Category: Legal

Reasons Why You Need Family Lawyer

Life is full of many unexpected changes, and not all of them are easy or pleasant to face. However, the help of a trusted family attorney can help with the process of messy situations such as divorce, custody disputes, or preparing a will should the worst come to pass. A family attorney is also there to help with life’s brighter moments, such as adoption, marriage, and filing the proper paperwork for a prosperous financial future. An attorney from RhaLaw.com is more than an advisor, but also an experienced navigator who will help to speed up the divorce process tremendously.

It may be an uncertain road ahead, but planning for whatever comes provides a sense of stability and peace of mind. A skilled family lawyer can help provide that security, often in ways most do not even consider.

First Impressions:

Because most matters in family law are not criminal cases, there is often more emphasis put on your character. For example, in a child custody case, a parent with a lawyer will have a great advantage over one without. When you have a lawyer, they can speak for you and present your case in a way that will fit with the expectations and desires of the court.

Long Term Cost Savings:

While hiring a lawyer may seem prohibitively expensive, a quality family court lawyer can save and/or win you more than you are paying for them. A lawyer doing their job will get you more than enough to cover your fees and then some while also potentially winning you other valuable rulings.

Family Lawyers are Specially Trained to Help: Unlike trial or litigation lawyers, family lawyers are trained to help resolve a situation as peacefully as possible. Though a family lawyer does have the resources and capability to pursue an outcome that will be devastating to the other side, such as demanding unreasonable amounts of alimony or child support, this is not their default goal. They are there to represent your long-term interests and to get you what you deserve quickly, affordably and peacefully.

Preparing A Will, Living Will, Or Trust

No one likes to think about the end of life and the many decisions and responsibilities that come with such a tumultuous time in life. However, death is not something most are given the luxury of planning. Still, many adults postpone the grim task of filing a will and other paperwork, often leaving families not provided for in an adequate way or sending loved ones to court. A will, living will, trust, and instructions for handling of the estate is the only way to avoid these nasty problems.

While too many would rather not address these tasks that force the issue of mortality in the mind, it’s actually one of the most responsible decisions and can provide tremendous peace of mind. Regardless of age, marital status, income, or health, every adult should have these documents in place.

Handling Child Custody, Support, And Visitation Issues

When going through a divorce, many find their lives turned upside down, their bank accounts drained, and experience a type of frustration and hopelessness about the future. The more amicable a divorce, the sooner the healing process is able to begin for both parties. Issues of child custody, child support, visitation, and other choices for the welfare of a divorcing couple’s minor children are common reasons for stress, conflict, and prolonging the divorce process.

Whether a couple is willing to work out the details in an amicable way or is in need of arbitration, a family attorney can make the process easier. An arduous courtroom battle or trusting the judge to sort things out should be the last option, for the sake of all involved in the process. Numerous studies prove that children fare better when both parents remain involved and amicable after a separation or divorce. Those who feel the love and support of both parents are more likely to succeed in life while maintaining healthy relationships as a family unit, even if remarriage and step-parents come into the mix.

Protection from Abuse

If marriage has resulted in abuse, you have a lawyer to help give protection you deserve. They may get restraining orders filed so you don’t have to live in fear.

Separation

There are times that separation is the key work out everything in marriage and hiring a family lawyer may come in handy.

Visitation Rights

A family lawyer may negotiate a visitation schedule, which works for both you and your spouse and let you kids have time spent with one another.

Adoption

Family law attorneys are also available to help when you would like to add to your family. Adoptions case can sometimes take years, and may involve an extensive application process, legal procedures, and many court appearances. The adoption process in the United States is meant to be complicated to ensure that the process is fair and safe for everyone involved, but also means that it can be very overwhelming for people who are unfamiliar with it. With the help of a family law attorney, you can be sure that you are following the proper procedure and have your best chance of a successful adoption.

Protecting The Safety Of Home And Finances

No matter how hard most of us try, the average adult is woefully underprepared when it comes to protecting family, home, and financial interests. With too many pitfalls, bad investments, and even con artists out there in the world, staying safe can seem like an overwhelming task. For many families, a trusted family lawyer will also serve as a basic financial manager, making sure your investments are handled properly and you’re not losing money through cracks and loopholes in the system.

While the way each family manages day-to-day life varies greatly, the legalities and security of financial matters is a more black and white issue. At some point, it will become necessary to have a knowledgeable advocate who is familiar with your finances, investments, strengths, and weaknesses. A family lawyer is a wonderful way to protect the future by leaving as little chance as possible, making it easier when the time comes to buy a new home or car, send a child to college, or embark upon retirement.

There’s no doubt about it, the responsibilities that come with being an adult are not easy and they only get more complex as time passes and a family grow. Going through the process alone can seem overwhelming, and there are so many things that can get lost in the details, but cause contention and loss further down the line. A trusted family lawyer is a welcome addition to any family, taking some of the incomprehensible paperwork and anxiety out of planning for the future.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

goal in every case is to make a difference in that person’s life. It is an amazing responsibility and rewarding experience. I defend the Constitution, and a person’s right to have their side of the story told. Some people are wrongfully accused, while others simply made a mistake and need help. The truth is that many defendants are either incorrectly or overcharged based on what actually happened. My passion is to stand up against the Government and fight for those people. Simply put, no person should be accused of something they didn’t do or be defined by the worst thing they have ever done.

criminal lawyer could help you prepare for and make a good impression at trial. could help you prepare for all aspects of a criminal trial, including the all-important direct and cross-examination questions, and how to answer them.

DUI Lawyer

Although a police officer may ostensibly pull you over for texting while driving, speeding, crossing a yellow line, running a stop sign, or driving in an erratic manner, another likely reason for such a traffic stop is suspected impaired driving.

A police officer can only pull you over when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or probable cause of a traffic violation.  These types of traffic stops, called pretextual traffic stops, are valid and constitutional under both

If an officer pulls you over and determines that you are operating your vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, you will be arrested. However, it is important to realize that your constitutional rights are still in full force, and when it comes to police questioning, invoking your right to remain silent is preferred to prevent you from possibly incriminating yourself.

Hiring the Best Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

You learn that you are under federal criminal investigation.  Perhaps you have even been indicted and are now facing federal criminal charges. How do you find the best federal criminal defense lawyer to represent you?

Obviously, you want a criminal defense attorney. But do you choose the lawyer who prepared your will? The lawyer who helped you purchase your first home? The one who claims to know the judge and prosecutor?  The one who charges the lowest price?  An attorney who makes the best guarantees or promises about how your case will turn out?  Do you choose an attorney based only on word of mouth from a family member or a friend? Do you know who will really fight for you, and who is only there to make a quick dollar?

For many people, the process of finding an attorney is a daunting and stressful one. This process is all the more difficult when one’s life and liberty are at stake. The right attorney can, in many cases, mean the difference between a lengthy prison sentence or a fair outcome based on the facts of the case.  The following tips are here to help you pick the right attorney to represent you in a federal criminal case, and the attorneys you want to avoid.

Expertise: You Need a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

First and foremost, it is important to hire an attorney who specializes in federal criminal law.  If you need heart surgery, you do not turn to a brain surgeon–even if he is an accomplished brain surgeon and comes highly recommended by friends and family. Similarly, if you are facing federal criminal charges, or are being investigated for possible federal crimes, you want to hire an attorney with substantial experience in federal criminal law. You do not want an attorney who mainly practices federal civil litigation; you do not want an attorney who mainly defends state criminal charges; and you certainly do not want an attorney who has never set foot inside a federal courthouse.

Why is it important to hire an attorney who specializes in federal criminal law?  First of all, in federal criminal cases, the stakes are (usually) higher. Federal criminal charges usually have high statutory maximum sentences and large financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture. Moreover, federal prosecutors generally have competitive personalities and want to win “big” cases. And unlike their state counterparts, federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents are not overburdened with a large caseload, and can afford to spend significant time and resources working on a single case or investigation. Finally, federal judges expect lawyers for both sides to be prepared and will not tolerate excessive delays. For all of these reasons, federal cases and investigations require an attorney with deep knowledge of the federal criminal process, and who works within this process day in and day out.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Attorneys with firm are experienced in handling all types of criminal defense matters, including:

Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI)

Vehicular Homicide and Felony DUI Resulting in Serious Injury or Death

Drugs and Narcotics Trafficking, Manufacturing and/or Distribution

Controlled Substance Violations

Armed Robbery and Common Law Robbery

Felon in Possession of a Firearm and other State and Federal Weapons Violations

Assault and Battery

Domestic Violence

Murder

Criminal Sexual Conduct

SCDSS Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings

Whether you have been arrested or have been contacted by law enforcement as part of a criminal investigation, It is important that you seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible. You need to know your legal rights and obligations prior to speaking with law enforcement. An attorney has an ethical duty and obligation to protect your best interests when you seek their advice. You should never rely on representations made by the police or others when facing criminal allegations without first speaking with a lawyer who has the proper background, training and experience to handle your specific situation

WHY SHOULD I HIRE A GREENVILLE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER?

You may have never hired an attorney before and, therefore, not understand the benefits of a criminal defense lawyer on your side. You may be wondering why you just can’t do everything on your own, and that is a valid question. The reality is that handling a criminal case is not your typical do-it-yourself project.

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH A PUBLIC DEFENDER?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a public defender handle your case. They are generally skilled and dedicated lawyers who work extremely hard.

TOP CRIMINAL DEFENSES

Best Criminal Defense Attorney Strategies: How Lawyers Win a Criminal Case

key factors drive what your best defense strategy is:

Defendant’s explanation of what happened, why and credibility.

Witness testimony and credibility.

Provable facts and physical evidence.

Police reports, errors and credibility.

Expert, 3rd party reports and testimony.

Penal code charge and the required crime elements to prove.

Criminal prosecutor strategy & history.

Judicial precedent & the judge’s history.

Every case is unique and the best criminal defense attorneys weigh all factors to develop a case theory and criminal defense strategy most likely to succeed.

Criminal defense strategies are legal arguments and actions taken to get criminal charges dismissed and secure a defendant’s freedom. They involve exposing legal flaws and doubts about any crime elements the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to win a conviction.

Mistaken identity

Incorrect witness identification is a major source for incorrect accusations. This can happen if a person’s description is similar to a criminal perpetrator or if a witness assumes someone committed a crime due to circumstances or they are trying to cover for a crime they committed.

Duress or immediate danger

In the event that somebody carries out a crime simply because they believed they were in immediate risk of harm, their actions might not be considered a crime since they were made under duress.

Defendant has an alibi

A defendant cannot be guilty of many offenses if their criminal defense attorney can show they were elsewhere when the crime occurred and therefore couldn’t have committed the alleged crime.

Questions to Ask A Criminal Defense Attorney

Do you need to hire a criminal defense attorney?

Unfortunately, at some point in your life, you may actually have to hire a criminal defense attorney. I’m not a lawyer, though as a former federal prisoner/defendant, I hired lawyers. I made a lot of mistakes.

Is this more than just a job for you?

Well, what does that mean? I can recall… I’ll share story with you. The first funeral I attended was I was 11 years old, my grandfather’s funeral, and I remember at the end of the funeral, the people who worked in the funeral home were very nice, but I saw them in this side room. They were kind of laughing, and chuckling, and just going on with their day, and talking about what they were going to do that evening. It sort of reminded me, or it hit me, like this is just a job for them.

Question to Ask a Criminal Defense Attorney: Can I speak to your last three clients?

Doesn’t that seem logical? At our company, if someone is thinking of retaining us, I’ll ask the prospect, “Would you like to speak with several recent clients?” Do your own vetting. It’s in my interest to say, “Well, I think we’re awesome and great.” Get that objective feedback from others who have already retained us. Do the same thing with a lawyer, okay? It’s very easy to go into a meeting with a lawyer. You could have a high pain point. You’re looking to hear something. You could be vulnerable

Do they charge an hourly or inclusive fee?

I can tell you that I always prefer an inclusive rate, if possible. An inclusive rate is you go in, you hire a lawyer, and you know exactly what it’s going to cost when you write a check. As a criminal defendant, for example, I have clients that may give 25, 50, $100,000 to a criminal defense attorney, but it covers everything, the balance of their case from start to finish. A number of civil lawyers will do absolutely the same thing. It’s nice to fix and lock the fee. It’s nice to know what it’s going to cost. The downside at times to an inclusive fee is you may not feel as if they’re doing all of the work, because they’ve already been paid. You can try to push for payment plans over a period of months. Hourly could compel a lawyer to spend more time on the case. Maybe it requires the attention, but also there’s an hourly wage attached to it.

Question to Ask a Criminal Defense Attorney: How well do you write?

If I were you, I would find out how well your lawyers write. How persuasive are they? You would expect a lawyer to tell you that they’re good writers, and they’re successful in mitigating or settling whatever it may be, and to do that, they’re probably good writers. Well, find out. Ask them to share some of their recent motions or filings with you. In a criminal case for example, if the government is asking that a defendant get 51 months in prison and the defense is asking for 33 months, where did the judge settle? Did the judge settle on a lower number in part because of how persuasive the defense attorney was? Again, this isn’t just for defendants, it’s for any potential person that’s going to hire a lawyer. Find out how well they write, how persuasive they are, and how successful they’ve been in some of the work that they’ve produced.