Paul Michael McDermott

Paul M. McDermott, Esq., practices exclusively in the area of Marital and Family Law. He has experience in litigation, mediation, and collaboration. After practicing law in Virginia for many years as a trial lawyer, he relocated to Florida and founded McDermott Law Offices, PLLC and now practices exclusively in the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which includes Manatee County and Sarasota County.

Mr. McDermott is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. He is also trained in Collaborative Divorce Law, an emerging field within the Alternative Dispute Resolution realm focused on resolving cases with a "team" approach where the parties and their attorneys employ professionals as needed from varying disciplines (e.g., CPA, Financial Planner, Mental Health, etc...) who collaborate with a Facilitator (often times a mediator) and attempt to resolve a family law case in a more transparent, respectful and cost-effective manner, unlike the traditional litigation model. To read more about this approach, visit: https://nextgenerationdivorce.com/

Mr. McDermott is dedicated to advocating your cause to the fullest extent of the law. Attorney Paul McDermott has personally represented more than 1,500 clients and is ready to put his experience to work for you. To discuss the best strategy for your case, call today for a consultation at (941) 225-2550.

Regent University School of Law

J.D. | Law

1998 - 2001

University of Wisconsin - Madison

B.A. | History and Sociology- Double Major

1994 - 1998

Partner

McDermott Law Offices, PLLC (FL)

2016 - Current

Florida Marital and Family Law (Lakewood Ranch, FL)

Managing Partner

Beaulieu Law Group, P.A. (FL)

2015 - 2016

Palm Beach County, FL

Partner

Paul M. McDermott, P.C. (VA)

2005 - 2016

Associate Attorney

Gross & Robinson, PC (VA)

2002 - 2004

Marital and Family Law, Criminal Law (Prince William County, VA)

Overview of Florida Divorce Law, Chamber of Commerce, Delray Beach, FL

March 10, 2016

Chamber Of Commerce

Presentation on overview of Florida Marital and Family Law;

Guardian ad litem

Supreme Court of Virginia

Family Law Mediator

Supreme Court of Florida

Sarasota County Bar Association Family Law Section

Member

2017 - Current

Activities: Member

12th Circuit Family Court Professionals Collaborative

Board Member

2017 - Current

Activities: Board Member

Manatee County Bar Association

Member

2016 - Current

Activities: Member

Next Generation Divorce

Member

2016 - Current

Activities: https://nextgenerationdivorce.com/

Florida State Bar Family Law Section

Member

2015 - Current

Activities: Member

Florida

Since 2015

Virginia

Since 2001

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• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  $150.00 consultation fee (consult fee is applied toward retainer amount if you retain our firm);

Q. What rights do I have if wife has abandoned our marriage and seeking divorce? She has no income. I receive a pension.

July 27, 2023

A: Florida is a no fault state so "abandonment" is a non-issue for the most part. As to your rights, the answer depends upon many factors including the length of the marriage and the number of overlapping years of employment where you earned your pension. Typically all property acquired during the marriage (including pensions and retirements) are split 50/50, but there are carve outs for non-marital property (i.e., pre-marital property). Alimony could also be an issue since she is unemployed, but would depend on the employment status and incomes of both parties. You have rights that need to be protected and its best to consult with a qualified family law attorney in the jurisdiction where the case is pending. ... Read More

Q. If we bought a house during our marriage and got divorced and remarry each other and one of us dies, who gets the house?

May 27, 2023

A: Interesting question. In my opinion as a family law attorney, remarriage does not automatically "reconvert" the property title. You might consider executing a Quitclaim Deed - both as grantors and both as grantees to give you both equal rights as "Tenants by the Entireties," which gives married parties 100% rights with right of survivorship - if that's your intention. I recommend you speak with a real estate/real property attorney to be sure to accomplish your objectives.

Q. Can a motion be amended after its hearing from the plaintiff has been heard and respond.. hasn't answered yet. DRcase

February 20, 2023

A: Sounds like the "hearing" did not address the merits of the original motion and the motion hearing was was rescheduled to allow time for a responsive pleading. In that case, I don't see an issue with an amended motion assuming you have sufficient time to respond and prepare for the hearing on the merits of the amended motion. If you don't have time to prepare, then you could request a continuance to allow for more time to respond to the amended motion prior to the hearing. The legal principles of procedural due process including sufficiency of notice would apply here.