Serving Individuals

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation is the term used for a legal dispute that has occurred involving two or more parties seeking money damages or a specific performance, in comparison to criminal sanctions.
We specialize in civil litigation, and represent clients in hearings, trials, arbitrations and mediations before administrative agencies, federal, state and local courts. Civil courts handle a wide variety of cases involving numerous legal issues. Very broadly, civil cases may involve such things as, for example, Tort claims. A "tort" is a wrongful act (sometimes called a "tortious" act), other than a breach of contract, that results in injury to someone's person, property, reputation, or the like, for which the injured person is entitled to compensation. Breach of contract claims. A breach of contract case typically results from a person's failure to perform some term of a contract, whether the contract is written or oral, without some legitimate legal excuse. Equitable claims. An "equitable claim" asks the court to order a party to take some action or stop some action. It may or may not be joined with a claim for monetary damages.

Family Law

Family law is a practice area concerned with legal issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce, and child custody. We handle divorce, child custody, child support, and other related legal matters. We also handle adoptions, paternity, emancipation, or other matters usually not related to divorce. ​

• ABSOLUTE DIVORCE

Estate Planning

While it may be the last thing you want to think about, estate planning is an important step you can take to protect the interests of your family. A well prepared estate plan will help you ensure your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are taken care of once you're gone. If you pass away without a plan in place, your family members may be left to sort out the mess in court. Estate panning includes wills, trusts, health care directives, probate, and estate administration. We can assist you in making a will, challenging a will, creating a health care power of attorney, setting up a trust, navigating the probate process, and more. ​

• PREPARATION OF TRUSTS (I.E. FAMILY ESTATE, CHARITABLE, FOUNDATIONS, SPECIAL NEEDS)

Probate

We assist with the transfer of property after a person's death -- a process known as "probate" -- and legal issues related to the collection, management, and distribution of an estate. Probate is a court-supervised process designed to sort out the transfer of a person's property after they have died. Some property passes automatically to another party upon death. Certain trusts, life insurance policies, and "Totten Trusts" (also called "payable-on-death" accounts) are capable of avoiding probate by making transferring ownership to the beneficiary before death, or automatically upon the creator's death. Other property that is subject to probate will be examined by the court and granted to the appropriate party. ​

• ADMINISTERING THE ESTATE OF DECEASED LOVE ONES

Criminal Law

Criminal law encompasses issues arising from a criminal offense. Criminal offenses are defined by federal, state, or local laws and can range from serious crimes like murder to minor infractions like speeding. Criminal punishments, also established by statutory law, are usually proportional to the severity of the crime. Minor offenses may only be punishable by a fine or a short term of probation. Violent felonies could result in years in prison, life sentences, or even the death penalty, depending on the circumstances and the jurisdiction. The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees all criminal defendants the right to be represented by an attorney. In cases where a defendant may face prison or jail time, the U.S. Constitution requires the state to provide the defendant with legal representation if he or she cannot afford it. In lesser cases, such as traffic tickets, defendants have the right to an attorney but must pay for one themselves. Criminal proceedings can be extremely complex, especially when involving multiple charges and multiple defendants. Anytime you are charged with a crime, especially a felony, legal representation is a wise choice. If you are facing criminal charges, you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible to protect your rights and to build your best defense. ​

• CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Securities Disputes

A security can be a: stock, which represents part ownership of a company; bond, which is like an “IOU” from a company to an individual; or an option, which is the right to buy something in the future at a predetermined price. Corporations, governments, and individuals buy and sell securities as a way of investing and growing their money. When a dispute arises between an investor and a broker/dealer/financial representative, we can help. ​

• SECURITIES ARBITRATIONS

Personal Injury

"Personal injury" cases are legal disputes that arise when one person suffers harm from an accident or injury, and someone else might be legally responsible for that harm. A personal injury case can become formalized through civil court proceedings that seek to find others legally at fault through a court judgment or, as is much more common, such disputes may be resolved through informal settlement before any lawsuit is filed. We've handled many product liability lawsuits from car accidents to dangerous appliances. ​

• PRODUCT LIABILITY

Military Law

Military law is all legal structures that govern military personnel. Topics covered by military cover service members' conduct while in training or on active duty, protections of military spouses, and service members' reentry into civil society when their tours of duty are over. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) governs service members' conduct while in training or on active duty. It lists nearly 60 activities in which service members cannot engage while in the military. If a service member violates one of these provisions, the service member's commanding officer (CO) may decide to punish that soldier or refer her to a court-martial, which she will be tried. ​

• COURT-MARTIAL PROCEEDINGS