Criminal Defense Attorneys in Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Palm Beach Gardens arrests are prosecuted in Palm Beach County, where a strong early defense matters. A Florida-licensed criminal defense attorney practicing in Palm Beach Gardens will review your charges for free.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Florida attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Palm Beach Gardens criminal defense case review

A Florida attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

By submitting, you agree that DearLegal and the attorneys or law firms we connect you with may contact you by phone and email about your inquiry, including by automated technology.

DearLegal is not a law firm and will not provide legal advice. DearLegal connects users to licensed attorneys.

How we match your Palm Beach Gardens criminal defense case

When you submit a Palm Beach Gardens criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Florida law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Florida who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Start my free case review How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Criminal Defense cases in Palm Beach Gardens

More about legal help in Palm Beach Gardens →

Palm Beach Gardens police, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol all make arrests in the city, with DUI and traffic stops concentrated along PGA Boulevard, Northlake Boulevard, and the I-95 corridor, and retail theft cases arising around the mall and shopping plazas. Felony charges are prosecuted in Palm Beach County Circuit Court in West Palm Beach, while misdemeanors and traffic offenses are handled in county court, and a few cases move to federal court in the Southern District of Florida. Early representation shapes bond and charging decisions. DearLegal matches you with a Florida-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Palm Beach Gardens, with a free review.

Felonies from Palm Beach Gardens are prosecuted in Palm Beach County Circuit Court; misdemeanors and traffic cases go to county court.
The State Attorney's Office for Palm Beach County prosecutes state charges, and first appearances happen quickly after arrest.
Palm Beach County offers diversion and problem-solving court options for some first-time and substance-related cases.

Florida criminal defense rules at a glance

Palm Beach Gardens cases run under Florida law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Florida page.

Read the full Florida criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for capital, life, or first-degree felonies punishable by life; 4 years for first-degree felonies; 3 years for other felonies (Fla. Stat. § 775.15)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for first-degree misdemeanors; 1 year for second-degree (Fla. Stat. § 775.15)
Sentencing Structure: Criminal Punishment
Criminal Punishment Code (Fla. Stat. § 921.0024) scoresheet system; 10-20-Life firearm mandatory minimums (§ 775.087); Habitual Offender (§ 775.084) and PRR (§ 775.082(9)) enhancements
Expungement / Record Sealing: Fla. Stat. § 943.0585
Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (expungement of non-convictions); § 943.059 (sealing of records); narrow eligibility, one-time use, many exclusions; juvenile expunction under § 943.0515
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.131 and Fla. Stat. § 903; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Fla. Const. Art. I, § 14); Arthur hearings for capital and life felony cases
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Palm Beach Gardens criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Florida · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Florida are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Florida work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Fla. R. Prof. Conduct 4-1.5(f)(3)(A) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (homicide, federal healthcare fraud, multi-count) use hourly billing with substantial retainers. Florida’s 20 elected Public Defender offices represent indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

Palm Beach Gardens criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Florida attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

Felony charges are handled in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, and misdemeanors, DUI, and traffic offenses are handled in county court. Some conduct, particularly federal drug, firearm, or fraud allegations, is charged in federal court instead. An attorney will identify the court and the prosecuting office handling your case.

Sometimes. Palm Beach County has diversion and pretrial intervention options for certain first-time offenses, and completion can lead to dismissal and later sealing or expungement eligibility. Eligibility depends on the charge and your history. An attorney can ask the prosecutor about these programs early, when the request carries the most weight.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made before you have counsel are frequently the strongest evidence against a defendant. You can say you want a lawyer and stop the interview. Get an attorney involved before any interview, before a breath test decision if possible, and before your first court date.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Florida law enforcement — Miami-Dade PD, Broward Sheriff, Orlando PD, FHP, FDLE — use trained interrogation techniques. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and your right to counsel under Miranda.

Yes. Florida first-degree misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in jail and $1,000 fines under Fla. Stat. § 775.082. Pretrial intervention (PTI) under Fla. Stat. § 948.08 can result in dismissal for first-time offenders, but enrollment requires prosecutor consent. Convictions trigger collateral consequences — license suspension, federal firearm bans for DV, immigration consequences.