What to Bring to a Florida DUI Consultation: Sort the License and Court Papers
By Miller & Jacobs DUI Defense Attorneys
Bring the papers you have, even if the file is incomplete. Start with the suspension notice, any temporary permit, citation, release terms and court notices. Keep the dates on those papers separate. A lawyer can help identify what needs attention first and which records are still missing.
You do not need to solve the case before the first call. The aim is to show what you received, when you received it and what questions you need answered.
Put the license notice near the top
Show the full notice to the lawyer promptly. Do not use the date of a later court hearing as the date to deal with the license issue. If you are unsure whether you may drive, ask about your actual notice and driving status before getting behind the wheel.
Write down the issue date exactly as printed. Also note when and how you received the paper. Do not calculate a final deadline from this checklist or assume an appointment request has filed anything for you.
Sort the papers into three groups
This is a way to prepare for a conversation. It is not a court form or a list of records you must have before a lawyer can speak with you.
License papers
Keep together:
• The suspension notice, including the back and any attached pages
• Any temporary permit and later license notices
• Copies of any review request you already sent
• Receipts, delivery records and replies about that request
• Any prior suspension or refusal notices you have
• DUI school enrollment or completion records, if you already have them
Court and release papers
Keep the citation, arrest paperwork you received, bond or release terms, and every court notice. Include later letters or messages about a changed hearing.
For each notice, copy the case number, court, date, time and location into your notes. Keep the notice itself beside that entry. If two papers show different dates, flag both rather than deciding which one to throw away.
Records that may help explain the encounter
Set aside what you already have:
• Original photos, video, messages and receipts
• Ride, parking or towing records
• Names and contact details for possible witnesses
• Available test or refusal paperwork
• Relevant medical or medication information to discuss privately with counsel
• A short list of other records you think may exist
You do not need to obtain police video or technical testing records on your own before calling. Tell the lawyer what you have and what is missing. Ask which records should be requested, who will request them and whether anything needs prompt preservation.
Make a short record list, not a polished story
Use one line for each paper or file:
Record name: ______
Who issued or supplied it: ______
Date printed on it: ______
Date received: ______
Any date or action it mentions: ______
Where the original is kept: ______
Question for the lawyer: ______
Leave a blank when you do not know. Label an estimate as an estimate. Keep your own memory separate from what someone else told you or what a report says.
For your timeline, note the stops, travel, police contact, testing, release and papers received in the order you remember. You do not need a persuasive explanation. An accurate account, including uncertainty, gives the discussion a better starting point.
You do not need to solve the case before the first call.
What if a paper is missing or a date looks wrong?
Call with the information you do have. Identify the agency, citation number or case number if available. Tell the lawyer which document is missing and why you think it exists.
If you sent something already, bring the exact copy and any proof of submission. A draft, an email waiting in your outbox and an acknowledgment from the recipient are different records. Ask the lawyer to check what has actually been received and what remains to be done.
Keep the originals and ask how to share them
Keep full files and complete message exchanges where possible. Put your notes on a separate copy. Do not alter an original to make it easier to explain.
Ask the law office how it wants to receive private records. Avoid posting medical information, license details or your account of the encounter on a public page. If you have a large video file, describe it and ask how to send it rather than cutting it down first.
If you already have a lawyer, raise the document and deadline questions with that lawyer. This checklist does not replace instructions for your case.
Leave with the next steps clear
Before the consultation ends, ask:
01
Which date or decision needs attention first?
02
Which license and court issues does the proposed representation cover?
03
Who will make any request or filing, and how will I know it was received?
04
Which records should I keep, obtain or send next?
05
What should I do if a new notice arrives?
06
What work and costs are included in the written fee agreement?
Do not assume that scheduling a consultation means the firm has accepted the case or will file a request. Confirm the scope and who is handling each next step.
Start with the notice and your main question
General information, not advice for a particular case. Have the actual notices, dates and circumstances reviewed.
Partner
Mark J. Miller is a Partner at Miller & Jacobs. His biography provides his professional background.
Partner
Rick S. Jacobs is a Partner at Miller & Jacobs. Read his biography for his career and education.
Talk Through the Papers and Next Steps
Bring the notice you have and your main question. Ask how to share records and confirm who is responsible for each next step.
General information, not advice for a particular case. Have the actual notices, dates and circumstances reviewed.