Smith, Benjamin Melford

Steven is an attorney who practices exclusively in the area of adoptions and juvenile dependency. In the firm's adoption and dependency practice, Steven represents various adoption agencies, licensed foster parents seeking to become adoptive parents, and relatives, such as aunts, uncles, and grandparents, seeking to adopt in an intra-family adoption proceeding.

Prior to joining the firm in March 2003, Steven, from January 1990, through July 1997, was the Tampa-based, Managing Attorney for the Department of Children & Families, focusing on issues of juvenile dependency (abuse, abandonment, and neglect of children) and termination of parental rights. For a period of five years thereafter, Steven was an attorney with R. Jeffrey Stull, P.A. in Tampa focusing on juvenile dependency, adoptions, and employment issues.

Steven earned his undergraduate degree from the American University in Washington D.C. in 1980,and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1983, where he was a member of the Justice Thornall Campbell Moot Court Board. Steven is the past president and current executive member of the Florida Adoption Council. Steven is the proud parent of a strapping teenage daughter and loyal husband to his way-cool wife. Steven and his family love the Atlantic Ocean, classic rock, new music, travel, and humor.