Practice Area
- CRIMINAL DEFENSE
- FAMILY LAW
Education
Birmingham School of Law, J.D.
Awards & Honours
Biography
Over the years, the enactment of various pieces of state and federal legislation has created a highly volatile environment for the overlap and interaction of the areas of family and criminal law. Particularly in the absence of a valid prenuptial agreement, the emotions of marital discord can result in one, or sometimes even both spouses, feeling compelled to resort to wildly exaggerated or totally false claims against the other that involve potential criminal liability or exposure. Without the benefit of zealous advocacy tempered with dispassionate professional judgment charting an ethical course to control the damage, the outcome can be far worse than the onset of financial difficulties or disaster for the litigants. In family law, focusing on goals for the members of your family by exploring all negotiation and mediation options is frequently necessary. In cases where there are unmarried parties with children in family court, we can be of assistance with paternity or dependency matters, or cases involving alleged juvenile delinquency, that also get litigated in that forum. For juveniles charged with delinquency, like adults charged with offenses in a criminal court, careful examination of the evidence has to be undertaken, sometimes with the assistance of expert witnesses, in order to prepare an effective defense for trial. No matter what your legal situation might be, preparation with experienced professional legal counsel can prove to be invaluable. So, if the worst case scenario should arrive at your doorstep — such as the failure of your marriage, or the prospect of losing your freedom — being clear about your options, tactics and mission is vital. We can also be of assistance in establishing guardianships and conservatorships, or opening estates for decedents in probate court. In better times, it would be our pleasure to help with the adoption of children if that is in your future. Richard Izzi has better than two decades of legal experience that includes an extensive degree of appellate court work. As a member of the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, and former president of the Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association(GBCDLA), his professionalism and ethics have earned him the BV® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. He is also a member of the Probate Section of the Birmingham Bar Association.