Kay Family Law PLLC

10/14/2026

Parents of a child with autism or another special need face questions in divorce that general parenting plan advice rarely covers. Florida judges build those needs into the best interest analysis, weighing a child's therapy schedule, school placement, medical care, and need for routine when they shape a parenting plan.

For many families, the plan starts with a calendar built around therapy appointments and school routines. Decision-making deserves just as much attention. Disagreements over a medication change or a provider's recommendation happen, and a plan with a clear process for working through them can keep your child's care moving without another trip to court.

My background in special education shapes how I approach these cases. I hold a master's in education and a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from William & Mary Law School, so I can read an IEP alongside a parenting plan and help you see how one affects the other.

I wrote an article that covers how Florida courts approach these plans and why flexibility belongs in them: https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/2026/09/09/autism-special-needs-divorce-florida/

As your divorce and family transition coach, I can help you sort through your options and plan for what your child needs next: https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/divorce-coaching/

Florida courts weigh therapy, school, and medical needs when parents of a child with autism divorce. What to look for in an autism lawyer.

10/12/2026

Thank you to the Florida Association for Women Lawyers for a wonderful day at the 2026 Fall Conference at Le Méridien Tampa. FAWL is celebrating 75 years, and the theme, Season of Building, set the stage well for our panel.

I joined Tiffani Thornton and Jennifer Feld to discuss “The Business of Law: What No One Explains,” moderated by Jamila Little. Our conversation focused on the operational side of running a practice. Law school prepares you well for cases, but building a firm takes intention and strategy, too, and that part often gets left out of training.

I hope anyone who attended walked away with a few tips to improve their systems and feel more confident in the decisions that shape their firm. If you're interested in more support in this area, I offer business consulting and coaching for solo and small firm attorneys.

You can learn more about this service here or get in touch with me to get started: https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/consulting-coaching-solo-small-firms/

10/09/2026

Grateful for a fun few days enjoying the cooler weather in Montréal with my American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - AAML - Florida Chapter colleagues, plus an insightful CLE on business and asset valuation issues. Who's joining for the next retreat?

10/07/2026

Trial exhibit prep belongs on your calendar 90 days before your court date. Solo practitioners without a paralegal team tend to lose that runway to the daily caseload, and the exhibit list ends up as an 11th-hour project.

I built a checklist around five checkpoints so the work spreads out across three months and trial week stays manageable. Swipe through for the full timeline.

The deadlines carry weight. A missed exchange deadline can keep an exhibit out of trial entirely, even when the evidence behind it is strong, and Florida judges give little latitude for documents that could have been produced earlier. The full article covers what happens when a deadline slips: https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/2026/09/23/trial-exhibit-checklist-florida-family-law/

Exhibit organization and trial notebook assembly are a big part of the litigation support I offer solo and small firm attorneys. Reach out, and we can map out your 90 days together: https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/litigation-support-for-solo-small-firms/

09/30/2026

I'm excited to introduce Divorce and Family Transition Coaching, a new way I'm supporting clients through separation and divorce. Coaching gives you strategic guidance and emotional encouragement alongside the legal process, helping you walk into mediation or negotiations prepared and steady. Swipe through to see the two ways we can work together and find the option that fits where you are right now.

Learn more and schedule a complimentary discovery call at https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/divorce-coaching/.

09/23/2026

A difficult ruling at trial can still leave room for a strong path forward.

Whether you're a client considering next steps after an unfavorable outcome or trial counsel weighing whether an issue is worth appealing, that decision deserves careful analysis before you move forward.

I provide full appellate representation for clients and targeted support for trial counsel, from evaluating the strength of potential claims to brief writing and oral argument prep.

Schedule a consultation to talk through your case: https://www.kayfamilylaw.com/appeals/

09/21/2026

As a member of The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Professionalism, I signed up for the Counsel to Counsel mentoring program last year, and the relationship with my mentee has stayed strong well past our official "graduation" in June.

If you're licensed with The Florida Bar for five years or fewer, and you're new to practice, moving into a new area of law, weighing a career change, or feeling stretched thin by the day-to-day of practicing law, this program pairs you with someone who's walked that road already. I encourage anyone looking for growth in their legal career to sign up!

Enrollment closes soon, and the next program starts in October. You won't regret joining.

You can apply here: https://www.floridabar.org/prof/pmentor/counsel-to-counsel-mentoring-program/

09/17/2026

I'm volunteering at the VLS Family Law Advice Clinic on Saturday, October 24 in Tampa, and I'm looking for family law attorneys in my network to join me.

Vincentian Legal Services is an amazing community resource that provides free and low-cost legal aid to veterans, their families, and low-income Floridians. The clinic will connect pre-screened community members with volunteer attorneys for 30-minute consultations covering dissolution, parenting matters, child support, modification questions, responding to filings, financial affidavits, and general procedural questions.

VLS will handle the registration, screening, scheduling, and materials. A supervising family law attorney will also be on-site, and there's no expectation of ongoing representation.

If you're a Florida family law attorney with a few hours to give back, I'd love to have you there with me. I'll be helping with the forms clinic.

You can sign up right here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=PEKXPkM_EE2lZexx1etZqvZcZZ5A-OBLkGjxqs2z4IlUNlpEUFY4TU82WUJUMFZMU1JaQkU2NlZZTCQlQCN0PWcu&origin=QRCode

WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026
WHERE: Vincentian Legal Services, 5019 N. Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL 33603
SCHEDULE: 8:30 AM arrival and orientation, consultations from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, lunch and debrief to follow

Additionally, if you know of any community members who may benefit from attending the clinic for free legal advice, please pass on this registration form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=PEKXPkM_EE2lZexx1etZqvZcZZ5A-OBLkGjxqs2z4IlUNlNKWUhBSkRBNk5ZRlo4NERDWEtORTgxMyQlQCN0PWcu&origin=QRCode

09/14/2026

Promoting professionalism and excellence in the next generation of Florida lawyers is a responsibility I take seriously, so it was a pleasure to attend a meeting of The Florida Bar's Student Education & Admissions to the Bar Committee (SEABC) surrounded by dedicated colleagues who share the same mission.

I left energized about the work ahead, especially as a new member of the mentoring initiatives subcommittee. Together, we'll support law students as they prepare to enter this profession and ensure they have the resources and insight needed to succeed.

09/10/2026

I'm honored to join the Florida Association for Women Lawyers as a panelist for their Fall Conference, Season of Building, this October in Tampa.

I'll be speaking on "The Business of Law: What No One Explains" alongside Tiffani Thorton and Jennifer Feld, moderated by Jamila Little. We'll be talking about the side of running a law practice that rarely gets taught, the part where operations, staffing, and strategy have to work alongside the legal skills. This is the work I do every day with solo and small firm attorneys through my business coaching, so it's a conversation I'm incredibly grateful to share.

If you're attending FAWL's conference, I'd love to see you in the room on Thursday, October 8th.

Register here: https://fawl.org/events/register.aspx?id=2075131&itemid=f58982ba-de9a-4cfd-bddf-d6b78583e9c1

Learn more about business coaching for attorneys at kayfamilylaw.com/consulting-coaching-solo-small-firms