While many people know that creating a will is important to protect your assets and your family after you die, it’s also important to do the same while you are still living. By appointing a power of attorney, you can be protected while you are still living should you not be able to make decisions for yourself. Let’s take a look at some things an estate planning lawyer thinks that you should consider when it comes appointing a power of attorney. Age and Proximity First off, the person you choose should ideally be younger than you. Sure, being younger doesn’t always mean that that person will outlive you, the chances are significantly higher. You also want the person to live near you. Should an emergency arise, having your power of attorney close by will be much easier than having to have someone fly in from far away or handle any important decisions remotely. Trust This should go without saying, but obviously, you need to trust the person you appoint. The person you choose will essentially have control over your entire life should you become incapacitated or in a state where you can no longer make decisions on your own. It’s important that you trust that person to make decisions that are in the best interest of you. Are You Looking for an Estate Planning Lawyer? At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys, we don’t just deal with drug and alcohol-related charges. We also specialize in estate planning. Contact us today to learn more and to schedule your free consultation.

When it comes to preparing for after you are gone, many people don’t want to do it. Who can really blame them either? Why would anyone want to think about dying, let alone put together a plan for after they die? Without such a plan though, you can leave family and loved ones in the dark and facing many legal battles though. That’s why it is important to have your estate in order should you die unexpectedly. Let’s take a look at some tips for estate planning in Boca Raton. Create A Will A will is essentially a legal document that maps out where all your belongings and financials will go after you die. Everything from your 401k to your box of baseball cards can be documented in a will. If you have young children, it will also dictate who will get custody of them should you die before they become adults. Assign a Power of Attorney Should your health deteriorate for any reason, making you incapable of making financial decisions on your own, you can assign someone to do it for you. This is called power of attorney. The person you choose can then act on your behalf for all financial and estate decisions. Spell Out Your Health Care Wishes In that same scenario where your health deteriorates to the point where you aren’t able to make decisions for yourself, it’s also important to make your health care wishes and preferences be known. Maybe you want to give your power of attorney control over your health care as well. Or, maybe you have very specific preferences. Putting all that down on paper will help when the time comes. Are You Interested in Estate Planning in Boca Raton? When the day comes that you finally pass, don’t you want your family to be taken care of? If you are considering getting your estate in order, contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

Unfortunately, in this country, the go-to move when it comes to people dealing with substance abuse issues it to just throw them in jail. In many cases, not only does that not help the person, but it hurts them. Luckily, efforts have been made to try and remedy that and focus more on getting people help. Let’s take a look at how a drug and alcohol lawyer in Florida can help and how entering rehab can be done to avoid jail time. Are There Other Options Out There Other Than Jail? The short answer here is yes, but it depends on the state you live in. Many states have adopted something called drug court. Drug court works similar to regular court, however, they focus on alternative methods to jail including rehab treatment. While the first drug court was set up in Miami, there are now over 2,000 throughout the United States. The idea of a drug court is to get the person the help they need while avoiding jail. So, Will Going to Rehab Mean I Can Avoid Jail Time? Once again, the simple answer here is yes. However, once again it depends on the state you are in. Voluntarily going to rehab can result in a more lenient sentence or even eliminate any prison time altogether. Of course, this depends on several factors including severity of the crime and if you are a first-time offender. It also depends on the state the crime was committed in. Are You in Need of a Drug and Alcohol Lawyer in Florida? When it comes to avoiding jail time for a drug or alcohol charge, it is important to hire the right lawyer. At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys we have decades of experience dealing with just that. Contact us today for a free consultation.

When it comes to drug-related crimes, the laws are pretty universal at all levels. While the legalization of marijuana has changed some of the drug laws at the state level, at the federal level it’s all the same. Let’s take a look at some of the more common drug-related crimes and why you might need a drug crimes defense lawyer in Boca Raton. Paraphernalia Drug paraphernalia is used to describe any equipment that is used to aid in the intake of illegal drugs. It can also be used to describe things that are used to either hide or produce drugs. Common examples of drug paraphernalia include: Bongs Pipes Needles and Syringes Possession While the laws on drug possession vary from state to state, on the federal level it’s univeral. Those include weed, cocaine, and heroin. Someone who is caught possessing an illicit substance can be charged with either just regular possession or possession with the intent to distribute. Trafficking Drug trafficking is selling, transporting, or importing illegal drugs. With the exception of people in certain states that are legally allowed to sell marijuana out of shops, it is universally against the law to sell illicit drugs in any situation. Drug trafficking can also come with the harshest of penalties too including the possibility of life in prison. Are You Looking for a Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer in Boca Raton? If you have had a run-in with the law as it pertains to drug-related crimes, we want to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Alcohol can play a major role in crimes that technically aren’t considered “alcohol-related”. It can affect the brain in a way that impairs judgment. There are also crimes that are directly related to alcohol. This blog is going to focus on a few of those as well as why you might need an alcohol violations attorney in Boca Raton. DUI/DWI A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) are both very serious alcohol-related crimes. It goes on your driving record and raises your insurance premiums. It also results in a suspended license, and in some cases it can even result in jail time. Driving under the influence can not only affect you but others as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that roughly 40% of all U.S. traffic deaths are alcohol-related. Public Intoxication Have you ever had one too many to drink so instead of getting in your car, you decided to walk home? Well, even though you made a good decision in not driving, you might not be in the clear. If you are showing overly visible signs of intoxication or causing problems due to your intoxication, you can be charged with public intoxication. Public intoxication laws exist to prevent people from disturbing others in public. Also to remove people who appear to be unable to stop themselves from hurting themselves or others. Are You in Need of an Alcohol Violations Attorney in Boca Raton If you have been involved in an alcohol-related crime, it is important to hire the right lawyer. At Drug and Alcohol attorneys we specialize in drug and alcohol-related crimes. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

Addiction is a complex disease that not only affects the person addicted but those around them as well. While in a perfect world the person who is suffering from addiction would get help on their own, that doesn’t always happen. In some situations, family and friends have to talk that person into getting help. In some extreme cases, the person has to essentially be forced into treatment against their will. This is known as the Marchman Act. Let’s take a look at the Marchman Act in Florida and how forced treatment works. What is Forced Treatment? While in many cases forced treatment is a last ditch effort, sometimes it’s the only option left. Sometimes, the person suffering from addiction just isn’t going to get the help they need. When that happens, the Marchman Act can be implemented. A person can be Marchman Acted if they are either doing harm to themselves, have threatened harm on themselves or others, or if there is reason to believe that they could hurt someone. Does Forced Treatment Work? The answer to this depends on the individual person in question. However, it works from the standpoint that it gets them into treatment. From there it is up to the person suffering from the addiction to decide if they want to accept the treatment they are being given. For many people though, the Marchman Act not only saves their lives but puts them on a path to recovery. Are You Looking for More Information on the Marchman Act in Florida? At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys, we know how hard it can be to watch someone struggle with addiction. That’s why we have lawyers who specialize in the Marchman Act. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

If you or someone you know has a drug addiction, it can be a very stressful time for everyone. It can be tough to watch them go down that path, or bring yourself to getting help. To make matter worse, for many people their decision to finally get help coincides with legal problems. Luckily, there are lawyers out there that specialize in drug addiction cases. Let’s take a look at how an addiction lawyer in Boca Raton can help. Can A Drug Addiction Be Used as a Defense? Generally speaking, a drug addiction can’t be used as a defense in court. However, being under the influence of a substance can be used in some cases. This can happen when it can be proven that the person is physically or mentally dependent on the substance. An example of this is when a person is unable to control their volitions due to their issue. How Can an Addiction Lawyer Help Me? Being charged with a crime as a result of a substance abuse problem can be a scary time. In many cases, the person in question didn’t even mean to or realize they were committing to the crime due to the substance, but the consequences can be life-changing. An addiction lawyer specializes in these exact scenarios and sometimes can work with the court to either lessen the jail time or even get the offending person into a diversion program or rehab as an alternative to jail. Are You Looking for an Addiction Lawyer in Boca Raton? At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys, we know that an arrest resulting from a drug addiction or substance abuse problem can be a very scary time. That’s why we want to help. If you or someone you know is facing a charge stemming from a drug problem, contact us immediately to learn how we can help.

While we hope that nobody drinks and drives, we know that sometimes it happens. A DUI is a big deal and can result in a loss of license, money, and even a person’s job. If you have had a DUI it is important to know what happens after the arrest and how you can get your life back on track. Let’s take a look at what exactly happens after a DUI from a Boca Raton DUI lawyer. What Happens After the Arrest? If you refuse to take a Breathalyzer test at the scene or are found to be above the legal limit, you will be taken into custody. In addition, your license will likely be suspended and your car impounded. Going to Court After being released from jail, you will then receive a summons to appear in court for your DUI charge. At that point, it is then up to the judge to decide your punishment. You will need a lawyer to help represent you in court. If found guilty, your license will likely either remain or become suspended, you will have to pay fines and court costs, and in some extreme cases, you might even have to serve jail time. Are You in Need of a Boca Raton DUI Lawyer? Unfortunately, DUIs happen. When they do, we don’t want you to feel alone. At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys, our attorneys specialize in DUI cases and will be with you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

Emergency temporary guardianship, or ETG, is used in a situation where the person in question is unable to make their own healthcare decisions. This could be due to issues with alcohol or drugs or any other medical issue that could arise that would leave someone temporarily incapacitated. Let’s take a deeper look at how an ETG works and how a guardianship lawyer in Florida can help. What is an Emergency Guardianship? An emergency guardianship allows someone to make health care decisions on behalf of a person who is temporarily incapable of doing so. This happens when it has been determined that the person in question is not in a state to make their own decisions. How Are They Created? While in most cases emergency guardianships are created under the direction of the court systems, lawyers can also create it. In the case of the court system, an emergency guardianship is typically court ordered and handed down by a judge. What Are the Requirements? While some of the requirements can vary from state to state, some things are universal. Typically there needs to be some proof of either incapacitation, risk of harm, or proof of no other alternatives. A person can not just name themselves a guardian. They either have to be appointed by a lawyer, the court, or noted in a legal document. Are You Looking for a Guardianship Lawyer in Florida? At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys, we are a state-wide law firm with Emergency guardianship attorneys serving every county in Florida. If you or someone you know knows someone that you believe could benefit from a temporary guardianship, contact us immediately.

The Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993, or more commonly referred to as the Marchman Act, provides for emergency assistance and temporary detention for individuals requiring substance abuse evaluation and treatment in the state of Florida. The act essentially allows a friend or family member to force someone into treatment. How exactly does the Marchman Act work though and how did it come about? Let’s take a deeper look at what it is from a Marchman Act lawyer in Florida. How Does It Work? In order to initiate the Marchman Act, a petition needs to be filed for involuntary assessment in the county court. The petition must be filed in good faith by a person recognized by the court to do so. In order to file, the person that is filing must have either reason to believe or direct knowledge that the individual in question has lost control of their substance abuse problem. They also need to have reason to believe that they can have the potential to inflict direct harm on either themselves or others. How is the Petition Filed? When it comes to filing the paperwork, it’s actually fairly simple. The packet will be provided by either the clerk at your local county court or by your Marchman Act lawyer. Once the packet is filled out, it will be presented to that same clerk of court to determine if the individual in question meets the Marchman Act requirements. Are You Looking for a Marchman Act Lawyer in Florida? At Drug and Alcohol Attorneys, we are a state-wide law firm with Marchman Act Attorneys serving every county in Florida. If you or someone you know knows someone that you believe could benefit from being Marchman Acted, contact us immediately.