Legal F.A.Q. – Video Answers
Being active in our community and being lawyers in Panama City, we are often asked a multitude of questions about different legal issues and situations. The majority of the time, these questions are about general legal terms and what, “do I need to do if this happens.” Sometimes the answers are simple and straightforward. Sometimes the answers are a bit more nuanced and require an actual consultation to be able to give the best answer possible.
We’ve put together this Video F.A.Q or Frequently Asked Questions in order to help give people a better understanding of some very basic legal terms and to help them decide when it’s the right time to hire an attorney in Panama City.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions or if you would like to schedule a consultation.
Welcome Video-Rick Albritton
Criminal Law
Criminal Defense
Can I move if I am on probation in Florida?
Can probation be revoked in Florida?
Can social media or internet information be used to prove a case against me in court?
Can text messages, emails, or Facebook posts be used to prove threatening conduct against me in court?
Do I need an attorney for my criminal case in Florida?
What do I do if there is a warrant out for my arrest in Florida?
What does beyond a reasonable doubt mean?
What is a federal crime?
What is the difference between a felony, a misdemeanor, and a violation in Florida?
What should I do if I am arrested in Florida?
What steps should I take if I have posted something threatening or incriminating on social media?
What types of punishments do I face if convicted of a crime in Florida?
Why do I have no bond in my case?
Why should I hire a criminal defense attorney?
How do I get out of jail after an arrest in Florida?
How does juvenile court differ from adult court?
Should I agree to a plea bargain?
What are the typical steps in a criminal proceeding in Florida?
What is mandatory sentencing?
What is restitution?
Drug Crimes
Can the police arrest me for drug possession if they find drugs in a car I am in, even though I am just a passenger?
What is the difference between actual possession and constructive possession?
Sex Crimes
How do prosecutors prove that I downloaded the child pornography?
What is considered child pornography?
What is sexual battery?
What is statutory rape?
What is the age of consent for sexual intercourse in Florida?
Violent Crimes
How does the stand-your-ground law operate?
How does the defense of self-defense work?
What is assault?
What is burglary?
What is robbery?
What is the difference between assault and battery?
What is the difference between burglary and robbery?
Know Your Rights
Are criminal records ever automatically expunged in Florida?
Can an expungement be denied in Florida?
Are criminal records ever automatically expunged in Florida?
Can an expungement be denied in Florida?
How can I clear my criminal record in Florida?
What is expungement in Florida?
Can the police just stop me on the street and search me for no reason in Florida?
Do I have to give consent to a law enforcement officer to search my car in Florida?
Do the police need a warrant to arrest me in Florida?
If the police have a warrant to search my house, can they look anywhere?
The police want to get my side of the story. Should I give a statement?
What are Miranda rights or Miranda warnings?
When do the police have to read me my rights in Florida?
If I am a convicted felon, can my wife who is not a convicted felon lawfully own a firearm?
Can the police conduct a search without a warrant in Florida?
What are my rights if I am stopped, searched, or arrested by the police?
To conduct a search, must the police always have a warrant?
Can the police search my premises without a search warrant?
Can I hire an attorney just for one part of my case?
Family Law
Divorce
I’m divorcing my spouse and they are an unfit parent. What are my options?
What are the benefits of choosing to use the collaborative divorce process?
What is collaborative divorce?
Can I hire an attorney just for one part of my case?
Mediation
Are mediator and arbitrators licensed or regulated by the State of Florida?
Can I be ordered to mediation?
Can I use a lawyer at mediation?
Do parties always meet together at mediation, or can they meet separately?
How long does mediation take?
How much does family law mediation cost?
How should I prepare for my mediation?
If I mediate, do I still need an attorney? Should I, or may I bring an attorney to mediation?
If you cannot agree at mediation, what happens?
Is mediation legally binding?
Is mediation workable when one of the parties or parents resides outside the State of Florida?
What does a mediator do?
What happens at the end of mediation?
What is alternative dispute resolution?
What is mediation?
When should I use alternative dispute resolution?
Who attends mediation?
Why use mediation if we are unable to agree?
Dependency
DCF has taken my kids. What happens now?
How does a dependency case affect a divorce case?
How much does a private adoption cost in a dependency case?
I don’t have enough time to hire an attorney before the Shelter Hearing. What should I do?
What are my rights at a Shelter Hearing?
What are the steps in a typical adoption?
What is a Shelter Hearing?
What is dependency?
What is my right to private adoption in a dependency termination of parental rights case?
What issues can you mediate in a dependency case?
What will DCF have to prove at trial?
Alimony
Can I renegotiate the length of time I receive alimony in Florida?
Can men seek alimony in Florida?
What is alimony?
When does alimony stop in Florida?
Who gets alimony in Florida and why?
Child Custody/Time Sharing
Are Florida courts more likely to award custody/time-sharing to mothers than to fathers?
At what age can my children decide where they want to live?
Can a Florida court order drug testing of the parents when determining custody/time-sharing?
Can custody/time-sharing rights be modified in Florida?
Can grandparents be awarded custody/time-sharing of their grandchild(ren) in Florida?
Do the wishes of a child have any influence in custody/time-sharing decisions in Florida?
How is the amount of child support determined in Florida?
If child support is not paid, must visitation be allowed in Florida?
What is the first thing that I should do if I am served with a summons and complaint in Florida?
What is a parenting plan?
What is time-sharing?
Child Support
Can grandparents open a child support case to establish support for their grandchild(ren)?
Can I lower my child support payments in Florida if I spend more time with my kids?
Can my child’s father be ordered to pay for my child’s college education in Florida?
How can child support be changed in Florida?
How do I get my child support increased in Florida?
If I get joint custody time-sharing, will I still have to pay child support in Florida?
What determines how much child support I have to pay in Florida?
Probate Law
Probate
Am I responsible for my deceased parent or spouse’s bills?
Can there be more than one executor (personal representative)?
Do I need an attorney to handle an estate?
Do I need to file tax returns for the estate?
Do life insurance or retirement benefits need to go through probate?
Does all property have to go through probate when a person dies?
The decedent owed me money. How do I file a claim against the estate?
What are letters of administration?
What are probate assets?
What do testate and intestate mean?
What if there is no will?
What is a personal representative?
What is probate?
Wills and Trusts
Can a will be changed or revoked?
How do you challenge a will?
How long is a will valid?
What are advanced care directives?
What are will contests and how do I avoid them?
What is joint tenancy with right of survivorship?
What is undue influence?
Does a trustee get paid for their duties?
What is a trustee?
Can a will be changed or revoked after my death?
What is a medical power of attorney (POA)?
Civil Law
Contracts
Can a buyer sue a seller for backing out of the contract?
Can oral promises constitute a valid contract in residential real estate?
Is a verbal contract binding?
What is earnest money in a residential real estate contract?
What is usually in the contract of sale?
Landlord & Tenant Law
Can I force my landlord to fix my apartment in Florida?
Can my landlord charge me late fees in Florida if I paid my rent only a few days late?
Can my landlord come into my apartment whenever he or she wants to do so?
Can my landlord enter my apartment and take my property if I do not pay rent?
Can my landlord terminate my lease for any reason at any time?
How long does a landlord have to return my security deposit in Florida if there are no damages to the property?
If a tenant is paying the landlord on time, can the landlord evict a tenant?
If there is a written lease, do I need to give notice about terminating tenancy at the end of the lease?
What are residential non-payment and commercial non-payment proceedings?
What can I do if my landlord refuses to make repairs to my Florida apartment?
What happens if I do not pay my rent?
What happens if you fail to show up on the court date?
What is a holdover proceeding?
What obligation does my landlord have to repair my apartment or house?
When can I sublet or assign my lease?
Got additional questions or need a lawyer in Panama City, Florida?
If you have a legal issue and would like to speak with Attorney Albritton or one of the firm’s other trial lawyers, contact us today to schedule an appointment to sit down and discuss it.
Need Legal Advice? Let us Help.
If you have a legal issue and would like to speak with Attorney Albritton or one of the firm's other trial lawyers, contact us today to schedule an appointment to sit down and discuss it.
