Richard D. West

Florida

West Family Law Group
7009 Dr. Phillips Blvd.
Suite 130
Orlando, FL 32819

Tel: 407.425.8878

Email: r.west@westfamilylawgroup.com
Web: www.westfamilylawgroup.com

Professional Biography

Richard is a board-certified marital and family law attorney with more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex divorce and family law matters. A pioneer of collaborative law in the Orlando area, he is widely recognized for helping clients resolve disputes with as little emotional and financial harm as possible while protecting their long-term interests. Known for his understanding, creativity, and compassionate approach, Richard works closely with clients to develop practical solutions tailored to their families and future goals.

Richard regularly represents clients in financially sophisticated matters involving high-asset divorces, business valuations, professional practices, trusts, incentive stock options, and other complex financial issues. He also has extensive experience representing professional athletes, executives, and other public figures, providing discreet representation while protecting clients from unnecessary media exposure and overly intrusive discovery.

Board certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar, Richard has achieved the Bar’s highest level of recognition for competency, experience, professionalism, and ethics in family law. He is also an AV Preeminent-rated attorney and has received numerous professional honors, including repeated recognition in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Orlando Magazine’s Best Lawyers, and Florida Super Lawyers, where he has been named among the Top 50 and Top 100 attorneys in Florida. He has also been recognized five times as Orlando’s Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America.

An active leader within the legal profession, Richard is a Diplomate of the prestigious American College of Family Trial Lawyers, making him one of fewer than 100 lawyers in the country to have that honor. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He is a past President of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a past Chair of The Florida Bar Family Law Section. He is also a frequent lecturer at legal seminars and conferences, where he shares his experience in family law and the innovative use of technology in legal practice.

Although based in Central Florida, he represents clients in family law matters throughout the state and nationwide.

West Family Law Group is an Orlando-based law firm dedicated exclusively to the practice of family law. The firm represents individuals and families throughout Central Florida, providing strategic, client-focused counsel across a broad range of domestic relations matters while recognizing the emotional and financial challenges often associated with family law disputes.

The firm’s practice encompasses all aspects of family law, including divorce, alimony, child support, parenting plans and timesharing, paternity, enforcement and modification actions, and marital and cohabitation agreements. Its attorneys represent clients through both negotiated resolutions and contested proceedings, developing legal strategies tailored to the unique needs and objectives of each family.

A distinguishing feature of the firm’s practice is its strong emphasis on alternative dispute resolution. West Family Law Group is highly experienced in mediation, collaborative law, and other non-adversarial approaches designed to help families resolve disputes efficiently, privately, and with less emotional and financial strain than traditional litigation. The firm’s attorneys work closely with clients to determine the most appropriate path forward, helping them reach durable agreements wherever possible while remaining fully prepared to provide effective courtroom advocacy when litigation becomes necessary.

West Family Law Group emphasizes practical, solution-oriented representation, working to resolve disputes efficiently whenever possible while remaining prepared to advocate vigorously in court when litigation is necessary. The firm combines detailed legal knowledge with clear communication and responsive client service, ensuring clients understand their options and remain informed throughout the legal process.

Committed exclusively to family law, West Family Law Group focuses on helping clients navigate significant life transitions with professionalism, compassion, and strategic advocacy. Through its personalized approach and dedication to achieving effective, long-term outcomes, the firm has established an outstanding reputation within the Central Florida family law community.

“A highly distinguished family law practitioner, Richard has spent more than 25 years representing executives, business owners, professional athletes, and other high-net-worth individuals in complex divorce and family law matters. His pioneering work in collaborative law, combined with his reputation as a skilled litigator, has established him as one of Florida’s most respected matrimonial attorneys.”
Commentary: The Family Lawyers, 2026