Attorney Profile

Gary E. Williams, Attorney at Law
Member

Education:
Florida Institute of Technology, M.B.A. , Stetson University College of Law, J.D.

Practice Areas :
Family Law; Divorce; Child Support; Child Custody; Marital Law; Marital Litigation; Business Law; Business Litigation

Membership:
St. Petersburg, Clearwater and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar.

Admissions:
2005, Florida

Biography:

Professional Experience 

I founded The Law Firm For Family Law because I believe that focusing solely on cases in the area of Family, Marital and Elder Law would allow me to develop the systems and procedures necessary to better assist those of you facing a difficult situation in life.

When I originally opened my firm it was the Law Offices of Gary E. Williams, Attorney at Law.  As it grew and we were able to expand the practice into the areas of Elder Law and Family Law, we became an all purpose Family Law firm and became The Law Firm For Family. Prior to opening this firm I was a founding member of the firm of Fitzgerald-Williams, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, PL and represented clients in the areas of divorce, child custody and support, post judgment modifications and other family law issues.

I also once spent three years as a litigation support specialist for Catherine W. Real, one of Tampa's premier family law attorneys.  As a litigation support specialist, I was extensively involved in managing Ms. Real’s cases, and in preparing those cases for hearings, depositions and trials. I also assisted Ms. Real in preparing discovery requests and financial affidavits for clients and I acted as the Law Firm's Administrator and was responsible for the day to day management of the firm.

Before becoming a lawyer, I spent over 20 years in the mortgage banking and finance industries.  My extensive experience in personal financial, credit, budgeting and rehabilitating credit histories provides me with an advanced understanding of the financial and credit issues that newly divorced people frequently face.
 
Education and Memberships 
 
I received my Law Degree from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida where I was honored to receive the Dean's Award for Outstanding Service, be named to Who's Who Among University and Colleges and serve as a member of the Moot Court Board and as a
Justice on the Honor Court.

I also hold an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology where I graduated Magna Cum Laude, and a BA in Business from Eckerd College, where I also graduated with honors.

I am a member of the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, the St. Petersburg Bar Association, the Clearwater Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the
Florida Trial Lawyers Association and Guardian Ad Litem.  I am authorized to appear and practice before all of the state courts of Florida and before the Federal Courts of the Middle District of the State of Florida.

Real Life Experience 

I have been divorced and I have survived almost all of the various types of divorce cases.   Simple negotiated divorces, complicated business divorces and a divorce that involved a difficult and protracted custody fight.   I have also been a divorced single father faced with raising a young child on my own. So, I have personally experienced the emotional and financial upheaval that comes with going through a divorce.  I have also been the client, the one who was writing the checks to the attorney; the one who was trying to balance a life, a child and a legal case all at the same time. And, I have had the unfortunate experience of suffering the loss of a loved one and that of having to deal with the planning for end of life issues, Living Wills, Wills and Probate planning, Medicaid Planning too.

I understand the very real stress, anxiety and frustration that comes with having to reorganize your entire life while dealing with a family law judicial system that seems slow and cumbersome.

I believe in order to represent someone in a Family, Marital or Elder Law case it is vitally important for the attorney to have the real life experience of going through what you are facing if they are going to be able to understand your true needs and motivations, rather than just the legal aspects of your divorce.

This real life experience is why I tell my clients that I am their family law lawyer.  I understand what you are going through, and I will be here to help you through it.