Katz & Associates | St. Lucie County, Florida
Port St. Lucie Criminal Defense Lawyer
Know what the charge could mean for work, driving and home.
Katz & Associates helps people facing criminal charges in Port St. Lucie understand the case and the choices ahead. Tell us about the charge and what it is changing in your daily life. We can discuss the legal help you need and what hiring the firm would involve.
Port St. Lucie service area
Criminal defense for people with matters in St. Lucie County.
Treasure Coast office
Meetings arranged through the firm's office in Stuart.
A direct conversation
Discuss your charge, the work involved and legal fees.
Start with the effects on your day
Talk about work and home when you talk about the charge.
You may be able to manage a court date but still be unsure how to get to work or where to stay. Those facts matter when you speak with counsel. Make clear which limits you face now and which consequences you are worried about.
A charge's name will not answer every question. The facts, your prior record, any release order and the stage of the case all affect what needs attention.
Driving to work
Bring any license notice as well as your court papers. Ask whether a suspension, permit or release term affects your commute or the driving your job requires.
A job or professional license
Explain what your job requires and any deadline for reporting a charge. Ask for advice before assuming that a case outcome will satisfy an employer or licensing board.
Home and child care
Show counsel any order that limits contact or access to your home. Ask how to address child care and belongings while following the written terms.
Before treating a notice as a routine ticket
Find out whether the traffic matter is a criminal case.
A traffic citation can lead to very different kinds of proceedings. Some violations are civil. Others, including DUI and certain driving-while-license-suspended allegations, are criminal matters. Do not assume an online payment will resolve the criminal case.
The Nineteenth Circuit's criminal division guide separates civil traffic from criminal traffic. Have the citation, notice to appear and case number reviewed so you know which process applies.
The firm handles more than traffic allegations. Our Florida criminal defense practice explains the broader range of charges and concerns we can discuss. This page focuses on finding help for a matter affecting someone in Port St. Lucie.
The facts that can change a defense
Different accusations call for different questions.
Ask about your particular charge, whether it is a misdemeanor, felony or probation matter. A useful review connects the allegation to the evidence and the rules that apply.
DUI and criminal traffic
Why was the vehicle stopped? What do test records or video show? Your lawyer can assess the criminal charge and identify a separate license issue.
Drug allegations
Where was the substance found, and who could access that place? Search records, lab results and the surrounding facts may matter.
Theft and fraud
What was taken or represented, who had permission, and what records exist? Receipts, messages and financial records can help explain a disputed event.
Battery and domestic allegations
Who saw the encounter, and what happened before it? Discuss injuries, video and any claim of lawful self-defense. Review release terms at the same time.
Probation violations
What term does the state say was broken? Keep reporting instructions, payment records and other proof of compliance. Ask how the alleged violation affects the existing case.
Keep relevant records intact. Tell your lawyer about information that supports your account and facts that may create a problem. A complete account helps counsel assess the risks.
A local court check before you travel
Confirm the St. Lucie County court on your notice.
Port St. Lucie is in St. Lucie County, within Florida's Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. The St. Lucie County Clerk's criminal resources distinguish Circuit Criminal felony records from County Criminal misdemeanor, criminal traffic and ordinance records.
The county has more than one court location. Check the hearing address and reporting instructions for your own case. A place where the Clerk accepts payments or filings may not be where your criminal hearing is held.
St. Lucie West annex
250 N.W. Country Club Drive
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
The Clerk lists traffic and small-claims proceedings among services here. That listing does not assign your criminal case to this address.
Fort Pierce courthouse
218 South 2nd Street
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
This is the county's main courthouse. Use the court notice and confirmed reporting instructions to plan your visit.
The Clerk's location directory lists both sites. Its criminal case search can help check upcoming dates and the assigned judge. Courtroom assignments can change. Only the judge can reset or excuse a criminal court appearance.
If you received a DUI suspension notice
Keep the license deadline separate from the court date.
A DUI arrest may involve a criminal case and an administrative license suspension. Waiting for the court hearing can mean missing a deadline in the license process.
Under Florida Statutes section 322.2615, a driver may request formal or informal review within 10 days after the suspension notice is issued. Other options and any temporary driving permit depend on the notice and eligibility.
Have the notice checked promptly. Do not assume you can keep driving because the criminal case is still pending.
Discuss the representation before deciding
Know who would handle the case and what the fee covers.
Ask how the firm would approach your matter, who you would speak with and how you would receive updates. Tell the team about the next date or decision you need help with.
Katz & Associates serves the Treasure Coast from its Stuart office at 770 SE Indian Street, Suite A-16, Stuart, FL 34997. When you call, discuss where you would meet counsel and what your court attendance may involve. Learn about the firm on its About page.
Before hiring counsel, discuss the fee, payment terms and the work included. Ask about trial, outside costs and any separate license proceeding. The answer should fit the charge and the stage of your case. No lawyer can promise a particular result.
Questions tied to daily life
What should I ask before the next decision?
My job requires driving. What should I ask after a DUI arrest?
Ask counsel to check the suspension notice, your license status and any permit before you drive. A future criminal court date does not keep a license valid. Explain whether your job requires driving so the review addresses that concern.
The other person invited me home. Can I go if there is a no-contact order?
Follow the order's written terms. The other person's invitation does not change a court order. Florida's release-condition law also covers indirect contact. Ask your lawyer how to address housing, belongings or child care through the proper court process.
My record shows a dismissed case. Why is it still there?
A dismissal does not itself remove the arrest record. Sealing or expungement has separate requirements. FDLE explains the process, including eligibility and court review. Even a Certificate of Eligibility does not itself seal or expunge a record.
What if my notice and the online court calendar show different information?
Tell your attorney promptly and have the hearing details confirmed. Do not choose a date or skip an appearance based on a conflict you have not resolved. The Clerk provides case information, but only the judge can reset or excuse a criminal appearance.
What should I ask if I am quoted one fee for the criminal case?
Ask which charges, hearings and trial work the quote includes. Confirm how outside costs are handled and whether a separate license matter adds work or cost. Review the terms before hiring the firm rather than assuming every related issue is included.
Make room for a useful conversation
Tell us which part of the case is disrupting your day.
Call 772-933-5289 or choose a time to speak with Katz & Associates. Mention any court date, release restriction or license notice that needs prompt attention.
You can contact the firm's team with the basics even if you do not yet have a full file. Discuss the charge, the help you need and whether the firm can take your matter.
Request a case consultation
Leave your contact details and a short description of the help you need. Save sensitive evidence for a discussion about a suitable way to share it.
This page gives general information, not legal advice for your case. Contacting the firm through a web form does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.