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Series: How to Protect Yourself During a Police Investigation. Part 5: Common Post-Arrest Mistakes
In this final installment of our series on staying safe during police interactions, we are covering how to keep a bad situation from getting worse following an arrest. Arrests often cause stress and confusion, particularly if it’s your first time. Simple mistakes can make your case much harder to defend in court. In this article,…read more
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Series: How to Protect Yourself During a Police Investigation. Part 4: Traffic Stop Checklist
As discussed throughout this series, police interactions can be scary and sometimes dangerous. Getting pulled over by the police is scary, but it’s essential to stay calm and make sure the interaction goes smoothly. If you live in Florida or are visiting, it’s crucial to know how to behave during a traffic stop to avoid…read more
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Series: How to Protect Yourself During a Police Investigation. Part 3: Miranda Rights
In part 2 of this series, we outlined the basic constitutional rights relevant to staying safe in an interaction with law enforcement. Most Americans have heard the term “Miranda Rights” and know that they include the right to remain silent and right to an attorney. However, many people misunderstand Miranda Warnings. Understanding Miranda requirements can…read more
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Series: Protection from Police. Part 2: Constitutional Rights
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed using self-control and composure to protecting yourself in an encounter with law enforcement. In this article, we’ll review your individual constitutional rights and how to invoke them to protect yourself. Most police know about individual rights and are taught about important Court decisions regarding those rights. Know…read more
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Series: How to Protect Yourself During a Police Investigation. Part 1: Avoiding Suspicion
If a law enforcement officer approaches you in Florida, it is important to know how to protect yourself. Officers are well-trained to identify movements, statements and other details which can incriminate the subjects of their investigation. Even the most innocent statement could incriminate you. Everyone should know what to do and say to stay protected…read more
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Can You Divorce Your Common Law Spouse in Florida?
Before last week, I’d have answered this question with a simple, “no”. Section 741.211, Florida Statutes explicitly states, “No common-law marriage entered into after January 1, 1968, shall be valid…”. The title of the section is “common-law marriages void”. It seems cut and dry. However, in typical lawyer fashion, my answer today is, “it depends”. …read more
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Traveling Abroad with a Criminal Record
After Arrest Criminal cases come with significant restrictions on a person’s freedoms both before resolution and after sentencing. Typically, a person facing charges must pay a bond and comply with travel restrictions imposed by the Court to ensure their future appearance in Court. Courts often order the person to obtain specific permission if they want…read more
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Florida’s “Red Flag” Law: How the State Can Take Away Your Second Amendment Rights
History of Florida’s Risk Protection Order Act On March 9, 2018, Florida enacted the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The law created section 790.401, Florida Statutes (Find the full text of the statute here). This law is also known as “The Risk Protection Order Act”. The law allows law enforcement to ask…read more
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Protect Yourself From Debt Harassment
Early in my career, I stumbled upon some of Florida’s consumer protection laws. A friend was being harassed by a debt collector who was based out of state, but was conducting business going after residents of Florida