Divorce & Family Law

The Law Office of Diego F. MacWilliam has been in practice throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years. The firm handles divorce, legal separation, custody and visitation, spousal support, child support and complex property division cases, including high value assets. The office serves mainly Santa Clara County. Mr. MacWilliam is highly rated as a lawyer by Martindale Hubbell and has extensive experience in family law. In addition to being a highly effective litigator, Mr. MacWilliam assists individuals undergoing divorce by taking a collaborative approach and offering mediation services. Attorney Diego F. MacWilliam is licensed to practice law before all courts of the State of California,and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Mr. MacWilliam was born in Stanford, California, and lived in Madrid, Spain, for 17 years, where he completed High School. Upon returning to the United States, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a A.B. degree in Legal Studies. He subsequently attended and graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree. Mr. MacWilliam has extensive experience in civil, family, and criminal litigation, and has tried numerous cases. He is fluent in Spanish.

Shipley Law Firm & Title Company is pleased to provide the highest quality, professional legal services for clients in Lake County and throughout central Florida. The firm's attorneys are experienced in representing individuals and businesses in the areas of bankruptcy law, business and corporate law, civil litigation, family law, wills, trusts and estate planning, probate, and real estate law (including real estate closings and title insurance). Our firm offers comprehensive analyses of all debt relief and debt workout options including skilled and cost-effective legal representation in all types of Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy law matters. We are dedicated to finding the best possible financial solution for our clients, which financial solution may or may not include bankruptcy. If you need legal assistance with a business and corporate law or civil litigation matter, Shipley Law Firm & Title Company can help. The firm has for many years represented clients in matters involving business formation, commercial lease agreements, and the purchase and sale of businesses and real estate. We also represent clients in business and corporate disputes involving breach of contract, unfair competition, fraud, landlord-tenant issues and employment. Whenever possible, we try to resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution to avoid the time and expense of trial. However, when necessary we will aggressively defend your interests in litigation. Shipley Law Firm & Title Company provides legal services related to wills, trusts and estate planning to ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Our firm can draft and reviewing wills and trust documents as well as identify and implement asset protection strategies for Medicaid, to minimize estate and probate taxes, and plan for potential creditor's claims. At Shipley Law Firm & Title Company, we provide family law services related to adoption, dissolution of marriage/divorce, child custody, child support, post-dissolution modifications, spousal support/alimony, and ante-nuptial/prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements. We guide prospective adoptive parents through the complicated Florida adoption process and help file the necessary paperwork with the court. Our firm also guides clients through the difficult legal process of divorce and assists with the drafting and review of ante-nuptial/prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Shipley Law Firm & Title Company has also successfully represented clients in a variety of real estate matters related to closings, title insurance, easement disputes, title insurance claims, deed restrictions, enforcing real estate contracts, evictions and landlord-tenant litigation, homeowners associations, foreclosures, boundary disputes and quiet title actions. Mr. Shipley received both a Master's Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) concentrating in Entrepreneurship and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Florida State University. He is also licensed as a Florida Certified Public Accountant and is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, REALTORS® Association of Lake & Sumter Counties, Inc., the Lake County and Orange County Bar Associations, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association. Mr. Shipley also served in the United States Army Reserve for eight years and was on active wartime duty during the Persian Gulf War.

This trial focused practice has the goals of delivering quality legal services, providing to clients personal services while developing strong, trusted relationships through effective communication, analysis, planning and litigation skills seeking the best result possible. Mr. Straile has been a lawyer as a member of the Florida Bar since 2003 and has been working within the court and justice system since 2001; he is a member of the Criminal Law, Family Law, Real Property, Probate & Trust and the Trial Lawyers sections of the Florida Bar. Mr. Straile is a past treasurer for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Young Lawyers Division. Mr. Straile focuses his practice on trial law focusing in family, including domestic violence, traffic, criminal, business law and limited civil litigation or civil trial matters. Family cases include divorce, custody, paternity, modification, domestic violence, child abduction, division of assets, parenting plans, and marital settlement agreements. Mr. Straile handles cases from civil traffic to trafficking narcotics and cases ranging from misdemeanors to life felonies. Mr. Straile has handled all levels of criminal offenses and all issues related to criminal offenses from investigation to verdict and appeal. Mr. Straile represents businesses from start up to litigation after sale. Many clients also have used Mr. Straile to provide general consulting. Mr. Straile earned an LL.M (advanced law degree) from the University of Florida in tax law, a J.D. from St. Thomas University and a B.S. from Lambuth University . Prior to entering the legal field Mr. Straile provided financial services and advice at Banker's Life & Casualty and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Straile spent two years between the Third District Court of Appeal in Miami and the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office in Ft. Lauderdale . While in Law school Mr. Straile was active in trial competitions, and coached the St. Thomas Trial Team. Volunteer work includes the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Straile served as an organizer of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and a liaison between the program and the Internal Revenue Service. For the Boy Scouts Mr. Straile taught merit badges, served as quartermaster, and assistant scout master. Mr. Straile is an Eagle Scout.

Michael Katz practices exclusively family/child welfare law and education law. Michael has dedicated his professional career to assisting families navigate the often complex and emotionally challenging child welfare and education law arenas. Michael strongly believes that his clients need to be knowledgeable about legal issues directly impacting their families so that they can be empowered to make decisions that best meet the needs of their families. Michael has been involved with issues relating to child welfare for the past twenty years both as an educator and an attorney. Michael grew up in Baltimore County and attended Boys’ Latin School. After high school he attended Towson State University graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. Throughout college, Michael worked each summer with cognitively challenged youth and continues to this day to volunteer with various organizations that assist mentally and cognitively limited youth. He began his professional career as a teacher of special education students in Baltimore County and then as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore City before entering law school. While Michael thoroughly enjoyed his teaching experience, he felt that he could better serve children as a legal advocate. Michael graduated Magna Cum Laude, in the top 10% of his class, from the University of Baltimore Law School. While in law school he completed various internships with private and public agencies that centered on child welfare issues including Legal Aid’s Child Advocacy Unit and Advocates for Children and Youth. Upon being admitted to the Maryland Bar, Michael accepted employment as an Assistant Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender, Child in Need of Assistance Division. This position allowed Michael to fully develop his litigation skills, foster relationships with court personnel, and provided the opportunity to observe the positive impact an experienced, knowledgeable, pro-active attorney can have on the life of a child. After three years of employment with the Office of the Public Defender, Michael accepted a position as staff attorney with the Law Office of Darlene A. Wakefield, P.A. For the last nine years, Michael has served first as Supervising Attorney then as Managing Attorney. Over the past nineteen years, the Law Office of Darlene A. Wakefield, P.A., through contracts with the state of Maryland, has been the second largest provider of legal advocacy services for abused/neglected children, representing well over twenty-five thousand children. Michael has represented over a thousand children and continues to represent parents in child welfare cases as he believes he brings a unique perspective to parents regarding how their actions affect their children. Michael has received certification to serve both as a Court Appointed Child’s Counsel in family law cases and as a mediator in Maryland Courts. Michael also represents parents in education matters as he has extensive experience advocating at Individual Education Plan Meetings and Due Process hearings. Education advocacy allows Michael to advocate for the services children need to be successful. Michael strongly believes that regardless of the socio-economic environment in which a child is raised, education truly is the key to a successful future for all children. Michael has extensive experience handling all aspects of Estate Planning. He enjoys helping individuals and couples plan for their future by ensuring that all life and legacy needs are honored. Michael and his extended family reside in Baltimore County. Michael is an avid sports fan who was fortunate to be able to attend the Raven’s victorious Super Bowl win. He also enjoys animals, traveling, and volunteer work with children’s organizations.

Cynthia has more than 23 years of experience as a family law attorney. She founded the law firm of Cynthia J. Bohn Attorney at Law at the beginning of her career and since has become one of the most respected lawyers in Nashville, Tennessee. She is proud to announce that 70% of her practice is devoted to litigation.

Daniel P. Weiner has served people in Fairfield County and throughout the state of Connecticut for nearly 40 years. He and his staff are committed to providing effective legal counsel and serious, aggressive representation to people dealing with a wide range of legal matters, including criminal charges, juvenile matters, personal injury or divorce and family law issues.

Shazia Sparkman is the founder and managing partner where she advocates fiercely and passionately for her clients in all types of family law and complex business litigation matters. Armed with a razor sharp grasp of the law, Ms. Sparkman brings her smart sophistication in analyzing every case for each client. Clients have come to expect a tailored and customized approach to each legal situation. It is this personalized approach that was the vision of Ms. Sparkman and that has rooted the firm into the Tampa Bay community as one recognized for excellent service. Ms. Sparkman is a native of Tampa, born and raised and grew up with a passion for the law and service. She has cultivated her talent for lawyering in the most effective and artful manner where her persuasion skills and legal expertise merge together in the courtroom. She is a perfectionist at heart who drives herself to accomplish tasks that others would run from. Her memory and ability to multi-task is difficult to comprehend or describe but clearly reveals how she is able to remember every conversation she has ever had and every client story told. Ms. Sparkman’s community involvement is an extension of her dedication to her clients. She is a member of the Junior League of Tampa and her passion for giving back to the community is exemplified in the volunteer service work she provides in addition to the law firm’s support of various community events that are dear to heart, such as the Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay and the Easter Seals organization, both organizations that highlight giving to empower and strengthen children. As a mother of three children, Ms. Sparkman is fueled by this role as a mother, lawyer and volunteer with her focus being to make her community a place where she can be proud to raise her children.

Jeanette graduated in 2002 from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education. She then received her Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University in 2005. Before joining Shriver & Gordon in 2007, Jeanette practiced juvenile law in Cherokee County.Jeanette's practice is concentrated in divorce, family law, and juvenile law Jeanette is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Blue Ridge Bar Association, and the Cobb County Bar Association. She served as a Co-Chair of the 2007 Law Day Committee and was instrumental in the organization and execution of the local Law Day observance, which was recognized by the State Bar of Georgia as one of the most outstanding Law Day programs in the State.Jeanette's practice is concentrated in divorce and family law.

The Law Firm of D.J. Buchholz, P.A. has been providing family law legal services to the Tampa Bay area since 2002. Tampa family law attorneyThe firm’s focus is providing quality legal representation at an affordable price. The Law Firm of D.J. Buchholz, P.A. is a full service family law firm offering a full range of legal services including the following: Divorce – Contested & Uncontested, Pre-need Guardianship, Paternity, Child Support / Department of Revenue Actions, Child Custody & Visitation, Modification, Enforcement & Contempt Actions, Adoptions, and Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements. D.J. Buchholz is a dedicated and experienced attorney. For your convenience, appointments are available in person or by phone, 7 days a week. Whether going through a divorce, fighting for custody, or any legal matter you face, the experience can be stressful and confusing. Having a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney on your side to answer your questions and advocate on your behalf can make all the difference in the world. D.J. Buchholz is committed to keeping you informed in all details of your case and fighting for the best possible outcome.

We are good at what we do because we are passionate about justice. We are a full-service law firm, practicing in all aspects of Immigration, Family, Criminal, Personal Injury & Probate Law including Business Visas, Family based petitions, removal and deportation, investment visas, asylum applications, waivers, vawa petitions, all appeals and federal court litigation. Divorces, child custody, child support, adoptions, post-divorce issues and appeals. Felonies, misdemeanors, Estate Administration, Will Contests, Personal Injury...any and all aspects of any of these areas of law. We understand the struggles our clients face each day in this complicated system that they find themselves in. We have also personally gone through the family, Personal Injury and Probate court system and have experienced the frustrations that clients face with their attorneys and the court system. This makes us sensitive to your needs and insightful on the nuances that most lawyers may not be aware of. We have the knowledge and the resources to fully support your needs -- no matter how varied or complex. We are passionate about the practice of law and take pride in our performance. Here at THE OKOH-BROWN LAW GROUP, your goals are our goals and we strive to meet your needs. We are timely and responsive and will not take your case and neglect you like some of the other firms do. We are small enough to give you the one on one attention you deserve and large enough to give you the quality of representation that you need. Please use this site to learn more about the practice as well as our base of quality services. With The Okoh-Brown Law Group, YOU CAN WIN.