Douglas Law Firm

Palatka Family Lawyer Dedicated to Your Family Law Needs

Family law covers many areas including divorce, alimony, child support, time-sharing, adoptions, modifications, paternity, and guardianships. Every Palatka family attorney at Douglas Law Firm is willing and able to help if your family has a legal concern in one of these areas. We have divorce and family law attorneys in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palatka who focus on family law and will be there for you every step of the way. 

The Difference a Palatka Family Lawyer Can Make 

At Douglas Law Firm, our family lawyers help good people restructure their We pain and uncertainty of divorce as minimal as possible.  We also understand that you have rights, and many different areas of your life can be impacted by a divorce.

That is why you need an attorney with our knowledge and experience dealing with the multitude of issues that can arise in a divorce, including child custody, alimony, dividing assets, and child support.  We help guide you through every step of the process, from filing to final judgment. A Palatka family attorney is here to protect you and your family’s best interests from the moment you contact our firm.

Palatka Probate Attorney Fighting for Your Family

The loss of a loved one is an emotionally trying and stressful experience for everyone involved. Making a difficult time more complicated is the transfer and distribution of assets after a loved one’s passing. Every Palatka probate attorney at Douglas Law Firm helps families navigate the legal process for resolving estate issues after a loved one’s death. We understand the pain and stress that can come with losing a loved one and seek to make the legal process as easy as possible for our clients. 

We Help Clients Throughout Putnam County and Surrounding Areas

At Douglas Law Firm you will find that every Palatka probate attorney has significant experience with the most difficult issues our clients face in probate. A few of the tough problems we handle include: 

• Disputes over the validity of a will
• Excessive or unnecessary claims against the estate
• Complicated real estate title issues and the intricate and challenging application of  Florida law to the descent of homestead property.

Every single probate has its own questions and issues that require expert management. Douglas Law Firm is dedicated to getting the heirs through this process as efficiently and compassionately as possible. 

Palatka Estate Planning Lawyer Helping You Secure Your Assets and Your Future

At Douglas Law Firm, we help Floridians gain the confidence that comes with knowing there is a plan in place for how their assets will be distributed and loved ones cared for in the event they pass away. Work with a Palatka estate planning lawyer to draft a Will and explore a full range of other estate planning legal tools that may be used to avoid Florida’s probate process. 

An estate plan will provide many benefits to your loved ones. First, your estate plan will help you distribute your assets in the way you see fit. Your estate plan can also help you protect the assets you have earned over the course of your life. In addition, an estate plan can clarify your wishes if you become disabled or incapacitated. The best way to accomplish these goals is by working closely with a knowledgeable, experienced Palatka estate planning lawyer. At Douglas Law Firm, we help families develop effective estate planning strategies serving the Palatka, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville area.

Our Palatka estate planning attorneys have exceptional knowledge. We also recognize that building strong client relationships is key to our success. Our lawyers and staff provide our clients with the personal attention they need. By doing so, we can customize your estate plan exactly to your needs.

If you have been named the personal representative (also known as executor or administrator) of a loved one's estate, we can help you perform the many duties associated with this role.

Guardianship Lawyers Serving Putnam County and More 

Guardianship attorneys in Palatka, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville can help you navigate through difficult times when a family member can no longer care for or make decisions on their own.  Guardianships aren't something that people like to think about because they are usually used after a tragic situation or some other tough time for a family.  There are guardianships for both children in need and adults in need. 

The Florida statutes require that a guardian be appointed for a minor child when the parents of the child die or become mentally or physically incapacitated to the extent that they are unable to take care of the minor child.  The second situation is when the child acquires property valued over the amount of $15,000.00. This could be via an inheritance or an insurance settlement or even a personal injury lawsuit.  In both situations, the court would appoint a guardian who is then supervised by the court.  The guardianship generally lasts until the minor child reaches the age of 18 unless the court terminates the guardianship earlier by court order.

There are also two instances of guardianship regarding adults. There are full and limited guardianships depending on the extent of the need for the person in need.  The first type is when a guardian is appointed to assist a person in the management of all affairs.  The second type is if a person only needs assistance with certain affairs.  The guardianship may be voluntary or involuntary.

The Douglas Law Firm will be able to guide you through this difficult time.

Being charged with a crime is a serious situation that can come with significant consequences for you and your family, whether it is a misdemeanor driving offense or a felony assault case. A conviction may bring steep money penalties and time behind bars. Furthermore, a charge that is later dismissed can damage a person’s credibility among family, friends, employers, and neighbors. It is vital to fight these charges head-on, with an experienced Palatka criminal defense attorney in your corner.

The criminal defense team at Douglas Law Firm is committed to the highest ethical standards when defending their clients against some of the most serious accusations. The St. Augustine and Palatka Criminal Defense attorneys represent individuals in courts throughout northeast Florida. Every Palatka criminal defense attorney on our team has the experience and knowledge to defend individuals charged with Drug Crimes, DUI & Driving Offenses, Theft & Property Crimes, Juvenile Delinquency, and White Collar Crime matters. We also have successfully defended those given citations and fines with boating or sailing, BUI. We've represented numerous individuals in DMV hearings and negotiated hardship licenses.

We have the knowledge to aid in the representation and defense of business entities and individuals who are accused of both criminal and civil enforcement matters related to Government Fraud, Healthcare Fraud, Identity Theft/Credit Card Fraud, Money Laundering, Mortgage Fraud, Public Corruption, and Tax Fraud. We also represent clients involved in grand jury investigations. Our legal practice covers all aspects of the defense of crimes and associated appeals, and we are prepared to zealously defend our clients in these cases.

Common Criminal Cases Explained by a Palatka Criminal Defense Lawyer

Every Palatka criminal defense lawyer at Douglas Law Firm is committed to helping our neighbors in a wide range of criminal cases. We have significant experience defending clients in the following matters:

• DUI and Driving Offenses: A person whose blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent or higher is generally considered intoxicated under state law. The punishment for a DUI conviction in Florida may include fines, loss of driving privileges, and even jail time.
• Drug Crimes: The manufacturing, distribution, or possession of unlawful substances are offenses that law enforcement officers and prosecutors take seriously in Florida. They can lead the federal charges in the event that the drugs have crossed state lines.
• Theft and Property Crimes: Theft, robbery, and burglary are some of the most common property crimes. Punishments vary based on the circumstances and the value of the property involved.
• White-Collar Offenses: These kinds of offenses typically involve some sort of deceit or misrepresentation, including embezzlement and various types of fraud.
  Juvenile Delinquency: Juvenile offenses can have lasting consequences for everyone involved.

Our lawyers have decades of combined experience in these and other criminal matters and a strong track record of successful results. A Palatka criminal defense attorney can help you fight these cases aggressively.

Every business, whether it is new or established, needs to have experienced legal counsel on its side.  At Douglas Law Firm, our business attorneys represent all types of companies, from closely held corporations and family-owned businesses to public corporations. The differentiators between our firm and your typical firm are the comparisons in value, the multi-disciplined approach, and the unmatched dedication in putting our clients first. No matter how complex or cumbersome the matter, you can rely on us to identify and implement effective strategies that meet your immediate and long-term needs. We have cultivated strong relationships with companies across Northeast Florida and internationally. 

The Right Resources to Serve Your Business

Our lawyers have the experience and knowledge to handle a variety of issues your business will encounter. They include handling complex transactions and commercial litigation, such as:

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Breach of contract claims
• Copyright & Trademark Litigation
• Succession planning
• Corporate governance
• Commercial leases
• Entity selection and corporate formation
• Creating non-compete and nondisclosure agreements
• Employee benefits and executive compensation
• Franchising issues
• Work Visas for skilled labor
• Vendor Management - RFPs, MSAs, SOWs, etc.
• Risk Management - Policies, waivers, mitigation strategies

Our Palatka business lawyers have substantial experience handling mergers and acquisitions and will provide clear guidance and counsel throughout the process. Many times, our other areas of practice intersect with our business practice. For instance, for family-owned companies that want to develop a succession plan, our knowledge of estate planning and business offers significant value.

We understand that in any business matter, containing costs is particularly important. It is important that the legal fees in a given case are proportionate to what is at issue. In all matters, you can rely on us to create a plan of action that is sensible both from a legal perspective and a business perspective. This approach, combined with our commitment to achieving positive outcomes, has helped our firm forge strong relationships with our clients.

For a proposal or a detailed list of services, contact us today. 

Douglas Law Firm has a diverse multi-disciplined approach to real estate law with both transactions & litigation. We handle a wide variety of residential and commercial real estate concerns, including purchase and sale agreements, easements, quiet title actions, commercial escrow agreements, hunting partnership agreements, real estate conveyances, land use restrictions, boundary disputes, slander of title, adverse possessions and more. Boundary disputes are an unfortunate occurrence that happens quite often in residential neighborhoods. In short, neighboring property owners disagree over where the property line that separates them should be drawn. Our law firm can help with the following real estate related areas:

• Eminent Domain
• Land Use & Zoning
• Drafting, Negotiation, and Enforcement of Various Real Property Contracts and Agreements
• Title Searches & Insurance
• Residential, Retail, Agricultural, and Industrial Closings
• Acquisition, Development, and Disposition of Real Property
• Mortgage Finance, Foreclosures, Workouts & Asset Repositioning
• Commercial & Residential Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Douglas Law Firm offers dispute resolution, counseling, and assistance in the negotiation process of resolving boundary disputes. Through the assistance of registered surveyors, you will be able to clearly designate the boundaries between you and your neighbors. Often an easement or restrictive covenant can eliminate any additional concerns or discrepancies.

Property damage and nuisance litigation are common areas that may require the assistance of counsel. If you have a wind storm or flood policy, these matters often result in several demands before litigation. If you're dealing with sinkholes, hurricane damage, or other damage, call us to discuss your options. 

Our real estate attorneys provide a comprehensive approach that allows our clients to negotiate, purchase, develop, and use real property to its highest potential, while simultaneously securing legal advice concerning all real estate litigation issues and personal objectives.