Areas of Practice
- Personal injury
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There are three elements of a successful personal injury claim:
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Liability
The other party or parties must have some legal duty to you that they have breached. That is, they have done something they should not have done, did not do something they should have done or did something in a negligent way that caused your injury.
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Damages
You must have a significant injury to your person or property.
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A Solvent Defendant
The party who injured you must have some assets or insurance to pay you for the damages they caused.
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- Social Security Disability
- Divorce
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Divorce is one of the most difficult things a person faces, and quite often the outcome will affect you for years to come. Property and debt division, child custody, visitation schedules, and child support are all determined by the divorce court. It is important to discuss these issues with an experienced attorney as soon as possible so that you can concentrate on the matters that are most important to you. This helps with negotiations and trial preparation so that your case can be presented effectively and persuasively.
- Child custody
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If you want to obtain custody of a child, you will need an experienced attorney. Every fact that may give some indication of a person’s fitness as a parent may be brought to the court’s attention. Therefore it is important to get an early start and do a thorough investigation so that an effective presentation can be made to the judge or jury.
- Criminal Defense
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I handle all state felony and misdemeanor cases, including probation revocation. If you are accused of a felony or misdemeanor, you do not want to represent yourself. While the Court is required by law to appoint you an attorney if you cannot afford one, it is best to have an attorney of your own choosing, and to retain that attorney as soon as possible, so they can begin working on your case before the prosecution gains momentum.
- Auto accidents
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The most common injuries caused by the negligence of others occur due to the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Drivers are often distracted and this could cause you to be injured in an accident. Some of them are even impaired by intoxicants. I can help you understand how your claim will be handled and help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
- Premise Liability
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Claims for injuries which occur on the property of another person or business are similar to automobile injuries, except that the rules that determine what constitutes negligence are not as definite as the rules of the road. You need an experienced attorney to assist you with this.
- Establishing Paternity
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For a biological father to have legal visitation rights or for a mother to obtain child support, a court must first establish the parent child relationship between the father and the child. If the parents were never married to each other, this requires a paternity proceeding, and proper DNA testing.
- Child Support
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Whether you are seeking or paying child support, it is important that the amount that the court sets is fair and according to the law. This depends upon the evidence which is presented to the Judge at the hearing. You want to be sure that all of the arguments in your favor are presented for the Judge’s consideration.
- Adoption
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There are few things more rewarding than adopting a child. It is important that everything is done according to the law and that the adoption is final when you leave the courthouse.
- Enforcement of Orders
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Sometimes you have reasonable court orders but the other party does not abide by the orders. In this event, you need to take that party back to court and get the Judge to enforce those orders. If you are firm in enforcing your rights, you will prevent a pattern of violations which can make your life very unpleasant.
- Visitation Issues
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These issues can be dealt with either by modifying existing orders or by enforcement of an existing order. Sometimes circumstances change and the Judge needs to be made aware of the changes so a new order can be made which adequately protects the children. I also represent parents who are facing claims by the other parent which are not true. It is best not to try to represent yourself if this happens to you.
- Wills
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Making a will gives you peace of mind and directs your family as to how you want to pass ownership of your property. It is a simple and inexpensive process, and can prevent a lot of problems in the future. The terms of a will do not have to be revealed to anyone during your lifetime.
- Probate
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A will has no effect unless it is approved by a probate court after the person making the will is deceased. With some exceptions a will should be presented to the Court within four years of the person’s death. You will need an attorney to do this for you. Sometimes a person dies without making a will. While this can make things more difficult, most problems can be resolved with effective legal assistance.
- Real Estate
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I handle a wide variety of real estate matters, ranging from drafting deeds to curing real estate title issues to satisfy a title company’s requirements so that you can close your transaction in a timely manner.
It is important to have an experienced attorney working on your disability claim as early as possible. I can assist you with the gathering and submission of your medical records and begin advocating your case before it gets lost in the bureaucracy, and allow you to concentrate on dealing with your health issues and other personal matters.