Mothers’ Rights Lawyer in Tampa

Board-Certified Family Law Representation for Tampa Mothers Since 2008

Custody disputes, parenting plan negotiations, child support, and relocation petitions all move through the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit with their own local procedures and timelines. Since 2008, Sessums Law Group, P.A. has represented mothers in Tampa and across Hillsborough County, combining board-certified family law knowledge with practical familiarity with how these courts operate. We offer virtual consultations and bilingual service in English and Spanish, so reaching us doesn’t require rearranging work or childcare.

Why Tampa Mothers Choose Our Family Law Firm

Florida Bar board certification in marital and family law requires demonstrating substantial courtroom experience, passing a written examination, and completing peer review evaluations. It’s a credential held by a small percentage of Florida attorneys. Our founder, Mark A. Sessums, has held that certification since 1997. He is also board certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar (since 2010) and in Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (since 2015), holding all three certifications simultaneously.

Mark A. Sessums has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2006 and was selected for Best Lawyers in America from 2017 through 2024. He is a past President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Florida Chapter, and the firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. When your parental rights are at stake, that depth of credential and recognition matters. Our team brings the same rigorous, detail-oriented approach to every mothers’ rights case we handle.

How Our Tampa Mothers’ Rights Attorneys Protect Your Parental Rights

Florida family courts apply the best interests of the child standard under Florida Statute Section 61.13, weighing twenty statutory factors when evaluating custody and time-sharing arrangements. Equal treatment under the law doesn’t mean identical outcomes. It means you need an attorney who can build a clear, documented picture of your relationship with your children and present it effectively before a Hillsborough County judge.

We provide the following services for mothers in Tampa:

• Child custody and time-sharing: We guide mothers through the development of parenting plans that address the child’s primary residence, a detailed time-sharing schedule, and each parent’s responsibilities for healthcare, school, and extracurricular decisions. Our child custody attorneys understand how the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit applies the best interests standard and present evidence accordingly.
• Parental decision-making: We advocate for your continued authority in your children’s healthcare, education, and daily well-being. Our strategy accounts for the full picture of your family’s circumstances and your history as a parent.
• Child support: Florida calculates child support under the Income Shares model, weighing each parent’s net income, the number of overnights with each parent, and additional expenses such as childcare and health insurance. We help mothers in Tampa organize documentation and advocate for support orders that reflect the statutory guidelines.
• Establishing and enforcing parental rights: Whether you need to establish paternity, enforce an existing order, or respond to violations of your parental rights, we develop targeted solutions with your child’s needs and your legal standing in view.
• Modifications and relocations: When a job transfer, remarriage, or medical change affects an existing custody or support arrangement, we assist with modification petitions, gather supporting documentation, and advocate for your position through negotiation or litigation. Florida law requires either the other parent’s written consent or a court order before a parent can relocate a child more than 50 miles from the child’s principal residence.

Our mothers’ rights lawyers in Tampa work within the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s court calendars, mediation requirements, and local administrative orders on each case. That familiarity with regional procedure can help us move cases forward efficiently and avoid delays that can affect parenting arrangements.

Unmarried Mothers & Paternity in Florida

Under Florida law, an unmarried mother has sole parental rights until paternity is legally established through a voluntary acknowledgment or a court proceeding. That legal status matters: until fatherhood is confirmed, a father cannot seek custody or time-sharing through the courts, and child support cannot be made mandatory.

Once paternity is established, both parents may petition the Hillsborough County circuit court for custody, time-sharing, and support orders. That shift can happen quickly, and unmarried mothers benefit from understanding their rights before and after paternity is resolved. Establishing paternity also creates the legal record needed to pursue enforceable child support and to protect your position if custody disputes arise later. We help unmarried mothers in Tampa navigate paternity proceedings with a clear strategy from the start.

What to Expect When You Work With Our Mothers’ Rights Attorneys

Family law cases in Hillsborough County typically require mediation before contested matters reach a judge. Understanding that requirement and preparing for it from the beginning of your case is part of how we work. Here’s what the process looks like:

• Confidential consultation: We begin with a thorough discussion of your goals, the challenges you’re facing, and your legal rights under Florida law. Virtual consultations are available.
• Strategic planning: We review the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s local rules and court protocols and build a case plan tailored to your situation and the specific judge or division handling your matter.
• Document gathering and preparation: We help you compile pay stubs, school records, communications, and any other documentation needed to support your position before the court.
• Negotiation and litigation: Our mothers’ rights lawyers work to resolve matters outside of court when it serves your interests and stand ready to litigate at hearings, mediation, or trial when it doesn’t.
• Ongoing communication: We keep you informed of deadlines, court dates, and developments in your case. Our team communicates in both English and Spanish throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mothers’ Rights in Tampa

Do Mothers Have Greater Custody Rights Than Fathers in Tampa?

No. Under Florida law, both mothers and fathers are treated equally with respect to custody and time-sharing. Courts determine arrangements based on the best interests of the child, not the parent’s gender.

Can I Relocate With My Child After a Divorce or Custody Order?

Florida law requires either the other parent’s consent or a court order to relocate a child more than 50 miles from the current home. Our Tampa mothers’ rights lawyers can help you petition for relocation and present your reasons to the court.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Florida?

Child support amounts are set by Florida’s statutory guidelines, considering each parent’s income, the number of overnights with the child, and certain expenses such as childcare and health insurance. We help you organize documentation and advocate for support orders that reflect the actual financial picture.

Speak With a Mothers’ Rights Attorney in Tampa

Your parental relationship and your children’s stability deserve strong legal representation. Our board-certified attorneys bring more than fifteen years of family law experience to mothers’ rights cases in Tampa, with the credentials, local knowledge, and bilingual capacity to handle your case with care and precision. Virtual consultations make it easy to get started, no matter your schedule.

Contact Sessums Law Group, P.A. at (813) 212-8330 for a confidential consultation with our mothers’ rights lawyers in Tampa.