Firm Overview

You Have Rights — and Options

Joseph J. Registrato, Attorney At Law in Florida
People have rights they don't know about. And that's one good reason to talk to a lawyer before you agree to anything, sign any papers or plead guilty or no contest to a criminal charge.

Time With Your Children
Nothing is more sacred than the right of a parent to be with his or her children. It is very common for one or both parties to a divorce to attempt to deny the other of the one thing that is most important to them. It's a precious right that nobody should lose. In an effort to cut down on disputes over child custody, the Florida legislature has gone so far as to remove the word "custody" from the law, but doing so has not changed the fact that a parent may truly believe the other parent is unfit to share in the decision making about the child and/or that he or she should never be in a position of responsibility over the child because he is a danger to the child. So despite the legislature's effort to stop the fighting by changing the words in the law, the fight over "who gets the kids" continues unabated.

Alimony
Many people think alimony, or spousal support, is a thing of the past. It's not. People who are divorcing, both men and women, often have the right to be supported financially, sometimes for the rest of their lives. But to get that support, you may have a fight on your hands because your soon-to-be ex probably won't want to pay it. On the other hand, some people try to get alimony even when they're not entitled to it, so in that case you must fight against it. Do you know when it's going to be awarded and when it's not?

Search and Seizure
When is a police search or even a simple traffic stop illegal and therefore subject to being thrown out? What happens if you were not properly informed of your right to a lawyer before making an incriminating statement? Are all so-called consent searches legal?

Whether you have a right to alimony or whether you may be obligated to pay it and whether you have been searched or stopped illegally by the police are only two of the dozens of legal rights every person has and may not know about.

Joe Registrato has practiced law in Florida since 1989. After being a reporter and editor at The Tampa Tribune for 16 years, Joe went to law school. His first job was as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office. He later served as chief assistant public defender. He currently practices law in Tampa and will answer questions about all the rights you have and may or may not know about.

Free Consultations and Help 24/7
Family problems do not suddenly stop at 5 p.m. That's one reason we have a paralegal with more then 20 years of experience on the job 24/7. It's not unusual to have urgent calls on the weekends or at night, and they are frequently emergencies about children. Contact the Registrato law firm to learn more about your legal concerns.