Business Details
Your Trusted Lakeland Law Firm for Family Law & Personal Injury
Founded over two decades ago, Advocate Law Firm, P.A has established itself as a trusted legal advocate in Lakeland, Florida. Our practice focuses on family law, personal injury, and criminal defense, with a commitment to aggressive representation tailored to each client's unique needs. We prioritize client education, transparent communication, and local legal expertise to navigate complex court systems effectively. Our team combines extensive litigation experience with a personalized approach, ensuring clients understand every step of their legal journey.Bilingual services in English and Spanish support diverse client needs, while contingency fee arrangements make personal injury representation accessible. The firm's founder, Melissa A. Wilson, brings specialized expertise in family law mediation and collaborative divorce solutions.
Services
Family Law
Personal Injury
Criminal Defense
Estate Planning
Same-Sex Divorce
Highlights and features
- We offer over 20 years of local courtroom experience in Polk County
- Our firm provides bilingual legal services in English and Spanish
- We operate on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases
- Our founder is Florida Supreme Court Certified in Family Law Mediation
- We combine aggressive litigation with personalized client care
What people say
First Class Operation
Excellent Staff
Nothing short of extraordinary!
Aggressive representation
Professional and dedicated
Services
Family Law
Our family law practice handles divorce, child custody, and adoption cases with specialized expertise in Polk County court procedures. We provide strategic guidance for asset division, alimony, and post-judgment modifications while prioritizing clients' emotional needs during difficult transitions. Our collaborative law approach offers alternatives to traditional litigation.
Personal Injury
We represent clients injured in accidents through contingency-based legal services, handling car crashes, dog bites, and boating incidents. Our firm negotiates with insurance companies and pursues full compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain suffering while managing complex case documentation and evidence collection.
Criminal Defense
Our criminal defense services protect clients' rights against charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. We handle cases involving drug crimes, domestic violence, and traffic offenses while exploring expungement options. Strategic defense planning focuses on charge reduction or case dismissal through pre-trial negotiations or courtroom litigation.
Estate Planning
Estate planning services include wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents to manage clients' legal affairs. We provide probate litigation support and revocable trust creation while ensuring compliance with Florida estate laws and addressing complex inheritance scenarios.
Same-Sex Divorce
Specialized same-sex divorce services address unique legal challenges in marital dissolution, including interstate marriage recognition issues. We provide compassionate representation for property division, child custody, and post-judgment modifications while staying current with evolving LGBTQ+ family law statutes.
People
Melissa A. Wilson
Founder / Family Law Mediator
With over 20 years of legal experience, Melissa A. Wilson specializes in family law mediation and aggressive courtroom representation. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator and Collaboratively Trained Professional, she focuses on divorce, child custody, and complex family law matters while maintaining active involvement in local legal proceedings.
Jenny Salvia
Attorney
Jenny Salvia provides dedicated legal support in family law and personal injury cases, working closely with clients to understand their unique circumstances. She collaborates with senior attorneys to develop effective legal strategies while maintaining commitment to client advocacy and case preparation.
Questions
What family law services do you offer in Lakeland?
We handle all aspects of family law including divorce, child custody, alimony, adoption, and domestic violence injunctions with local court expertise.
How does your personal injury contingency fee work?
You pay no upfront fees for personal injury cases - our payment comes as a percentage of your settlement or court award.
Do you handle out-of-state same-sex divorce cases?
Yes, we assist with complex same-sex divorce cases involving interstate marriage recognition challenges and related legal proceedings.
What should I do immediately after a car accident?
Seek medical attention, document the scene, exchange information with involved parties, and contact our firm promptly for legal guidance.
How long do personal injury cases typically take?
Case duration varies by complexity, but we prioritize efficient resolution through negotiation while preparing thoroughly for potential litigation.
