It can be easier to thrive in good times, but how do families thrive when things are not going as planned? Click on the link below to read about how some families not only bounce back from adversity but also grow from it. The attorneys of Sessums Black focus exclusively on marital and family law so they can help parents work towards resiliency during major family transitions.
Raising children is a joy as well as a challenge. Child-rearing challenges can be amplified when one or both of the parents face mental health issues; however, they are not insurmountable when adaptations and support mechanisms are in place. Click on the link below to read one psychologist’s suggestions on effective co-parenting with someone diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. The attorneys of Sessums Black are experienced in providing high quality legal services to clients facing all types of co-parenting challenges.
On May 18, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court issued an opinion amending the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar effective July 1, 2017 to accommodate the collaborative law process. Click on the link below to read the Florida Supreme Court opinion. Collaborative law is an alternative dispute resolution process which normally costs less time, money, and stress and affords participants increased opportunities to creatively resolve their differences. Click here to read more about collaborative law. Although the attorneys of Sessums Black continue to practice and are experienced in traditional litigation, they recognize the benefits, both financial and emotional, of not going to court.
On May 20, 2016, Attorney Caroline Black Sikorske presented on the “Four (of Many) Dysfunctions of a Collaborative Team” as part of a panel discussion at the 2016 Annual Conference of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Although the attorneys of Sessums Black PA continue to practice and are experienced in the traditional litigated dissolution of marriage, they are trained in the collaborative divorce process, a cooperative model for resolving disputes without adversarial court proceedings. Click on the link below to read more about collaborative law.
On April 5, 2015, Great Britain changed its laws to allow fathers an equal opportunity to take an extended leave of absence from employment following the birth of a child. Click on the link below to read the reflections of two fathers who took advantage of the extended leave and one who did not. The attorneys of Sessums Black PA provide qualified and personalized representation to clients involved in all aspects of the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a parenting plan.
On March 24, 2016, Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 967 titled “Collaborative Law Process Act” into law, making Florida the 14th state to offer Collaborative Divorce as an alternative to traditional litigation. Collaborative Divorce is a method of reaching a resolution through cooperative strategies rather than adversarial techniques and court proceedings. Although the attorneys at Sessums Black PA continue to practice and are experienced in the traditional litigation-based dissolution of marriage, they are also trained and experienced in handling matters through Collaborative Law. Florida’s new Collaborative Law Process Act and more about Collaborative Divorce are available by clicking the links below.
As April 18, 2016 quickly approaches, many people’s focus turns to taxes. For people who have divorced at the start of 2016 or have a divorce proceeding pending, deciding how to handle the filing of 2015 taxes can be daunting if not overwhelming. Click on the link below to read one author’s tips as to how to navigate the tax season as a new or soon-to-be divorcee. The attorneys of Sessums Black PA are skilled at representing clients facing all types of family law-related legal issues.
Florida House Bill 967 titled “Collaborative Law Process Act”, if enacted, would, among other things, establish a state-wide system for Collaborative Law effective July 1, 2016. Collaborative Law is an alternative dispute resolution process wherein the parties, attorneys, and neutral third-party professionals use cooperative strategies to assist the parties in achieving an amicable resolution to their differences. The House unanimously passed HB 967 on February 24, 2016. The Senate has an identical bill (SB 972) actively pending. To track the progress of HB 967, click here. To track the progress of SB 972, click here. The attorneys of Sessums Black PA track pending legislation which may affect their client’s interests.
Sessums Black PA is pleased to announce that, on October 14-16, 2015, Attorney Caroline Black Sikorske facilitated a presentation on ethics at the international IACP conference for collaborative professionals in Washington DC. Sessums Black PA strives to maintain excellence in professionalism and ethics in family law.
On September 12, 2015, Attorney Sarah E. Kay completed the Introductory Collaborative Family and Civil Practice Training, a two-day intensive introductory training course in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice which meets or exceeds standards set by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Congratulations, Sarah!
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriage. Click on the link below to read more. The attorneys of Sessums Black PA pride themselves on staying abreast of changes in local, state-wide, and national laws which affect their clients.
May 1, 2015 marked the end of Florida’s 2015 legislative session and the end to two pending family law-related bills: one which proposed major changes to the current alimony laws and the other which would have standardized the practice of collaborative law in Florida. Click on the link below to read an article discussing the bills and their statuses as of May 1st. Sessums Black, PA prides itself on staying abreast of legislation which may impact its clients.
Bills are pending in Florida’s legislature which, if pass, would establish collaborative divorce throughout Florida. Click on the link below to read an article about the pending legislation. Sessums Black, PA has extensive experience in collaborative divorce.
Valentine’s Day inspires many to travel to indulgent locations to celebrate love and romance. One couple is traveling to a New York Resort & Spa on Valentine’s Day 2015 to finalize their divorce. Click on the link to read more. Sessums Black, PA exclusively focuses its practice on marital and family law which includes assisting clients in dissolving marriages according to their unique circumstances and needs.
On November 14, 2012, Attorney Caroline Black Sikorske gave a speech to the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council on Collaborative Law titled “How To Use Collaborative Law Effectively For Estate Planning Issues In Divorce Cases.”
On July 31, 2012, Administrative Order S-2012-041 was entered for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for Hillsborough County, Florida, outlining the roles, responsibilities, and procedures for the collaborative practice of family law. Click on the link below to read the order. Collaborative law is an alternative dispute resolution process that typically costs less, takes less time, causes less stress, and opens up possibilities normally not available through the traditional litigation of family law issues. Attorneys Caroline Black, Alexander Caballero, and Jennifer Ficarrotta are all trained to assist clients in their efforts to achieve their goals through the collaborative family law process.
Transitional times in families can be a source of stress for everyone – parents, children, and even extended family members. Individuals who prefer to quieter, more amicable resolutions to their differences may prefer using collaborative law over the traditional court-based litigation system. Click on the link below to read more about the alternative dispute resolution process known as collaborative law. Attorneys Caroline Black, and Jennifer Ficarrotta are trained to assist clients in their efforts to achieve their goals through the collaborative law process.
The collaborative practice of law provides parties, with the assistance of trained professionals, with a method to resolve family law disputes to avoid engaging in the traditional litigation in a court. Click on the link below for a copy of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals’ Collaborative Practice “Knowledge Kit” that provides an overview of the collaborative practice. Sessums Black, PA’s attorneys, Caroline Black, and Jennifer Ficarrotta are all trained in the practice of collaborative law and work to help their clients come to a quick and quiet settlement through this alternative dispute resolution process.
Resolving the legal aspects of family situations does not have to be a painful process. Two alternatives to the traditional practice of seeking a court-dictated resolution are mediation and the collaborative process. Mediation employs a neutral third party to assist in settlement negotiations. In the collaborative process, each party selects his/her own attorney and there are shared financial and mental health experts working together towards a non-adversarial settlement. For more information on mediation and the collaborative process, please click on the links below from the 13th Judicial Circuit of Hillsborough County and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. All of the attorneys at Sessums Black, PA have experience using mediation to reach amicable resolutions. Caroline Black completed advanced training in alternative dispute resolution and are members of the local and national chapters of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Collaborative Divorce Lawyers of Tampa Bay.