Richmond, Virginia Divorce, Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyer

Eddy Paul Rice, IV - Attorney at Law

10132 West Broad Street
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
USA

(804) 747-5500

(804) 747-5576

http://www.eddypaulrice.com/

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Law Firm Overview

The law office of Eddy Paul Rice, IV, Attorney at Law is known for being approachable, responsive and efficient law firm in Richmond, Virginia.

I am Eddy Paul Rice, IV, a Richmond, Virginia, attorney with more than three decades of experience representing clients in Richmond, Virginia, and the surrounding areas in matters of divorce and family law and criminal matters, including traffic violations, DUI / DWI, theft, and property crimes. Since I began practicing law in 1972, I have provided effective legal advice and personal service to clients in matters of divorce, family law and criminal defense. Over the years, I've gained a reputation as a knowledgeable and ethical attorney who gets results for clients, while maintaining high standards of professional integrity.

My practice is based on knowledge of the law and respect for my clients. When you retain me as your lawyer, we will work together to achieve your legal goals. I will treat you with dignity, and take the time to listen to your concerns and explain your legal situation clearly.

With me as your attorney, you will always know where you stand. Clients appreciate my no-smoke-and-mirrors approach to the law. I am honest and straightforward in my dealings. Based on my legal knowledge and decades of experience, I will tell you my honest opinion of your chances of achieving your legal objective - even if it isn't the news you'd hoped to hear. If you don't need an attorney to handle your case, I'll tell you so.

I don't play games with the law. I work hard to achieve results in every case. I am a skilled negotiator and an assertive litigator who has earned the respect of Virginia judges, prosecutors and courtroom personnel.

Year this Office was Established: 1973

Practice Areas

The law office of Eddy Paul Rice, IV, Attorney at Law provides quality legal representation in the following areas of practice:

- Criminal Law

Drug Possession and Trafficking

A conviction on drug possession or drug trafficking charges could result in heavy fines and a lengthy prison sentence. In addition, a conviction can leave you with a criminal record that can haunt you for the rest of your life. When faced with these dire consequences, it is extremely important to consider hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights, freedom and future.

If you have been charged with drug possession — or other drug crimes such as selling drugs, — please contact the Richmond, Virginia, law office of Eddy Paul Rice, IV, Attorney at Law. Since opening my doors in 1972, I have represented many clients charged with the possession and/or sale of narcotics, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crack, prescription drugs and other illegal substances. I will use my three decades of experience and extensive legal knowledge to build a strong and persuasive defense on your behalf.

People charged with a crime often have many questions. Will I go to prison or jail? Can I get probation? How much will I be fined? Do I need to enter a treatment program? How will this affect my job? When you have been charged with a drug crime, it is important to have a lawyer who gives honest answers to your questions by your side — not one who fills your head with false expectations and then leaves you confused and angry if the case does not end the way you expected.

I believe in open and honest communication with my clients. I will always tell you my opinion of your chances of achieving your legal objective - even if it isn't the news you'd hoped to hear. If pleading guilty is your best option, I will tell you so in order to save the time and expense of pursuing a full court trial.

My goal in any criminal case is to lessen the impact of the charge, whether that involves seeking a reduction in charges, a minimization of penalties or an outright dismissal. In drug crime cases, I can do this by reviewing the facts of the case and the evidence against you. For example, if any evidence was gained by violating your constitutional rights — searching your home without a valid warrant, coercing you into a confession, seizing evidence illegally — I will stop at nothing to have the evidence thrown out and the case dismissed.

I also protect my clients by arguing for probation or community service rather than jail time whenever possible.

DUI / DWI

The Commonwealth of Virginia has strict laws concerning driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. If you have been arrested for DUI, you should immediately seek the assistance of an experienced DUI defense attorney.

My law firm has been representing people charged with DUI and involved in drunken driving accidents for more than 30 years. I would appreciate the opportunity to represent you.

If you are picked up for suspected drunken driving and fail the alcohol breathalyzer test you will be subject to Virginia DUI penalties, including:

* Your driver’s license will be immediately suspended for seven days.
* If you are between 16 and 21 years old and have any measurable amount of alcohol in your blood, you will lose your license for six months.
* If your blood alcohol level (BAC) was between .15 and .20 percent, you will serve a mandatory minimum sentence of five days in jail.
* If your BAC was .21 or above, you’ll be in jail for at least 10 days.
* If a child younger than 16 years old was a passenger in the car, penalties will be even stiffer.

Whether this is your first DUI arrest or you are a multiple offender, a commercial driver or a college student, please contact my law office today for a free phone consultation. I will listen carefully to the facts of your case and advise you of your options. Should you decide to retain me as your attorney, you can rely on me to work diligently to achieve the best possible outcome given the facts of your case.

- License Restoration

I help habitual offenders protect and restore their driving privileges.

- Juvenile Crime

Has your son or daughter been charged with a crime? Are you concerned for their future? Are you seeking the assistance of an experienced juvenile law attorney? Contact me, attorney Eddy Paul Rice, IV.

My firm has been representing juveniles for more than 30 years. As an experienced lawyer, I have a thorough understanding of juvenile law and will strive to minimize the effects of a juvenile crime both now and into the future.

I provide underage criminal defense services for clients charged with the following:

* Stealing or shoplifting
* Arson
* Vandalism
* Underage drinking and driving (minor in possession)
* Illegal possession of a firearm
* Assault
* Possession of drugs
* Other less serious crimes

When a juvenile commits a crime, the penalties are typically less serious than those for adults and include driver's license suspension or revocation, fines, juvenile detention and/or probation. However, this does not mean that juveniles need substandard criminal defense. I offer my clients equal attention and service, whether they are under 18, adults, first-time offenders or habitual offenders. My promise is to always provide a strong defense and seek positive results in every case I handle.

- Traffic Violations

Will I lose my drivers license? If so, how can I get it back? Those are the top two questions asked by people who have been charged with traffic violations even though a lost drivers license isn’t the worst traffic law penalty. Some Virginia traffic citations can result in heavy fines and, in some cases jail time.

People charged for the second or third time with driving on a suspended or revoked license are looking at possible jail time.

Whether you are an individual or a professional driver with a commercial driver’s license (CDL), I will provide you with efficient, cost-effective representation.

Traffic law encompasses everything from parking tickets to reckless driving and more.

Misdemeanor hit and run, for example, refers to a traffic accident that results in property damage only. A felony hit and run is a car crash or other motor vehicle accident that includes personal injury.

Over the years, I have won the respect of area traffic court judges, prosecutors, and courtroom personnel. I know each judge’s preferences and style. I understand how to use this knowledge to achieve the desired result for my clients.

- Divorce and Family Law

When you are going through a divorce, there are many questions you need to answer. Should I consider a legal separation rather than a divorce? Who will get the house, the cars and the bank accounts? Where will I live? When will I be able to see the children?

There one question you should never have to ask yourself during this emotional and stressful time: Is my divorce lawyer up to the job?

If you are looking for reliable divorce advice from an experienced Virginia divorce law attorney, please contact my law office today for a free initial telephone consultation and case evaluation. I have more than 30 years of experience helping clients through the dissolution of marriage process. You can rely on my skills, experience, compassion and strength.

I provide a full range of divorce and family law services, including:

* Child custody and visitation
* Child support and spousal support
* Domestic violence
* Paternity
* Private placement adoption
* Property appraisal
* Property division

As a retired Captain from the U.S. Army, I take special pride in helping families deal with the challenges of a military divorce.

For some clients, the paramount issue during the dissolution of marriage is property division; for others, the central conflict involves the children. I will work diligently to address all of the concerns in your divorce, whatever they may be. I will use my strong negotiating and consensus-building skills to help work out a fair divorce settlement. When a settlement is not possible, you can rely on my effective litigation skills to strongly represent your interests in court.

Divorce is often emotionally and financially draining. However, by resolving their disputes via collaborative divorce, my clients can save themselves time, money and the emotional stress of court. In the event the collaborative process proves unsuccessful, I am well equipped to take a case to court.

Custody, Visitation, Child and Spousal Support

Emotions run high when couples go through a divorce. Yet, it is during this time that you need to make sound decisions about your finances, your children, and your living situation that will affect your family for years to come.

Please contact my law office if you would like to speak to an experienced Richmond divorce attorney regarding:

* child custody laws
* child visitation schedules
* child support payments,
* spousal support (alimony)
* grandparent visitation
* shared custody or co-parenting plans
* custody disputes
* post-decree modification of custody, visitation, and support

For more than 30 years, clients have relied on my legal advice to help them through this emotionally turbulent and demanding time. I handle all divorce issues with sensitivity, compassion, and confidentiality.

I can help if you have had a substantial change of circumstance, such as a job loss or remarriage, and would like to modify your child support payments. If you were divorced in another state and recently relocated to Virginia, I can file a foreign decree for you here. Whatever your divorce-related legal concern, I would be happy to be of assistance.

- Military Divorce

Army officials reported an 87 percent increase in the number of divorces among active duty military between 2001 and 2004. It’s clear that military service can put enormous stress on a marriage, particularly at a time when long separations and repeated deployments are often part of military life.

I am a former U.S. Army Captain with more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of divorce and family law. I would consider it my honor to be of assistance to you, whether you reside in Virginia, elsewhere in the U.S., or are stationed abroad.

While there are no specific military divorce laws in Virginia, I am experienced in helping members of the military in all family law matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, and division of military retirement benefits. I am also well-versed in the Service Members Civil Relief Act. In addition, I understand the highly complicated child custody and child visitation issues military families face, particularly when both parents are active duty military.

Additional Practice Areas: Military Divorce