JMB Law Blog

Drunk driving is a major safety issue, but the charge also has serious implications for the people who are accused of the crime. Sure, they allegedly did something wrong, but they also face the specter of a lifetime of dealing with a criminal history. And sometimes, a DUI happens by mistake. Good people are often…

Having a bad mark on your criminal record in Florida could prevent you from getting a job. It could also interfere with your social relationships if someone decides to run a criminal background check on you. The effects can even haunt you for decades. At a certain point, however, you might be able to get…

Assault and battery charges are two distinct crimes that refer to similar things. Assault is when there is the threat of violence. Battery is when actual contact and physical harm is committed. These are the definitions in Florida — they are slightly different in Alabama, where three different degrees of assault can be charged by…

Being convicted of a crime is a massive blow to anyone’s future. You may think that a state or federal felony are the only “serious” crimes that you need to worry about, but that simply isn’t true. Even misdemeanors can have a profound effect on a person’s life, and it is important for anyone accused…

Getting behind the wheel of a car after you have consumed alcohol can lead to an arrest. The charge of drunk driving is a serious one, and it can claim many of your liberties and cost you thousands and thousands of dollars. From license suspension to increased insurance costs, and a criminal record to court…

In just a couple of weeks, most people in the United States will have to have filed their tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service. Some people may have received extensions, but most will need to have them mailed by April 18. For those who are just getting to their filings, it is understandable to…

You have heard stories from your friends and seen them in the news. A loved one passes away, and when it comes time to read the will, the family finds out that the decedent left all assets to a caretaker or a financial advisor, or even to just one heir. While challenging a will is…

A criminal conviction can affect finding a new job or getting an apartment. Even criminal charges without a conviction can haunt you as you try to move forward with your life. One way to put the past behind you is to take the necessary steps to have your record expunged. In Florida, the sealment and…

In the state of Florida, when someone harms another person and/or has the intent to harm another person, then the charges filed are assault, battery or both. Assault is when someone has the intent to harm someone or makes someone fear that they will be harmed. Battery is when actual physical contact is made, inflicting…

The Florida House of Representatives could consider a new bill that would force first time DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle in the wake of a conviction. Currently the Florida law forces first time DUI offenders to place a ignition interlock device in their car if their blood alcohol content…