MARITAL AND FAMILY LAW

We provide legal services for all marital and family law matters including :

FAMILY MEDIATION

Divorce or family law cases do not need to go to trial all the time. The courts require that most cases mediate prior to trial. Mediation is a first step that can result in a more favorable or creative outcome to both parties. Unlike a court case, in mediation the decisions are not made by a judge who does not know you or your family, but rather the decisions are made by the parties. Another positive aspect of mediations is that they are confidential.

As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, Ms. Gray brings her experience as a family law lawyer and as a divorced single mother to the table in assisting attorneys and their clients to reach settlement through the mediation process. At Gray Law, we provide ample parking space, two conference rooms, and wifi to make the mediation process as simple and comfortable as possible. Ms. Gray is also available to mediate at other law offices.

PARENTING COORDINATOR

We provide parenting coordinator services for high conflict divorce or custody cases. It is sometimes constructive to have an objective trained third-party professional to assist parents in communicating and resolving issues involving the children. Co-parenting can be challenging at times and a parenting coordinator can reduce the conflict between the parents so that the children can enjoy the parents more peacefully. Sometimes a parenting coordinator is needed on a short term basis to address specific issues and in other cases a parenting coordinator is involved in all aspects of co-parenting. Each parenting coordination case is unique.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

In a divorce or other family law case, if the Judge finds that it is in the best interests of the minor children in the case, the Judge can appoint a “Guardian Ad Litem”. Either party to the case can request that the Judge appoint a Guardian Ad Litem, or your Judge on his or her own initiative can make the appointment. A guardian Ad litem is to act as a “friend of the child” and conduct an investigation into the best interest’s of the child.

A primary role of the Guardian Ad Litem is to investigate the facts of the case for the Judge and report back to the Court.  The types of cases where Guardian Ad Litems are appointed are usually cases where there is significant conflict between the parties regarding children’s issues and/or significant concerns regarding the well-being of the children. The Guardian Ad Litem’s job is to act in the best interests of the children in reporting back to the Judge and making recommendations. The Guardian Ad Litem can obtain access to medical and other records, can request the court to order evaluations for the children or the parents, and can also assist with finding experts for examinations or evaluations.

APPEALS

We represent current and new clients on appealing their family law case to the First District Court of Appeals. Divorce and other family law matters are non-jury trials so clients and attorneys rely on the judge to wear many hats including deciding the law and making factual determinations. When a judge has made an error with either the law or the facts then a person has the option of having the judge’s decision reviewed by the appellate court. It is not uncommon for the appellate court to reverse the trial court judge or remand the case to the trial court with specific instructions.

COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW

Collaborative Family Law is a transparent process, distinct from other models of dispute resolution, that allows clients, attorneys, financial professionals, and mental health professionals to meet together to resolve their disputes in a civil and respectful manner. The process occurs in a safe environment with each client represented by a collaboratively trained attorney. The attorneys are diligent advocates for their clients, but they do not act in an adversarial manner. The clients agree to work together honestly, in good faith, and to disclose all relevant information. The goal is to focus on what is most important to the parties involved reach a settlement that meets their needs and interests. Collaborative Family Law has a 95% success rate.