Opinion 71-45
FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 71-45
September 30, 1971
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
The Committee was evenly divided on the question whether, in light of enactment of the “no
fault” divorce law, the traditional absolute rule against representing both spouses in a divorce
should be relaxed.
CPR:
Opinions:
Statute:
EC 5-14, 5-15, 5-16, 5-17; DR 5-105(B)
60-9, 66-8
Ch. 71-241, Laws of Florida
Chairman Clarkson stated the opinion of the committee:
Florida’s well-publicized “no fault” divorce law became effective July 1,
1971. Paramount purposes of the act, Chapter 71-241, Laws of Florida, recited in
its first section, were promotion of the amicable settlement of marital disputes and
mitigation of potential harm to the spouses and children caused by the process of
legal dissolution of the marriage.
We are asked to determine whether an attorney may ethically represent both husband and
wife in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage. The lawyer seeking our advice directs our
attention to recent media coverage indicating that a dissolution action brought under the new
statute is not an adversary proceeding. He suggests that confusion exists among members of the
Bar as to whether former bans upon dual representation in this type of court proceeding (see, for
example, Florida Opinions 60-9, 66-8) are now laid aside.
Obviously, if an actual conflict, as defined in DR 5-105(B) and discussed in EC 5-14
through 5-17, exists between the spouses, a lawyer may not represent both parties. More
difficult, however, is the determination whether representation of both is permissible in those
instances, as characterized by the inquiry, “when the parties themselves have discussed and
tentatively agreed upon the general terms of property division, support and custody.”
The Committee is equally divided on the answer to this question. Four members, the
chairman included, have concluded that proceedings under the new law are not necessarily
adversary in nature, that there should be no ethical requirement of separate attorneys in order to
achieve representation before the court for both spouses and that the laudable purposes leading to
enactment of the new law can be better achieved by adoption of these views. The other four
members do not believe the “no fault” divorce law has in any way changed the adversary nature
of the proceedings. Their view is that a lawyer’s responsibilities are the same under the new law
as they were under the former statute, so that the same lawyer may not represent both spouses
before the court.
The viewpoint stated first above derives from the concept that the family is the unit being
represented, both as to source of compensation and as to the entity being submitted to the court
for an adjudication of interests. Considered in this light, two members find a similarity to the
conventional probate matter and an absence of differing interests requiring representation which
is actually dual in character. Another, conceding that the interests may be differing, believes that
the administration of justice in routine marriage dissolution proceedings may best be served by a
single attorney acting as “father confessor, psychologist, economist and adjudicator” without
involving the adversary role and additional expense brought into play by a second lawyer. All
four adhering to the first viewpoint believe that an attorney approached to represent both spouses
should meticulously protect the interests of both, realizing that he is retained and compensated
by the family rather than either spouse. He should caution both as to the necessity of full and fair
disclosure of assets when property is involved. Should significant disagreement arise, he should
immediately insist that each party be represented by counsel, and he should withdraw entirely if
the parties are unable to agree which of them he will continue to represent. Whenever
practicable, both husband and wife should appear at the final hearing so that the court may
inquire of both as to the irretrievability of the marriage and with respect to any agreements
governing matters of property, support and custody.
The contrary viewpoint, shared by four Committee members, is that the new statute
merely dispenses with the necessity of alleging and proving fault or guilt and does not change the
adversary nature of the proceeding. This view further holds that there is an inherent divergence
of interests between the spouses and that the new procedure does not lessen a lawyer’s obligation
to give undivided loyalty to his client. It is pointed out that adherence to this view does not mean
that each spouse must necessarily have separate counsel of record. As in the past, there can be
situations in which there has been full and fair disclosure, the affairs are uncomplicated, no
overreaching is present and both parties comprehend the significance of what is being done. In
such cases it may be permissible for an attorney representing one spouse to prepare pleadings
and, if appropriate, a settlement and custody agreement and submit the case to the court. In those
instances it should be made to appear that the non-represented party chose not to employ counsel
even though apprised of the advantages of doing so.
Because of the equal division of opinion in the Committee, we are unable to provide a
more meaningful answer to this inquiry. Any attorney intending to represent both husband and
wife in a dissolution of marriage proceeding should seek the advice of the court having
jurisdiction.