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2024

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Best Family Lawyers in Lakeland, FL

Our Recommended Top 14

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Lakeland Family Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

76Reviewed

51Curated

14Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

113 East Main Street Suite 1, Bartow, FL 33830

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Review Sources

Google
4.6 (23)

Why choose this provider?

Averbuck Law Firm deals with different legal matters on behalf of clients in Lakeland. Its attorney, Philip Averbuck, helps families rebuild their lives after divorce and abuse. He helps file for a legal injunction, create a child custody agreement, and protect client assets during divorce. In addition, he defends individuals facing false accusations against felony and misdemeanor charges and recovers the financial compensation personal injury victims deserve. Averbuck has been serving the legal needs of the community since 1995.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

158 E. Summerlin Street, Bartow, FL 33830

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Review Sources

Google
4.4 (16)

Why choose this provider?

McNelis Law PA has been serving families and individuals in Lakeland and the surrounding areas for over a decade. It helps navigate family law matters, including property division, child custody and support, divorce, alimony, stepparent adoption, and paternal rights. It also assists with domestic violence petitions and regaining custody of those removed by Florida DCF. McNelis Law PA is owned and operated by Stacey Hendrix McNelis, a former assistant public defender and assistant state attorney who has been in practice since 2001.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

230 Doris Dr, Lakeland, FL 33813

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Review Sources

Google
4.6 (22)

Why choose this provider?

Walter Thomas, PA, Attorney at Law represents clients in family law cases across Lakeland. It handles issues concerning child custody and visitation, contested and uncontested divorce, child support modification and enforcement, and contempt proceedings. Its team also deals with protection orders, relocation, mediation, and separation agreement cases. Firm principal Walter Thomas is a member of the Florida Circuit: 10 and The Florida Bar Association. He also represents clients in criminal defense, civil law, and personal injury matters.

  • Child Custody
  • Adoption
  • Divorce

206 Easton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33803

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Review Sources

Google
4.5 (23)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of M​i​chael S. Farrell, P.A., has been providing legal services to the residents of Lakeland and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. It represents and counsels clients on various family law matters, including divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, and step-parent or relative adoption. It also handles issues involving dependency and termination of parental rights and domestic and dating violence injunctions for protection. M​i​chael S. Farrell, who founded the firm, serves as a guardian ad litem, advocating for the interests of minor children.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

609 Mid-Florida Dr., Lakeland, FL 33813

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Review Sources

Google
4.3 (73)

Why choose this provider?

Darla K. Snead, P.L., accommodates the Lakeland area. The office provides legal solutions for a wide range of cases involving family law, from divorce and establishing paternity rights to parenting plans and timesharing and child support and custody. Founder Darla K. Snead brings over 20 years of experience to fight for clients' rights in litigation, arbitration, and mediation proceedings. She is a certified family law mediator and arbitrator by the Florida Supreme Court. She has represented families in over 1,000 mediations and over 100 litigations.

  • Divorce

1207 N Galloway Road, Lakeland, FL 33810

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Review Sources

Google
4.0 (40)

Why choose this provider?

Advocate Law Firm, P.A., handles cases surrounding family issues like legal separation, custody, domestic abuse, and adoption. The team facilitates collaborative meetings to relieve tension between parties, and it advocates for LGBTQ+ rights by providing legal assistance on same-sex divorce. Its other practice areas are estate planning and criminal defense. Founder Melissa Wilson has been representing people for over 20 years and serves as the vice president of the Polk Association For Women Lawyers. Spanish-speaking clients in Lakeland are accommodated.

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

2109 S. Combee Road, Lakeland, FL 33801

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Review Sources

Google
4.1 (13)

Why choose this provider?

Ira A. Serebrin Attorney offers family relations solutions to the residents in and around Lakeland. The firm tackles marital and familial law matters like the formulation of custody and parenting plans, modifications of existing court decrees, and adoptions. It resolves disputes as to the paternity of offspring and the establishment of child support obligations. The office also takes on criminal defense and personal injury cases. Ira A. Serebrin participated in the Volunteer Attorney Involvement Project.

  • Divorce

324 West Highland Drive, Lakeland, FL 33813

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Review Sources

Google
4.3 (38)

Why choose this provider?

Trakas Thornhill, PA, is a law firm that caters to clients in the Lakeland metro and the surrounding communities. It advises and counsels individuals who are filing for a divorce and assists them with resolving matters related to family law. These include asset division, child custody and support, and spousal maintenance. The law office also helps clients negotiate a parenting plan that works in their child's best interests. Christine Thornhill, the firm's attorney, has been practicing law for more than 20 years.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

206 Easton Dr., Lakeland, FL 33803

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Review Sources

Google
4.0 (34)

Why choose this provider?

McKendrick Law is a private practice serving the residents of Lakeland and the surrounding areas. It guides clients through divorce proceedings, with legal options such as negotiations, mediation, and trial. It helps resolve issues such as the allocation of debts and liabilities, child custody and support, and spousal support. In addition, the firm helps victims of domestic violence secure restraining orders. Principal attorney Richard McKendrick has been practicing law for more than two decades. He is a former Special Assistant Public Defender.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

206 Easton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33803

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (13)

Why choose this provider?

Ricardo Santander PA is a law firm representing families and individuals throughout Lakeland and the neighboring communities. The firm helps clients navigate their family law issues to help them protect the rights of their loved ones. These issues include divorce, child support, and custody. It also guides them in establishing protective and restraining orders to protect clients and their children from abusive family members. In addition to family law, the firm deals with immigration, probate, criminal, and estate planning matters. Founding attorney Ricardo Santander also serves Spanish-speaking clients.

  • Divorce

2323 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803

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Review Sources

Google
4.9 (59)

Why choose this provider?

Miller Troiano, P.A., caters to the legal needs of families in Lakeland. Its team of attorneys leverages over 50 years of collective experience to resolve family disputes related to domestic violence, child custody and visitation, property and debt division, and pre-and post-nuptial agreements. They work with accountants and psychologists to assist clients in reaching settlements through mediation and negotiation. Victor J. Troiano, a partner in the firm, is a circuit civil mediator certified by the Supreme Court.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

1014 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
3.8 (9)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Firm of Gil Colón, Jr. upholds the rights of individuals and families in Lakeland. The office has been providing family law counseling for more than 30 years. It handles various marital disputes, including contested and uncontested divorce, asset division, paternity, and child support and custody. Other areas of practice covered by the firm include criminal law, DUI/DWI, and personal injury. Gil Colón was a US Army Reserve first lieutenant and public defender before establishing the firm.

  • Domestic Violence
  • Child Custody
  • Adoption

120 E Pine St # 7, Lakeland, FL 33801

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (29)

Why choose this provider?

The Stohlman Law Firm, LLC, is a private legal practice serving the residents of Lakeland and the surrounding areas. It provides legal representation and mediation services for both contested and uncontested dissolution of marriage cases. It handles issues such as property disputes, child custody and support, and alimony. In addition, it assists with orders of protection and no contact orders, domestic injunctions, and adoptions. The firm's founding attorney, Charles T. Stohlman, has been practicing law for more than three decades.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

114 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
3.8 (17)

Why choose this provider?

Karie L. Sanoba Attorney at Law offers legal assistance to clients across Lakeland and the surrounding areas. The firm handles a wide range of family law issues involving child advocacy, support and custody, parenting plans, and visitation agreements to help individuals protect the rights and needs of their children. It also caters to clients needing guidance in enforcing court orders, establishing marital agreements, and navigating divorce procedures. Firm founder Karie L. Sanoba is a former state prosecutor who has been practicing family law for over 25 years.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

Compare our Top Family Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Averbuck Law Firm
113 East Main Street Suite 1, Bartow, FL 33830
McNelis Law PA
158 E. Summerlin Street, Bartow, FL 33830
Walter Thomas, PA Attorney at Law
230 Doris Dr, Lakeland, FL 33813
Law Office of M​i​chael S. Farrell, P.A.
206 Easton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33803
Darla K. Snead, P.L.
609 Mid-Florida Dr., Lakeland, FL 33813
Advocate Law Firm, P.A.
1207 N Galloway Road, Lakeland, FL 33810
Ira A. Serebrin Attorney
2109 S. Combee Road, Lakeland, FL 33801
Trakas Thornhill, PA
324 West Highland Drive, Lakeland, FL 33813
McKendrick Law
206 Easton Dr., Lakeland, FL 33803
Ricardo Santander PA
206 Easton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33803
Miller Troiano, P.A.
2323 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803
The Law Firm of Gil Colón, Jr.
1014 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803
The Stohlman Law Firm, LLC
120 E Pine St # 7, Lakeland, FL 33801
Karie L. Sanoba Attorney at Law
114 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What kinds of cases do family lawyers handle?

    Family lawyers handle all types of family-related issues, including divorce, child support and spousal support, custody, adoption, paternity and guardianship. Family attorneys can also handle prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and divide marital assets based on the policies outlined in these documents. Domestic violence cases are also within the purview of family law attorneys.

  • Is family court different from district court?

    In most states, family court is a division of the district court rather than a separate court system. Family law judges primarily preside over family disputes, such as divorce and custody hearings. Most states require family law judges to receive special training on how to best address family law matters.

  • How long do custody cases last in family court?

    The duration of custody cases can differ based on the circumstances surrounding the claim. A case in which parents agree to split custody can be quick, while lawsuits in which both parents or guardians are fighting for full custody can take much longer. Most child custody cases last three to 10 days, but this can vary under more challenging circumstances.

  • Why is there no jury in family court?

    There are no juries in family court cases because the concept of innocence or guilt does not apply. While there may be some cases in which additional opinions could be helpful, most cases are based on the letter of the law versus individual circumstances. Some states, including Texas, permit jury trials for family court cases, but this is uncommon.

  • What are the most common cases in family court?

    Family law covers a variety of different cases pertaining to familial relations. The most common cases in family court include:

    • Divorce cases, including settling issues of alimony, property distribution, and child care
    • Child custody and the determination of paternity
    • Domestic violence protection orders
    • Name changes, including modifications due to adoption or personal preference
    • Guardianship, including who will handle the care of a child or adult should current caretakers be unable to do so
    • Adoptions and the termination of parental rights
    • Juvenile matters, including child abuse and neglect, foster placements, and criminal conduct
    • Emancipation, which is the process of declaring a minor as independent from their parents
    • Approval of underage marriages

  • Do family lawyers handle mediation?

    Mediation can be a valuable part of a divorce case, counseling spouses to work through areas of disagreement in a fair, calm, and unbiased manner. Most, but not all, family lawyers handle mediation. Anyone who believes they may need intervention services is encouraged to ask about an attorney’s experience with resolving disputes, to ensure that support is available if necessary.