Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.


Wednesday, February 4, 2026

8:30 am – 4:00 pm EST


Agenda:

Assisting with Family Law Case Intake
Presented by Spencer D. West

  • Performing conflicts checks
  • Assisting with initial client interview
  • Preparing engagement letter, opening file
  • Collecting information

Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information
Presented by Spencer D. West

  • Identifying relevant information on assets, debts, income and expenses
  • Obtaining finanical information
    • Using financial information questionnaires
    • Using interrogatories, requests for production, deposition testimony, private investigators
    • Valuing assets
  • Evaluating the information you have obtained
  • Working with accountants and financial experts
  • Preparing financial statements

Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues
Presented by Sarah E. Kay, Esq. BCS

  • Recent developments in Florida custody law
  • Obtaining relevant information
    • Client interview, custody questionnaires, authorizations for disclosure, formal discovery
  • Working with guardian-ad-litem
  • Working with experts
  • Drafting and reviewing parenting plans

Assisting with Different Types of Agreements
Presented by Jonathan S. Root

  • Marital settlement agreements
  • Pre/Post nuptial agreements
  • Property agreements
  • Child-related agreements

Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
Presented by Sarah E. Kay, Esq. BCS

  • Complying with rules of professional responsibility and ethics guidelines for attorneys and paralegals
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest
  • Maintaining client confidentiality
  • Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
  • Working with the secretive or dishonest client
  • Handling allegations of abuse or neglect
  • Zealous (vs. over-zealous) representation
  • Fee agreements, retainers, and collection of unpaid fees

 

Webinar Instructions 
 
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited. 

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher. 

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email. 

GoToWebinar App requirements:  
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS 

Web Browser:  
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions) 
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions) 

Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better 

Hardware:  2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended) 

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com 

Credits

Paralegals
6.5 CLE Hours (Including 1.0 Ethics Hour)

NFPA - National Federation of Paralegal Associations
6.5 CLE Hours (Including 1.0 Ethics Hour)

 

Continuing Education Information

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 CLE hours, including 1.0 ethics hour, for paralegals. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this course.

Courses approved for credit by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) are deemed acceptable for Florida Registered Paralegals (Rule 20-6.1).

This course has been approved by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) for 6.5 total CLE credits, which includes 5.5 general credits and 1.0 ethics credit.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

*On-Demand Credits*

The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate.

Speakers

Sarah E. Kay, Esq. BCS

BCS Managing Member, Kay Family Law, PLLC, in Tampa, FL

Ms. Kay assists Florida’s families as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law and Appellate Mediator and a collaborative attorney. She also extends her expertise to solo and small firms throughout Florida with freelance research, writing, and consulting services. Ms. Kay served as the chair of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar during its 50th anniversary year (2023-2024), as president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers (2017-2018), president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Leadership Institute Class of 2013, and the co-chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association 5k Pro Bono River Run Committee in 2013 and 2014. Ms. Kay is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). She holds a J.D. degree, a master’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Jonathan S. Root

Jonathan S. Root, P.A., in Boca Raton, FL

Mr. Root is a Florida recognized specialist in the areas of Marital, Family and Appellate Law. Mr. Root also serves as a Family Law Mediator and Special Master. His accreditations include Board Certification in Marital and Family Law since 2002 and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2010. Mr. Root is a graduate of Boston University, Boston, Mass. (B.A., 1989) and St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, Fl. (J.D. 1992). He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1992 and is licensed to practice before the Florida and U.S. District Courts, Southern District of Florida. Mr. Root is a member of the South County, Palm Beach County and American Bar Associations, The Florida Bar (Member, Family Law Section) and has served on the Family Law Rules Committee.

Spencer D. West

Mitchell & West, L.L.C., in Coral Gables, FL

Mr. West specializes in the area of family law and is an aggressive litigator who devotes himself to achieving the best results for his individual clients while maintaining the highest ethical standards of professionalism. Mr. West actively represents clients in both Florida and Massachusetts. He is routinely sought out by clients and other lawyers for his extensive expertise and dedication to fighting for his clients. Prior to attending college, Mr. West served his country in the United States Army for three years as a Finance Specialist. After graduating from law school, he served nearly two years in the public service sector as an Assistant Public Defender for the Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office before working at some of Florida’s leading law firms, including Wicker, Smith, O’Hara McCoy, Graham & Ford, P.A., a prestigious Texas-based litigation firm in Broward County. Mr. West earned his J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Streamable MP4/PDF Price: $339.00

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