Practice Areas

Some legal proceedings have the power to change your life. These are not always changes that you want to happen, and they can haunt you far into the future. For instance, if you are charged with a crime, you may face jail time, fines, and other consequences due to your criminal record. Decisions made by a court about custody of your child can affect your relationship with your child for years to come. Likewise, whether you obtain damages after suffering a catastrophic injury inflicted by a careless driver can affect your financial security and your quality of life. Kevin M. Cobbin represents people who need a Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer or advocacy in a family law dispute or a personal injury claim.

We represent clients charged with crimes such as DUI, drug offenses, homicide, and gun crimes. In Florida, all crimes need to be established beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a tough standard for a prosecutor to meet. Every element in the crime needs to be proven to this standard in order to secure a conviction. There may be procedural and substantive issues that could be raised to get the charges dismissed, secure a favorable plea deal, or obtain an acquittal. For instance, if you are charged with drug possession, we may be able to show that the police caught you with the drugs due to an unlawful search and seizure prohibited by the Fourth Amendment. When evidence is obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, it may be subject to a motion to suppress. You should work with a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville who has experience building strong defenses to criminal charges.

Family law may involve matters such as divorce, alimony, property distribution, child custody, child support, paternity, and adoption. To file for divorce in Florida, you will need to meet residency requirements and show the court that your marriage has broken down irretrievably and that there is no remaining opportunity for you to repair it. Florida is an equitable distribution state. This means that the court will try to determine how property should be divided according to what is fair, which does not necessarily equate to an even split. The standard for a child custody determination is the best interests of the child, which are evaluated based on numerous factors. Representation by a knowledgeable attorney can make a huge difference to the outcome.

If you were injured through the fault of someone else, you may be able to obtain damages by bringing a personal injury lawsuit. Most personal injury lawsuits require you to establish negligence by a preponderance of the evidence. You will need to show that the defendant owed you a duty to use reasonable care under the circumstances, the defendant departed from the standard of care, the departure caused your injuries, and you suffered damages. The situation will determine what the duty of reasonable care was and whether it was breached. For example, the standard for a car accident case is different from the standard for a slip and fall case. Damages in personal injury cases may account for both economic and non-economic losses, ranging from medical bills and lost wages to pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Certain legal matters are emotionally fraught and can affect a Florida resident and their family for years to come. If you need a Jacksonville criminal defense attorney who will fight hard to keep your record clean, you should consult Kevin M. Cobbin. He also represents people who are going through a divorce or a dispute related to their children. Moreover, if you are dealing with the aftermath of an accident, such as a car crash or a slip and fall, you can contact Kevin M. Cobbin for assistance with a personal injury claim. Call him at (904) 357-8448 or complete our online form.