Find a Lawyer in South Florida
Browse vetted attorneys and law firms across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
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Attorneys & Law Firms in South Florida
Browse 16 reviewed legal professionals across Miami, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Weston, Hollywood, Bay Harbor Islands, and Deerfield Beach.
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For First-Time Clients
How to Choose a Lawyer in South Florida
Hiring an attorney in South Florida requires evaluating experience, fee structures, and standing with the state bar. Here is what you need to know before signing a representation agreement.
What to Look For
Specific Experience
Choose an attorney who actively handles your specific legal matter in local courts. A criminal defense lawyer who handles DUIs in Miami-Dade may not be the right choice for a complex commercial real estate transaction in Fort Lauderdale.
Local Court Familiarity
South Florida encompasses three separate judicial circuits (11th in Miami-Dade, 17th in Broward, 15th in Palm Beach). Ensure your attorney regularly practices in the court system where your case will be heard.
Clean Disciplinary History
Always check an attorney's record with The Florida Bar before scheduling a consultation or paying a retainer.
Questions to Ask in a Consultation
- 1.How many cases like mine have you handled in Miami-Dade or Broward courts in the past 12 months?
- 2.Will you personally handle my case, or will it be assigned to an associate or paralegal?
- 3.What is your fee structure — contingency, hourly, or flat fee?
- 4.What out-of-pocket costs (court filing fees, expert witnesses, court reporters) will I be responsible for?
- 5.How long do you estimate this case will take to resolve?
- 6.What is the realistic likelihood of reaching a settlement versus going to trial?
Legal Fees in South Florida
Contingency Fees
Common in personal injury cases. Under Florida Bar Rule 4-1.5(f), standard contingency fee caps are 33.3% of any recovery up to $1 million if settled before an answer or demand for arbitration is filed, and 40% if the case proceeds past that stage. You pay no legal fees unless you win, though you may remain responsible for court filing costs.
Hourly Rates
Common in family law, business litigation, and immigration. In South Florida, experienced attorneys typically charge between $350 and $650+ per hour, while associates bill between $250 and $400 per hour.
Flat Fees
Used for straightforward legal matters such as uncontested divorces ($1,500 \u2013 $3,500), basic estate planning packages ($1,200 \u2013 $3,000), or first-offense DUI defense ($2,500 \u2013 $6,000).
Red Flags to Avoid
Guarantees of Victory
Florida Bar rules prohibit attorneys from guaranteeing specific outcomes. Walk away from any lawyer who promises a guaranteed settlement amount or verdict.
Unclear Fee Agreements
Never sign a contract that does not explicitly detail hourly rates, contingency percentages, and cost responsibilities in writing.
High-Pressure Signings
A reputable law firm will allow you time to review the representation agreement before signing.
Verify an Attorney's License
Verify any attorney's active license, eligibility, and official disciplinary history through The Florida Bar's official attorney search at floridabar.org.
Find a Lawyer
Practice Areas in South Florida
Browse local attorneys by practice area. Each guide outlines what an attorney does, what to expect during the process, and relevant Florida deadlines.
Personal Injury
If you have been injured in an auto accident, slip and fall, or negligent security incident in South Florida, a personal injury attorney helps you recover medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering compensation.
What to Expect
Your lawyer will investigate the incident, collect medical records, negotiate directly with insurance adjusters, and file a lawsuit if a fair settlement is refused.
Filing Deadline
Florida generally applies a two-year limitations period to negligence actions. The current statute also contains separate rules for medical malpractice, wrongful death, written contracts, fraud, minors, tolling, and other claims, so confirm the provision governing the specific cause of action and incident date.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Live South Florida Providers
Alexandr Griss, Ilyas Akbari, Jason Turchin, Steinger Greene & Feiner, Shiner Law Group, Walled Law
Real Estate Law
Real estate attorneys assist buyers, sellers, investors, and commercial entities with property transactions, title examination, lease contracts, and property disputes across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
What to Expect
Your attorney reviews purchase contracts, examines title commitments to clear liens, coordinates closings, and represents clients in boundary or contract disputes.
Filing Deadline
Florida's 2026 limitations statute generally provides five years for actions founded on a written instrument and four years for actions not founded on a written instrument, subject to claim-specific exceptions and accrual rules.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Live South Florida Providers
Perez Mayoral, P.A., Lourdes Ferrer
Immigration Law
Immigration attorneys guide individuals, families, and businesses through visa applications, permanent residency (green cards), naturalization, and deportation defense in South Florida.
What to Expect
Your attorney prepares federal filings with USCIS, represents clients in Immigration Court (EOIR) proceedings, and manages employment-based or family-based petitions.
Filing Deadline
Governed by federal administrative deadlines and specific USCIS notice windows.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Live South Florida Providers
Larissa Salvador, Morella Salazar Dager
Family Law & Divorce
Family law attorneys manage dissolution of marriage, child custody disputes, spousal support (alimony), and prenuptial agreements in South Florida circuit courts.
What to Expect
Florida is an equitable distribution state. Your attorney will catalog marital assets and debts, negotiate parenting plans, and represent you in mediation or court hearings.
Filing Deadline
No statute of limitations to file for divorce, but Florida requires at least 6 months of state residency before filing.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Live South Florida Providers
Lynette Silon-Laguna
Criminal Defense
Criminal defense attorneys represent individuals charged with misdemeanors, DUIs, drug offenses, or state and federal felonies in South Florida courts.
What to Expect
Your attorney examines prosecution evidence, files motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence, negotiates plea agreements, and conducts trial defense.
Filing Deadline
Constitutional rights attach immediately upon arrest. Defense representation should begin immediately.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Live South Florida Providers
Lynette Silon-Laguna
Business & Commercial Law
Business attorneys advise South Florida business owners on corporate formation, partnership agreements, commercial contract drafting, and dispute resolution.
What to Expect
Counsel assists with business structuring, operating agreements, employment contracts, and representation in breach of contract disputes in state or federal court.
Filing Deadline
Florida applies different limitations periods depending on the business claim, including five years for many actions founded on a written instrument and four years for fraud and actions not founded on a written instrument. Confirm the cause of action and accrual date.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Live South Florida Providers
Lourdes Ferrer
Estate Planning & Probate
Estate planning attorneys draft wills, trusts, healthcare surrogacies, and powers of attorney, as well as guide families through Florida probate administration after a death.
What to Expect
Your attorney creates customized estate structures to protect assets and avoid unnecessary probate delays, or represents personal representatives during court probate administration.
Filing Deadline
Probate and creditor deadlines depend on how notice is provided and the estate's procedural posture. Open the estate promptly and use the current Florida Probate Code and court notices for the controlling deadline.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Florida Law
What to Know About Florida Law
Key statutes, legal deadlines, and insurance rules that directly affect legal cases filed in South Florida.
Florida Statute of Limitations
Florida uses claim-specific limitations, accrual, tolling, and repose rules. The table is a general reference and should not be used as the sole source for a filing deadline.
| Claim Type | Filing Deadline | Relevant Statute & Key Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury / Negligence | 2 years | Shortened from 4 years to 2 years by 2023 HB 837 (effective for causes accruing after March 24, 2023). |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 years | 2 years from discovery (hard statute of repose of 4 years). NO statutory damage caps (struck down as unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court). |
| Property Damage | 4 years | Florida Statutes \u00a7 95.11 generally provides four years for actions for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property; accrual and claim-specific exceptions can apply. |
| Written Contracts | 5 years | Florida Statutes \u00a7 95.11 generally provides five years for actions founded on a written instrument; claim-specific exceptions and accrual rules can apply. |
| Wrongful Death | 2 years | Florida Statutes \u00a7 95.11 provides a two-year period for wrongful-death actions; accrual and tolling questions can be claim-specific. |
Medical Malpractice: No Damage Caps
Florida's former statutory medical-malpractice noneconomic-damages caps were invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court. Medical-negligence claims remain subject to specialized presuit, causation, filing, and damages rules, so the absence of those former caps should not be read as a prediction of recoverable damages.
Equitable Distribution in Divorce
Florida is an equitable distribution state (Fla. Stat. \u00a7 61.075), not a community property state. Courts begin with the premise that marital assets and debts should be divided 50/50, but may adjust the distribution based on factors such as marriage duration, financial contributions, and spousal economic circumstances.
No-Fault Auto Insurance & PIP
Florida uses a no-fault auto insurance system. Every driver must maintain Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, which pays up to $10,000 in medical benefits regardless of who caused the accident.
- •14-Day Treatment Rule: You must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash to receive PIP benefits.
- •Emergency Medical Condition (EMC): You receive the full $10,000 limit only if a medical provider diagnoses an Emergency Medical Condition. Non-EMC injuries are capped at $2,500.
- •Stepping Outside No-Fault: You can sue the at-fault driver for full damages (including pain and suffering) if your injury meets Florida’s threshold for a “serious injury” (permanent loss of a bodily function, permanent injury, significant scarring, or death).
Major 2023 Tort Reform Changes (HB 837)
Florida's HB 837 overhauled civil litigation statewide:
- •Modified Comparative Fault (51% Bar): Replaced pure comparative fault with a modified comparative fault model. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault for your injury, you are completely barred from recovering any damages from other parties (does not apply to medical malpractice).
- •One-Way Attorney Fees Eliminated: Repealed the statute requiring property insurance companies to automatically pay the policyholder’s legal fees upon losing a breach of contract dispute.
- •Shortened Negligence SOL: Reduced the standard personal injury filing window from 4 years to 2 years.
Court System
Where Your Case Will Be Heard in South Florida
South Florida legal matters are handled across county circuit courts and federal district courts depending on location and jurisdiction.
11th Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade County)
Jurisdiction: Circuit Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate matters in Miami-Dade County. Comprises 80 circuit court judges and 43 county court judges.
Main Criminal Courthouse: Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, 1351 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33125.
Main Civil Courthouse: Dade County Courthouse, 73 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130.
17th Judicial Circuit (Broward County)
Jurisdiction: Circuit Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate matters for Broward County.
Main Courthouse: Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
Federal Court: U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Jurisdiction: Federal civil lawsuits, federal criminal charges, and constitutional claims arising across South Florida.
Main Courthouse: Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 400 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33128 (with regional division courthouses in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach).
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Lawyer in South Florida
Resources
South Florida Legal Resources
Court Systems
11th Judicial Circuit Court (Miami-Dade)
Miami-Dade state court system
17th Judicial Circuit Court (Broward)
Broward state court system
15th Judicial Circuit Court (Palm Beach)
Palm Beach state court system
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Federal court
Third District Court of Appeal
Appellate court for Miami-Dade
Bar Associations & Public Records
Coverage Area