It is illegal to have control over a motor vehicle when someone is under the influence of alcohol. The state makes it a crime to drive while chemically impaired or when one’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over a set limit. Many people expect from the courts when they face driving under the influence (DUI) accusations. However, at least some of those accused of drunk driving in Florida end up facing felony charges. If the state pursues felony charges against a motorist, the penalties that they face if they plead guilty or get convicted increase substantially. There are typically three sc ..read more

Divorce generally requires the division of marital assets. In many cases, the most valuable asset that a couple owns is their house. As spouses generally own their marital house jointly, they both have a right to a share of its value. This is likely true even if both of their names are not on the title and the mortgage. Some couples sell their homes when they get divorced. But what if you want to keep your house? Are you going to be obligated to sell it against your wishes, or are there other tactics you can use to keep it? You could be the buyer One potential option is to refinance your mortg ..read more

Couples considering divorce in Florida may sometimes fantasize about the drama of litigating in family court as a way of getting justice or revenge. However, the reality of litigated divorce is far from what people expect given the Hollywood representation of the process. It is incredibly dry and often very dissatisfying for both parties involved. Judges very rarely consider issues like misconduct or give people the justice they think they deserve in a Florida divorce. Many couples are happier in the long term when they have control over what happens with property division, support and custody ..read more

If you’re with someone who appears to be suffering a medical emergency, your first instinct is to call 911. Unfortunately, if doing that could mean risking getting arrested for possessing illegal drugs, too many people don’t call 911 and get out of there. That’s how many drug overdoses become fatal. It’s for this reason that most states, including Florida, now have some type of Good Samaritan drug overdose immunity law on the books. These laws protect those who call for emergency help for someone who appears to be suffering an overdose. Many protect the overdose victim as well (whether they ca ..read more

Nearly everyone has a social media account where they post their vacation pics, pet or kid videos and memes all in real-time. Social media seems harmless from the outside to anyone who wants to post a few thoughts, comment posts, keep in touch with family or read the news. But the harsh truth is that social media could be used against someone who’s facing a criminal trial. When used in the wrong way, social media could cause people to create self-incriminating evidence linking them to a crime. Here’s what you should know: Using photos, posts and deleted accounts against you Many people are und ..read more

Deciding on a custody schedule for your teen is not always simple. On one hand, the court is going to talk to the teen to hear what they want, and you will still need to have a schedule of some kind. On the other, you want to make sure they have the freedom and independence they need approaching adulthood. The kind of custody arrangement you set up for an older teen is going to vary from one that you have for a young teen. Someone who is 14 or 15 still needs their parents to be present and to support them regularly compared to someone who is 17 and nearly an adult. How can you make a custody s ..read more

You came to Pensacola to party, and that’s just what you did. Unfortunately, partying has gotten you into trouble with the law, and you’ve been accused of driving while impaired. That accusation is upsetting because you know that you weren’t drinking enough to be a risk to others. You don’t think that the test results were accurate, and you believe that the officer is making allegations that just aren’t true. You can build a defense against DUI charges Did you know that you have the opportunity to build a defense if you’ve been accused of a DUI? You have the right to question the way the stop ..read more

Much of the United States has begun to adopt recreational marijuana laws. People in Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and many other states are allowed to legally buy marijuana for recreational use. They do it in a similar manner to buying alcohol, at control dispensaries. In Florida, however, marijuana remains illegal. Even having as little as 20 grams or less could lead to a fine of $1,000 and a year in jail, and it’s a misdemeanor. The penalties only get harsher from there. One problem that this can create is that people in other states are beginning to think of marijuana differently than they w ..read more

When a Florida police officer spots someone driving aggressively or unpredictably, they may pull that person over. During the traffic stop, they will try to determine whether the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When an officer suspects chemical impairment, they will try to gather evidence to support their suspicions. What tactics do police officers use to demonstrate intoxication in a driver? They know to ask the right questions A police officer concerned about impairment will likely ask if you have had anything to drink as soon as they pull you over. The way that you answer ..read more

You sometimes hear people state that they want to get divorced — or that they wanted to in the past — but they felt like there was this obligation to stay together for the kids. In short, they thought staying together would be better for the children, so they decided to do so even though it went against their own wishes. You may view this as a noble sacrifice, but it’s important to take a moment to ask if that view is even based in reality or if it’s just another myth. Is it always better to stay together for the kids? An unhappy home life could be more detrimental What you really need to cons ..read more