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When you get in trouble with the law, it makes sense to have the help of an experienced attorney by your side.
If you have problems with financial agreements or other non-criminal matters, finding an experienced lawyer who can lend a hand is still helpful.
In the United States, two bodies of law work to punish wrongdoing while serving as a deterrent against unwanted behaviors. When people experience harm, the goal is to compensate the victims for what happened to them.
Criminal law focuses on offenses against society, the government, or the general public. This fact applies even if an individual is the immediate victim of those actions. Everything from murder to DUI qualifies.
Civil law deals with the behaviors that cause injury to private parties and individuals outside of criminal statutes. Some examples of this body of law include contract breaches, defamation, and property damage.
When comparing criminal law with civil law, there are clear differences in how a case gets initiated. These definitions include who can bring charges or file a lawsuit when an injury or loss occurs.
You can also find differences in how a case gets decided, what penalties get handed out, and what standards of proof must be met.
There are even differences in the legal protections that defendants have when looking at civil vs. criminal law.
Here are some of the direct differences to see when comparing the two options.
In a criminal case, the prosecution comes from the state or federal government. A jury usually decides these cases, and the punishment for serious charges often involves imprisonment. Guilt must be established to secure a conviction.
Civil cases get initiated by a private party who files a lawsuit. The outcome is usually decided by the assigned judge, with the punishment almost always a monetary award. Plaintiffs are required to establish liability through the preponderance of the evidence.
Civil defendants don’t have access to the same legal protections as someone who faces criminal charges.
It is not unusual for a single wrongful act to qualify for civil and criminal cases. One of the most well-known instances of this situation involves O.J. Simpson. Although a jury exonerated Simpson of murder charges, he was found liable in a wrongful death civil case.
Although Simpson didn’t serve jail time for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, he was ordered to pay $33.5 million to their families.
When you face difficult circumstances, it helps to have a knowledgeable and experienced professional by your side.
Instead of settling for court-appointed representation, it helps to find someone locally who can help you navigate your case in the best way possible.
If you’re facing charges or a lawsuit and want legal assistance, we can connect you with a local attorney! Call us today at 878-201-6764 or fill out our contact form so that we can get you the help you need.
When you have monetary matters to resolve, the two most common areas of the law that cover those situations involve financial or real estate legalities.
Although there is some overlap between these two entities, you can also find clear divisions that exist. When you can understand the differences between these areas of the law, it’s much easier to find the attorney you need to represent your interests.
Financial law involves the regulation and rules involving commercial banking, insurance, capital markets, and derivatives. It covers public and private matters while serving investment management sectors to create a safe and stable global economy. Legal billable services are dependent on having a sound policy pertaining to transactions in all matters.
Real estate law is what governs the purchase, use, or sale of land. It covers how people or businesses can acquire property, what they can do with it, and how to sell it when they’re ready to move onto something new.
When you have a significant purchase to make, it often helps to have legal professionals involved to protect your best interests.
It would be ridiculous to consult with an attorney every time you needed to pay for gas when traveling with an RV. When you make that initial purchase, it is helpful to have a lawyer review the contract terms and financing package to ensure you’re getting what you expect from the transaction.
When you’re working with real estate (such as buying a house), laws like the Federal Fair Housing Act apply. These rules prohibit discrimination in the transaction based on race, religion, national origin, sex, or color.
The general principles of contract law also govern the agreement between buyers and sellers in the real estate market. That means everything must be in writing, with the property title sold as marketable. That means the seller must have proof of title and that no undisclosed third-party interests exist.
It’s also much easier for buyers or sellers to have a property deed executed and delivered by experienced professionals rather than trying to do the work alone.
Although most financial or real estate transactions come to a legitimate conclusion, there is always the occasional party that misrepresents their assets, positions, or activities. When you encounter those situations as a buyer or seller, it helps to have someone familiar with the law on your side.
If you’re pursuing commercial real estate, having the help of a financial or real estate attorney ensures that your best interests are always made a priority.
Do you need legal help in these areas today? If so, our team can put you in touch with a local attorney who may be able to offer the assistance you need. Call 878-201-6764 or fill out our contact form to begin the process of protecting your best interests in real estate and finance.
It can be confusing to decide on what lawyer to hire in your community. Many attorneys specialize in one area of the law, so you want to make sure to work with a firm that can meet your needs effectively.
If you’re not sure where to start looking, a general practice attorney is a fantastic place to start.
Before you schedule a meeting to talk about your situation, it might be helpful to consider the following questions.
General practice attorneys provide services that cover a broad range of potential needs. That means a lawyer in this area doesn’t have many specializations that can meet one specific situation. If you need someone to represent you in court, review or draft documents, or be an advocate during negotiations, this investment makes sense.
General practice attorneys provide valuable services for the typical cases that develop over one’s lifetime. Most people will hire lawyers practicing in this area to review a will, a lease, a trust, or a power of attorney.
You can also have a general practice attorney represent your interests in cases that involve divorce, spousal support, traffic violations, child custody, estate planning, or filing for bankruptcy.
Depending on the attorney’s experience, a general practice firm might offer criminal law, immigration, or real estate services.
Each attorney takes a unique approach to billing. Most lawyers in this area tend to charge by the hour, although some might offer a flat-rate service fee for drafting or reviewing documents.
The actual expense depends on the cost of living where you reside, your case’s complexity, and other impossible variables to predict. You might have the option to negotiate your pricing during your first meeting, which reduces the risk of experiencing an unwanted surprise when you get the notice in the mail.
There isn’t a single expected outcome to consider when working with a general practice attorney. This professional can handle a broad range of potential circumstances. That means you can expect a positive result for whatever reason you are seeking legal help today. If you need someone to review or create a common document, you can expect the investment in this service to deliver a legally binding product.
Most attorneys place advertising locally to tell you what services they provide. If you receive a workplace benefit that includes legal consultations, you might get directed to a specific firm for your consultation needs.
When you’re not sure whom to speak with locally, our team can help put you in touch with a general practice attorney to discuss your situation, perform research, review documents, and much more. You can 878-201-6764 or fill out our contact form to start the process of having your legal matters handled by an experienced professional.
Employment and workplace law covers the rights and obligations that exist within the employee-employer relationship.
This branch of the law involves current and former employees and job applicants.
Most of the legal disputes occurring in employment and workplace law involve employee rights and regulations when they involve businesses. Since these relationships can be complicated and cover a broad range of potential situations, it helps to work with an attorney familiar with everything from workplace safety to wrongful termination.
Most employees are afforded privacy in workplace situations. That right applies to their storage lockers, handbags, briefcases, and private mail.
It might even include voicemails or telephone conversations.
Those rights could have limitations when they involve using employer resources, such as a computer network or Internet connection.
Other crucial employee rights include freedom from harassment and discrimination of all types, from dangerous conditions or toxic substances, and from retaliation for filing complaints or claims against their employer.
There is also a right to fair wages for the work performed in accordance with the employment contract.
Several federal employment laws exist to protect employee rights. Although they’ve been passed over several decades, they continue to work today to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to earn a living.
Here are some of the examples that an employment and workplace attorney can help with if you feel that your rights have been violated.
Employees have several rights in the workplace, established by local, state, and federal laws. Businesses also have ways to protect themselves legally through these laws.
If you feel that any of your rights were violated in the context of employment or the workplace, it could be in your best interest to speak with an experienced attorney in this area.
Our team can help you find a lawyer familiar with employment and workplace law near your home to explore your options or protect your legal rights. You can call 878-201-6764 or fill out our contact form to start that conversation today.
Most people don’t get married with the expectation that they’ll get divorced one day. When you start a family, the last thing on your mind might be to create a parenting plan for the moment when you and your partner or spouse go separate ways.
The problem that many people face when contemplating family and divorce law is that they’ve waited too long to act. It is always helpful to have an advocate that supports your best interests, and an attorney familiar with this area of the law can provide you with that resource.
If you’re thinking about getting married and have assets to protect, a family law attorney can help you with legal advice or create a prenuptial agreement. You can find the right balance between sharing and safeguarding so that everyone can have an enjoyable wedding day.
When you and your significant other are on a path toward breaking up, it helps to speak with a family and divorce law attorney to discuss your options. You might need help creating parenting and visitation plans, splitting up your assets, handling debts, and talking about spousal support.
If your family includes children under the age of 17, you’ll want to have the advice of a family law attorney available to make the best decisions. Some parents might wish to release their legal rights, while others might need to create separate resources to ensure the child's best interests are managed appropriately. Getting appropriate feedback from an experienced legal professional is often the first step of this process.
It doesn’t take much for what seems like a simple family case to turn into something relatively complicated. Here are some signs that it might be time to speak with an attorney who can advocate for your needs.
If your spouse is already working with a lawyer, it is time for you to seek the services of an experienced family attorney. Although retaining these services doesn't mean you'll end up divorcing or having a contentious battle, it will give you the experience and resources available if those events occur. It levels the playing field, creating a stronger likelihood that you'll get a judgment that you feel is fair.
If you need help finding a qualified family and divorce law attorney, our team can help! You can reach us at 878-201-6764, or you can fill out our contact form to take the next step in your life journey.
