Port Orange Family Law Attorney

Four Decades of Combined Experience for Volusia County Families

Whether you’re considering a divorce or looking to grow your family through adoption, the legal team at Buckmaster & Ellzey can help. Our attorneys bring over 40 years of combined experience guiding Port Orange families through every phase of the legal process, including divorce, child custody, adoption, and more.

Family law decisions covering custody arrangements, property division, and support obligations carry long-lasting consequences for everyone involved. At Buckmaster & Ellzey, we draw on a thorough understanding of Florida family law statutes and direct experience inside the 7th Judicial Circuit to handle these matters with care and clarity.

If you need a family law attorney in Port Orange, we’re ready to help. Call Buckmaster & Ellzey today at (888) 785-6548 or use our online contact form to schedule a consultation.

Buckmaster & Ellzey Family Law Practice Areas

We offer guidance and representation across a wide range of family law cases, including:

• Adoption: Our attorneys guide families through the adoption process, helping navigate the steps and avoid complications along the way.
• Alimony: Whether you seek or pay alimony, our team works toward a fair and balanced resolution.
• Child Custody: We assist in creating parenting plans that put your child’s best interests first and reflect solutions that work for your whole family.
• Domestic Violence: We provide measured representation for both those seeking protection and those responding to accusations, with your safety and peace of mind as priorities.
• Mediation: Jeremy Buckmaster is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator (No. 32580 F), meaning we conduct mediation in-house rather than referring clients elsewhere. Many disputes can be resolved through this process without the cost and stress of trial.
• Modifications: Life brings change, and sometimes court orders need to adapt. Florida law requires a showing of substantial change in circumstances, such as relocation, an income shift, or a change in your child’s needs, before a modification may be granted.
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: We assist couples with drafting and finalizing agreements that set clear expectations about marital finances, whether before or during the marriage.
• Property Division: Florida’s equitable distribution rule governs how marital property and debt are divided, with outcomes shaped by asset type, length of the marriage, and each spouse’s financial picture. Our attorneys address each factor carefully.

Our family law practice is attentive to the needs of Port Orange and Volusia County families. When addressing parenting plans, timesharing schedules, or child support, we consider local school assignments, community context, and what matters most to your family. Every strategy is built around Florida law and your family’s specific priorities.

How Family Law Cases Move Through Volusia County Courts

Port Orange family law cases are filed and heard in the 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which assigns 19 circuit judges to Volusia County matters. The Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand and the Steven C. Henderson Judicial Center in Daytona Beach both handle 7th Circuit family law proceedings for the eastern Volusia County population that includes Port Orange. The Volusia County Clerk of Court manages all filings, including dissolution of marriage petitions and child support matters filed in the Family Law Division.

General Magistrates conduct temporary and post-judgment hearings in domestic relations cases throughout Volusia County. Cases involving minor children typically require both parents to complete a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before a final judgment is entered. Financial disclosure documents are required in most matters and inform the court’s decisions on support and equitable distribution.

Our team’s background inside the 7th Judicial Circuit is substantial. Jeremy Buckmaster served as Assistant State Attorney in this circuit from 2005 to 2006. Brian Cantrell served as Assistant Public Defender in the 7th Judicial Circuit from 2010 to 2016. David Ellzey served on the 7th Judicial Circuit Timeshare Guidelines Committee, giving our firm direct input into how timesharing standards are applied in Volusia County. Clients working with our Port Orange family law attorneys benefit from a team that knows these proceedings from the inside.

The Litigation Process for Port Orange Family Law Cases

Dissolution of marriage and custody matters in Port Orange move through the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit for Volusia County. We guide clients through every stage:

• Filing and Service: The process begins with filing the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and formally serving the opposing party.
• Temporary Relief Hearings: Urgent issues such as temporary timesharing, temporary alimony, or temporary attorney’s fees often need to be addressed while the case is pending. We use temporary relief hearings to pursue immediate terms for clients at this stage.
• Discovery and Depositions: This phase involves exchanging financial documents, written interrogatories, and sworn depositions to gather the facts needed for a final hearing. Jeremy Buckmaster’s experience as a former Assistant State Attorney informs our approach to thorough discovery preparation.
• Mediation and Trial: Florida courts typically require mediation before a final hearing, giving both parties a structured opportunity to reach agreement. Jeremy Buckmaster’s Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator credential means we guide clients through this phase directly. If mediation doesn’t resolve the matter, the case proceeds to trial before a Circuit Court judge, and our team prepares for contested issues including timesharing, equitable distribution, and support.

Why Port Orange Families Choose Buckmaster & Ellzey

J. David Ellzey Jr. practices primarily in family law, is a member of the Florida Bar’s Family Law section, and serves as Secretary of the Volusia County Bar Association. He holds a 10.0 Avvo rating and a peer-reviewed 5.0 out of 5.0 Martindale-Hubbell rating. His volunteer service as a Guardian ad Litem in Volusia County family law cases gives our firm firsthand experience representing children’s best interests in the same courts where our clients’ cases are heard. His service on the 7th Judicial Circuit Timeshare Guidelines Committee means our team contributed directly to the timesharing standards Volusia County courts apply.

Jeremy Buckmaster is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator (certification No. 32580 F, active since 2015) and holds a peer-reviewed Martindale-Hubbell rating. He brings broad litigation experience from his time as an Assistant State Attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit. Brian Cantrell, licensed in Florida since 2010, adds six years of 7th Judicial Circuit courtroom experience from his work as an Assistant Public Defender.

Together, this team covers the full arc of a Port Orange family law case, from initial filing and temporary relief through mediation and trial, without outsourcing any phase. Clients receive clear communication at every step, realistic expectations about how Volusia County proceedings work, and attorneys who stay directly involved from start to finish.

Ready to speak with a Port Orange family law attorney? Call us at (888) 785-6548 or reach us through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.

FAQs on Family Law Issues in Port Orange

How Long Does a Typical Family Law Case Take in Port Orange?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the issues and the pace of the Volusia County court calendar. Many cases are resolved within several months, but disputes involving property division or child custody may take longer, particularly when multiple hearings or evaluations are needed.

Do Florida Courts Require Mediation During a Divorce?

Most family law cases in Volusia County require mediation before a final hearing, giving both sides the opportunity to reach an agreement outside of court. Because Jeremy Buckmaster is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, we guide clients through this required phase directly rather than referring them elsewhere.

Can I Modify an Existing Court Order If Circumstances Change?

Yes. You may request a modification in Volusia County if there is a substantial change in circumstances, such as a relocation, a shift in income, or a change in your child’s needs. The court can evaluate whether your situation meets the legal requirements for modification under Florida law.

What If My Spouse Refuses to Cooperate During the Divorce?

An uncooperative spouse doesn’t stop the case from moving forward. Florida courts allow a dissolution of marriage to proceed without the other party’s full participation as long as legal notice requirements are met. Our family law attorneys can help ensure you meet all procedural rules and avoid unnecessary delays.

How Is Child Custody Determined in Florida?

Florida uses the “best interests of the child” standard, weighing each parent’s involvement, stability, moral fitness, and ability to meet the child’s needs. David Ellzey’s service on the 7th Judicial Circuit Timeshare Guidelines Committee and his ongoing Guardian ad Litem volunteer work give our firm direct familiarity with how Volusia County courts apply these factors in parenting plan disputes.

What Happens If the Other Parent Violates Our Parenting Plan?

If a parent refuses to follow the court-ordered parenting plan, you can file a motion for enforcement or contempt in Volusia County. Judges can impose make-up time, fines, and other remedies to enforce compliance with the existing order.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Port Orange?

Florida uses a statutory formula based on each parent’s income, the number of overnights shared, childcare costs, and health insurance expenses. A family law attorney can help you understand what to expect under the guidelines and whether any deviations might apply to your situation.

Do Grandparents Have Visitation Rights in Florida?

Grandparent visitation rights in Florida are limited and apply only in specific circumstances. Grandparents may petition for visitation when both parents are deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state, or when one parent meets those conditions and the other has been convicted of a felony or an offense of violence posing a substantial threat of harm to the child. Courts evaluate whether visitation serves the child’s best interests and whether it would interfere with parental rights.

Can I Keep My House After a Divorce in Florida?

Possibly. Florida is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital property is divided fairly rather than necessarily equally. You may keep the home if both parties agree or if the court determines it is appropriate given the financial circumstances, each spouse’s contributions to the marriage, and the needs of any children involved.

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