Orlando Collaborative Family Law Attorney
Collaborative family law attorney, Michael P Sampson, accepts collaborative matters only. His clients choose to resolve their family law issues out-of-court and respectfully.
For each client, Michael works with fellow collaborative lawyers, neutral mental health professionals, financial neutral professionals, and allied experts. He helps couples identify their interests and resolve issues for themselves and their family.
Michael’s Florida collaborative practice includes drafting premarital and postnuptial agreements. This work often involves closely-held family businesses and trusts.
Your collaborative practice team can help you resolve Florida divorce and other family law cases. Your collaborative process will be private, confidential, peaceful, and creative.
Successful collaborating couples can spare themselves pain and exorbitant costs that litigation often makes worse.
Consider if the collaborative option might fit you and your family. Read more here about the collaborative process!
Might you be a collaborating mom or dad who can emerge from a traumatic life event – your breakup or divorce – emotionally intact and prepared to model for your kids how adults can work with each other to solve problems?
Collaborative family law attorney, Michael P Sampson, accepts collaborative matters only. His clients choose to resolve their family law issues out-of-court and respectfully.
For each client, Michael works with fellow collaborative lawyers, neutral mental health professionals, financial neutral professionals, and allied experts. He helps couples identify their interests and resolve issues for themselves and their family.
Michael’s Florida collaborative practice includes drafting premarital and postnuptial agreements. This work often involves closely-held family businesses and trusts.
Your collaborative practice team can help you resolve Florida divorce and other family law cases. Your collaborative process will be private, confidential, peaceful, and creative.
Successful collaborating couples can spare themselves pain and exorbitant costs that litigation often makes worse.
Consider if the collaborative option might fit you and your family. Read more here about the collaborative process!
Might you be a collaborating mom or dad who can emerge from a traumatic life event – your breakup or divorce – emotionally intact and prepared to model for your kids how adults can work with each other to solve problems?
Background
- Sampson Collaborative Law (2017-present)
- Carlton Fields (2002-2016) Shareholder
- Holland & Knight (1986-2002)
Partner (1994-2002)
Associate (1986-1994)
Professional and Civic Activities
- Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida, Board Member (January 2017-present)
- Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida (2014-present)
- Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP)
- Outreach and Research Subcommittees (2019, 2020)
- Bronze Sponsor of Statewide Annual Conference (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) (2014-present)
- American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section – Collaborative Law Subcommittee (2018-present)
- Orange County Bar Association – ADR Subcommittee (2019)
- Rules of Judicial Administration Committee of the Florida Bar (2006-2012)
- Rules Committee of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar (2000-2006)
- Central Florida Family Law American Inn of Court (2006-2014)
- Leadership Orlando Class 66
Education
- Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1986)
- Duke University (M.A., 1986 – Economics)
- Cornell University (A.B., 1983), with distinction
Collaborative Practice Training
| Subject | Year |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2020 Statewide Conference – Peacemaking Lessons from the War Room | 2020 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2019 Statewide Conference – Make Cases, Make a Living, Have a Life | 2019 |
| International Academy of Collaborative Professionals – Masterclass: An Exploration of the Evolution, Power & Potential of the Paradigm Shift | 2019 |
| Collaborative Law: Changing the Landscape of Divorce Litigation in Florida | 2018 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2018 Statewide Conference – Flourishing Through Diversity and Access | 2018 |
| Navigating Confirmation Bias | 2018 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2017 Statewide Conference – Get In On the Act | 2017 |
| When Clients & the Collaborative Team Collide | 2017 |
| Attorney Initial Consultation | 2017 |
| The New Premise of 50/50: Should You Really Split | 2016 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2016 Statewide Conference – Stronger Together – Synergy of the Team | 2016 |
| Collaborative Practice and Evolving Ethical Standards (IACP) | 2016 |
| Debunking the Myths About Collaborative Law | 2016 |
| Collaborative Family Law Council 3rd Annual Conference | 2015 |
| Basic Collaborative Training in the Interdisciplinary Team Model | 2014 |
Representative Experience
- In the Matter of the Adoption of D.P.P., 158 So. 3d 633 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014). Reinstating a judgment of adoption and reversing the order that vacated that judgment of adoption on the basis that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to consider a petition for adoption filed by unmarried women.
- Osterberger v. Osterberger, 88 So. 3d 955 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (Successful defense of appeal of order denying Former Wife’s motion for contempt and attorney fees).
- Odak v. Vitrano, 45 So. 3d 487 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010) (Dispute over valuation date for stock options and enhancement in value of stock following separation and over husband’s severance pay – affirmed in part and reversed in part).
- Grasso v. Mulholland, 835 So. 2d 361 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003) (Trial court may interpret in children’s best interest ambiguities in marital settlement agreements regarding visitation).
- O’Neill v. O’Neill, 823 So. 2d 837 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002) (Denying petition for certiorari to protect mom’s psychotherapist-patient records because her statements, with supporting behavior, constituted a “calamitous event” and an implicit waiver of the statutory psychotherapist-patient privilege).
Publications and Blog Articles
- Florida Supreme Court Adopts New Collaborative Divorce Forms
- Florida Family Law 2021: Corporate and Trust Challenges to Service of Process and Jurisdiction
- Challenge to Personal Jurisdiction: Service of Process
- Family Law Pleadings: Must Allege Basis for Personal Jurisdiction Over the Entity
- Personal Jurisdiction – Long-Arm Statute or Alter Ego Theory?
- Long-Arm Jurisdiction: Specific or General?
- Florida’s Collaborative Law Process Act
- Alter Ego Basis for Jurisdiction in Florida Family Law Action
- Jurisdiction Over Property at Issue in Florida Divorce
- Challenges to Jurisdiction in Florida Family Law Action: Affidavits
- Custody of Children by Extended Family Member
- Beneficiary Designations: Checklist for Collaborative Practice Teams
- Collaborative Marital Settlement Agreements: Insurance Policies and Accounts – Beneficiary Designations – Section 732.703
- Automatic Revocation of Will Provisions that Affect an Ex-Spouse on Divorce
- Collaborative Marital Agreements – Beneficiary Designations After Divorce
- What If One Parent Disagrees With Other Parent’s Decision to Consent to a Child’s Mental Health Treatment?
- Florida Mental Health Treatment Providers & Informed Consent Requirements
- Example Language for Collaborative Practice Team using Definitions of “Mental Health”
- Florida Mental Health Treatment Professionals – Informed Consent By One Parent or Guardian
- What Is “Mental Health Treatment”?
- Amended Florida Parenting Plan Law Mandates Each Parent’s Retaining Consent to Mental Health Treatment
- Shared Parenting – Retained Consent to Mental Health Treatment
- Collaborative Process: Clarifying Parents’ Intent About “Mental Health Treatment”
- Collaborative Practice: Shared Parental Responsibility for Health Care
- Parental Responsibility and Decision Making
- Shared Parental Responsibility and Sole Parental Responsibility
- Florida’s New Proposed Collaborative Process Forms
- Introduction – Florida Parenting Plans – Consent to Child’s Mental Health Treatment (Multipart series)
- Florida Supreme Court Amends Form Income Deduction Order
- Florida Supreme Court amends Rules and Creates Discipline Procedures for Parenting Coordinators
- Why Jeff Bezos should have gotten a prenup & why you should too
- Florida Collaborative Law Process Act, Section 61.55 – 61.58, Florida Statutes
- Florida Collaborative Law Process – Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.745
- Florida Collaborative Law Process Family Law – Rule 4-1.19, Rules Regulating the Florida Bar
- Collaborative Family Practice: Dividing Retirement Accounts
- Remind Employees to Update Beneficiary Designations
- Update Beneficiary Designations After Divorce or Annulment
- Divorce and Beneficiary Designations—Florida Law
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: Overview
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: The Home and Joint Expenses
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: Separate Property and Jointly Acquired Property
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: Support upon Termination of the Relationship
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: Survivor’s Rights on Death
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: Financial Disclosures and Privacy
- Domestic Partnership Agreements: FAQs
- Divorce and Beneficiary Designations—Florida Law Changes
- Six Defenses to International Child Abduction
- Fifth District Reinstates Judgment of Adoption
- Calculator: Marital Appreciation Nonmarital Real Property
- Calculator: Premarital Accounts – Calculate Marital and Nonmarital Shares
- Chapter Author, “Home Court Advantage: Jurisdictional Disputes in Time-Sharing Cases,” Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in Florida, 2011 ed., Aspatore Books (2010).
