ATTORNEY BIO
Legal Help When You Need It Most
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 on 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 of your case.
Gayle J. Ryba, P.A., Attorney at Law
in Pensacola, FL
has 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 and magistrates. 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 or magistrate for resolution.
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 neighbor's, friend's or relative's case. You cannot rely on the results someone else achieved and assume that your case will have the same results. There may be a different judge/magistrate, opposing attorney or mediator in the case, and the facts in your case may be very different from someone else's case. Therefore, you should look to your attorney for legal advice and information. Your friends and relatives usually do not have a grasp of the law and your case and accepting their advice may hinder you in the long run.
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 I am able to assist you, I will work out a fee arrangement with you.
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Education and Admission to the Bar:
B.A. in criminal justice, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio - August 1989
J.D., Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware - May 1994
Admitted to the Florida Bar in October 1994
Member of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
Practiced in the area of family law exclusively since October 1995
Received training as an Attorney Guardian Ad Litem for private family law cases
Completed training in collaborative law
Memberships:
Co-Chair of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Family Law Committee from July 2002 to March 2021
Member of Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association Executive Council - 2003 to 2005
Member of Escambia Family Law Advisory Group - 2006 to 2021
Member of Santa Rosa Family Law Advisory Group - 2006 to 2008
Member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association Grievance Committee - May 2007 to May 2010;
Vice-Chair of the Grievance Committee from August 2009 to May 2010
Member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association Professionalism Committee 2009 to 2012
Areas of Practice:
- Collaborative Dissolution Of Marriage
- Annulment
- Parental rights - mother and father
- Paternity/disestablishment of paternity
- Child Support, Including Representation Of Obligors In Department Of Revenue Actions
- Relative adoptions
- Name Change
- Collaborative law
- Practice limited to Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
Following is an Overview of the Different Types of Cases I Handle:
Dissolution of Marriage:
I handle all types of dissolution of marriage actions - with or without children, contested, uncontested, cases involving the equitable distribution of assets and liabilities, military divorces and divorces involving clients who are out of state or overseas. It is important to know your legal rights regarding the above issues as well as alimony, child support, parental rights and division of your spouse's retirement benefits. If your case involves minor children, you and your spouse will be required to attend the "Parent Education and Stabilization" course which is offered in a classroom setting as well as online. The courses address different parenting issues and ways to communicate with your spouse and child(ren) in an appropriate manner.
Annulments: I handle annulment actions if the client can show that he/she entered into the marriage by fraud, duress or coercion or if the marriage was never consummated.
Paternity and Parental Rights:
These cases involve unmarried parents. Once paternity is established, then parental rights and child support can be established for the parties.
Disestablishment of Paternity:
In certain circumstances, a male can petition the court to disestablish paternity of a child under the age of 18 years.
Child support cases, including representation of non-residential parents in Department of Revenue actions:
If you are served with a summon in a Department of Revenue action, the process can be confusing and frustrating for the pro se litigant. I represent clients who are the responding parties in these actions.
Adoptions: I handle all types of relative adoptions, either contested or uncontested. I also handle nonrelative uncontested adoptions in which the child has been born and when the child is already in the care of the prospective adoptive parents. Since April 2017, I have partnered with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida to handle their domestic adoptions, which involves filing a petition for termination of parental rights and then finalizing the adoptions for the adoptive families. For more information on Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, go to their website at www.ccnwfl.org. I also handle adoptions that occur within a dependency case when the legal parents consent to the adoption. In these instances, the court may allow the adoptive parents to intervene in the dependency case in order for a private adoption of the child(ren) to take place.
Name Change: I handle name change cases involving minor children and adults. In order to change a minor child's name, both parents must consent or the court must waive the consent of a parent for good cause
Collaborative family law cases: most family law cases can be handled using collaborative methods. If you elect to engage in a collaborative case, the chances of resolving all of the issues in your case with minimal stress is greatly improved. Additionally, the fees and costs of engaging in a collaborative process are generally much less than litigating your case in court, depending on the issues involved. Also, the length of time to complete a case is generally much less than a litigated case. A collaborative case involves the use of a mental health professional and/or a financial advisor to address parenting, equitable distribution and/or financial issues. Both of these professionals are neutral, which means that he/she will work with both parties and the attorneys as a team with the goal of resolving the case rather than testifying for either party in court and taking sides. This is a nonadversarial process which involves a great deal of cooperation on both sides, but the rewards are immeasurable compared to the stress and cost of litigation. Multiple meetings may be scheduled in advance of the meeting in which an Agreement and/or Parenting Plan are signed. The focus is on the best interests of the children, as well as considering the objectives of each party.
Contact Numbers:
Clerk of Court, Escambia County
Family Law Division - 850-595-4331
Domestic Relations and Child Support - 850-595-3770
Clerk of Court, Santa Rosa County
Family Law Division -
850- 981-5552
Child Support - 850- 981-5550
Domestic Violence - 850- 981-5553
Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement 1- 800-622-5437
Favor House crisis lines - 850-434-6600 (Escambia County); 850- 994-3560 (Santa Rosa County)
Favor House Counseling Centers - 850-434-1177 (Escambia County); 850-626-5600 (Santa Rosa County)
Emerald Coast Legal Aid (f/k/a Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc.) - 850-432-2336
Legal Services of North Florida - 850-432-8222