Attorney Melissa Goodloe is one of our Family Law Attorneys. Attorney Goodloe is dedicated to bringing justice to Florida families. She knows that the home is the first example of justice, and she fights to make sure your family is secure. Attorney Goodloe was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2016 and was later admitted to practice in federal court in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of South Florida and a Juris Doctor (JD) from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
While in law school, Melissa worked as a Certified Legal Intern in her law school’s Debt Relief Clinic. As a Certified Legal Intern, she worked under the direction of a licensed attorney and represented numerous clients facing consumer debt issues. This experience led her to understand how deeply household issues can impact the family’s well-being. In 2016, Attorney Goodloe became an attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families where she represented the State of Florida in juvenile dependency cases. As a DCF attorney, Melissa advocated on behalf of children whose parents were facing allegations of abuse, abandonment, and neglect. During this time, she gained valuable courtroom experience, including several trials and countless evidentiary hearings.
Following her departure from the Florida Department of Children and Families, Attorney Goodloe began working in insurance defense where she represented insurance companies and their customers in negligence cases involving car accidents, slip-and-falls, premise liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. In addition to her experience in juvenile dependency and insurance defense, Melissa worked on numerous family law cases in a variety of situations involving issues such as divorce, child support, child custody, time-sharing, and paternity.
Attorney Goodloe joined Sara Jones Law, P.A., in 2021 as an Of Counsel Attorney, and she is thrilled to bring her expertise to Polk County. Attorney Goodloe’s diverse experience affords her a unique opportunity to offer invaluable insight for clients seeking legal representation in family law cases.