$ 400-400 per hour
About David
Biography
Tampa Divorce Lawyer David Caveda has been licensed to practice law in Florida since 1992. Visit
He graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1987 and received his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1991.
David’s practice areas include Marital and Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody, Mediation, Military Divorce, Real Estate, Personal Injury, and Guardianship.
David has received an AV® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the oldest and most recognized evaluator of attorneys and law firms. A small percentage of lawyers achieve this rating, which is the highest one possible.
David has extensive experience in representing clients in contested family law matters, including mediations, hearings and trials. He is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and its Family Law Section. David is also a member of the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association and its Military Law Committee.
He completed Regular Army Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1986 and graduated first in his platoon at the ROTC Advance Camp in Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1987 before being commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve in 1990. He graduated the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1994 and continued to serve in the Individual Ready Reserve as a Field Artillery Officer until he was Honorably Discharged in 1999.
On a personal note, David is a life-long resident of Florida and is fluent in Spanish. He was a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Tampa junior varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2010. He is married and resides with his family in the Hyde Park section of South Tampa. He was born in Miami in 1965.
Practice Areas
8
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Florida for 33 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 1992
No misconduct found
Location
Caveda Law Firm, P.A.
607 W. Horatio St., Tampa, FL, 33606
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
David M. Caveda's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
19 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (19)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 5 of 19 reviews
Posted by Andrew | November 30, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Family
Thorough, articulate, compassionate
I hired David Caveda on a motion to vacate in a limited appearance capacity since I already had a family law attorney handling the bulk of my case for several years. David was very thorough and well articulated in his filing and his argument in court. He took the time to listen to me so that he co...
Posted by Drew | December 22, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
Worst Ever
Stay away from this “lawyer.” I would give zero stars if I could. He lured me in by saying he’s prior military. Once he got my retainer, he extremely rarely responded to me and did not move my case in my favor one tiny bit. I would almost swear my former spouse hired him to get the most advantage fo...
Posted by Zaccaria SippiDaBarber | November 15, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Won Me Parental visitation and stopped a Non Contact for my Child
After my divorce settlement and me leaving the state; I was issued a no contact for my child because the other parent was lost within another person word and direction. Mr David got that no contact thrown out and me visitation with my child the day of court and the following Spring Break. I was worki...
Posted by Carlos | October 12, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Child Support
Poor representation!
I don't recommend this firm. After much planning and preparation my case was lost because the prep and planning was only done by us. Prior to the hearing it was difficult to get a hold of Mr. Caveda. He never conducted a forensic analysis of the mothers financials, which contained a ton of fraudulent...
Posted by Mariah | January 28, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
FAILURE TO RESPOND/REPRESENT
My husband and I hired David Caveda for a second time in 2019. We had almost six months of no activity or communication. In October 2020 our case was almost dismissed due to lack of activity. David filed two motions we discussed but failed to file the third despite having the completed motion. We we...
David M. Caveda's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington
Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. One of the top attorneys in the region."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse David. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. David is extremely knowledgeable in the area of family and divorce. He is well respected by his peers and is extremely ethical and professional. I highly recommend David for those clients who want to consider divorce."
"David is extremely effective when advocating for his clients in the courtroom. He also does a great job negotiating resolutions for his family law clients. I absolutely endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I am continuously impressed by the depth of knowledge David has regarding family law and the special issues involved in divorces involving a member of the military. David's vast experience is a huge benefit to his clients."
"I've known David Caveda for over 10 years and have had several opportunities to work across from him. He is an excellent advocate for his client and is a worthy adversary."
"I have known David for over a decade and know him to be an ethical and well informed lawyer. He zealously represents his clients within the bounds of the law. I have no hestiation recommending David as a highly qualified divorce lawyer."
"I have had the opportunity to work on cases in which David Caveda was opposing counsel. I have found him to be very knowledgeable and ethically above board. I have also had an opportunity to work with David as a mediator, which provides a different opening into an attorney's practices. In my opinion, clients can rest assured that David will represent them zealously and attorneys in the community can rest assured that they won't need to get every little thing in writing as his word is sufficient and can be trusted. Overall: impressive attorney."
"David and I have had several cases against each other throughout the years. He is a tough, but fair, advocate and litigator, very knowledgeable as to divorce and family law matters, and well respected iin the community."
"I have known David for several years. He is a consumate professional and a skilled litigator in the area of family law."
"David Caveda and I had a family law case against one another several years ago. During our case, he conducted himself in a ethical and professional manner while still zealously pursuing his client's best interest. David is an outstanding lawyer who has vast experience in the area of family law. He has an excellent reputation in the legal community."
Michael Waddington
Military law lawyer
Kendra Davis
Family lawyer
James Knox
Divorce and separation lawyer
Seth Nelson
Mediation lawyer
Shirin Rustomji
Divorce and separation lawyer
Natalie Baird-King
Divorce and separation lawyer
Robert Adams
Business lawyer
Michael Gallinar
Real estate lawyer
Christian Denmon
Family lawyer
Mario Iglesias
Real estate lawyer
Whitney Jacque
Family lawyer
Stacey Turmel
Lawsuits and disputes lawyer
Johanne Valois-Shoffstall
Mediation lawyer
Mary Quinn
Family lawyer
William Ihrig
Real estate lawyer
Theodore Rechel
Family lawyer
David Mitchell
Family lawyer
Mitchell Mandler
Litigation lawyer
Paul Riffel
Divorce and separation lawyer
Stann Givens
Family lawyer
Experience
Honors
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
AV-Rating (Preeminent 5.0 of 5.0), Martindale-Hubbell
2012
Tampa's Top Rated Lawyers, Law.com
2012
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
Tampa Bay's Top Lawyers, Tampa Bay Magazine
2010
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Work Experience
2008 - Present
Founder, Caveda Law Firm, P.A.
2007 - 2008
Principal, Knox & Givens, P.A.
2005 - 2007
President, KCMD Group, Inc.
2000 - 2005
Principal, Knox & Givens, P.A.
1995 - 2000
Sole Practitioner, Law Office of David Caveda, P.A.
1994 - 1994
Associate, Mensh & McIntosh, P.A.
1992 - 1994
Associate, Law Office of Jerry Green, P.A.
1991 - 1999
Field Artillery Officer, U.S. Army Reserve
Associations
2009 - Present
Clearwater Bar AssociationMember
2009 - Present
Clearwater Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember
2008 - Present
International Academy of Collaborative ProfessionalsMember
2008 - Present
Military Officers Association of AmericaMember
2001 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
1998 - Present
Hillsborough County Bar AssociationMember
1998 - Present
Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember
1993 - Present
United States District Court for the Middle District of FloridaAdmitted to Practice
1993 - Present
United States District Court for the Southern District of FloridaAdmitted to Practice
1992 - Present
The Florida BarMember
2000 - 2005
Family Law American Inn of Court of TampaMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Sheppard v. Jedlicka, 31 So. 3d 975
Trial court's favorable custody ruling upheld on appeal.
Education
1991
University of Florida College of Law
Juris Doctor
1987
University of South Florida
Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2002
Legal Seminar
Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel
Publications
2008
Florida Proceedings After Dissolution of Marriage, The Florida Bar (9th ed.)
Modification of Child Support (Co-Author)
2002
Half Moon Seminars
Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel
Languages
Spanish
English
Activity
Legal Answers