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(813) 565-2590
Florida: (813) 565-2590 (813) 565-2590

Tampa Divorce Lawyers with 150+ Reviews

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Your Tampa, FL Divorce Lawyer

Ending a marriage involves legal, financial, and family considerations that deserve careful, thoughtful handling from a skilled and knowledgeable attorney. Our Tampa, FL divorce lawyer brings nearly two decades of marital and family law experience to dissolution of marriage cases, from straightforward uncontested matters to complex high-asset proceedings. The McKinney Law Group focuses on clear communication, sound strategy, and outcomes that serve your long-term interests. Schedule a consultation to learn what your options are under Florida law.

Why Choose The McKinney Law Group for Divorce in Tampa, FL?

Our founding partner, Damien McKinney, has practiced marital and family law for over 20 years. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2006 and has built his practice handling dissolution cases, custody matters, support issues, and marital agreements across the state. Damien earned his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2005 after completing his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Florida State University in 2002. Clients moving through a dissolution case are rarely operating at their normal baseline, and recognizing the emotional weight alongside the legal problem produces better strategic decisions. As a family lawyer in Tampa, FL, Damien is here to help you.

Damien has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers annually since 2012 and received the Super Lawyers Distinction of Excellence in 2016, a recognition given to a small percentage of attorneys based on peer review. He is an active member of the Florida Bar Family Law Section and the Hillsborough County Bar Association Family Law Section, both of which focus on the practice area where we concentrate our work.

  • Early Assessment of Claims and Exposure

    Early Assessment of Claims and Exposure

    At the start of every case, we analyze what claims exist, what the other side is likely to pursue, and where the financial and parenting exposure lies. Cases that start with a clear assessment generally run more efficiently than cases where the analysis happens mid-stream.

  • Financial Disclosure and Discovery

    Financial Disclosure and Discovery

    In cases where assets are complicated or where one party controls most of the financial information, additional discovery tools become important. Interrogatories. Requests for production. Depositions. Forensic accounting when the situation warrants it. We use the tools the case requires.

  • Classification of Marital and Nonmarital Property

    Classification of Marital and Nonmarital Property

    Assets acquired during the marriage are generally marital. Assets owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance can be nonmarital. Commingling, active appreciation, and funds used for joint purposes complicate the picture. Classification questions often determine who keeps what.

  • Alimony Analysis Under the New Framework

    Alimony Analysis Under the New Framework

    Alimony determinations follow a specific structure and requirements, including considerations of need and ability to pay, specific categories of alimony, and duration limits. We analyze each case under the current statute and identify what type of support, if any, applies to the situation.

  • Parenting Plans That Hold Up

    Parenting Plans That Hold Up

    A parenting plan governs timesharing, decision-making, holidays, school-year scheduling, communication, and exchanges. A plan that addresses these issues clearly reduces post-divorce conflict. A plan that leaves them ambiguous produces ongoing disputes. We draft plans designed for real-life durability.

  • Sequencing Claims Strategically

    Sequencing Claims Strategically

    Florida allows for bifurcated proceedings and temporary relief before final judgment. Sequencing when to file, when to seek temporary orders, and when to push for final resolution can meaningfully affect outcomes. These decisions deserve attention rather than default handling.

  • Avoiding Damaging Mistakes

    Avoiding Damaging Mistakes

    Some actions taken during a pending divorce case can damage the outcome in ways that are hard to undo. Moving funds between accounts or to family members creates dissipation claims that affect equitable distribution. Making major purchases during the case often produces the same result. Withholding information during mandatory disclosure can lead to sanctions and an adverse credibility finding with the judge. Interfering with the other parent's relationship with the children shows up in testimony and can affect timesharing decisions. Posting about the divorce on social media creates evidence that opposing counsel will use at hearings. We help clients avoid these kinds of mistakes so they don't become problems later.

    Alimony Attorney

    Alimony Attorney

    Alimony

    Assist with alimony arrangements to fairly support financial stability post-marriage dissolution.

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    Child Support Attorney

    Child Support Attorney

    Child Support

    Guide child support calculations to establish fair support for your children's needs and rights.

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    Custody and Timesharing Attorney

    Custody and Timesharing Attorney

    Custody & Timesharing

    Create and define custody and timesharing plans to safeguard your child's welfare and your parental rights.

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    Dissolution of Marriage Attorney

    Dissolution of Marriage Attorney

    Dissolution of Marriage

    Handle your marriage dissolution with respect and clarity to secure a positive outcome for all involved.

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    Divorce

    Divorce

    Divorce

    Facilitate smooth divorce proceedings focused on equitable solutions and personal well-being.

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    Family Law Attorney

    Family Law Attorney

    Family Law

    Provide comprehensive family law services to manage divorce, custody, and protection orders with compassion and commitment.

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  • Free Consultation

    With The McKinney Law Group on your side, you can be confident you've made the right choice.

    Free Consultation

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Divorce Law

The McKinney Law Group is a law firm dedicated to helping individuals get through their divorce as painlessly as possible. We know how stressful and emotionally draining a divorce can be and want to make it easier on you. Our lawyers are highly experienced and skilled at their craft and have a true passion for helping others. We are proud to serve the Tampa, FL area and have represented hundreds of people just like yourself.

We will treat you with the sensitivity and respect you deserve from the moment you walk in for your first consultation to the day your divorce is finalized. You can trust us to be an advocate in your time of need.

Types of Divorce Cases We Handle in Tampa

Florida dissolution cases cover a wide range, from straightforward uncontested filings to complex contested proceedings involving significant assets, custody disputes, and military considerations. We handle the full spectrum for clients in Tampa and the surrounding area.

Contested Divorce. When the parties disagree about property, support, timesharing, or other issues, the case requires negotiation, discovery, and potentially trial. We prepare every contested matter thoroughly, because preparation often produces better settlements even when trial is avoided.

Uncontested Divorce. When both spouses agree on all terms, the process moves faster and at lower cost. We draft the marital settlement agreement, handle filings, and guide clients through the required procedural steps.

High-Asset Divorce. Significant wealth, business interests, investment portfolios, and real estate holdings add complexity at every stage. We handle the valuation work, discovery, and negotiation required to protect our clients’ financial position.

Collaborative Divorce. For couples who want to resolve their case outside of litigation, the collaborative process provides a structured framework. We handle collaborative divorces for clients who prioritize control over the process and privacy in the outcome.

Child Custody. Florida uses timesharing rather than custody. We handle timesharing schedules, parental responsibility allocation, and parenting plans that address the realities families face.

Alimony. Florida’s 2023 alimony reform changed the process significantly. We handle the analysis of need and ability to pay, the categorization of alimony type, and the duration determinations that follow from the statute.

Military Divorce. Tampa is home to MacDill Air Force Base, and military families face specific issues in divorce. Federal statutes, pension division, base housing questions, and deployment scheduling all require specialized handling.

  • Grounds for Divorce

    Grounds for Divorce

    Florida is a no-fault state, so you don’t need to have a specific reason for getting a divorce. You can just cite irreconcilable differences, which means that marriage is beyond repair.

  • Qualifying

    Qualifying

    To file for divorce in Florida, you or your spouse must have been a resident of the state for at least six months before filing a petition. You are also required to file for divorce in the county where you live. One of our skilled divorce lawyers can help you with this.

  • Property Division

    Property Division

    Florida is an equitable distribution state, so property is divided daily, not necessarily equally. Marital property includes all assets required in a marriage, such as a family home, vehicles, boats and vacation home. A judge will look at several factors before deciding how to divide property, like the length of the marriage and each spouse’s contribution to the assets.

  • Going to Trial

    Going to Trial

    While it’s ideal to come to a favorable resolution out of the courtroom, it isn’t always possible. If you can’t come to a fair agreement at mediation, it may be necessary to take your case to trial. Our divorce lawyers are always prepared to take cases to trial and have the confidence to present your case in front of a judge.

  • Timeframe

    Timeframe

    A divorce is a tough process, so it’s understandable that you may want to get it over with as quickly as possible. However, it can be difficult to determine how long a divorce will take. Some divorces take just a few months to resolve while others take longer than a year. It depends on the individual circumstances of your case. Generally, the more complex a divorce is, the longer it takes to resolve.

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Meet Damien McKinney

Your Family is His Passion.

Damien McKinney has been practicing family and marital law for over ten years.

Damien brings a unique blend of empathy and strategic thinking to every case, focusing on caring solutions that make the most sense for his clients. His dedication extends beyond the courtroom, including community initiatives and legal education to improve his client representation.

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McKinney

Family Law

At McKinney Law Group, we specialize in family law and are always there for our clients. We understand the emotional impacts a divorce and child custody matters can have on someone. Our lawyers will listen carefully to your concerns and are prepared to assist you with divorce, child support, alimony, child custody, protective orders and prenups.

Because no two people or families are the same, we take an individualized approach with each case. We take the time to get to know our clients so that we can lead them in the right direction. Our lawyers work hard to help clients reach a fair agreement out of court, but are prepared to take any case to trial.

  • Starting the Divorce Process
    Family Law

    Starting the Divorce Process

    The first step in the divorce process in Florida is filing a Petition for a Dissolution of Marriage. The petition states what you are requesting in terms of asset division, child support, child custody and alimony. One of our skilled family lawyers will be more than happy to assist you with this.

  • What’s Included in Marital Property
    Family Law

    What’s Included in Marital Property

    Marital property refers to assets acquired during the course of a marriage. Some of the assets may include homes, vehicles, boats, retirement accounts, businesses and stocks.

  • Full Custody
    Family Law

    Full Custody

    While judges typically prefer to grant shared custody arrangements, they may give full custody under certain circumstances. For example, if one parent has a history of physical abuse, a judge may likely grant full custody to the other parent.

  • Alimony
    Family Law

    Alimony

    Judges will consider many factors when deciding to grant alimony or not, such as the length of the marriage, earning capacity of each spouse and education levels of each spouse. For example, if your spouse supported you financially during your marriage while you stayed at home, you may qualify for alimony.

  • How Child Support Is Calculated
    Family Law

    How Child Support Is Calculated

    The family court system in Florida uses several factors to calculate child support, including the gross income of each spouse, the number of children and the number of overnights each parent has with the children.

  • Requesting an Increase in Child Support
    Family Law

    Requesting an Increase in Child Support

    If there ever comes a time when you need more child support, you will have to file a supplemental petition for modification of child support. You must demonstrate to the court that your circumstances have changed dramatically. For instance, if you injured yourself and can’t work for a while, you may be able to obtain more child support.

Read Our Latest Blogs

Taking a Child Out of State Without Permission: Is It a Crime in Florida?

Taking a Child Out of State Without Permission: Is It a Crime in Florida?

Parents make decisions about travel with their children every day. A weekend trip to visit grandparents in another state, a beach vacation, a family wedding, a long drive to see old friends. For marr...

Custody

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Filing for Divorce in Hillsborough County: A Tampa Divorce Lawyer’s Step-by-Step Guide to the Process

Filing for Divorce in Hillsborough County: A Tampa Divorce Lawyer’s Step-by-Step Guide to the Process

Filing for divorce in Hillsborough County involves a sequence of procedural steps that must be completed correctly to move a case toward final judgment. Each step has its own requirements, deadlines,...

Divorce

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Helping People Start New Lives

Compassionate Tampa Divorce Lawyers Protecting Your Interests

Divorce is hard, but staying in a bad marriage is harder. Ending a marriage adds another layer to a break-up: you’re also terminating a contract, one that may involve your home, your retirement investments, and even how often you see your children. With this much on the line, your choice of Florida divorce attorneys is critical.

For more than 20 years, the legal team at The McKinney Law Group has been helping people like you prioritize your family’s future. Our compassionate attorneys, led by founding partner Damien McKinney, help reduce the stress of divorce, or drafting prenups, explain your rights under Florida law, and focus on the best possible settlement in the divorce.

From setting a child custody arrangement and appropriate support to determining questions of spousal support and limited alimony, we help ensure you have the means for a positive future as you move forward. We’re also committed to your property interests, ensuring that you receive your fair share of marital property and that the separate assets you held prior to the marriage remain yours.

Divorce can be hard, but with the help of our Tampa, FL divorce lawyer, it can be easier. You deserve to have an experienced family law attorney supporting your rights and taking the lead to ensure you’re treated fairly throughout the process. Please contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

  • Are You Getting a Divorce? Protect Yourself With the Help Of Our Attorney
    Divorce Lawyer | Tampa, FL

    Are You Getting a Divorce? Protect Yourself With the Help Of Our Attorney

    The support, advice, and advocacy that The McKinney Law Group provides can help ease your mind as your divorce proceeds. We get to know you and your needs, so we’re able to devise a strategy to meet them. We take a personalized approach to divorce, blending compassion for you with fierce tenacity in the courtroom. Don’t go it alone. Protect your rights and legal interests with our Tampa divorce lawyer. Please call today for a confidential consultation.

  • Divorce in Florida
    Divorce Lawyer | Tampa, FL

    Divorce in Florida

    Family law judges take into account how long the couple was married, each spouse’s current job, income, employability, and earning potential, the economic circumstances of each spouse (which may not be the same as income), and whether a specific asset should remain with one spouse, such as in cases of a professional practice or business that one spouse requires to maintain their livelihood. They also consider contributions each spouse made to the acquisition and enhancement of marital assets. For example, if one spouse used a substantial inheritance to purchase the marital home, a judge may factor that investment into their decision on who gets the house. Non-material contributions to the marriage and family, such as child-rearing and homemaking, are also weighed, as well as whether one spouse’s education or career opportunities were interrupted to support the other. Additionally, the desirability of the marital home may influence decisions, for instance, the judge may determine that the primary caregiver should retain the home to minimize disruption in the lives of shared minor children. Family law courts have broad discretion to ensure equity and fairness when dividing assets, and they may consider many additional factors, including the need for child support or potential tax consequences if certain assets are divided.

  • Presenting Your Case for Equitable Division of Property
    Divorce Lawyer | Tampa, FL

    Presenting Your Case for Equitable Division of Property

    Here’s where the help of our Tampa divorce lawyer becomes quite valuable. Your idea of an equitable division of marital assets, your spouse’s idea of an equitable division of assets, and a judge’s idea of what a fair division of property looks like are probably vastly different. You have the right, with the help of your attorney, to make a case for your best possible scenario for property division. If you have certain assets that are important for you to keep, like your home or a professional business that you primarily or exclusively operate, then our attorneys can build a strong case supporting your position. It’s not enough to simply want the asset; you must demonstrate to a judge why retaining that asset is crucial to your being able to sustain yourself or how losing the asset (either by letting your spouse have sole ownership of it or by being put into a forced-sale position) would cause you undue economic hardship. Our legal team is extremely adept at providing clear, objective proof for your position. Remember, we’re committed to your interests; our goal is to secure the most favorable division of marital property for you. We also consider debts that your spouse may have racked up, which you had little or no part of, when creating our recommended division of assets and liabilities. Getting the lion’s share of marital property won’t help you much if you’re strapped with an exorbitant amount of debt that isn’t yours. Florida courts seek a fair and balanced distribution of marital assets, although judges consider the unique factors of your life and circumstances. It’s our job to clearly illustrate them to the court and argue in favor of our proposed settlement.

  • Why You Need an Experienced Divorce Lawyer for Child Custody Decrees
    Divorce Lawyer | Tampa, FL

    Why You Need an Experienced Divorce Lawyer for Child Custody Decrees

    “Who gets the house?” is second only to “Who gets the kids?” on the list of concerns for divorcing couples. We know you want as much time with your children as possible, and a custody arrangement that best meets your schedule and life obligations. Our support and advice can help ensure that you get the maximum amount of time possible with your children. Judges make decisions based on the best interest of the child. In some cases, such as if the couple shares a newborn, the best interests of the child would be for it to be with their exclusively breastfeeding mother. On the other hand, when the couple shares older teenagers, what’s best for the child may be which parent they prefer to live with. A family law judge will consider a child’s wants, if they’re old enough, provided that those align with the child’s best interest. A child who wants to live with one parent because they’re overly permissive or work long hours and so aren’t around to tell the child no, may not get that wish. It’s hard to see your child’s other parent as a good parent when you’re in the middle of a nasty divorce. One way our attorneys can help you is to provide realistic, practical advice that cuts through the cloud of emotions so you can make the best choices for yourself, your child, and your future.