Best Lawyers in Florida, United States for Family Law
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Cities
Caryn has limited her practice exclusively to Marital and Family Law since her admission to the Florida Bar in 1996. Caryn promotes problem solving by utilizing appropriate dispute resolution methods designed to avoid expensive litigation, whenever possible. Caryn, a partner at West, Green & Associates, P.L., brings over 19 years of Family Law experience to the firm and is board certified by the Florida Bar, a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is A/V r...
Bianca N. Senior is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Bianca N., who practices law in Sarasota, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bianca N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Deborah Chames is a seasoned family law attorney who represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, post judgment proceedings, enforcement proceedings, paternity actions, preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and mediation. Prior to joining Kluger Kaplan, she was a partner at Heller & Chames, P.A. since its founding in 1989. She has been appointed by a number of Dade County Circuit Judges as Guardian-Ad-Litem in matrimonial matters involving children&r...
David L. Hirschberg is a Principal/Shareholder at Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A. He is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, cum laude (J.D., 2003) and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, with honors (B.A., 2000). Mr. Hirschberg is Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and is AV Preeminen...
Peter L. Gladstone is a Principal of the law firm of Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A. He is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law (1999) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2003), having practiced exclusively in this field since 1988. Mr. Gladstone is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America (2005-2025 editions), Florida Trend Legal Elite magazine, Florida Super Lawyers (“To...
Beth T. Vogelsang handles family law matters in a confidential, compassionate and professional manner. Beth represents clients in complex divorces, including matters involving international and interstate child custody disputes, intricate business valuations, and identification and tracing of marital assets and income. She also drafts and litigates matters involving prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Beth has been Board Certified in Marital and Family Law since 1992. Beth also handles tor...
Raleigh “Lee” Greene, though born in Gainesville (the Swamp), is a 3rd generation native of St. Petersburg. He attended UF receiving his degree in economics (1970), his J.D. (1973), was an active member of Florida Blue Key and, many years later, was selected as a “Gator Great” in 2016 by the UF alumni association. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1973 and a member of the D.C. Bar since 1986. He served as a JAG officer with the US Navy Reserve, having recei...
John F. Schutz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. John F., who practices law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
J.J. Dahl is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. J.J., who practices law in Clermont, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J.J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Heather L. Apicella is the Principal shareholder with the law firm of Apicella Law Group, P.A. Ms. Apecella is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law and a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. She is a member of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, Palm Beach County Bar Association, South Palm Beach County Bar Association, Broward County Bar Association, and South Palm Beach County Collaborative Law Group concentrating her practice in the area of ...
Julia Wyda is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Julia, who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kathryn DeVane Hamilton has been practicing law in Florida and Washington states since 1998 and is the founding member of Hamilton O'Neill PLLC. Prior to establishing the Law Firm, Kathryn began her extensive litigation career as a trial attorney at the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office trying over forty trials. Her zealous representation led to acquittals or the dismissal of charges for many clients facing years in prison. In 2001, Kathryn focused her sights on family law liti...
Kelley Joseph is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Kelley, who practices law in Plantation, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mark A. Sessums formed the firm now known as Sessums Law Group, P.A. in April 2008. The firm has five (5) lawyers and represents clients in all types of civil litigation matters throughout the State of Florida and in other jurisdictions. Mr. Sessums has been Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital and Family Law since 1997 and Civil Trial Law since 2010. Mr. Sessums earned Board Certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in 2015. Mr. Sessums is recognized for excellence by Best La...
Christina M. O'Brien is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Christina M., who practices law in Fort Myers, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christina M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
JOSHUA L. PLAGER is a Senior Associate of the law firm of Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A. Josh graduated from the University of Florida with honors in 2006, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Warrington College of Business. Following undergrad and before law school, Mr. Plager was a Series 7 and Series 66 registered financial advisor at AIG, assisting clients with financial planning and investing, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and I...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.