Family Law Explained
What Our Clients Say
Client Resources
Choose Your Fate: Seven Courtless Divorce Options
Custody & Visitation
Alimony & Spousal Support
Popular Articles
Your Last Resort
We like to observe, “Children say the darndest things” when one of our kids announces something surprisingly insightful.
My Career Change News—The Next Exciting Steps!
I have been practicing Family Law for over 42 years. After witnessing some particularly tragic experiences in family court, I began practicing Collaborative Law.
Attending Your Deposition
If you are scheduled to be deposed, whether in your own case or in someone else’s, it is important to know how to behave so that you are able to avoid costly mistakes.
Litigation
Litigation in Tampa
Litigation is the process of going to court to argue your case. A lawsuit involves a plaintiff filing a formal complaint with the appropriate court, and then serving a copy upon a defendant to provide them notice of the impending court case. The defendant then files an answer within a prescribed amount of time, and the lawsuit commences. Litigation of a formal lawsuit generally involves three stages: discovery, trial, and post-trial. In addition to the actual lawsuit, pre-suit negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and appeals may also be part of the litigation process. Motion practice is the mechanism where a party petitions the court to make a decision regarding a disputed aspect of the case. Litigation is typically settled by agreement between the parties, but may also be heard and decided by a jury or judge in court.
Litigation Solutions
Joryn Jenkins of Open Palm Law has almost four decades of experience litigating various types of cases, including family law, bankruptcy, criminal, appellate, commercial, and equal employment. Let her experience work for you and your litigation.
FAQs for Litigation
No. There are many process options available to those experiencing family legal issues. Aside from litigation, a family may choose to mediate, collaborate, cooperate, or negotiate with or without attorneys.
If you are able to resolve all of your issues without litigating them, you will only be required to attend a short uncontested final hearing during which the judge will sign your final judgment of divorce.
You are not required to retain an attorney in family law disputes. However, it is wise to at least have one on retainer to consult with as questions arise. It is much harder to modify a final judgment than to obtain the original judgment, so it is important to get it right in the beginning.
