 (Fla. 1978). “Section 61.001, Florida Statutes (1975) states: (1) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its purposes.”
Williamson v. Williamson, 367 So. 2d 1016 (Fla. 1979). “" § 61.001, Fla. Stat. (1975) (emphasis supplied).”
In the Interest of JMZ, 635 So. 2d 134 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994). “[2] § 61.001(1), Fla. Stat. (1991). [3] Based on our disposition of the above issue, we decline to consider the constitutional challenge raised by the child's parents.”
Schneider v. Schneider, 32 So. 3d 151 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). “, § 61.001, Fla. Stat. (1995). Thus, section 61.”
Wrona v. Wrona, 592 So. 2d 694 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). “" § 61.001(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (1989). The role of the trial court in a divorce is more extensive if children are involved.”
— 61.001(1) — 3 cases
Sobelman v. Sobelman, 541 So. 2d 1153 (Fla. 1989). “§ 61.001(1), Fla. Stat. (1985). This preamble sets the tone for how the judiciary should interpret the provisions of chapter 61.”
Bane v. Bane, 775 So. 2d 938 (Fla. 2000). “Lastly, our reasoning is consistent with the legislative direction that the provisions of chapter 61 are to be "liberally construed and applied," § 61.001(1), and also with our holding in Rosen that section 61.”
In the Interest of JMZ, 635 So. 2d 134 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994). “[2] § 61.001(1), Fla. Stat. (1991). [3] Based on our disposition of the above issue, we decline to consider the constitutional challenge raised by the child's parents.”
— 61.001(2) — 7 cases
Perlow v. Berg-Perlow, 875 So. 2d 383 (Fla. 2004). “§ 61.001(2), Fla. Stat. (2003) (emphasis supplied).”
Williams v. Spears, 719 So. 2d 1236 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998).
In the Interest of JMZ, 635 So. 2d 134 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994). “[2] § 61.001(1), Fla. Stat. (1991). [3] Based on our disposition of the above issue, we decline to consider the constitutional challenge raised by the child's parents.”
Lori A. Ford v. Michael Withers Ford, 153 So. 3d 315 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014).
Christina Fano Schultheis v. Milan Schultheis (Fla. 3d DCA 2025).
— 61.001(2)(a) — 4 cases
In Re Report of Fam. Ct. Steering Comm., 794 So. 2d 518 (Fla. 2001). “[6] The Committee's recommended guiding principles also are consistent with the legislative policy in section 61.001, Florida Statutes (2000), which provides that the purpose of chapter 61 (the chapter concerning dissolution of marriage, support, and custody) is: "(a) To…”
Schutz v. Schutz, 581 So. 2d 1290 (Fla. 1991).
Riley v. Riley, 271 So. 2d 181 (Fla. 1st DCA 1972).
Lanes v. Lanes, 454 So. 2d 782 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984).
— 61.001(2)(b) — 1 case
Davis v. Hilton, 780 So. 2d 974 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001).
— 61.001(2)(c) — 7 cases
Sobelman v. Sobelman, 541 So. 2d 1153 (Fla. 1989). “§ 61.001(1), Fla. Stat. (1985). This preamble sets the tone for how the judiciary should interpret the provisions of chapter 61.”
Wrona v. Wrona, 592 So. 2d 694 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). “" § 61.001(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (1989). The role of the trial court in a divorce is more extensive if children are involved.”
Knipe v. Knipe, 840 So. 2d 335 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).
Cole v. Cole, 648 So. 2d 252 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994).
Christina Fano Schultheis v. Milan Schultheis (Fla. 3d DCA 2025).
— 61.001(b) — 1 case
Bane v. Bane, 775 So. 2d 938 (Fla. 2000). “Lastly, our reasoning is consistent with the legislative direction that the provisions of chapter 61 are to be "liberally construed and applied," § 61.001(1), and also with our holding in Rosen that section 61.”
— 61.001(c) — 1 case
Sumlar v. Sumlar, 827 So. 2d 1079 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002). “" § 61.001(c), Fla. Stat. (2000). Under the traditional rule, "[n]either attorney's fees nor costs may be awarded as punishment, no matter how deserving the punishment.”
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