Knowledge-Confidence Peace of Mind

Knowledge gives you power—the power to fully participate in the legal decisions that affect your life—the power to make informed decisions about your future. But knowledge also minimizes the stress and anxiety that comes with uncertainty, giving you confidence and peace of mind. Click on the links below—you’ll find clear and concise explanations of the law—in plain English. The topics are ones that you could face any day. A word of caution--these summaries are not meant to take the place of sound legal counsel—they can, however, help you work more effectively with your lawyer. And if you don’t see an overview of the issues you are facing, check back soon. We are constantly updating and adding new information to respond to your needs.

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Accidents & Injuries

If you've been injured in an accident, can you recover lost wages? What kind of behavior counts as negligence? What can you do if a product malfunctions? We have answers to all of these questions and more. Learn about the law by clicking on one of the topics below.

Defective Drugs and
Medical Devices

What kinds of warnings should a pharmaceutical company provide for a medication? Are prescription medications treated differently than over-the-counter remedies? What sorts of damages are you entitled to if you are injured by a defective drug?

Business Law

Whether you are considering launching a new business, or you own or operate a going concern, there are legal matters you must address. What's the best type of structure for your business? A partnership? A limited liability company?

Borrowing and Lending

Credit is an essential component of a healthy economy. It fuels the construction of homes and businesses, helping build community. The borrowing and lending process is a complex and delicate balance, weighing the borrower's need for capital against the lender's concerns about the security of the investment.

Criminal Law

What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor? When can a police officer search your car? When can a criminal record be sealed or expunged? Our overview of the basics provides answers to all of these questions and more. Learn about the law by clicking on one of the topics below.

Family Law & Divorce

When things aren't going well in your family—the bonds between you and your spouse have been broken, or you've been unable to build a family—the emotional challenges can make it difficult to take the right steps to protect yourself. Uncertainty about what the future holds can cause significant stress and anxiety.

Employment Law

Your job is more than just a way to pay your bills. If you are like many of us, your job is a means for you to provide for your family and is where you spend most of your time when you are not at home. So, it is important that your job not become a place that you fear to go, either because of concerns about your safety, harassment, or unfair treatment.

Immigration Law

Can a student or business visitor get a temporary visa? How does a person become a permanent resident or citizen of the United States? Under what circumstances can refugees be granted asylum? We have answers to all of these questions and more. Learn about the law by clicking on one of the topics below.

Intellectual Property Law

LYou've built a better mousetrap, or you've written the great American novel…or maybe you've just spent a lot of mental energy creating, developing and establishing a new product or service, and the consumer recognition, or goodwill, that comes with it.

Lawsuits and Disputes

When the actions of another person have cost you money, or otherwise limited or infringed on your rights, like most people, you'll probably try to work it out and come to a resolution that's fair. But if the person who caused your losses won't work with you, you may need to take legal action to get the outcome you want.

Real Estate Law

You've been saving for a down payment for your own place…or the family's growing and you need more room…or the kids are on their own and it's time to downscale. When you are looking to buy, sell or rent real property, the more you know about the law, your rights and your options, the better you can protect your investment.

Tax Law

While taxes are, for most of us, an unavoidable part of life, there are legitimate ways that you can minimize the burden. Whether its state or federal income tax, a levy on the sale of goods or property, or an estate or inheritance tax, the more you know, the more likely you'll be able to avoid unfavorable or unnecessary tax consequences.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

What happens to your house or the money in your bank account when you die, or become incapacitated? Well, that depends…If you have a valid will, trust or other estate planning document in place, your assets will be distributed according to your wishes. If you don't, the state gets to allocate your property…perhaps to your loved ones, but maybe not.

Bankruptcy And Debt

It can happen to just about anyone. An unexpected event—the loss of your job, an injury or illness, or a divorce—can suddenly make it impossible for you to meet your financial obligations. The American bankruptcy laws were enacted to give people the opportunity for a fresh start—to put behind them the stress and anxiety that come with financial challenges.

Other Practice Areas

Contracts…criminal defense…personal injury. Most legal problems fall under one of these categories. Some legal issues incorporate aspects of more than one legal discipline, and some simply have their own rules and procedures. Here are some of the important legal matters people face that don't fit neatly under one of the more general disciplines.

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Temporary Visa

Under American immigration laws, any foreign national who seeks to enter the country must present a valid visa at the port of entry, whether it be an airport or a border crossing.

Car Accident

More people are hurt in motor vehicle accidents than in any other type of accident. The injuries you suffer in a motor vehicle accident can change your life in an instant.

Property Tax

As a general rule, real property taxes are imposed by municipal or county governments, with owners of property paying a percentage of the assessed value of the property.

Divorce

Divorce and all the legal issues associated with it—child custody, visitation, child support, alimony or spousal support, property division—these matters all differ based on state law.

Food & Drugs

When you or someone you love has suffered from food poisoning or contracted any illness or injury because of exposure to food-borne pathogens, there are a number of avenues you can...

Estate Planning

If you have built any kind of net worth, or if you own any property at all, you need an estate plan. When you die, decisions will have to be made about who now has right...

Mortgage Overview

A mortgage involves two important legal documents: a promissory note and either a mortgage document or deed of trust.

Partnership Law

A business partnership is an agreement between two or more people, express or implied, to conduct certain business activities.

Arbitration

Litigation can be a costly enterprise, both in terms of dollars and the amount of time it can take to resolve a legal dispute.

Bankruptcy

In general, businesses facing financial problems have the same options in bankruptcy as individuals: the discharge of debt in exchange for the sale of assets pursuant to Chapter 7;

Copyrighting

The owner of a copyright has the right to reproduce a copyrighted work, prepare derivative works based upon it, distribute copies of it and publicly display or perform it.

Wrongful Death

When a member of your family dies because of the carelessness or negligence of another person, you have a right to seek compensation for your losses

Trademarks

A trademark is a symbol, picture, word or phrase that a seller or manufacturer uses to distinguish a product or service from that of a competitor.

Wills

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Defenses to Crimes

The defenses raised in criminal cases generally fall into two categories: you did not commit the crime, or you committed the crime, but should not be held responsible.

Consumer Credit Law

The law of consumer credit is primarily embodied in federal and state statutory laws. These laws protect consumers and provide guidelines for the credit industry: