Destin Attorneys — Cotton & Gates
Cotton & Gates serves Destin, Florida and the surrounding communities of Okaloosa County in criminal defense, family law, estate planning and probate, real estate, civil litigation, and personal injury. Our office is located at 3 Plew Avenue, Shalimar — about 15 minutes from Destin via U.S. Highway 98 — and we have represented Destin residents and businesses for decades.
Whether you are dealing with a DUI charge, navigating a divorce, settling an estate, closing on a property, or recovering from an injury, our team brings four decades of trial experience and a deep familiarity with Northwest Florida courts and clerks.
Call 850-651-9900 for a free consultation, or contact us online.
Our Destin Practice Areas
DUI Defense in Destin
Okaloosa County DUI charges — including the many DUI arrests that originate in Destin’s busy bar and restaurant district along U.S. 98 — are prosecuted in the Walton or Okaloosa County Circuit Court depending on where the stop occurred. Cassie M. Reed, a former prosecutor, leads our criminal defense practice and brings firsthand knowledge of how prosecutors evaluate and try DUI cases.
We handle:
- First-time DUI charges
- Felony DUI (third or fourth offense, DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI manslaughter)
- Refusal cases — declining the breathalyzer triggers a one-year license suspension separate from the criminal case
- Hardship-license applications — Florida law allows many drivers to apply for a restricted license; see our detailed Florida hardship license guide
- Underage DUI (.02 BAC limit instead of .08)
- Boating Under the Influence (BUI) — a serious concern in Destin’s harbor and Choctawhatchee Bay
- License-suspension administrative hearings (DHSMV) — these have a 10-day deadline
For more on DUI defense generally, see our DUI page.
Probate and Estate Planning in Destin
Many Destin residents own substantial real estate, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, and second homes — and many are part of military or retired military families with unique estate-planning needs. Byron E. Cotton leads our estate-planning, real-estate, and probate practice and helps Destin clients with:
- Wills — including specific bequests of real property, family businesses, firearms, and watercraft
- Revocable living trusts — to avoid probate and keep estate matters private
- Irrevocable trusts — for tax planning, asset protection, and Medicaid planning
- Florida Lady Bird Deeds — an enhanced life-estate deed that allows you to retain control of property during life while transferring it on death without probate
- Powers of attorney — durable and healthcare
- Living wills and healthcare directives
- Probate administration — formal, summary, and disposition without administration
- Trust administration — including out-of-state co-trustee coordination
- Will and trust contests — undue influence, lack of capacity, fraud
For detailed information, see our Wills, Trusts & Probate page or our Estate Planning Fort Walton Beach guide.
Real Estate in Destin
Destin has one of the most active real estate markets in Northwest Florida. We handle:
- Residential and commercial closings
- Title disputes and quiet-title actions
- Easement and boundary disputes — common in waterfront and beachfront properties
- HOA and condominium disputes — particularly relevant in Destin’s many resort condominiums
- Short-term rental compliance — many Destin properties are used as vacation rentals subject to local ordinances
- Construction and contractor disputes
- Real-estate litigation
For more, see our Real Estate Law page.
Family Law in Destin
We handle the full range of family-law matters for Destin residents, including divorce, child custody and time-sharing, child support, alimony, post-judgment modifications, paternity, and military divorce — particularly important for families connected to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. Cassie M. Reed leads our family-law practice with a focus on resolving disputes constructively when possible and litigating effectively when necessary.
For more, see our Family Law page or Family Law Fort Walton Beach guide.
Personal Injury and Auto Accidents in Destin
Destin’s combination of tourism traffic, narrow waterfront roads, and seasonal congestion produces a high volume of car accidents, motorcycle crashes, slip-and-fall cases at resorts, and dog-bite incidents. Michael R. Gates leads our personal injury practice with over 40 years of trial experience.
We handle:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents — see Auto Accidents
- Dog bite injuries — Florida is a strict-liability state under FS 767.04
- Slip and fall injuries at resorts, restaurants, and retail establishments
- Wrongful death
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
All personal injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis: no recovery, no fee.
Why Choose Cotton & Gates?
Local presence, regional reach. Our office in Shalimar is centrally located between Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville, and Crestview — about 15 minutes from Destin via U.S. 98 in normal traffic. We are familiar with Okaloosa County and Walton County courts, clerks, judges, and prosecutors.
Decades of experience. The firm has served Northwest Florida since 1976. Our three attorneys collectively bring over 60 years of trial and transactional experience.
Direct attorney attention. Clients work directly with their attorney — not with rotating paralegals or call-center staff. Communication is personal and prompt.
Free consultations and contingency fees where applicable. All initial consultations are free. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis. Other matters are billed at reasonable hourly or flat rates depending on the matter.
Every legal matter depends on its specific facts, applicable law, and circumstances of the parties.
Frequently Asked Questions for Destin Clients
Do I have to come to Shalimar to meet with you?
Most matters can be handled with an initial in-person consultation followed by remote document signing, video calls, and phone meetings. We accommodate Destin clients with flexible meeting options — including evening and weekend availability when needed.
Where will my case be heard?
Destin is in Okaloosa County, so most cases are heard in the Okaloosa County Courthouse (Crestview) or the satellite courthouse in Shalimar. Some cases — particularly those involving incidents that occurred east of Destin — may end up in Walton County Circuit Court (DeFuniak Springs). We handle cases in both counties regularly.
Do you handle BUI (Boating Under the Influence) charges?
Yes. BUI is treated very similarly to DUI under Florida law and we represent clients charged with BUI in Destin Harbor, Choctawhatchee Bay, and the Gulf. Like DUI, the case has both criminal and administrative (license/registration) components.
I am stationed at Eglin or Hurlburt — can you help with my Florida legal matter?
Yes. We represent active-duty service members, retired military, and their families regularly. Issues we frequently address include the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA) for military divorce, residency questions for state taxes and probate, and TRICARE and SBP coordination in family law and estate planning.
What if I need a real estate closing in Destin?
We handle residential and commercial closings throughout Okaloosa County, including Destin properties. We can coordinate with your lender, real estate agent, and title insurer, and we are available for closings at our Shalimar office or at title-company offices in Destin.
How quickly can I get a consultation?
We can typically schedule a free consultation within 24 to 48 hours. For urgent matters — DUI arrests, time-sensitive injunctions, hardship-license deadlines, or out-of-time probate filings — we offer same-day or next-business-day availability when needed.
Is your fee a flat fee or hourly?
It depends on the matter. Personal injury and dog-bite cases are contingency-fee (we are paid only from any recovery). Probate, estate planning, real-estate closings, and many criminal-defense matters are flat-fee. Family-law and complex litigation are typically hourly with a clear retainer agreement. We discuss fee structure during the initial consultation.
Do you handle cases throughout Walton County as well?
Yes. Walton County (DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Freeport) is part of our regular service area. We routinely appear in the Walton County Circuit Court and First Judicial Circuit.
Contact Our Destin-Area Attorneys
If you live in Destin, work in Destin, own property in Destin, or are visiting Destin and have a legal matter that needs attention, we would welcome the chance to help. Our office is just 15 minutes away in Shalimar, and we represent Destin clients across the full range of practice areas.
Call 850-651-9900 for a free consultation, or contact us online.
Cotton & Gates, Attorneys at Law
3 Plew Avenue
Shalimar, FL 32579
Phone: 850-651-9900
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Hiring an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.