Sessums Black Family Law

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. The Sessums Black office will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29. We hope you have a wonderful holiday. ??

The Bay Area Legal Services Senior Legal Helpline is available to eligible applicants aged 60 and older who are Florida residents or have a legal issue pending in Florida. To apply for services, call (888) 895-7873, Monday-Friday, 9 AM–4:30 PM. If your matter is not an emergency, you can also apply online anytime. Applicants receive free, confidential legal advice and referrals from attorneys and paralegals who have experience representing seniors.

While co-parenting generally is the norm, “parallel parenting” is emerging as an alternative method for divorced working parents seeking a more structured approach to balance their professional and personal lives more effectively. Parallel parenting offers a clear and organized framework where each parent is fully responsible for the children during their designated times, as outlined in their divorce agreement. The on-duty parent is entirely responsible for the children during their scheduled time, including attending extracurricular activities and arranging alternative caregivers if necessary, without involving the off-duty parent. This approach minimizes direct interaction between the parents, reducing the potential for conflict and allowing each parent to manage their parenting duties independently.

When a marriage is in decline, it tends to follow a predictable pattern. Knowing what to look for can help you repair your relationship before it’s too late. ?This article describes what the lead-up to a divorce almost always looks like, according to a therapist specializing in marriages in crisis.

Here's a great pic of Sessums Black attorneys at last week's Hillsborough County Bar Association Bench Bar Conference. Our firm is proud to have been a sponsor. ???? The annual event includes CLE on cutting-edge topics, an HCBA membership luncheon, and a judicial networking reception.

Respect, a sense of humor, and two televisions—long-term couples share the secrets to their successful marriages. Here are some words of wisdom from couples who have been married for 30, 40, or 50-plus years, on what's helped them maintain strong and happy unions.

If you're thinking about a divorce or are going through one, this article might be helpful. It explores everyday life choices to bolster your resiliency, make it easier to adapt, build a strong social network to protect your mental health, and even improve your physical health over time to prepare for a more joyful future.

Sessums Black is honored to be included in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms? as a Tier 1 firm in Tampa for Family Law, a recognition of professional excellence based on ratings from clients and peers. Only firms with at least one lawyer recognized in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America? in a practice area and metro jurisdiction ranked by Best Law Firms? are eligible to receive a firm ranking in that practice area and jurisdiction. We are exceptionally proud that SB Managing Partner Alex Caballero has been recognized since 2010 in Family Law. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of clients and professional reference evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys, industry leader interviews and review of additional firmographic highlights provided by law firms as part of the formal research submission process. Ranked firms are presented in three tiers. Firms that received a tier designation reflect the “highest level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients from the same communities and practice areas.” Learn more at bestlawfirms.com. Congratulations to our friends and colleagues who also are included in the Best Lawyers? and Best Law Firms? publications!

To all the brave veterans who have served our country, we thank you. ????

REMINDER: The Hillsborough County Bar Association's 27th Annual Bench Bar Conference, Membership Luncheon, and Judicial Reception are set for November 14. This year’s theme for the all-day educational conference is "Expedition to Excellence," and our firm is proud to be a sponsor. The event includes various continuing legal education sessions on cutting-edge topics, an HCBA membership luncheon, and a judicial networking reception. Get details at bit.ly/HCBA_24BenchBar.