Robert Sparks Attorneys

The firm is led by founding partner Robert D. Sparks and a team of experienced trial attorneys. Many of the lawyers have prior experience as prosecutors, insurance defense lawyers, public defenders, or in law enforcement, which they use to build strong cases for their clients.

The firm emphasizes compassionate counsel, open communication, and objective guidance from the first call through the resolution of a case.

Geographic focus

• Based in downtown Tampa, Florida
• Serves clients in Tampa and the surrounding areas

Main practice areas

The firm focuses on civil trial and family law matters, including:

• Personal injury
• Car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents
• Wrongful death
• Workers' compensation
• Divorce
• Family law matters (including child custody and related issues)
• Wills, trusts, and estate planning

The firm prepares every case with trial in mind and is experienced in litigating against large insurance companies and other well-resourced opponents.

Representative results (examples)

The firm highlights a track record of significant verdicts and settlements, including but not limited to:

• $30,000,000 record-breaking verdict in a pedestrian accident case
• $7,000,000 settlement for a client with a traumatic brain injury
• $4,500,000 settlement in a brain injury case
• $1,900,000 recovery in a wrongful death case arising from a fatal car collision
• $1,700,000 workers' compensation settlement for a client with significant work-related injuries
• $1,500,000 wrongful death settlement related to medical malpractice after childbirth

Specific outcomes always depend on the facts of each case; past results do not guarantee or predict future results.

Types of divorce matters handled

The firm handles a wide range of divorce and family law issues, including:

• Contested and uncontested divorce
• Simplified dissolution of marriage (when the couple meets Florida's requirements)
• High-asset and complex property division
• Child custody and parenting plans
• Child-related issues such as visitation and time-sharing
• Alimony (spousal support), including requests to establish, modify, or contest alimony

Florida divorce basics (general information)

Based on the firm's public materials, the following general points describe divorce in Florida. These are general descriptions, not legal advice for any specific situation:

• Florida is a no-fault divorce state. A divorce can be granted when the marriage is considered "irretrievably broken."
• In most cases, the non-filing spouse has 20 days to respond after being served with divorce papers.
• Both spouses are generally required to complete financial affidavits within 45 days, including disclosures of income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• Florida uses an "equitable distribution" standard for dividing marital assets and debts, which aims for a fair (not necessarily equal) distribution.

Simplified divorce in Florida (overview)

A simplified dissolution of marriage is a streamlined process that may save time and costs for qualifying couples. According to the firm's public information, couples typically must meet criteria such as:

• Both spouses have lived in Florida for at least six months before filing.
• Both agree on how property, debts, and assets will be divided.
• The couple does not have minor children together.
• Neither spouse is seeking alimony.

If these criteria are not met, a regular divorce process is usually required.

Timeframe for divorce (approximate ranges)

The length of a divorce case can vary significantly. The firm's materials describe typical timeframes as:

• Simplified divorce: often around 30 days to complete once filed.
• Contested divorce: often ranges from several weeks to several months; in some complex or highly contested cases, it may take a year or longer.

Actual timelines depend on the complexity of the case, the level of agreement between spouses, court schedules, and other factors.

Mediation and local Tampa considerations

The firm's public information notes the following points about Tampa-area divorce cases:

• Mediation is often required by Florida courts before a divorce case goes to trial. Mediation uses a neutral third party to help spouses resolve contested issues such as property division, child custody, and alimony.
• In the Tampa area (Hillsborough County, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit), court-approved mediators and local procedures apply, and mediation may be held at designated court facilities or mediation centers.
• Local rules may require parenting classes for parents of minor children before a final hearing in divorce cases involving children.

Role of the firm's divorce lawyers

According to the firm's public materials, the divorce and family law team can:

• Explain Florida and local Tampa divorce procedures and deadlines.
• Help clients complete required financial affidavits and gather supporting documents.
• Advise on strategies for protecting assets, retirement accounts, and business interests within the bounds of Florida law.
• Negotiate with opposing counsel or the other spouse to pursue a fair settlement.
• Represent clients in mediation and, when necessary, in court hearings and trials.

Anyone considering or involved in a divorce should contact the firm directly to discuss their specific circumstances, as the appropriate approach and potential outcomes depend on the facts of each individual case.

Robert Sparks Attorneys

Phone

• Main phone: (813) 710-4816

Website

• Primary website: https://www.getserious.com

Office address

• 201 East Kennedy Boulevard

Suite 1400 Tampa, FL 33602

The office is located in downtown Tampa.

How to contact the firm

Potential and existing clients can contact the firm in the following ways:

• Call the main phone number above to request a consultation or discuss a potential case.
• Visit the website and use the online contact form to send a message about your legal issue. The form typically asks for your name, phone number, email address, and a brief description of how the firm can help.

By submitting the website form, you consent to receive text messages related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests at the phone number you provide, potentially using automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply, and message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance.

If you have an urgent legal issue, calling the firm is generally the fastest way to reach someone.

According to the firm's public materials, the team assists with:

• Seeking alimony payments on behalf of a spouse who needs financial support
• Defending spouses who are being asked to pay alimony
• Requests to modify existing alimony orders
• Efforts to stop or oppose a proposed alimony modification

The firm can advise on what may be realistic in a given case, help organize and present financial information required by the court, negotiate alimony arrangements, and represent clients in hearings when needed.

General overview of alimony in Florida

The following points summarize general information from the firm's public resources. They are not legal advice for any specific situation:

• Alimony (spousal support) is financial support that one spouse may be ordered to pay the other after divorce.
• Alimony is not automatic in Florida; it is decided case by case.
• Typically, a spouse seeking alimony must show a need for support, and the other spouse must have the ability to pay. If either element is not proven, alimony may not be awarded.

When awarding alimony, courts may consider factors such as:

• The standard of living during the marriage
• Length of the marriage (short, moderate, or long term)
• Each spouse's age, physical, emotional, and mental condition
• Each spouse's income, earning capacity, and financial resources
• Contributions of each spouse to the marriage, financial and non-financial
• Debts and other relevant circumstances

Types of alimony in Florida (post-2023 law changes)

Based on the firm's public information, the main types of alimony that may be awarded under current Florida law include:

• Temporary alimony: Support while the divorce is pending, ending when the final judgment is entered.
• Bridge-the-gap alimony: Short-term support to help a spouse transition from married to single life and address specific, identifiable needs. This type is typically capped at two years and, once set, usually cannot be modified in amount or duration.
• Rehabilitative alimony: Support for a limited period while a spouse pursues education, training, or work experience under a specific rehabilitative plan designed to achieve self-sufficiency.
• Durational alimony: Support for a set period after a marriage of at least three years when other forms of alimony are insufficient to meet a spouse's needs.

Permanent alimony has been eliminated under current Florida law.

Length of the marriage and alimony

Florida law generally classifies marriages into categories that can affect alimony decisions:

• Short term: less than 10 years
• Moderate term: 10 to 20 years
• Long term: 20 years or more

The length of the marriage is often an important factor in determining both the type and duration of alimony.

Does filing for divorce first affect alimony?

According to the firm's public information, the spouse who files for divorce first does not control whether alimony is awarded. Courts focus on whether there is a need for support and an ability to pay, along with the other statutory factors.

Filing first may have strategic or procedural effects (such as framing the issues and choosing the venue), but it is not itself a factor in deciding whether alimony is appropriate.

Anyone with questions about alimony in their own situation should contact Robert Sparks Attorneys directly for advice based on the specific facts of their case.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.