Practice Areas

Criminal Defense and Family Law Attorneys Helping Jacksonville Residents

At Ellis and Bryant, P.A., our attorneys represent clients throughout Northeast Florida in a wide range of matters. Whether you are considering a divorce, grappling with child custody issues, or facing criminal charges, we are dedicated to guiding you through the legal process with experience and compassion. We take a proactive approach to legal representation. We work to understand the specific needs of each client whom we assist so we can articulate and advocate for their interests as early in the process as possible. Contact us today if you need a Jacksonville family law lawyer or a criminal defense attorney.

Divorce and Other Family Law Matters

Divorce proceedings often raise a wide variety of complicated legal issues. The good news is that some spouses can take advantage of a streamlined divorce process that is intended to help them end their marriages in a relatively simple manner. Divorcing spouses who do not qualify for this process still may be able to work collaboratively to resolve many of the issues related to their divorce in some cases.

During a divorce, it is important to protect your financial future. Florida’s equitable distribution law provides that courts should divide a divorcing couple’s shared assets and liabilities in a fair manner under the circumstances. A judge may deviate from an even distribution based on a number of factors, including the length of the marriage, the spouses’ economic circumstances, whether either spouse took time off from work or school during the marriage, and the spouses’ contributions to each other’s career and educational opportunities. Our lawyers have significant experience representing clients in disputes related to property distribution and other divorce issues.

Criminal Defense

Our firm also represents defendants in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Even if a charge seems relatively minor at the time, a criminal conviction carries the risk of not only fines and jail time but also a record that may make it difficult to pass background checks and obtain professional or educational opportunities.

It is important to keep in mind that the burden is at all times on prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime with which you have been charged. They can only do that with the evidence that the court allows to be admitted. Among other principles, search and seizure rules provided by the Fourth Amendment set important limits on evidence. Depending on the situation, your attorney may be able to prevent the prosecution from proving the case against you by making a procedural argument that gets certain evidence excluded. Or we may be able to argue that your actions or mental state did not meet one or more of the required elements of the charge.

DUI or DWI

Like other states across the country, Florida makes it a crime for a person to get behind the wheel of a car while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Impairment or intoxication is usually gauged based on blood alcohol content, as measured by blood, breath, or urine tests. If your BAC is .08 percent or higher, you are considered intoxicated under the law.

There are a number of defenses that may be available to a person charged with DUI, also sometimes called DWI. For example, your lawyer can explore whether the police officer who pulled over your car had a valid basis for doing so. Your attorney can also investigate accuracy and reliability issues related to the testing devices used to measure your BAC.

Consult a DUI, Criminal Defense, or Family Lawyer in the Jacksonville Area

Our team works vigorously to protect and advance clients’ rights and interests. Partner Samantha Ellis is a seasoned Jacksonville family law attorney, while partner Gary Bryant is a criminal defense lawyer who, as a former Assistant State Attorney, can anticipate how the prosecution may try to prove its case and help defendants fight back against it. Our firm is committed to serving people in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Orange Park, Middleburg, and other communities in Duval and Clay Counties during their times of need. Call us at (904) 551-4120 or contact us online to set up a free consultation with a lawyer.

• Family Law
  • Adoption
  • Child Custody
  • Child Custody Modification
  • Imputed Income
  • Divorce
  • Child Support
  • Child Support Modification
  • Spousal Support
  • Property Division
  • Enforcement and Contempt
• Criminal Law
  • Assault and Battery
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes
  • Gun Crimes
  • Sex Crimes
  • Theft Crimes
• DUI Defense
  • Chemical Testing
  • DUI Refusal
  • First Time DUI
  • Repeat DUIs
  • Field Sobriety Testing
  • Underage DUI
  • DUI Accidents
  • Aggravated DUI
  • DUI With a Minor in the Vehicle
  • Drug DUI
  • Ignition Interlock Device
  • License Suspension
  • DUI Arrest
  • Evidence in DUI Cases
  • DUI Stop
  • DUI Checkpoints
  • Plea Bargains in DUI Cases
  • DUI Arraignments
  • Hardship License
  • Defenses to DUI
  • Wet Reckless
• Traffic Tickets