Christopher R. Bruce, Divorce & Appellate Lawyer

I am a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and a graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School.  I married a lawyer after swearing I never would and as a result ended up with four cats.  Outside of the office, and spending time with my family, my passion is saltwater fishing and marine conservation. I enjoy participating in South Florida billfish tournaments and serving as a board member of the state and local chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association.

My law practice for nearly my entire legal career has been limited to the representation of clients in connection with trials and appeals of divorce and custody related matters, including: divorce; modification  of alimony, child support and child custody orders; premarital agreements; representation of same-sex couples and drafting domestic partnership/cohabitation agreements; prosecution and defense of domestic violence (restraining order) cases; paternity (fathers’ rights) cases; grandparents’ rights cases; and select adoption, guardianship, and juvenile dependency/relative custody matters.

I am a compassionate person and an effective advocate.  I strive to apply my legal and accounting experience to efficiently obtain favorable resolutions to my clients’ sensitive situations.  My goal is to obtain a fair result for my clients as quickly and efficiently as possible.  I strongly encourage my clients to consider settling their marital affairs before filing a lawsuit and to utilize mediation to pursue a more desirable resolution to their circumstances out of court.  However, when a fair agreement cannot be reached, I effectively advocate for my clients before Florida’s divorce court judges and appellate courts.

As far as education goes, I graduated, with Honors, from the Florida State University College of Law. While at Florida State, I also earned, with High Honors, an Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Degree. During law school I was President of the Moot Court Appellate Advocacy team, a member of the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, and the recipient of five “highest grade” awards. 

Before law school, I earned an Accounting Degree from the University of Florida, where I was a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. While in accounting school, I interned in the Tax Department of Ernst & Young, a “Big Four” international accounting firm. I was also a licensed Florida insurance agent and intern with Northwestern Mutual, a large-scale financial services company.

When I am not with my family, in my office, or fishing, I serve as a board member of the Craig S. Barnard chapter of the American Inns of Court, a national legal ethics organization.  I have previously served as a member of the Professionalism Committee of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and as secretary of the Publications Committee of the Florida Bar Family Law Section.

I frequently publish articles on current topics in Florida Divorce Law and I have served as a resource to news agencies reporting on Florida divorce issues.  My articles have appeared in the South Florida Daily Business Review, Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin and other Florida Bar publications.

Alimony Reform:

Attempt to Modify Alimony During 2012 Legislative Session Fails:  South Florida Daily Business Review, April 11, 2012

 Divorce, Family Law Attorney Busts Alimony Reform Myths:  South Florida Daily Business Review, October 19, 2012

Attorney’s Fees in Divorce Cases:

Attorney’s Fee Awards Reduced for Unnecessary Litigation:  Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin, October 2012

Temporary Attorney’s Fee Awards:  Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin, February 2013

Trend Towards Reducing Attorney’s Fee Awards for Meritless Litigation:  South Florida Daily Business Review, April 3, 2013

Interpretation of Defaulting Party Attorney Fee Clauses:  Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin, June 2013

Grandparent & Relative Custody:

How Grandparents & Relatives Can Obtain Custody of a Child:  Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin, October 2013

Jurisdiction in Child Custody Cases:

Chapter 742 & The UCCJEA: Is Childbirth an Unbridled Key to Forum Shopping?:  Florida Bar Journal , January 2012

Testimony & Reports of Psychologists & Counselors:

What Every Divorce Attorney Should Know When Evaluating a Forensic Psychologist’s Report:  Commentator, Florida Bar Family Law Section , Fall 2012

The Patient-Psychotherapist Privilege in Child Custody Cases:  Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin, November 2013

Same-Sex Issues:

 Same Sex Divorce May Depend on State’s Definition of Marriage:  South Florida Daily Business Review, June 8, 2012

Setting Aside a Divorce Judgment:

Setting Aside a Divorce Judgment:  Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin, September 2013

I also have a  website Stay Married Florida which is a resource for helping couples have and keep a wonderful relationship while living happy, healthy and fun lives.  

Call (561) 810-0170 or click here for more information about scheduling a consultation and strategy session with me. The Bruce Law Firm, PA is limited to divorce and family law and represents clients in all of Florida’s appellate courts under fixed-fee pricing arrangements with a money back guarantee.  The firm shares fees with referring attorneys pursuant to Florida Bar rules.  All information on this website is subject to this Legal Disclaimer.  Click West Palm Beach Divorce Lawyer for the firm’s other divorce and family law website.

The Bruce Law Firm limit their practice to the litigation and appeals of Florida divorce and child custody cases.  The firm represents clients in appellate court cases throughout Florida.