Meet Our Team
Our attorneys
Click on the names below or just scroll down to find out more about the attorneys in our firm:
Donald P. DeCort |
Kristin Renee Hayes Kirkner |
Our staff
Click on the names below or just scroll down to find out more about our professional and courteous staff:
| Melanie Carman | Debbie Cerreto | Susie DeCort |
Contact us
When you need an attorney to handle your divorce, family law matter, military divorce, or small business matter, contact DeCort & Kirkner, P.L. at 813-254-0156 or contact us online.
Our attorneys
Donald P. DeCort
Email: don@decortkirknerlaw.com | Phone: 813-254-0156
Don DeCort entered private practice in 1994 after an illustrious career in the U.S. Army, which culminated with his retirement as a colonel. He practiced with the firm of Anderson & Artigliere, PA from 1994 to 1995 and spent eight years as a partner in Holcomb & DeCort, P.A., from 1995 to 2003. He opened the Law Office of Donald P. DeCort, P.A. in 2003 and, along with Kristin R. H. Kirkner, Esquire, opened DeCort & Kirkner, P.L. July 1, 2010, and continues to concentrate his practice in the areas of family law, including military aspects of divorce and small business.
Don is admitted to practice in Texas, Florida, and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with his B.S. in 1970 and received his J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law in Texas in 1978.
He is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®, earning the highest distinction possible for ethics and legal ability from his peers.
Don belongs to the Hillsborough County and American Bar Associations, the State Bar of Texas, the Florida Bar, and American Inns of Court. In 2007, he received the Hillsborough County Family Law Inn of Court Professionalism Award.
Don's practice focuses on the following:
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Kristin Renee Hayes Kirkner
Email: kristin@decortkirknerlaw.com | Phone: 813-254-0156
Kristin Kirkner has focused her practice on family law and military family law since 2004. Kristin graduated cum laude from Colorado State University with her B.A. in 1999 and received her J.D., cum laude, from Arizona State University in 2003. Her practice focuses on family law, including divorce, paternity, custody, child support, alimony, and military divorces. Kristin has been accepted in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for the State of Florida as an expert in military divorces and division of military pensions.
Kristin is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, where she has served on the executive council of the family law section since 2008 and participated in Hillsborough County Bar Association Leadership Institute, 2008 to 2009. She is also a member of the State Bar of Florida and previously held membership in the Family Law Inn of Court from 2005 to 2008 and Hillsborough County Association of Women Lawyers from 2004 to 2007. She served as a volunteer judge for the Hillsborough County Teen Court program from 2005 to 2006. Before joining The Law Office of Donald P. Decort, P.A. in 2005, and then becoming a partner at Decort & Kirkner, P.L. in 2010, Kristin was a staff attorney at Bay Area Legal Services from 2004 to 2005, where she focused on domestic violence law and domestic violence injunctions.
Kristin grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado and worked at LexisNexis before attending law school. She moved to Florida in 2004 when her husband was stationed at MacDill Air Force base. Kristin is a proud military spouse and the mother of two girls.
Our staff
Melanie Carman
Email: melanie@decortkirknerlaw.com | Phone: 813-254-0156
| Melanie Carman has been a paralegal with the firm since 2004. She began her paralegal career in 1998 and the majority of her experience is in the area of family law. Melanie was raised in Florida and graduated from Brandon High School before attending Hillsborough Community College. Melanie enjoys spending time with her two boys and is an avid hockey mom. |
Debbie Cerreto
Email: debbie@decortkirknerlaw.com | Phone: 813-254-0156
| Debbie Cerreto has been a receptionist with our firm since 2007. Prior to beginning her "second career," Debbie worked for TWA/American Airlines as a Customer Service Agent for 29 years. Debbie graduated from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Emphasis Paralegal Studies. Debbie moved to Florida in 2004 and enjoys traveling, hiking, and the beach. |
Susie DeCort
Email: debbie@decortkirknerlaw.com | Phone: 813-254-0156
| Susie DeCort is responsible for the firm’s billing and bookkeeping. She attended Florida State University and has worked in various part-time positions while raising four children. In addition to her work for the firm, she is involved in numerous community and faith-based service programs, stays busy with our 11 grandchildren, and is an avid reader. |
