Kristin Kirkner 1 of only 6% of FL attorneys to earn BCS designation

In late May, 2014, Kristin R.H. Kirkner received notification from The Florida Bar that she passed the Board Certification for Marital & Family Law. Board Certification is the Florida Bar’s “Legal Expert” status and is the highest level of evaluation in the State of Florida.  In order to become board certified, candidates are thoroughly evaluated for professionalism using a system of peer review in the areas of competence, character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law, and then tested for expertise through a rigorous written exam.  Once an attorney becomes a Board Certified Specialist they are able to use the term “Legal Expert”, and are the only attorneys viewed as such in Florida.

Established by the Florida Supreme Court in 1982, Board certification helps clients identify specialists in various areas of the law.  Only six percent of lawyers in Florida are board certified in any area, and less than 300 of Florida’s 93,000 lawyers are Board Certified in Marital & Family Law.  Only board certified attorneys may correctly use the term “Expert”, “Specialist”, or “Board Certified Specialist” (B.C.S.).

We are so proud of Kristin for earning her status as a legal expert in the State of Florida in Marital and Family Law. If board certification isn’t enough, she was also recently named as a 2014 Rising Star in the area of Marital and Family Law by Super Lawyers, an attorney rating service,  an honor which she also achieved in 2013.

Need a Board Certified Specialist in Marital & Family Law in Tampa? Call today to set up an appointment with Kristin R.H. Kirkner, B.C.S. (813) 254-0156.

April 2011 / Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine

Do I really need a divorce attorney?

     In today's economic climate, it may be tempting to try to complete a dissolution of marriage on your own.  You know your family, your assets and debt, and you know how you want it divided.  Sounds easy, right? Not so fast...

     In the years I have been practicing, I typically earn more fees in a case where I am fixing the mistakes that people made in the initial case than I would have made had I just represented the party when the divorce was initially filed.  There is a reason that lawyers have to go to school, pass the bar and gain valuable experience before they are able to competently represent someone -- the law is complicated!  One small error could cost thousands of dollars over a lifetime. 

     Take for example a military pension.  If the coverture fraction is incorrect, the final judgment doesn't provide for COLA or SBP, or the retirement is ordered as of date of retirement and not as of the date of filing, the difference could be several hundred dollars per month, which adds up over a lifetime.  It is critical to hire an attorney who is familiar with the specific issues in your case so that you can get the best outcome for the long term.

     If you would like more information about the Florida divorce process and dissolutions for military members and their spouses, please contact me at 813-254-0156 or visit my website at www.decortkirknerlaw.com .