Best Family Lawyer in Jacksonville
John Phillips
Family Lawyer
John is originally from Mobile, Alabama, but made Jacksonville, Florida his home in 2001. He graduated from the University of Alabama, which is perennially one of the highest ranked public law schools in the southeast and was ranked 25th in the nation in a recent U.S. News Survey. He has obtained many million-dollar and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including one 2019 jury verdict of over $495 Million dollars, as well as changed the way that companies and governments operate. He has been consulted by government officials when they review important legislation. For instance, John was selected to help re-write Georgia’s citizen arrest statute after Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed. Although he has represented celebrities and athletes, John’s time is mostly spent helping the injured get justice.
Almost a decade ago, John Phillips became one of the youngest lawyers to be Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar. This allows him to be called an expert in civil trial law (personal injury, car accidents, civil rights). Board Certification requires years of advocacy at the highest level, additional peer review, substantial trial experience, hours of advanced seminars and a difficult full day exam. John will tell you, “Nothing worthwhile comes easy.”
Phillips can be seen in the Emmy award winning documentary, Armor of Light. He had a role in the film as the storyteller and lawyer for the family of Jordan Davis and was thanked from the stage by the film’s director Abigail Disney. He regularly seeks out opportunities to learn how to be a better lawyer, leader and father.
Phillips can frequently be seen on television news and has appeared in multiple documentaries and docudramas. Phillips was heavily featured in season two of the Netflix show, Tiger King, which follows his efforts to Free Joe Exotic. Joseph Maldonado-Passage is Phillips client.
In 2022, Phillips also obtained a record attorney’s fee against the Trump Campaign. Phillips represented Omarosa Manigault-Newman, who was sued for “disparaging” Donald Trump based on a non-disclosure agreement she signed. Phillips obtained a judgment holding the NDA’s terms invalid, award his firm attorney’s fees and on August 9, 2022, the Trump Campaign released everyone from the NDA’s terms. Phillips said, “I am not Republican. Or Democrat. I am reasonable. We take cases we believe in. This wasn’t political. It was protecting whistleblowers, political speech and the First Amendment.”
Chalmers "Chuck" H. Barnes
Family Lawyer
Personal injury attorney Chalmers “Chuck” H. Barnes has been fighting for justice for the injured since 1974. In his 4 decades of legal experience he has successfully resolved thousands of personal injury and medical malpractice cases throughout Florida and Georgia. With his wealth of legal experience there is no medical issue in a personal injury case that he cannot handle.
Chuck is a true “Trial Attorney” not a spokesman or a marketer that will refer your case to another firm or pass you off to a case manager. When you hire Chuck or his firm, you will be represented by Barnes Cohen & Sullivan attorneys.
Few Attorneys in the Southeast United States have graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. from Harvard University. In fact Mr. Barnes may be the only one in the Jacksonville area. Chuck followed up his Harvard undergraduate degree with a J.D. from one of the highest ranked law schools in the nation, the Georgetown Law School in Washington D.C in 1974. While there are many highly accomplished attorneys in the Jacksonville area you would be hard pressed to find another with such credentials.
Chuck is a co-founder of Barnes Cohen & Sullivan, P.A. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and is admitted to Federal and State Courts for both Florida and Georgia.
Jason K.S. Porter
Family Lawyer
Jason K.S. Porter, Esquire has earned an excellent reputation among clients and peers for his legal skills and dedication to his clients.
He has been awarded a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating in both personal injury and criminal defense. His high-quality professional service has been recognized by his peers with a Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Rating.
These awards are testimony to his personal standard of excellence in the legal field. He has many devoted and grateful clients.
Education
Porter graduated cum laude from the Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both political science and Spanish. Before graduation, he was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa fraternity for academic achievement and the nationally recognized Omicron Delta Kappa fraternity for leadership.
He earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Melanie Sacks
Family Lawyer
Melanie Sacks is a Jacksonville, Florida Bankruptcy Attorney representing clients in the practice areas of Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. With over 22 years of experience she has provided top services to Floridians in managing credit, filing bankruptcy and getting a fresh start.
Education and Biography
MELANIE SACKS AREAS OF PRACTICE
Consumer Bankruptcy
Small Business Bankruptcy
BAR ADMISSIONS
State of Florida, Since 1998
MELANIE SACKS EDUCATION
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan – 1998
University of Florida – 1992
Michael D. McGrath
Family Lawyer
Michael founded McGRATH GIBSON LAW in 2007 with fellow Florida Coastal School of Law graduate Brad Gibson when the two merged their respective firms. Michael is the managing partner of MCGRATHGIBSON and focuses his extensive experience on cases involving severe personal injury, wrongful death and negligence cases. Michael is licensed to practice law and is a member of the State Bar in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Michael has a Martindale-Hubbell AV “Preeminent” peer rating for ethical standards and legal ability as well as an Avvo-Rating of “Superb”. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings reflect a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating. An AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. Only lawyers admitted to the bar for 10 years or more are eligible to receive an AV rating. At the AV Preeminent level, a lawyer has achieved the highest level of professional excellence.
Heather Quick
Family Lawyer
Heather Brooke Quick is the founder and CEO of the only divorce and family law firm for women in Northeast Florida, Florida Women’s Law Group, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Her vision for Florida Women’s Law Group began with a passion for changing the way women in Florida undergo divorce. By offering family and marital law services specifically for women, Florida Women’s Law Group works in a consistent and reliable way to advocate for women in the divorce process. The firm educates and empowers women on their rights and the law, so they can find the strength to endure the process and end up better financially and emotionally.
Actively engaged in the local legal community, Heather Quick is a member of the American Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association and the Jacksonville Beach Bar Association. She serves on the Family Law Rules Committee for the Florida Bar and the executive board for Junior Achievement. Heather is a member of the National Organization for Women, Jacksonville Women’s Lawyer Association and is a Trustee for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Heather is rated by Martindale Hubbell as AV Distinguished® and “Superb” by AVVO, both the highest ratings available. She has been named as a Woman of Influence and an Ultimate Attorney by the Jacksonville Business Journal is consistently featured in Jacksonville Magazine’s Best Lawyer edition and is a top rated Legal Leader for national publications American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel. Heather has been selected to the 2017 Florida Super Lawyers list and she has earned the title “Legal Elite” by Florida Trends magazine. She is also recognized as a Lawyer of Distinction.
Cindy L. Lasky
Family Lawyer
Devoted to Your Resolving Your Family Law Matters
Jacksonville family law attorney Cindy Lasky offers advice and representation in the following matters:
- Divorce and legal separation
- Complex property division problems in divorce cases
- Military divorce
- Alimony and modification of alimony obligations in cases of cohabitation
- Child custody and visitation rights
- Child support in divorce and paternity cases
- Parenting classes ordered in divorce cases
- Florida relocation issues after divorce
- Modification and enforcement of family court orders
- Paternity and fathers’ rights of access to their children
- Grandparent and relative custody as an alternative to foster care or juvenile dependency proceedings
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Child Support
- Custody & Visitation
- Litigation & Appeals
- Alimony
- Paternity
- Domestic Violence Injunctions
- Juvenile Dependency
- Uncontested Divorces
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Appellate Law
Allison Cunningham
Family Lawyer
Allison R. Cunningham is an Executive Partner of Cordell & Cordell, where she practices domestic litigation exclusively. Her primary office is located in St. Louis, Missouri.
Ms. Cunningham cultivated an internal training program through which she organizes and oversees a quarterly session of courses highlighting practice tips and mock trial experience for every new attorney that joins the firm.
Her superior litigation skills translate into having consistently high client satisfaction ratings. She is a frequent speaker at family law seminars for the public and fellow attorneys.
“A good working relationship between attorney and client is essential in a domestic relation case. Communication is key,” she said. “Ultimately, how you and your attorney communicate with each other will be reflected in the presentation of your case to others.”
In 1996, Ms. Cunningham received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Evansville where she graduated magna cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1999. She is a 2002 graduate of the American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute.
What is Section 7 of the Family Court Act?
Section 7 of the Family Courts Act, 1984 (India) outlines the jurisdiction of Family Courts. It specifies the kinds of cases that Family Courts are empowered to hear and resolve. Here’s a breakdown of what this section covers:
Section 7: Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction of Family Courts:
- Family Courts have jurisdiction over matters relating to family disputes. These include:
- Marriage and related issues, such as divorce, nullity of marriage, and restitution of conjugal rights.
- Cases involving the declaration of marital status.
- Property disputes between parties to a marriage.
- Orders related to the maintenance of spouses, children, and parents.
- Guardianship and custody of children.
- Family Courts have jurisdiction over matters relating to family disputes. These include:
Exclusive Jurisdiction:
- Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases falling within the scope of the above matters, meaning that other civil courts cannot deal with these family disputes.
Key Areas Covered under Section 7:
- Marriage-related disputes: This includes divorce, judicial separation, annulment, restitution of conjugal rights, and other matrimonial issues.
- Maintenance: Matters related to the financial support of spouses, children, or dependent parents.
- Property disputes: Property disputes between spouses or within the family that arise out of a marriage.
- Guardianship and Custody: Matters related to the appointment of guardians for minors and disputes regarding the custody of children.
Objective of Section 7:
The purpose of granting exclusive jurisdiction to Family Courts under Section 7 is to create a specialized forum to handle family matters in a sensitive and expeditious manner. The intent is to resolve family disputes in a way that reduces the adversarial nature of litigation and promotes reconciliation where possible.
This section serves as the foundation for Family Courts to adjudicate family-related legal matters with a focus on protecting the welfare of families and children.