From our attorneys
Fraud charges in Florida usually mean organized fraud or communications fraud under § 817.034 — and organized fraud is a felony at any dollar amount, with no misdemeanor tier. How the charges are graded, how they differ from theft, why counts multiply, and when the case turns federal.
Pending criminal charges mean a case is open but not resolved — and in Florida, an arrest is not the same as a formal charge. The State Attorney decides whether to file, strict deadlines govern how long that decision can take, and the speedy trial clock now starts when formal charges are filed. The full timeline, stage by stage.
In Florida, only the State Attorney can drop a criminal charge and only a judge can dismiss one — but there are established paths that push a case toward that result: the filing decision, pretrial diversion under § 948.08, motions to dismiss, self-defense immunity, and speedy trial. How each one works and what to avoid while a case is pending.
Identity theft in Florida is charged as criminal use of personal identification information under § 817.568 — a felony from the very first offense, with mandatory minimum prison terms as the dollar amounts and victim counts climb, and a federal system that adds a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. How the charges are graded and what actually matters in the defense.
Florida has no separate crime called embezzlement — it is prosecuted as theft under § 812.014, and the dollar amount decides whether that means a misdemeanor or a 30-year felony. How the charges are graded, when the case turns federal, and what actually matters in the defense.
Florida divides misdemeanors into two degrees — up to 1 year in county jail for a first-degree misdemeanor, 60 days for a second-degree. The common charges at each level, when a misdemeanor becomes a felony, and why a “minor” charge still creates a permanent criminal record.
In Florida, agreeing with someone to commit a crime is itself a crime — even if the planned offense never happens. How conspiracy charges are ranked and punished under state and federal law, what prosecutors must prove, and the defenses that apply.
A no-contact order in a Florida criminal case can only be changed by the judge — not by the alleged victim, and not by private agreement. What the order prohibits, how to ask the court to modify it, and how it differs from a civil injunction.
Domestic violence is not a single crime in Florida — it's a designation that changes arrest, bond, jail minimums, probation, record sealing, and gun rights. What the accused and the accuser both need to know.
When leaving the scene of a crash is a misdemeanor and when it's a felony in Florida — the penalties at each level, the mandatory license revocation, and what to do if you're accused.
What makes a criminal charge federal instead of state, who prosecutes federal cases in South Florida, and how federal court differs on bail, grand juries, sentencing, and time served.
A dismissal ends the case, not the paper trail. What stays on your Florida record after charges are dismissed, how automatic sealing works, and when expungement can clear the arrest.
Why the State Attorney — not the alleged victim — controls criminal charges in Florida, what a victim's wishes can actually change, and what both sides should avoid while a case is pending.
What Florida arrests, pleas, and convictions can mean for green cards, visas, and removal — and why a plea that looks favorable in state court may not be immigration-safe.
Pulled over in Florida with marijuana in the car? The split-second move most people make can turn a citation into a felony. A Fort Lauderdale lawyer explains.
Carrying Xanax or Percocet without the bottle can mean a Florida drug arrest. MK Law's Fort Lauderdale attorneys explain how to protect yourself.
Arrested for DUI in Florida? You have just 10 days to act. MK Law's Fort Lauderdale DUI attorneys explain how to keep driving with a hardship license.