Gayle J Ryba P A Attorney At Law

Information may not be reliable

I have represented clients in a variety of family law cases since 1995. Both my support staff and I understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family and we are here to assist you with your legal needs. Our goal is to ensure that your case moves as smoothly as possible and to obtain the most favorable outcome for you. I have a good working relationship with most of the family law attorneys who work in this area, as well as the judges. For my clients, this means that your case may settle more easily when the two attorneys have a cooperative approach to the resolution of the case instead of being combative and uncooperative in moving the case towards resolution. If your case does not settle after mediation, then I am prepared to present your case to the judge for resolution.
If your case is contested, you may be required to attend mediation prior to attending a Final Hearing. Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) assists the parties and their attorneys in resolving the disputed issues without a judge present. If your case settles at mediation, an agreement will be signed by the parties, the attorneys and the mediator. In most instances, a hearing is not necessary to finalize the case. There is a cost for the mediator (generally about $75.00 to $100.00 per hour per party); however, if the case settles, it will save money on litigation costs.
If your case is contested, the opposing attorney may want to take your deposition. A deposition is testimony taken under oath with a court reporter present to gather information to prepare a case for trial. The judge is not present for depositions. You can order a transcript of the deposition and there is a cost for the preparation of the transcript which is set by the court reporter.
In any family law matter, each case is different and as a result, the outcome of your case may be far different than the outcome in your neighbors, friends or relatives case. You cannot rely upon the results someone else achieved and assume that your case will have the same results. There may be a different judge, opposing attorney or mediator in the case, and the facts in your case may be very different from someone elses case. Therefore, you should look to your attorney for legal advice and information. Your friends and relatives usually do not have a grasp for the law and your case, and accepting their advice may hinder you in the long run.
If you are unable to afford an attorney, you can contact Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. at 850-432-2336. Also, as a member and co-chair of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Family Law Committee, I have worked with the Pro Se Office at the Escambia County Courthouse to set up a Family Law Pro Se Clinic. Local family law attorneys volunteer their time to sit down and meet with pro se parties involved in family law cases to give them legal advice on how to handle their cases. The Pro Se Clinic is held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., excluding court holidays. You can contact the Pro Se Office at 850-595-4407 for further information.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to meet with me, you can contact my office at: 850-434-9299. I will meet with you and discuss the issues involved in your case and if am able to assist you, I will work out a fee arrangement with you.
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask me to send you free written information about my qualifications and experience. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this website should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney/client relationship. In order for me to give you legal advice, I need to meet with you and assess your situation based on the unique facts in your case.