Best Divorce Lawyers Sarasota
Sean Tobaygo
Divorce Lawyers
Most of my clients have their first legal experience through their divorce. As a result, I focus on client education as the first step regarding guiding clients towards a successful outcome. Armed with information and an understanding of the law, our clients can shift from the role of passive observer to the role of active participant in their case.
My first position after law school was as a prosecuting attorney for the State of Florida. This experience was invaluable in preparing me for a career of litigation. While I enjoyed the active trial schedule and the opportunities that working for the State provided, I saw a need for attorneys who had real litigation experience in the family law practice area.
Throughout my time in private practice as a divorce attorney and family lawyer, I’ve represented hundreds of clients in divorce and family matters, and each one has benefitted from clear advice and an explanation of the law. Client education and active client involvement are the central tenants of strategic litigation in our Sarasota family law firm.
Areas Of Practice
Bar Admissions
Education
W. Matthew Kowtko
Divorce Lawyers
Matthew is the owner-managing attorney at the Kowtko Law Group, P.A. Matt’s approach to the practice of law combines pragmatism, innovation, dependability, dedication, and tenacity; he’s a persuasive and successful trial lawyer, as well as an assertive and decisive negotiator. Clients describe him as compassionate, knowledgeable, professional, responsive, and a bull in the courtroom with a keen ability to think clearly and rapidly under pressure. Matthew is a Georgia native and has been helping Sarasota families through some their most difficult times of their lives since 2014. Legal issues often devolve and quickly become emotionally draining, consuming a person’s time, energy, and financial resources; being a family man helps Matt empathize with the stress and the emotional toll that come with dealing with the important and sensitive issues involved in family and criminal law matters, making it easy for him to be a good listener, compassionate, patient, and understand his client’s needs. From the moment you meet Matt he will educate you in the process of your family or criminal law case, and him and his team will start working immediately to build an individualized approach and case strategy tailored to your unique situation to defend and protect your rights.
Education
Barry University School of Law
Juris Doctor, Top 33%
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity Member
Georgia State University
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration & Business Economics
Honors
Top 33% of my graduating Law School Class
Three “Book Awards” for the highest grades:
Business Organization
Corporate Taxation
Contracts Drafting
Bar Admissions
Florida Bar
Middle District of Florida Court
Robert Marble
Divorce Lawyers
License/Certification
- Licensed attorney in Florida since 2007
- Licensed attorney in Washington State since 1999
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
Education
- Stanford University, BA, 1988
- University of Washington, JD, 1999
- Harvard Program on Negotiation Mediation and Conflict Management Seminar (20 hour Program), 2021
Associations
- Florida Bar, Family Law Section (Member)
- Sarasota County Bar Association (Member)
- Manatee County Bar Association (Member)
- Sarasota Collaborative of Family Law Professionals (Member)
- Family Court Professional Collaborative for Sarasota and Manatee Counties (Member and Former Board Member)
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Next Generation Divorce (Member)
Robert grew up in Washington state, and spent his summers working in peach orchards and warehouses. (And on occasion sailing to Vancouver B.C. and Alaska).
In 2007, Robert “discovered,” and fell in love with Sarasota, Florida. Robert loves to walk, and on most days can be found on the Legacy Trail. Robert spends much of his free time, as a divorced father, with his two boys. As a result of his boys’ interests, Robert has spent countless hours at youth football, rowing, and wrestling events. Robert is still an avid Seahawks fan, but has adopted Florida’s college football teams.
Robert is passionate about family law. Divorce and custody cases are just different from other types of litigation. Robert’s practice attempts to resolve divorce cases using collaborative divorce, mediation, uncontested divorces, and resolving divorce cases before any paperwork is filed with the court. Robert believes most divorce cases can be resolved using these non-litigation methods.
Lisa J. Kleinberg
Divorce Lawyers
Lisa J. Kleinberg was born in Miami Beach, Florida, but grew up on the North side of Chicago. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Illinois University, and then received her Juris Doctor degree from IIT – Chicago Kent College of Law. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and Florida.
Lisa returned to Florida in 1992, and has dedicated her legal career to marital and family law. She has had the privilege of serving as the Chair of the Family Law Section of the Sarasota Bar Association from 2006 to 2008. She is a member of both the Family Law Section Rules and Forms Committee of The Florida Bar, as well as The Florida Bar Rules and Forms Committee. She is a member of FLAG, the Family Law Advisory Group, of the 12th Judicial Circuit, as well as the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Lisa is also a Fellow of The Florida Bar Foundation, and she has volunteered for and created the distinguished Attorney ad Litem program for the 12th Judicial Circuit.
Murphy, Stephanie L.
Divorce Lawyers
Stephanie is a native of Florida, having been born and raised in Polk County, Florida. She graduated from Converse College, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, then obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. Stephanie began her legal career representing the State of Florida Department of Revenue (DOR), Office for Child Support Enforcement, through a private contract law firm. As a DOR attorney, she prosecuted child support cases, by establishing paternity for unwed mothers, establishing child support for custodial parents, enforcing previously-entered child support orders, and modifying same when legally justified to do so.
Stephanie left the public sector and came to Sarasota, where she became a member of its thriving legal community. In private practice, Stephanie has had the opportunity to expand the narrow field of child support to the larger, complex discipline of family law. As a private practitioner, she has become active in the legal community, she was appointed by the Supreme Court of Florida for her second 4-year term as a member of the Mediator Qualifications Discipline and Review Board, which is part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center for the Supreme Court; she belongs to the Florida Association for Women Lawyers in Sarasota; and the Family Law Section of the Sarasota Bar. In the past, served as a Guardian ad Litem, Judge for the Teen Court program, and a Big Sister for the Bigs in School program through Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Stephanie’s practice areas include adoption, from step-parent and relative adoptions, to private placement adoptions; as well as the broad spectrum of family law, including divorce; paternity; child support; property division; custody and visitation; enforcement and modification; and prenuptial agreements.
Stephanie also serves as a volunteer with the education program “We Are Sarasota” an educational program and event put on by local judges, lawyers and residents and students from our local performing arts high school and the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe which takes place each spring.
Philip J. Schipani
Divorce Lawyers
Philip J. Schipani has been Board Certified in Matrimonial and Family Law by the Florida Bar since 2014, a distinction held be less than 10 percent of attorneys in Florida. Mr. Schipani practices all aspects of Family Law. Schipani was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2002 and is a 1998 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He graduated from the University of Miami School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 2001, Cum Laude.
Philip grew up in Northern Virginia outside of Washington D.C. Philip began practicing Family Law during his second year of Law School, when he obtained his certificate as a certified legal intern, which allowed him to practice in the State Courts of Florida. During that time, he interned with the Miami-Dade County Legal Aid Society. At Legal Aid in Miami, Philip litigated divorce cases and represented numerous individuals obtaining domestic violence injunctions.
Upon graduation of Law School, Philip’s first job was working for two Miami-Dade County Family Court Judges as a case manager. During his time working with the Court system he gained valuable experience and knowledge of the family court system from the inside out. Part of his duties were to manage the Judges’ caseloads and help pro se litigants obtain divorces and other relief in the Family Court system.
During law school, he was a Judicial Intern for Federal Magistrate John J. O’Sullivan in Miami, FL.
Phillip Schipani has been awarded the Spotlight Award by The Florida Bar in recognition of his positive impact and outstanding service to the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar for 2019-2020. Additionally, he has been selected for the 2022 Florida Super Lawyer List for the 7th year in a row. Mr. Schipani was admitted as a fellow to the International Academy of Family Lawyers in 2020.
Heather Byrd
Divorce Lawyers
Heather Byrd earned her undergraduate degree, with honors, from Fairfield University in 1993. During that time, she also served as an intern with the Stamford Connecticut Probation Office. While serving as an intern, Heather became interested in cases where criminal and family law overlapped, particularly in the areas of domestic violence and child abuse.
Heather earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac College of Law in Hamden, Connecticut in 1995. She graduated in the top 1/3 of her class and was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for Trial Practice. While working her way through law school, she interned for the private law firm of Cohen & Marlow in New Haven, Connecticut from 1993 to 1995.
Heather is an Officer and Partner of The Byrd Law Firm and has run an active family law practice since 1998. She has extensive experience in the area of family law in Sarasota, Florida. Heather is trained in Family Mediation and Certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Mediator.
Heather is also trained in accordance with IACP (International Academy of Collaborative Professionals) standards and requirements. She is a Founding Member of Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Sarasota County.
Sara Sawyer Boeller
Divorce Lawyers
As a native of New Glarus, Wisconsin, Sara Boeller attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Political Science. Recognizing her passion for resolving complex legal situations within the family, she earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the prestigious Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg Florida.
To provide a unique and beneficial experience for her clients, Attorney Boeller went on to earn her Masters of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida. In 2013, Mrs. Boeller established Boeller Counseling, LLC, a full-service mental health counseling practice. With this extensive background, she is not only extremely experienced in litigating the very complex matters of family law in the courtroom, but she also provides a sympathetic, compassionate, and effective approach to every family law matter. Her unique blend of skills provides clients with a more therapeutic transition throughout the legal process.
To add to her myriad of degrees and highly beneficial background serving these various communities, she is also certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law Mediator.
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Sarasota, Florida, can offer several advantages when going through a divorce. Here are some of the benefits:
Legal Expertise: A top divorce lawyer in Sarasota will have a deep understanding of Florida’s divorce laws, ensuring that your case is handled in compliance with state regulations.
Objective Advice: Emotions can run high during a divorce, making it difficult to make rational decisions. A divorce lawyer can provide you with objective advice and help you make informed choices about important matters such as property division, alimony, child custody, and child support.
Negotiation Skills: Many divorce cases are resolved through negotiation rather than going to court. An experienced attorney can negotiate effectively on your behalf to reach a fair settlement with your spouse, potentially saving you time and money.
Legal Documentation: Divorce involves a significant amount of paperwork, including legal documents and court filings. A top divorce lawyer will ensure that all necessary documentation is prepared accurately and submitted on time.
Court Representation: If your divorce does go to court, having a skilled attorney by your side can be invaluable. They will present your case effectively, cross-examine witnesses, and argue for your best interests before the judge.
Asset Protection: If you have substantial assets or complex financial holdings, a divorce lawyer can help ensure that your property and financial interests are protected during the divorce process.
Child Custody and Support: If you have children, a top divorce lawyer will work to secure a fair custody arrangement and child support agreement that is in the best interests of your children.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Some divorces can be resolved through mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods. A skilled attorney can represent you during these processes and help you reach a mutually acceptable agreement with your spouse.
Post-Divorce Issues: Even after the divorce is finalized, there may be post-divorce issues that arise, such as modification of custody or support orders. Having a trusted attorney can be helpful in addressing these ongoing legal matters.
Now, let’s clarify the difference between divorce and separation:
Divorce: Divorce is a legal process that officially ends a marriage. In a divorce, the court issues a judgment that dissolves the marital relationship, allowing both parties to remarry if they wish. It involves the division of assets, determination of alimony (if applicable), and decisions about child custody and support. Once a divorce is finalized, both parties are no longer legally married.
Separation: Separation, on the other hand, is a legal status where a married couple lives apart but remains legally married. During a separation, couples may address issues such as property division, child custody, and support arrangements. Separation can be a step toward divorce, but it does not officially end the marriage. In some cases, couples choose to reconcile after a period of separation, while others proceed with divorce.
In Florida, legal separation is not recognized, but couples can enter into a legally binding separation agreement that outlines the terms of their separation, including property division, spousal support, and child custody and support arrangements. However, it’s important to note that this agreement does not officially end the marriage; divorce is the only way to achieve that in Florida.