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Steven E. Blumenthal

1930 Harrison Street
Suite 205
Hollywood, FL 33020
Map

Phone: (954) 636-7498 | Fax: (866) 794-8267
http://www.sblumenthallaw.com

Family Law Attorney, Mediator & Parenting Coordinator

Types of Cases
Firm Focus & History
Practice & Philosophy
Office Information
Fees

Legal Topic

Divorce

Sub-Topics

Child Support

Collaborative Law

Divorce Mediation

Legal Topic

Family Law

Sub-Topics

Children

Child Custody
Child Support

Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Number of Attorneys

State Licensed In

Florida

Firm Focus

My practice focuses on family law -- divorce, child custody (called time-sharing and parental responsibility now in Florida), child support, modifications and enforcement of child support and child custody, domestic violence cases, paternity cases, and dependency cases (cases where the Department of Children and Families is involved. I'm a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and Florida Qualified Parenting Coordinator, and serve as a mediator or parenting coordinator in family law cases as well.

Firm History

I established my firm in 2006. I started off in Fort Lauderdale and moved my office to Hollywood in 2007 and have been here (on the same street -- moved to a new office earlier this year) since then.

Activities and Awards

Recipient of Broward County Legal Aid, 2009 Recognition for Exceptional Pro Bono Services; Volunteer for Tracey McPharlin Dependency Pro Bono Project; Volunteer Legal Work for No More Tears -- a Broward County charitable organization that provides services for victims of domestic violence.

Example Cases

Example cases for me are divorces ranging from cases where there aren't significant property or children's issues at stake to divorce cases involving complicated financial and time-sharing/parental responsibility issues -- I have an extensive background in both areas. Other example cases for me are representing a client at a domestic violence restraining order hearing, modifications of child support or mediating a divorce or other family law case.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I think many times you'll end up feeling more confident if you read about some of the legal issues, but it depends on what each person is most comfortable with. Some people want to have a chance to read about Florida law on-line. There are some very good resources at local law libraries also if there is one close to you. Some people would rather first try to find someone they trust to explain the legal issues in their case to them.

Are your attorneys willing to review documents prepared by clients?

Yes.

Are your attorneys willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

Yes.

Are your attorneys willing to help a client with one discrete part of a case, without taking on the whole case?

Yes.

What are your policies about dividing work among the firm's partners, associates, and paralegals to make the process most cost-effective for the client?

I'm a solo practitioner. I do all the work, but I've been good I believe at keeping my overhead low, so I find I remain pretty cost-effective for clients. There is a lot of technology I make use of in the office and in the "cloud" that helps an office run efficiently. I've been looking into having another attorney or legal intern join me, and there are ways for that to be cost effective for a client also.

How frequently does your firm use mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law to resolve cases?

Frequently. Some cases need to be litigated, but mediation is required in almost every family law case in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties, before the case can go to trial. I've also been moving more and more into mediating cases for clients before filing any suit. I personally like the collaborative family law process, and am open to handling a case as a collaborative family law case. There is more in the collaborative family law and mediation sections of my website and in some of my blog posts, about the advantages and disadvantages of mediation, collaborative family law, and divorce litigation for different types of cases and situations.

Does your firm provide pro bono legal services or otherwise participate in your community?

Yes -- extensive pro bono work.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

In large part my background. I've been working in the legal and family services fields for over 25 years, and it's given me time to acquire a broad background. I find my experience/background is very helpful in family law cases.

Fax

(866) 794-8267

Office Hours

Typically, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for appointments with clients, but some later/earlier and Saturday appointments available.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

I offer "flat-fees" for some uncontested cases, depending on what is involved in the case. I can also offer a fixed fee if a client simply wants me to prepare the pleadings/documents for their case.

Hourly Rates

$185 -- $225

Free Initial Consultation?

Yes, generally for a half-hour.

Typical Retainer

It depends on the case, but some examples of typical retainers for me are $1,500 for a modification of child support or modification of time-sharing (custody), or $2,500 for a contested divorce, but the retainer can be lower if the case is uncontested or there aren't significant issues to address in the case. I work sometimes with clients on splitting up the retainer into two payments.

Understanding Fees

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