Helping families protect their children through the family court system.
Divorce, custody, paternity, DCF cases, and adoption, handled by an attorney who spent years inside Florida’s child welfare system. Straightforward answers, no runaround, and your children at the center of every decision.
Annette Sanchez, Founding Attorney · Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
What brings you here?
Every case is different, but most of the families we help are facing one of these four.
Divorce
“I need a divorce, and I want to protect my kids through it.”
Paternity
Unmarried parents who need rights, a schedule, or support made legal.
Grandparent and Relative Custody
A parent can’t care for the child right now, and family is stepping in.
Adoption
Stepparent, relative, adult, and foster care adoptions, handled with care.
Florida doesn’t say “custody.” It says time-sharing.
Parents search for custody, but the court talks about a parenting plan, parental responsibility, and time-sharing. Knowing the words helps you know your rights.
Can I get 50/50 custody in Florida?
Possibly. Since July 1, 2023, Florida law presumes that equal (50/50) time-sharing is in a child’s best interests. That presumption can be overcome with evidence that a different schedule is better for the child. The court decides using factors listed in the statute, so the facts of your family matter.
She has seen these cases from the other side of the courtroom.
“We lead with heart.”
Before founding her firm, Annette Sanchez was an attorney and later a senior prosecutor at the Florida Department of Children and Families, Children’s Legal Services. She knows how child welfare cases are built, what judges look for, and what children need from the adults around them.
Today she represents parents and relatives, and serves as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. Clients describe her the way she hopes they will: children focused, transparent, and never transactional.
- J.D., Florida State University College of Law
- Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021 to 2025
- Town of Miami Lakes Women of Distinction Award, 2021
Three steps to a clear plan
Schedule your case evaluation
Pick a phone time online, or call (305) 998-5297. Case evaluations are free. English or Spanish, whichever is easier for you.
Tell us what is happening
Our intake team listens, answers your first questions, and gathers what the attorney needs to understand your situation.
Meet with your attorney
If your case is a fit, we schedule a paid consultation with your attorney by phone or Zoom. You will leave knowing your options, what the process looks like, and what it is likely to involve, including cost.
There aren't enough adjectives to express my gratitude and thanks to Annette. Her gracious temperament kept me at ease during this difficult process and time in my life. Excellent Attorney!
Eddie Gonzalez · Google review
I found her to be experienced, responsive, knowledgeable, caring, honest and will keep your best interest at heart. While working with Annette, I felt as though my situation was in adept and trustworthy hands.
She was professional, understanding and worked hard on our case. She is great to work with and extremely thorough and got me a fair settlement.
She took on our case and was extremely and continues to be helpful. She was very well-prepared when we went to court and we were able to get the outcome that we were looking for.
Answers you can watch tonight
Short, practical videos for parents going through divorce, custody, and co-parenting in Florida.
Parental Alienation in Florida: How to Protect Your Bond Without Starting a War
How to Co-Parent When They Refuse to Co-Parent
Preventing a High-Conflict Divorce: A De-escalation Playbook for Florida Parents
Questions parents ask us first
Can I get 50/50 custody in Florida?
Possibly. Since July 1, 2023, Florida law presumes that equal (50/50) time-sharing is in a child’s best interests. That presumption can be overcome with evidence that a different schedule is better for the child. The court decides using factors listed in the statute, so the facts of your family matter.
How do I get a divorce in Florida?
To file for divorce in Florida, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months. Florida is a no-fault state, so the court only needs to find the marriage is irretrievably broken. You file a petition for dissolution of marriage, exchange financial disclosure, and resolve parenting, property, and support by agreement or in court.
Can a grandparent get custody of a grandchild in Florida?
Yes. Under Chapter 751 of the Florida Statutes, grandparents and other close relatives can ask the court for temporary custody of a child. The court grants it if the parents consent, or if it finds a parent unfit because of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Temporary custody lets you enroll the child in school, consent to medical care, and access records.
What is the difference between a case evaluation and a consultation?
A case evaluation is a free phone call with our intake team. They gather the basics and confirm we are the right fit for your case. If we are, they schedule a paid consultation with an attorney by phone or Zoom, so you do not have to take time off or arrange child care to drive to an office. You can schedule your case evaluation online or call (305) 998-5297.
Which areas do you serve?
We represent families throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and we take Palm Beach County cases depending on the case. Our office is in Miami Lakes, but most of our clients never need to visit it.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Hablamos Español. You can have your case evaluation and your case handled in English or Spanish.
Communicate better with your co-parent
A practical checklist from Annette for keeping conversations with your co-parent respectful, organized and centered on what your children need.
Get the checklist free. Enter your name and email on the next page and we will send it to your inbox.
South Florida families, wherever you are
Case evaluations happen by phone and consultations by phone or Zoom, so a family in Parkland or Pinecrest gets the same attention as a family down the street from our office.
Start with a free case evaluation
A short phone call with our intake team, in English or Spanish. If your case is a fit, we schedule your consultation with an attorney by phone or Zoom.