In Miami-Dade, I handle most criminal defense cases on a flat fee, broken into phases: pretrial, plea negotiation, and trial, if it gets that far. That way you know the cost of each phase before it starts, rather than watching an hourly clock run during a stressful period. For civil litigation I bill hourly generally,
What Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost in Miami Read More »
Sealing or expunging a record in Florida is supposed to mean the case is behind you. As of July 1, 2026, that is still true for almost every purpose, but there is now one context where a sealed or expunged arrest can surface anyway, and a new law makes it a legal requirement to acknowledge
Florida has a law on the books making it illegal to wear a mask or hood in public: Fla. Stat. Section 876.12. Many people assume this means wearing a hoodie, a ski mask on a cold day, or a Halloween costume outside is against the law. It is not, at least not by itself. Another
Florida’s Mask and Hood Law: When Does Wearing a Hoodie Break the Law? Read More »
Florida’s felony battery and habitual offender laws changed in an important way on July 1, 2026. CS/CS/SB 436 was sponsored by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice and Senator Leek. It expanded who qualifies as a prison releasee reoffender, tightened penalties for repeat battery offenders, and widened the pretrial detention criteria for defendants with a
Florida’s New Career Criminal Sentencing Law (SB 436): What Changed on July 1 Read More »
A push during an argument is, on its own, a first-degree misdemeanor. The same push, if the other person has a prior battery conviction on their record, or if it happens to be directed at a police officer, becomes a felony, no weapon and no serious injury required. Whether the label ends up misdemeanor or
Misdemeanor vs. Felony in Florida: Why the Difference Matters More Than People Think Read More »
Missing a court date rarely resolves itself quietly. Whether the consequence is minor or serious depends heavily on what kind of case it is and what the hearing was for. See our full Criminal Case Timeline for how a missed hearing fits into the bigger picture of a case. Frequently Asked Questions What happens if
What Happens If I Miss a Court Date in Florida? Read More »
Florida’s domestic violence statutes changed in an important way on July 1, 2026. House Bill 277, the Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions Act, passed the Legislature without a single no vote and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in May. The changes affect penalties, injunctions, and how repeat allegations are treated, and they apply
Florida’s New Domestic Violence Law (HB 277): What Changed on July 1 Read More »
DUI cases run on their own evidence, their own procedures, and their own deadlines, none of which most general criminal defense questions cover. This is what is worth asking before you hire someone to handle yours. Questions to Ask Before Hiring a DUI Lawyer “Have you handled the DHSMV license hearing, not just the criminal
What to Ask a DUI Lawyer Before You Hire One Read More »
Having a valid card feels like it should settle the question, and that is not always the whole picture. Florida’s medical marijuana program creates real protection, but that coverage has real limits most cardholders never learn about until they are already dealing with an arrest. The card is a defense, not immunity: it has to
I Have a Florida Medical Marijuana Card and Got Arrested. What Happens? Read More »
A drug possession arrest raises immediate, practical questions, and the consequences reach further than the criminal case, into areas most people never connect to a drug charge at all. Your license is at risk too: a conviction can suspend driving privileges for up to six months, unrelated to how the drugs were found. Most substances
I Got a Drug Possession Charge in Florida. What Happens Now? Read More »
