Belkis Christina Plata

Ms. Belkis helped me with my divorce. She was able to help me understand the laws and what needs to happen. At times she was my voice of reason and also had patience while I was on my emotional roller coaster in the beginning. She answered emails and questions quickly and even helped when she hersel...f was not in the office. Staff is informative as well.

Belkis took our juvenile son's case when things looked hopeless with the Public Defender we were assigned. She turned everything around. The State Attorney's office wanted to direct file on our son. Belkis ran circles around them. She is extremely smart, she knows the law, and she works hard. I ...don't know what we would have done without her. One of the things that was so helpful to me during our son's case was how responsive she was. The state was bringing its power against our child and I found myself unable to sleep, eat, or work I was so frightened. When Belkis took the case she made herself available and answered all my questions when I contacted her. This helped ease my mind and allowed me to feel hopeful. She won the case and my son got a second chance, which he has taken full advantage of to become a really fantastic guy, now going to college on full academic scholarship.

A family friend’s daughter (Miss PG), whom at that time was incarcerated at the Duval County Juvenile Detention Center, had recently been charged with felony resisting arrest and battery on a law enforcement officer, and was facing the dismal and defeating prospect of many months or years behind bars..., away from her mom, brothers and sisters. Feedback from family visits at the facility indicated authorities were engaging in abusive disciplinary methods, and likely had violated the young girl’s rights. After querying the Florida Bar website for board-certified attorneys in Juvenile Law, I reach out to the Plata Schott law firm; specifically, I called and left a detailed message for Ms. Belkis Plata. She returned my phone call the next day and had already started reviewing the case. When I visited the office later that same day, I first met with Ms. Shannon Schott, Ms. Plata’s law partner; I was surprised that Ms. Schott had also been reviewing the case; apparently the its practice of the firm for their lawyers to be current on all cases. A short time later (Ms. Plata had been delayed by car trouble), I met with both attorneys for about an hour where they briefed me on the merits of the case including an initial assessment that the charges were not well founded. The next day Ms. Plata visited the detention center, obtained the necessary consent for representation, and provided much needed assurances to Miss PG and family members. In the following days and weeks, through intelligent and timely methods of discovery, presentation of motions, and attendance at hearings, Ms. Plata was successful in holding juvenile justice authority accountable for the mal-treatment of Miss PG. These efforts included Ms. Plata’s persistent questioning of why her client had not been moved out of local detention and safely placed in a residence facility for girls in need of help. Finally, a short time after Miss PG was moved to her intended resident program, in the words of Ms. Plata, the authorities “saw the light” and all charges related to the arrest incident were dismissed. If you are looking for smart, strong and experienced and “results oriented” representation for yourself or a loved one, I highly recommend the Plata Schott firm. Over my many years, I have dealt with lawyers of all types and these guys are good as they get.

I was at the point in my life where all odds were against me, I recently came home from a deployment and found myself looking at a life felony, when I thought all hope was gone in walks Mrs. Belkis Plata. She assured me that she would fight for me till the end and for me not to give up. She not only ...visited me on a regular basis, but she kept me informed of every minor and major detail involved in my case. She was there for me more than just an attorney, it was more than just beating my case, everything she did was for my best interest and assured me as long as I trusted in her that I would come out of my situation on top with my head held high. Mrs. Plata fought countless number of hours for me and on my case, answered any questions I had honestly and straight forward, if she didn’t know she would not only tell me she didn’t know but would go to any length to solve the problem at hand. In April 2017 I walked out of the courtroom a free man, and I owe it all to Mrs. Plata, without her knowledge and unwavering hard work to my case I would not be here today to thank you. For me it didn’t end once I got released, she has gotten me accepted into a wonderful program to help better my life and help me move forward. If you want someone that is super knowledgeable in the law and will make you feel like apart of her family and someone who will give it 1000% Mrs. Plata is the attorney for you.