Board-Certified Family Law & Appellate Practice in Central Florida
Focused Representation, Individualized Attention
Board-certified in family law & appellate practice
Boutique firm with personalized, team-based representation
Offices in Lakeland, St. Petersburg, and Bartow
Board Certification
Why Board Certification Matters for Your Case
“Board certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for an attorney in any given area of practice. A board-certified lawyer brings a heightened level of accomplishment professionally, educationally, and experientially. It's the seal of approval that you as the client know you're actually getting what you need.”
– Debra J. Sutton, Board-Certified Attorney
- 7%
- Of Florida attorneys achieve board certification*
- 2x
- Dual certified in family law & appellate practice
- 35+
- Years of focused legal experience
*According to The Florida Bar
Our Legal Team
Meet Our Attorneys
The Sutton Law Firm concentrates its practice in family law, appellate practice, guardianship, estate planning, and business bankruptcy, with convenient office locations in Bartow, Lakeland, and St. Petersburg, FL. Our attorneys also offer the collaborative law process in family law cases, as well as select services in civil litigation and business law for business owners and commercial clientele. Led by two accomplished attorneys with decades of combined experience, our team helps clients achieve favorable resolutions to both common and complex legal matters.
Dual Board Certification
Debra has been Board Certified in Appellate Practice since 1997 and Board Certified in Marital and Family Law since 2001. She is one of very few Florida attorneys (two percent) to achieve certification, with less than one percent earning a certification in family law or appellate practice. Very few lawyers achieve dual certification, which requires Debra to maintain a high level of continuing legal education. Board Certification recognizes an attorney’s skill, competency, knowledge, ethics, and professionalism. Debra is re-certified every five years, an impressive accomplishment reflecting dedication to her profession and mastery of her craft. In fact, Debra has served on the certification committee for both specialties. She has served on numerous other Florida Bar Committees.
- 1997
- Board Certified — Appellate Practice
- One of very few Florida attorneys to earn this distinction
- 2001
- Board Certified — Marital & Family Law
- Achieving rare dual certification in both specialties
- 1986
- Practicing law in
Florida
- Practicing law in
- 35+
- Years of legal
experience
- Years of legal
- 1993
- Partnered with Debra
J. Sutton
- Partnered with Debra
Meet Matthew J. Kovschak
An Attorney Focused on Business Law
Matthew J. Kovschak has been a lawyer in Florida since 1986.
Over the decades, Matthew J. Kovschak has led and tried numerous complex and multi-party commercial and business litigation cases, bringing a strong business background to our firm in Bartow, FL. At the Sutton Law Firm, Matthew concentrates in commercial litigation, particularly including bankruptcy and reorganizations for both creditors and debtors, and appellate law at both a state and federal level. Now due to his decades of experience, Matthew is sought out by his peers to mediate complex bankruptcy issues, including adversary proceedings, with great success.
Reviews
OUR PRACTICE AREAS
Featured Services
Appellate Law
In our appellate law practice, we help clients challenge unfavorable court judgments. Depending on the case, we may be able to seek a reversal of your judgment, an order for a new trial, or an increased award of support or damages. Alternatively, we can defend your favorable trial court order from the opposition seeking to have it overturned. Debra J. Sutton's experience as a Board Certified Appellate Specialist is key to the development of a strong appellate strategy in any case.
Family Law
Our family law division is caring with professional expertise to make family law cases as painless as possible. As a Board Certified family law attorney, Debra J. Sutton has experience working with all types of families, and she has worked extensively with families in their care of elderly or disabled parents and with special needs children. Debra is able to help your family with divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, prenuptial agreements, and all that may relate to your family law matter or concern.
Divorce
Our family law attorneys in Bartow, FL, have helped couples navigate divorce for more than 35 years. Led by Debra Sutton, the Firm handles all sorts of divorces, whether amicable, hostile, or anywhere in between. Our lawyers are able to handle high-asset divorces that may involve the division of business entities or other complex factors. Debra also offers collaborative divorce and mediated divorce services that let couples come to agreements on child support, custody, time sharing, and more without enduring angry and dramatic court litigation.
Discuss Your Case with Us
“Where Family Matters”
