If you have a juvenile record in Florida for a felony-level offense, you may be barred from owning a gun until you turn 24, even when the judge withheld adjudication and placed you on probation. The rule is Fla. Stat. Section 790.23(1)(b). It ends at 24 for a case that stayed in juvenile court, an
Can I Own a Gun in Florida With a Juvenile Record? Read More »
No. A domestic violence injunction and a criminal domestic violence charge are two separate court cases in Florida, and both can proceed from the same incident at the same time. Who Files Each One The alleged victim files the injunction directly with the circuit court, with no filing fee required. The criminal charge works differently:
Is a Domestic Violence Injunction the Same as a Criminal Charge in Florida? Read More »
As of today, October 1, 2026, violating a no-contact order while out on bond is a separate crime in Florida. The new Victim Safety in Pretrial Release Act applies to certain violent charges and took effect today. What a No-Contact Order Covers A no-contact order set as a condition of pretrial release bars any contact
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No, not by itself, in most of Florida. For decades, an officer who smelled marijuana coming from a car had all the legal justification needed to search it. Florida’s legalization of hemp broke that rule, because hemp and marijuana smell identical, and two Florida appeals courts have now said so directly. Miami-Dade sits in a
Can Police Search My Car Because They Smell Marijuana in Florida? Read More »
No. In Florida, a crime victim cannot personally drop criminal charges once they have been filed. The decision belongs to the State Attorney’s Office, and a victim’s wishes are one factor among several, not the final word. Questions About Dropping Charges in Florida Can a victim drop criminal charges in Florida? No. Once the State
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Plenty of Florida law firms will take your call, hear you out, and tell you where you stand for free. The details differ from firm to firm, and a few of them affect your privacy, so they are worth knowing before you dial. The Short Version Many Florida firms offer a free first consultation. Each
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An arraignment is where a Florida criminal case formally begins in front of a judge, and for most people who hire a lawyer, it is a hearing they never have to attend in person. Questions About Arraignment in Florida What is an arraignment? An arraignment is the formal court proceeding where a defendant is advised
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Every person charged with a serious crime in Florida has the right to a jury trial. Far fewer people know they can give that right up and have a judge alone decide the case instead, or that the decision between the two is not always theirs to make. Questions About Jury Trials and Bench Trials
Jury Trial vs. Bench Trial in Florida: What’s the Difference? Read More »
An arrest and a formal criminal charge are different from each other, and the gap between them can run for weeks. Understanding what happens in that gap changes how someone should handle the period right after getting out of jail. Questions About Arrests and Formal Charges in Florida Can I be arrested and never formally
What’s the Difference Between an Arrest and Being Charged in Florida? Read More »
The woman who fatally shot a man during a parking space dispute at a North Lauderdale Walmart will not be charged. The Broward State Attorney’s Office announced on September 3, 2026, that Florida’s “stand your ground” law makes her immune from prosecution for the June 30, 2026 shooting. What follows is why that legal outcome
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