When Partners Separate.

In this era unions occur in many different ways…none is more important than the one in which YOU have been involved.  When same-sex or unmarried couples go their own way, the pain is very real and legal issues need to be addressed with the same importance as any other couple.  Until recent years the law was fuzzy on what happens next.

There are important parenting, legal, financial, and property decisions that need to be made.  When unmarried couples part, their needs may be quite different.  When you register your domestic partnership, you must take several things into consideration such as…sharing of property, vows that require a court action to end the relationship, your obligation to provide for your partner, among others.

Sorting all of this out requires legal expertise.  At a stressful time such as this, call upon the experience of Pinellas County domestic partnership attorneys Nat Kidder and Bill Bennett.  Kidder and Bennett is the right choice when a same-sex or unmarried relationship comes to an end.  Call them today at their St. Petersburg office (727) 821-8000.

When a DUI Charge Goes Horribly Wrong.

Being charged with a DUI is obviously very serious, but when the charge is DUI manslaughter it truly is a matter of life and death.  In this particular case everyone is devastated…the victim, the families, and the accused.  Even if your criminal record has been spotless up until that point the consequences may result in years of prison time.

Here is what a conviction of DUI manslaughter could entail… fifteen years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.  No life could ever be the same after that!  And you must never, ever leave the scene.  That could result in up to 30 years behind bars.  Everything you see or do in the aftermath of this event will be carefully considered.

Without experienced, sophisticated representation your chances in court are slim and none.  Your attorney must be a veteran of these types of cases.  Just such a background is found in the half-century of combined criminal law experience of Kidder and Bennett.  If you are charged in Pinellas County FL call DUI manslaughter attorneys Nat Kidder and Bill Bennett at (727) 821-8000.

Shared Parenting.

With the new year may come a new lifestyle within your family structure.  Your kid’s sense of structure and comfort does NOT need to be compromised because two adults find they can't continue to live under the same roof.  This goes to the core of where your children will be mentally and emotionally when they become adults themselves.

Here are some of the long-term goals that you should be discussing with a professional-

1.  Education…where and what type.

2.  Activities outside the norm…what sports or recreational opportunities they may have.

3.  Moral upbringing…including spiritual concerns.

4.  Ability to see their friends…they need to maintain healthy relationships to stay on track.

5.  Medical needs…is there anything more important than their health care?

All of these things and many more should be calmly discussed between the spouses.  When that discussion becomes contentious then it is time to hire a lawyer.  The right choice is Pinellas County shared parenting family attorneys Kidder and Bennett.  Nat Kidder and Bill Bennett have dealt with these issues for a combined 50+ years.  Give them a call at (727) 821-8000.

Florida Child Custody Laws.

No one enjoys talking about it, but you need to get a handle on it as we enter 2017.  If you read about child custody somewhere you could easily be misinformed because each state has its own special spin on this law.  For instance, in the Sunshine State we are governed by something called the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

By definition this encompasses the general maintenance of a minor.  If you have legal custody in Florida then you are the person who determines that child’s religious, educational, medical, and even decisions on discipline.  In a joint custody both parents share any and all of these responsibilities and must at least tacitly agree on these important life decisions.

Know what you are fighting for!  Do you want sole or joint custody?  There are many lives that will be effected by these decisions.  Meet your next best friends.  They are Nat Kidder and Bill Bennett.  With their half century of combined experience, they will follow your wishes as a Pinellas County child custody law firm.  Please call them today at (727) 821-8000.

White Collar Crime in Florida.

The very term may sound innocuous.  Believe me, it is not!  Florida prosecutors will pursue a conviction on white collar criminals as aggressively as violent crimes.  You or a loved one may have been caught up in an end-of-the-year scam or embezzlement of some kind.  Whatever the case, if you are in the eye of the storm take this situation VERY seriously.

Here are some examples of white collar crime -

1.  Corporate fraud.  Someone may have “cooked the books” at the end of the year.

2.  Forgery.  More difficult these days, but still very prevalent.

3.  Mortgage fraud.  How many upside down homes are there in Florida?

Here are two that are more modern -

4.  Identity theft.  This type of crime is growing with today’s technology.

5.  Internet scams.  Who among us has not seen these?

When you or someone you care about has been accused of a white collar crime, Do NOT panic!  Rely on the combined half-century of expertise of Nat Kidder and Bill Bennett.  From their St. Petersburg office they have handled this type of criminal accusation with amazing success.  Please call today and make an appointment for a free consultation at (727) 821-8000.

Florida Drug Laws in 2017.

We hope you have had a safe and secure 2016.  The drug laws are changing as the New Year approaches in the United States.  Many states are changing their marijuana laws.  Be careful.  Don’t get caught in believing that Florida has become more relaxed in its enforcement of marijuana possession in 2017!  The new administration may actually be tougher on crime.

We hope that you never need a great, aggressive criminal drug attorney, but if you do it is important to hire a firm that has experience in all types of drug possession.  There are pills, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, marijuana (both growing and carrying), and of course trafficking of any and all drugs.  There are various ways and means of getting busted.

Don’t panic.  If you get arrested in the state of Florida for drug possession or trafficking make your first call to Kidder and Bennet.  Nat Kidder and William Bennet will bring their combined half-century of criminal defense experience to your case to help you through your drug case.  In Pinellas County keep this phone number handy (727) 821-8000.

What is Mediation?

You have the opportunity to resolve a dispute outside of court.  It does not have to always be a contentious court battle when two parties disagree on a matter.  Why not reach a win/win?  It is possible with mediation handled by expert, experienced negotiators who have resolved disputes for decades.

What is the benefit of mediation in the first place?

1.  You can maintain a civil relationship with the other party.

2.  There is much less angst than there is with a trial.
3.  It will speed up the process and reach a conclusion quicker.
4.  It is less expensive…isn’t that a great reason?

In the state of Florida you have a couple of certified Florida Supreme Court mediators who bring a combined half century of experience to the process.  They are Florida mediator attorneys Nat Kidder and Bill Bennett.  Do not let this disagreement fester any longer!  Call on the Florida professionals at handling disputes located in St. Petersburg at (727) 821-8000.