Baxter Law

05/28/2026

What do I actually look for in an initial consultation with a new potential client?

Most people think the consultation is only about whether they want to hire me.

That’s part of it. But I’m also deciding whether I believe we’re the right fit to work together.

Divorce and family law cases are deeply personal, emotional, and stressful. The strongest attorney-client relationships are built on trust, honesty, communication, and shared goals from the very beginning.

During that first meeting, I’m paying attention to more than just the legal facts. I’m asking myself:

• Can we communicate openly and honestly?
• Are you looking for strategy and solutions, or simply a fight?
• Will you stay engaged and organized throughout the process?
• Can we work together professionally when emotions are high?
• Do I genuinely believe I can help you reach the outcome you’re hoping for?

The best cases are collaborative. Not because they’re easy, but because the client and attorney trust each other and work toward the same objective.

Clients should be selective too. You deserve an attorney whose judgment you trust, whose approach aligns with your goals, and who is willing to tell you the truth even when it’s difficult to hear.

The consultation is not just a sales pitch. It’s an interview in both directions.

05/27/2026

If you're unsure whether a prenup is right for you, start with the conversation before the document.

Exchange financial information. Talk honestly about debt, income, spending, savings, family expectations, and what feels fair to both of you.

You do not have to decide immediately whether you want a prenup. A lot of couples figure that out naturally once they actually talk through their finances together.

The hard part usually is not the agreement itself. It’s having the conversation honestly and early enough to do it well.

05/27/2026

Baxter Law is excited to share that Devon Baxter has been selected for Leadership Tallahassee Class 44.

Leadership Tallahassee is an incredible program that brings together leaders from across our community to learn, connect, and grow, and we are truly honored to be part of this year’s class.

Thank you to everyone who encouraged Devon to apply and supported him throughout the process. We are grateful to be part of such a strong and supportive Tallahassee community and are excited for the relationships, experiences, and opportunities to serve that this year will bring.

On behalf of the Leadership Tallahassee Board of Governors, we are pleased to officially announce Leadership Tallahassee Class 44!

05/26/2026

Three money conversations every couple should have.

Before marriage: Who pays for what. How you'll split bills. What happens if one of you wants to stop working.

After marriage: Revisit it. Kids, jobs, moves, inheritances. Life keeps changing.

Throughout the marriage: Talk about debts and accounts honestly. Hidden gambling debts and financial infidelity destroy marriages as much as physical affairs.

The conversation that prevents most divorces happens before, during, and throughout. Not after it's too late.

05/22/2026

Round two of bad divorce advice from friends.

I hear these in consultations constantly. Most are well-meaning. Most are wrong.

Good advice from an attorney beats good advice from a friend every time.

05/21/2026

Most of what a divorce attorney does happens long before you ever see us in court.

It’s digging through financial records. Finding inconsistencies. Looking for the one detail in 200 pages of disclosures that changes the entire strategy of the case.

Reading every document the other side produces, twice. Comparing testimony against bank statements. Cross-referencing tax returns, business records, and financial affidavits to see what actually makes sense.

None of that happens in the courtroom.

By the time a lawyer stands up in front of a judge, a huge part of the case has already been shaped by the preparation behind the scenes.

You’re not just hiring someone to argue. You’re hiring someone to uncover facts, spot problems early, and build a strategy before the hearing ever begins.

05/20/2026

People give their friends the worst divorce advice.

I hear it often. Most of it is wrong. Some of it is actively harmful.

Good advice from an attorney beats free advice from a friend every time.

05/19/2026

The most expensive mistake I see couples make happens years before they ever walk into a divorce attorney's office.

They never had the real money conversation.

Before marriage is even on the table. Who pays for what? How will you split bills? What happens if one of you wants to stop working? None of it has a right answer. All of it has a wrong way to handle it, which is to wing it.

The couples who do this work early have so much less to fight about later.

05/18/2026

Ask your divorce attorney one question:
What AI tools are you using to review my case and documents?
AI can be an incredible tool for lawyers. It can help organize information, spot issues faster, and streamline parts of the divorce process. But there is a major difference between secure, lawyer-specific systems and public consumer AI tools.
A generic AI platform may not know your case is governed by Florida law. It can cite cases from other states, rely on outdated authority, or even generate cases that do not exist. More importantly, client financial records, custody issues, business documents, and private communications should not be uploaded into unsecured consumer platforms.
Technology is changing the practice of law quickly. Clients should know how their information is being handled and whether the tools being used are designed to protect confidentiality.
The question is not whether your lawyer uses AI. The question is whether they are using it responsibly.

05/14/2026

Your money conversation isn't a one-and-done.

You had it before you got married, or you should have. Then life happens. Kids. New jobs. Lost jobs. A bigger house. A different city. An inheritance.

It's naive to assume nothing will change. It's worse to assume your partner won't.

The couples who keep talking are the couples I rarely see in my office.

05/13/2026

One of the biggest trends bringing people into my office right now.

Hidden gambling debts. Secret online shopping. Sports betting apps. Things done quietly until they aren't.

They call it financial infidelity. In my experience it can be almost as devastating to a marriage as a physical affair, and sometimes worse, because the deception was sustained over months or years.

If something feels off, ask yourself one question. Are there accounts, statements, or apps you've never been shown?