Contested Divorce

Contested Divorce in Tampa

Board-Certified Family Law Attorneys for High-Stakes Divorce Cases

A contested divorce puts critical decisions in a judge’s hands. When spouses can’t reach agreement on property, alimony, or parenting, the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit decides. What happens in that courtroom depends heavily on preparation and advocacy. At Sessums Law Group, P.A., we’ve represented Tampa clients in contested dissolution of marriage cases since 2008, and our attorneys carry board certifications that directly reflect the demands of this work.

Mark A. Sessums is the only attorney in Florida board certified in all three areas: Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar (since 1997), Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar (since 2010), and Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (2015). Brittany Pokriefke is also Board Certified in Family Law and Marital Law by the Florida Bar. That combination offers certified family law knowledge and certified trial capability in a single Tampa firm.

If you’re facing a contested divorce in Tampa, call (813) 212-8330 to schedule a consultation. We offer virtual appointments and bilingual services in English and Spanish.

What a Judge May Decide in Your Contested Divorce

Florida is a no-fault state, meaning either spouse can seek dissolution by asserting the marriage is irretrievably broken. That’s the threshold for filing. But conduct and financial history can still influence alimony and, in some cases, equitable distribution when marital assets have been dissipated.

The issues a Hillsborough County family law judge may resolve include:

Equitable distribution: Under Florida Statute 61.075, courts start from a presumption of equal distribution of marital assets and debts, but may divide them unequally based on factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s economic circumstances, and contributions made during the marriage.
Parenting plan and time-sharing: Florida courts evaluate each parent’s historical involvement and the best interests of the children when determining decision-making authority and the children’s schedule.
Alimony: Determinations consider the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, and the standard of living established during the marriage.
Child support: Calculated under Florida’s statutory guidelines based on each parent’s income and the time-sharing arrangement.
Complex financial matters: Business valuation, closely held companies, retirement accounts, real property, and potentially hidden or dissipated assets all require thorough financial analysis.

Each of these decisions carries lasting consequences. A financial affidavit prepared imprecisely or a parenting argument presented without adequate documentation can influence a case for years.

Why Tampa Clients Choose Sessums Law Group, P.A. for Contested Divorce

Board certification by the Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law requires demonstrated competency, peer review, and a substantial volume of family law experience. It isn’t a membership or a marketing designation. When Mark Sessums also holds board certification in Civil Trial Law, that credential speaks directly to what a contested divorce demands when mediation fails and a case goes to hearing.

Our civil and appellate practice means our representation doesn’t necessarily end at the trial court level. If an issue warrants an appeal, we can continue that work without requiring you to find a separate appellate attorney. We approach every contested case with thorough preparation and detail-oriented legal analysis, because what gets documented and presented before the judge can shape the final judgment.

Schedule a Consultation with Our Tampa Contested Divorce Attorneys

The decisions made in your contested divorce can affect your finances, your living situation, and your relationship with your children. Our attorneys bring board-certified credentials and more than sixteen years of family law experience in Tampa to every case we take.

Call (813) 212-8330 to speak with our team at Sessums Law Group, P.A.. Virtual consultations are available, and we’re ready to assist in English and Spanish.

How a Tampa Contested Divorce Proceeds

Knowing what to expect at each stage of a contested divorce in Hillsborough County helps you prepare and make informed decisions along the way. Here’s what the process typically looks like from filing through final judgment.

Filing & Financial Disclosure

One spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Florida law then requires mandatory financial disclosure from both parties: a completed financial affidavit, tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, and documentation of all marital assets and debts. This disclosure forms the factual foundation of the entire case.

Discovery

Both sides have the right to gather evidence. Depositions, written interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and subpoenas are all available tools. In cases involving business interests, hidden assets, or complex retirement accounts, the discovery phase is where accurate valuation begins.

Temporary Relief Hearings

Before a final hearing is scheduled, either party can request a temporary relief hearing to address immediate needs: interim child support, a temporary time-sharing arrangement, or temporary use of the marital home. These hearings don’t decide the final outcome, but they establish conditions while the case is pending.

Mandatory Mediation

Hillsborough County requires mandatory mediation before a contested case proceeds to a final hearing. A neutral mediator works with both parties to identify potential agreements and narrow the issues still in dispute. Many cases resolve at this stage, either fully or in part, and agreements reached in mediation can be incorporated directly into the final judgment through a marital settlement agreement.

Pretrial Conference & Final Hearing

If mediation doesn’t resolve everything, the case moves to a pretrial conference and then to a final hearing before a family law judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Florida family law trials don’t involve juries. The judge hears evidence and argument and issues a final judgment on all remaining disputed issues.

A contested divorce in Hillsborough County can take several months to a year or more, depending on the number of disputes, the complexity of financial issues, and the court’s calendar. Parties can reach a negotiated agreement at any point before the judge issues that final judgment.

Resolution Paths in a Contested Divorce

A contested divorce doesn’t mean the case must go to trial. Several paths to resolution exist, and the right one depends on the nature of the disputes, each party’s goals, and the degree of trust between the spouses.

Litigation

When there are safety concerns, allegations of hidden assets, or a complete communication breakdown, litigation is the appropriate path. Each side presents evidence and argument at hearings before a Hillsborough County family law judge, who decides the unresolved issues.

Mediation Within a Contested Case

Mediation within a contested divorce uses a neutral third party to facilitate negotiation. It’s distinct from an uncontested divorce: the case has already involved formal filings and potentially discovery. Agreements reached through mediation carry the weight of a contract and can be incorporated into the court’s final judgment through a marital settlement agreement.

Collaborative Family Law

Sessums Law Group, P.A. also offers collaborative family law as a named practice area. In a collaborative process, both spouses and their attorneys sign a participation agreement committing to resolve all issues outside of court, often with the assistance of neutral financial professionals or child development specialists. It’s a structured option for couples willing to negotiate without placing the final decision in a judge’s hands.

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Meet Our Team

Attorneys Uniquely Qualified to Assist You

Unmatched Credentials

Florida's Only Attorney with All Three Certifications

Mark A. Sessums is the only lawyer in Florida who is Board Certified in all three areas

Florida Bar

Marital & Family Law
Board Certified Since 1997
Florida Bar

Civil Trial Law
Board Certified Since 2010
National Board of Trial Advocacy

Trial Advocacy
Board Certified in 2015

With nearly 30 years of board certification experience, Mark Sessums brings unparalleled expertise to every case

Our Settlements & Verdicts

Sessums Law Group, P.A. Attorneys Take Pride in Delivering Exceptional Results for Our Valued Clients

Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.

$6,000,000.00 Recovery Fraud Civil Action
Sessums Law Group, P.A. successfully recovered $6,000,000.00 for a client in a fraud civil action. Prior to the client’s divorce, the client negotiated and executed an agreement with his wife’s boyfriend that sought that the boyfriend would have no contact with the client’s wife.
$2,740,000.00 Wrongful Death Hit/Run of Motorcyclist
Representation of the plaintiff hit from behind on his motorcycle by a driver who was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident. Sued the defendant; the bar that the defendant had been drinking and the defendant’s employer.
$1,929,000.00 Verdict Real Estate Deficiency
Representation of estate in real estate deficiency claim resulting in joint and several liability verdict against various doctors and chiropractors.
$1,000,000.00 Settlement Collision
Representation of estate in an automobile and tractor trailer collision that resulted in multiple deaths.
Confidential Settlement Amount Medical Malpractice
Client was burned with a hot pack after delivering her son via Cesarean section.
Confidential Settlement Amount Nursing Home Negligence
Representation of the Personal Representative of the Estate of the patient who died due to negligent care while in the care of the nursing home.
Confidential Settlement Amount Trolley Accident
Representation of passengers who were enjoying a sight- seeing tour aboard a trolley when the trolley was hit by a bus. The passengers suffered soft tissue injuries.
Confidential Settlement Amount Hit & Run
Sessums Law Group was recently successful in settling a case for a hard working Polk County man whose hit and run accident resulted in a need for a knee replacement. The defendant argued that our client had caused the accident. We were able to prove through expert accident reconstruction testimony that the accident happened as our client testified despite the minimal damage involved.
Confidential Settlement Stolen Property
Client’s vehicle was burglarized and her engagement and wedding rings stolen. The perpetrator pawned the stolen items to a local pawn shop. The pawn shop ignored the hold order from the police department and sold the engagement and wedding rings. After suit filed for the Plaintiff, a confidential settlement was reached with the pawn shop for the value to our client of her stolen rings.

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Florida Attorneys with Proven Expertise, Devoted to Exceptional Service

"Our firm believes in the integrity of the needs of the each client we represent. We are passionate about obtaining the maximum results allowable under the law for each client."

- Mark A. Sessums