Choosing a lawyer can be a very challenging and stressful feat. Part of this challenge is due to the fact that law is an incredibly nuanced field and subsequently there are so many different types of lawyers to choose from. Different lawyers specialize in different classifications of cases. At times, lawyers may overlap in practices that feature similar attributes.
Any licensed lawyer can handle just about any case. However, just because a lawyer can handle your case does not mean that they have the best expertise for your case or that they are going to help you get the best outcome in court.
When Do You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Criminal law pertains to crimes. Crimes can be punishable by imprisonment, fines, or probation. Most crimes fall into the categories of misdemeanor or felony.
Minor laws or infractions include traffic violations. These are typically punishable by a fine. However, certain traffic violations could lead to suspension of a driver’s license or loss of driving privileges, so proceeding with the utmost preparedness is important because of the potential implications regarding your ability to work.
If you are facing a criminal charge, especially one where punishment can be severe, it is highly recommended that you use a criminal defense attorney. Your lawyer can help you understand what you are being charged with, advise you of the consequences, and help you determine whether or not you should consider pleading guilty or innocent. With criminal law, if a person cannot afford an attorney, one is typically provided by the court. With criminal law, if a person cannot afford an attorney, the court typically provides one. Here is a criminal lawyer’s duty, you need to read.
When Do You Need a Civil Lawyer?
Civil law is an all-encompassing term that affects many aspects of the law. Civil law is just about everything that is not a criminal matter. This includes lawsuits against a person or legally recognized entity, issues with business contracts, real estate disputes, and personal transactions.
With civil law, the idea is not to determine if a person is guilty or innocent. It is to determine if a person can recover punitive damages or monetary damages. Civil law may be used to solve a dispute through an injunction. This is a court order that prevents one party from doing something.
A major part of criminal law is personal injury law. With a personal injury lawsuit, a person is injured because of the negligence of another person or entity, including a company such as their employer. They are looking to be awarded monetary damages for their injuries’ expenses and ramifications.
An example of a civil attorney is an L&I attorney. Labor and industry attorneys help workers obtain increased or disputed time lost benefits. They help injured workers get disability awards, personal pensions, and debt forgiveness.
Civil law cases can be extremely complex. Failure to strictly adhere to judicial law can result in monetary sanctions or complete dismissal of the case. This is why when dealing with civil issues, in order to ensure the viability of your case, you must have the assistance of a civil lawyer.
When Do You Need a Family Lawyer?
As the name implies, a family lawyer practices family law. Their field of expertise includes things like child support, adoption, divorce, child custody, etc. In most cases, people can get married without a lawyer. However, a lawyer may be involved in the drafting of a prenuptial agreement.
Divorce is what family lawyers are primarily known for. A divorce can become especially challenging if large sums of money, businesses, or children are involved. It is imperative in divorce cases for a family law lawyer to represent the divorcing parties to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected. Without a lawyer, a divorcing individual may inadvertently give up the rights to visitation, alimony, or child custody.
When Do You Need a Probate and Estate Planning Lawyer?
Probating wills, conservatorship, emancipation, and guardianship are all the purviews of probate and estate planning lawyers. Probating wills can be complicated, especially when there are large amounts of property or money to be distributed. Do you know how to get ready for civil claims court? If not so check it.
Guardianship is when the court assigns an adult to care for a minor child or care for a minor child’s property. For example, a child’s parents may have passed away and left a considerable sum of money. The guardian would care for those funds or property until the child reached 18 years of age.
Emancipation is when a child is given the rights of an adult. For example, a child actor may be given the right to sign contracts that impact their financial well-being. Conservatorship is when an adult is tasked with caring for another adult who lacks the ability to care for themselves. All these things are being handled by an estate and probate lawyer. There is always a need to know the reason to hire a lawyer for probation violations.
Conclusion
Finding the right lawyer can be a challenge. However, it is an important step to see that your rights are protected when you are engaged in a legal case in order to safeguard yourself and those dependent upon you.
Author Bio:
Tracie Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn State University. She is passionate about writing, reading, and living a healthy lifestyle. She is passionate about helping those involved in legal proceedings and helping them find an L&I attorney.
