Top-rated juvenile lawyers

What does a juvenile lawyer do?

A juvenile lawyer represents children and parents in delinquency cases, when a child is charged with a crime, and in dependency cases, when the state alleges abuse or neglect.

• Delinquency charges and detention hearings
• Diversion and civil citation programs
• Dependency and shelter cases
• Termination of parental rights
• Juvenile record expunction
• School-related charges

When do you need a juvenile lawyer?

Call a juvenile lawyer as soon as a child is taken into custody or a parent is served with a dependency petition: the first hearing comes within 24 hours.

• Your child was arrested or taken into custody
• You received a dependency or shelter petition
• Your child was offered a diversion program
• You want to clear a juvenile record

Who are the best juvenile lawyers in Florida?

The statewide ranking lists the top 25 of the 66 juvenile lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best juvenile lawyers in Florida.

Where can I find a juvenile lawyer in Florida?

Juvenile rankings cover 4 Florida cities; Gainesville has the most lawyers compared (9).

How much does a juvenile lawyer cost in Florida?

Private juvenile lawyers usually charge a flat fee per case or bill by the hour. If the family is indigent, the court appoints counsel for the child. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.

Florida juvenile rules to know

A Florida child taken into custody for a delinquent act must get a detention hearing within 24 hours and has the right to a lawyer at every stage of the case.

What does Board Certified in Juvenile Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

How to choose a juvenile lawyer

Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.

1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
2. Check for Board Certified in Juvenile Law, which requires peer review and an exam.
3. Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
4. Ask: How many juvenile cases have you handled in this circuit?
5. Ask: Is my child eligible for diversion?
6. Ask: Who will attend the detention hearing?

How LexRanked ranks juvenile lawyers

By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked November 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, section 985.255 (detention hearing)
• Florida Statutes, section 985.26 (length of detention)
• Florida Statutes, section 985.033 (right to counsel)
• Florida Statutes, section 39.402 (placement in a shelter)
• Florida Statutes, section 943.0582 (diversion program expunction)
• Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
• The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory