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David L. Bonham
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David L. Bonham
The Bonham Law Firm, P.L.
44 W Flagler St.
Suite 2075
Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 329-2744
http://www.bonhamlawfirm.com
Personal and Professional Legal Services
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
I prefer to handle initial divorce, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, and family law matters.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Name Changes
- Restraining Orders
- Enforcement Actions
- Child Support
- Custody
- Visitation
- Living Together/Cohabitation
- Marriage
- Power of Attorney
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Termination of Parental Rights
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
I prefer to handle initial divorce, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, and family law matters.
Sub-Categories
Divorce
- Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
- Annulment
- Child Support
- Custody/Visitation Rights
- Delinquent Support Payments
- Division of Property
- Restraining Orders
- Uncontested Divorce
- Collaborative Law
Bar Admissions
FL, Nov 1997
Bar Number: 0128813
Other Court Admissions
Florida State Courts.
Association Memberships
The Florida Bar Association and the Dade County Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education seminars on the topics of family law, and I always exceed the required amount of continuing education hours.
Papers and Publications
"The Enhancement of Non-Marital Stock Due to Marital Effort" - Shannon Pratt's Lawyers & Judges Monthly.
Example Cases
Florida ethics governing advertising generally prohibit us from disclosing actual results of our cases. We typically handle divorce cases where the parties have minor children, a home, some retirement benefits and/or pensions. We also negotiate and draft prenuptial/antenuptial agreements, and litigate over them, as well. In addition, we handle child custody, child support and relocation cases, as well as alimony enforcement and modification.
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
University of Texas
City:
Arlington
State:
TX
Year:
1994
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
University of Miami School of Law
City:
Miami
State:
FL
Year:
1997
Honors:
Graduated With Honors
Focus and Accomplishments:
Honors:
• President - Moot Court Board 1996-1997
• Most Outstanding Member - Moot Court Board 1995-1996
• Best Brief Award - Advanced Moot Court Competition 1996, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Fraternity
• Founding Member of Family Law Society in Law School
• Moot Court Board
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
Florida
Firm Focus and History
The Bonham Law Firm is focused on providing the highest quality legal services to people needing assistance with all types of family law matters, with an emphasis on meeting the client's needs and exceeding the client's expectations.
The Bonham Law Firm was established in July, 2007 in Miami, Florida, when I saw the need for a boutique family law firm that offered exceptional and responsive client service.
Previous Employment Summary
• Rutherford Munhall, P.A., Boca Raton, FL - attorney
• 2000-2003 Ackerman Senterfitt, Miami, FL - attorney
• 1998-2000 Maurice J. Kutner & associates, p.a. - attorney
• Case manager for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in and for Miami-Dade county working with the honorable Judith Kreeger and the honorable Arthur Yaylor
Activities and Awards
• Put Something Back Pro Bono Service Award
• Director - Dade County Bar Association 2003-2004
• Treasurer - Dade County Bar Association 2002-2003
• Director - Dade County Bar Association 1999-2002
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
People who may become involved in any legal action must do everything they can to educate themselves, or else they run the risk of significantly negative consequences. This is especially true in family law matters, where the decisions made will affect families and children for many years. However, most people make the mistake of listening to everyone, but an experienced family law attorney. The responsibility is yours to learn everything you can, and while general legal concepts can be understood by independent research, only an experienced family law attorney can explain how that law applies to your specific facts. Your situation is unique and you should have an attorney that understands that.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I encourage my clients to be involved in their case as much as they can be, and will often ask my clients to prepare documents for my review and use at deposition, mediation and trial.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am willing to represent clients in a limited capacity at my normal hourly rate. For example, I can be retained only for the purposes of assisting a client with preparing their responses to formal requests for information and documents from the other side (known as the discovery process).
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I decided to be a lawyer so I could earn a living, support my family, work for myself and still help people in their time of need. I am especially conscious of children who find themselves caught between their angry parents and who often suffer the most in any divorce — I believe that as adults, we all have a duty to look out for these children.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have had the privilege of working for several of the best family law attorneys in the state of Florida, and benefitted from their experience and wisdom when I was a new lawyer. Also, I have been divorced myself and can therefore guide my clients through the legal system with a perspective that comes from having been on both sides of the table. Additionally, I have remarried and I'm now a proud father myself, so I understand the anxiety and other emotions that are associated with how the legal process can have adverse effects on children.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
It chose me - when I was in law school I applied for a couple different clerkships as a certified legal intern, but my first choices were not available. I fell into family law, and soon became very interested in the practice area for many reasons. For example, I enjoy having a real person for a client, not some faceless company or a bank. I like the fact that no two cases can ever be the same (unlike doing foreclosures or bankruptcy law). I appreciate the fact that the practice of family law regularly brings me into contact with other areas of the law, such as tax law, real property law and business law.
What do you like best about your career?
I have the ability to help people and their children resolve conflict during very difficult and sensitive family law situations which often have far-reaching and long-lasting effects.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner so all my clients are able to communicate directly with me at all times. All of my clients have my cellular telephone number, and I list it on my business card. This is because problems in family law cases are not restricted to "office hours" and often occur on Friday night and on long holiday weekends. My clients can reach me anytime by telephone whether I am out of the office or out of the state.
What are your strengths and style?
• I give my clients realistic expectations from the outset.
• I do not take unreasonable positions.
• I am able to adapt to any situation, and can be very reasonable while still being very aggressive in my representation of my client.
• I am very hands-on, easily accessible and responsive to my clients.
Personal Interests:
My family, my faith, scuba diving, fishing, cooking and snow skiing.
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
Some Spanish.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
I generally do not charge a flat fee for any service. The nature of family law is that no one can ever accurately predict how much time it will take to obtain a certain goal, and given the emotionally charged issues in most family law cases, it almost always takes longer than anyone predicted.
Hourly Rates
$275 per hour, but people should be aware that under many circumstances, the Florida court can and will make the other side pay some or all of your attorney's fees. This is generally based upon your need and the other side's ability to pay. In other words, no one should stay in a bad situation just because they have been told that they cannot afford an attorney, or that the other side will throw them out in the street with no money, etc. Each situation is unique, so you should talk with me first to discuss your options.
Free Initial Consultation?
Because clients will often get a wealth of information about the law and how it may apply to their situation during the initial consultation, we charge our hourly rate of $275 for the length of the consultation. However, mention Nolo.com and we will give you a 25% discount on the initial consultation.
Typical Retainer
Our retainers vary according to the type of case.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
