Stephens & Stevens - Marital & Family Law

07/16/2026

Happy Birthday to our very own Princess Tiana, LATASHA WYNDS! 💜💚

07/15/2026

Congratulations to NOELLE STONE on officially becoming a member of The Florida Bar!

Today, Founding Partner EDDIE STEPHENS had the distinct honor of administering the Oath of Admission, along with Founding Partner CARYN A. STEVENS, welcoming Noelle into the legal profession surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues.

Noelle has already demonstrated the intelligence, work ethic, and compassion that define an outstanding attorney. We are incredibly proud to have watched her grow professionally and are excited to see the impact she will make on the clients and families she serves.

Please join all of us at Stephens & Stevens in congratulating Florida’s newest attorney. We are honored to have you on our team and look forward to celebrating many milestones together.

Welcome to The Florida Bar, Noelle Stone, Esquire!

07/09/2026

Service Looks Different from the Other Side of the Courtroom.

At Stephens & Stevens, we spend our days advocating for our clients in the courtroom. Recently, founding partner EDDIE STEPHENS had the opportunity to experience our justice system from a very different perspective—serving as a juror in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit before Judge August Bonavita.

The experience was a powerful reminder that our courts depend on citizens who are willing to set aside their daily lives to fulfill one of our most important civic responsibilities. Seeing the process through the eyes of a juror provided valuable insight into how evidence is presented, how credibility is evaluated, and how seriously jurors approach their duty.

Whether we serve as advocates, officers of the court, or citizens answering a jury summons, we all share a responsibility to uphold the integrity of our legal system.

Justice isn’t just practiced in the courtroom—it is protected by the people who serve within it.

07/05/2026

At Stephens & Stevens, we practice a little magic every day—turning complicated legal problems into clear strategies, making mountains of evidence disappear into persuasive trial presentations, and occasionally pulling favorable outcomes out of what feels like impossible situations.

So what better way to celebrate teamwork than by seeing the Master of the Strange, Dan Sperry Anti-Conjuror?

Dan’s show was the perfect mix of illusion, shock, comedy, and “HOW DID HE JUST DO THAT?!” From razor blades to mind-bending sleight of hand, he reminded us that the best magic isn’t just about fooling your eyes—it’s about telling a story that keeps you captivated from beginning to end.

Fortunately for our clients, our tricks are fully disclosed in discovery… and backed by the Florida Rules of Evidence. 😉

A huge thank you to Boca Black Box for a fantastic afternoon and to Dan Sperry for an unforgettable performance. Our team had an incredible time laughing, cringing, gasping, and leaving just a little more inspired to bring a touch of magic back to the office Monday morning.

🪄 Great teams aren’t built only in the courtroom—they’re built by sharing experiences, making memories, and occasionally watching someone swallow razor blades for entertainment.

06/08/2026

Stephens & Stevens, PLLC is hiring a family law paralegal, and I’m looking for the right fit.

If you know someone with Florida family law experience who is smart, dependable, organized, and ready to jump into meaningful work, send them my way. [email protected]

06/02/2026

We are proud to share that partner, EDDIE STEPHENS, has been selected to receive The Florida Bar’s 2026 Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Board Certification.

Presented by The Florida Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization & Education, this award recognizes board certified attorneys who demonstrate excellence and creativity in advancing the public’s knowledge and appreciation of board certification.

For nearly three decades, Eddie has been committed to promoting professionalism, legal education, mentorship, and excellence within the family law community.

Through his work as a Board Certified Marital and Family Law attorney, his service on The Florida Bar’s Board Certification Committee, and the publication of Stephens’ Squibs, he has dedicated countless hours to helping lawyers and the public understand the value of board certification.

This recognition also reflects the efforts of our entire Stephens & Stevens team, whose commitment to education, professionalism, and service makes our mission possible every day.

Congratulations, Eddie, on this well-deserved honor. We look forward to celebrating with you at The Florida Bar Convention in Orlando on June 18.

Eddie E. Stephens III, a board certified marital and family law attorney, will receive The Florida Bar’s 2026 Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Board Certification at The Florida Bar Convention in Orlando on June 18. The award is presented by the Board of Legal Specialization & Education an...

05/29/2026

New on the blog from Stephens & Stevens

Artificial intelligence is changing the legal landscape, and the Florida Supreme Court has now issued a clear statewide rule addressing its use in court filings.

In our latest blog post, Eddie Stephens breaks down the new amendments to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515 and explains what every lawyer and litigant needs to know moving forward.

The takeaway is simple: AI did not sign your pleading. You did.

This update covers:

the new requirement that cited legal authorities must exist and be accurately cited, the sanctions courts may impose for noncompliance, and why local circuit-by-circuit AI disclosure rules are being replaced by a uniform statewide approach.

If you practice in Florida, this is important reading.

Read the full blog post here:

In re Amendments to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515, No. SC2026-0673 (Fla. May 28, 2026). In re Representations by Signers of Filings, No. AOSC26-12 (Fla. May 28,…

05/25/2026

Today, we remember and honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave everything for our country. 🇺🇸 Wishing you a Memorial Day filled with gratitude and reflection.

Our office is closed today in observance of the holiday, and we reopen at 8:30am tomorrow.

05/21/2026

When a marriage ends, what happens to the family pet?

For most families, a dog is not “property.”
They are comfort. Routine. Emotional support. Family.

In our newest article recently published in the Family Law Commentator, “From Chattel to Sentient Companion: Rethinking Pet Custody in Divorce,” Eddie Stephens and Noelle Stone tell the story of Tucker — a beloved golden doodle caught in the middle of a divorce dispute that exposed a growing problem in Florida law.

Despite the emotional realities families face, Florida still largely treats pets as property in divorce proceedings. A couch can be divided. A bank account can be valued. But what happens when the dispute centers around a living, sentient companion deeply bonded to both spouses — and often to the children as well?

The article explores:

The recent Florida case of Crossen v. Feeley

How other states and countries are modernizing pet custody laws

Why current property-based approaches fail families and animals alike

The often-overlooked emotional impact on children separated from pets during divorce

A proposed measured Florida reform model balancing compassion with judicial practicality

This is not an argument to treat pets like children. It is a persuasive argument that the law should evolve to reflect the way modern families actually live.

At Stephens & Stevens, we believe family law should recognize not only financial realities — but human realities.

🐶🐕🦮🐩🐕‍🦺🐾🦴

Originally published in the Family Law Section Commentator Vol. XLVIII, Issue 4|2026 By Eddie Stephens and Noelle E. Stone Photos by Coastal Click Photography Tucker was not a couch, a lamp, or a l…

05/02/2026

Stephens & Stevens Appellate Win: Digital Memories Are Marital Assets

Stephens & Stevens, PLLC is proud to announce an important appellate victory in Carter v. Carter, a new Fourth District Court of Appeal decision recognizing that family photographs and videos acquired during a marriage may be marital assets subject to equitable distribution.

In today’s world, some of the most meaningful “property” a family owns is not stored in a safe deposit box. It is stored on phones, hard drives, cloud accounts, and digital albums. Birthdays. Vacations. Holidays. First steps. Family videos. Moments with loved ones who may no longer be here.

The Fourth DCA held that these family photographs and videos were marital assets because they were beneficially acquired during the marriage and reflected the fruits of the parties’ married life and memories with their child.

Carter v. Carter, — So. 3d —-, 2026 WL 1154012Fla. 4th DCA, April 29, 2026 In Carter v. Carter, the Fourth District recognized something every modern family lawyer should already unders…