I   

had seen the billboard throughout Pensacola touting 
the phrase, “FATHER’S RIGHTS.” I had also seen 
countless commercials of the Father and Son duo. I 
thought I knew exactly what to expect, but as I sat 

in the Holman’s conference room, waiting to meet them 
both for the first time, I must admit that I had many 
preconceived notions of walking into this “boys only” 
club. However, these assumptions were quickly put to 
rest within minutes of meeting Stephen T. and Justin T. 
Holman. Not only did I find these two men welcoming 
and easy to talk to, but I was surprised to hear them both 
open up so much about what makes them such a unique 
family firm. While Stephen made a special point to spare 
the more personal details, he reflected on his own personal 
experience within the family law court system, not only as 
an attorney, but as a father. He was quick to note that this 
personal experience has given him a unique perspective on 
what his clients go through during such a difficult time in 
their lives. I was also very impressed to hear Justin explain 
that the firm’s ambition to assist fathers is not nearly as 
one-sided as the phrase “FATHER’S RIGHTS” may 
suggest. As Stephen and Justin cited countless statistics 
of how growing up in a single-parent home can effect a 
child, I began to realize that these attorneys, that I once 
perceived as being strictly “pro-father” advocates, were 
simply on a mission to give BOTH parents an equal 
opportunity to be an involved parent in their child’s life.  

As it turns out, I learned that an unmarried father in 

the State of Florida does not have the automatic right to 
be a part of his child’s life, unless a court order grants him 
that right. As a result, many times, a father is left feeling 
helpless and hopeless. This feeling of hopelessness has, too 

story by

 Heather W. Harp

Business  Profile

“FAMILY” LAW

The Holman Law Firm

42     |    VIPPensacola.com

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3/25/18   1:24 PM