Fort Myers Legal Issues Blog

Divorce is rarely an easy process to finalize, especially when there is a lot of animosity between the parties involved. However, the conflict often associated with divorce can be seen even in non-marital relationships, especially when children are involved. Many of these individuals will find themselves facing contentious child custody and visitation issues, the outcome of which may reshape their contact and relationship with their children. In other words, there is a lot at stake when dealing with these matters.

Couples that are unable to resolve child custody and visitation disputes on their own must litigate the matter in front of a family law judge. The judge will make a determination based on what they believe is in the child's best interests. To make this determination, a judge will consider a number of factors. The wishes of the child, if they are old enough, may play a critical role. Other considerations include any school and community adjustments that may affect the child, the relationship the child has with each parent, and the presence of any domestic violence or substance abuse issues on the part of the parents.

Recently on the blog, we discussed a raid the resulted in multiple drug charges being levied. The war on drugs has raged on for years, and many Floridians have found themselves the subject of criminal investigations as a result. The stakes are extremely high in these cases, as a criminal conviction can result in years or even decades behind bars.This is why those who have been accused of various drug crimes need to do everything they can to mount a successful criminal defense. There are many ways to do this. One common defense tactic is to assess whether or not the police acted in conformity with the law when discovering crucial evidence. For example, a traffic stop that had no legal basis could result in evidence of drug possession that was obtained after that stop being thrown out in court. This means that the evidence cannot be used against the defendant.There are many situations where evidence may be suppressed. Police may act without a search warrant or they may act beyond the scope of a legally obtained search warrant. Also, officers sometimes wrongly attribute drug possession to an individual when there are multiple individuals involved in the incident that led to arrest.With your freedom, reputation, money and future on the line, there is no option but for you to be aggressive in the way you approach criminal charges, particularly those involving drugs. The legal team at our firm has established a solid track record of success defending those who have been accused of these crimes.

With strong litigation skills, we are not afraid to take a case to trial. This leaves us in a strong bargaining position at the negotiation table. Therefore, we give our clients options so that they can make fully informed decisions that they think are in their best interest. Only then can they pursue a legal avenues that they feel will increase their chances of avoiding or beating the harshest penalties prosecutors are seeking to thrust upon them.

Drug crimes can carry serious penalties for those who are convicted. Making matters worse is the fact that many drug charges are accompanied by other allegations of criminal wrongdoing, which can increase the potential consequences.

However, by developing a criminal defense that fits the particular facts at hand, a Floridian may be able to accept reduced charges and penalties, or it may even be possible to have charges dismissed or win an acquittal at trial.

College can be an exciting time where students chase their aspirations and build life-long friendships. At the same time, college is also full of young and inexperienced adults who can be reckless when it comes to decision-making. With tens of thousands of students on campus who are likely to engage in rowdy party scenes, it is not uncommon to hear about college students facing criminal charges.

Lee County is no stranger to college student crimes. With schools like Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Florida South Western State College (FSW), and Hodges University in the area, the local crime rates are bound to be impacted. While each school faces its own share of alleged criminal activity, there are some charges that stand out among the crime logs of all colleges: