High Point Family Law

How to Find the Best Criminal Attorneys and Lawyers

Before going into the question of how to identify the best criminal attorney or criminal lawyer, we need to understand what criminal acts are. Criminal acts can range from petty offenses like theft, DWI and assault to grave felonies like fraud, white collar crime, drug offenses, sex offenses, and felony DWI. The punishment for crimes also varies from imposition of fines to short-term simple imprisonment to extended rigorous imprisonment – and in some countries like the U.S. even capital punishment.

In criminal law, the case is initiated by the state or federal government through a prosecutor rather than by the victim, as is the practice under civil law. The prosecutor in a criminal law has the onus to prove to the judge or jury “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the accused is guilty of the crime he is charged with.

Criminal Law Attorneys are persons with legal qualifications who represent clients who are being prosecuted by the state or federal government for an act of crime. It is the general practice in law to assume any accused as innocent unless proved guilty.

It is in the interest of the accused that he/she engages a criminal law attorney as soon as possible. Any attempts to delay the process of hiring a defense attorney and a wait-and-see approach can quite often prove detrimental to the accused. More importantly, never seek guidance about your rights and legal status from police officers and prosecutors who will naturally not act in a suspect’s best interest.

If you have been charged with a crime, it is important that you find the right kind of defense attorney to represent you – without wasting time. Please remember that the criminal law attorney has to be different from the type of attorneys who handle matters like divorce, writing a pre-nuptial agreement, or a bill.

Finding an experienced and competent criminal lawyer to represent you is crucial if you want the charges dropped and your innocence established in a law court. Finding a good criminal lawyer is daunting and this task becomes ever more stressful when one is already under pressure as an accused in a criminal case.

The criminal lawyer you hire has to be experienced, fully conversant with the criminal law, familiar with similar case-studies, possesses argumentative skills and knows the ropes in the courthouse.

Even before hiring a criminal lawyer, you can spend some time with the lawyer, to ascertain how competent and compatible he will be. One must also be totally candid with the criminal lawyer one hires. Ask if the criminal lawyer has handled similar cases in the past and how many times he was able to obtain acquittal for clients with these kinds of charges.

The right lawyer for you will depend on your situation, the crime you have been charged with, your affordability, your personal history and prior criminal record. A competent attorney devotes time pondering over your case and also knows how to take care of witnesses who might try to change their versions during the course of the proceedings of the case. Finding the right criminal attorney could make the critical difference between you being acquitted or languishing in jail.

In today’s age and time, it is wise to engage criminal lawyers who are computer-literate and can do videoconferencing, electronic filing, and voice-recognition technology to solve cases, share information and handle things using more sophisticated methods.…

Tips on What to Do When Pulled Over for DWI

Out of all the errors a person can make behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated often is one of the worst lapses in judgment. It can be a costly and humiliating experience, one that often is made worse because drivers don’t know their rights when they have been stopped for an officer for DWI.

Typically, a DWI stop starts with the officer asking you for your license and registration; that much you have to provide. But when he starts asking you questions, you’re under no obligation to answer – if you choose not to speak at all because you’re afraid it might often some indication that you’ve drunk, then it’s your right not to say a word.

Often, if an officer thinks you’ve been drinking, he may ask you to perform field sobriety tests. Again, in most states you have the right to refuse such tests, which often are subjective, offering an officer the opportunity to make a judgment call that you’ve been drinking. Again, don’t do anything that offers any potentially self-incriminating evidence.

At some point, the officer is going to want you to take a Breathalyzer or blood test, and you’re darned if you do, darned if you don’t in this regard. All US States have implied consents laws, which basically state that if you have a driver’s license, you must comply with a request for such tests if an officer deems one necessary. And if you don;t take the test when asked, you still face the possibility of a fine, suspended license, even jail time. In some instances, you’re may be a little better off declining the test, but most of the time, agree to have it done.

So take the test, and one of tow things will happen: Either you’ll be found to not be drunk, or you will be found to be intoxicated and arrested for DWI. Even that, though, doesn’t necessarily mean a conviction – the equipment used to check your level of intoxication varies in its accuracy, and can often be challenged in court. Or perhaps the officer made a procedural error, which could lead to your case being throw out.

How will you know if such errors have been made? Most of the time you won’t, and in the case of a DWI, the old adage “Only a fool acts as his own attorney” has never been truer. if you face a court date for DWI, don’t waste time trying to represent yourself – go find yourself a criminal defense attorney. Don’t take the first one you see in the Yellow Pages; look around a bit, ask others who they can recommend. There are huge differences in the competence of attorneys, and you’ll want the best one you can afford representing you in a court of law.

And one last point: If you’ve been stopped for DWI, hopefully you’ve learned something, whether you’re convicted or not, something that should have been obvious – drinking and driving don’t mix.…

A living trust attorney Huntsville, AL can help you protect your assets and ensure that your estate is handled according to your wishes. Living trusts are one of the most popular estate planning tools for individuals and families seeking to preserve their wealth and avoid probate court. In this blog post, we will discuss how a living trust attorney can assist you in creating a living trust, avoiding probate, protecting your assets, updating your estate plan, ensuring your wishes are followed, dispute resolution, and providing legal advice.

Creating a Living Trust

Creating a Living Trust is a complex process that requires the guidance of an experienced living trust attorney. Your living trust lawyer in Huntsville, AL will guide you through the process of creating a legally binding trust that outlines your wishes for the distribution of your estate. Your living trust attorney will help you decide what assets should be included in your trust, how to structure your trust, and who your beneficiaries should be.

Avoiding Probate

One of the primary reasons individuals choose to create a living trust is to avoid probate. Probate is a lengthy, expensive, and public legal process that is used to settle an individual’s estate after their death. A living trust attorney can help you structure your living trust to avoid probate court and minimize the risk of disputes among your heirs.

Asset Protection

A living trust attorney can also assist you in protecting your assets. By creating a living trust, you can protect your assets from creditors and lawsuits, ensuring that your wealth is preserved for your heirs. Your living trust lawyer in Huntsville, AL can advise you on the best strategies for asset protection, including creating trusts within your trust to safeguard your assets.

Updating Your Estate Plan

Your estate plan is not a one-time event but a living document that should be updated regularly to reflect changes in your circumstances or wishes. A living trust attorney can help you update your estate plan and ensure that it reflects your current desires. Whether you need to make changes to your beneficiaries, update your trust structure, or add new assets to your trust, your living trust attorney can guide you through the process.

Ensuring Your Wishes Are Followed

A living trust attorney can help you ensure that your wishes are followed after your death. By creating a living trust, you can provide clear instructions on how your estate should be distributed, who should receive your assets, and how your affairs should be managed. Your living trust lawyer in Huntsville, AL can help you structure your trust to ensure that your wishes are followed, even if disputes arise among your heirs.

Dispute Resolution

Despite your best efforts to plan for the future, disputes can still arise among your heirs after your death. A living trust attorney can help you plan for potential disputes and provide strategies for dispute resolution. Your living trust lawyer in Huntsville, AL can also represent your interests in court if necessary, ensuring that your wishes are upheld.

Legal Advice

Finally, a living trust attorney can provide you with legal advice on a range of estate planning issues. Your living trust lawyer in Huntsville, AL can help you understand the legal implications of your estate plan, including tax implications, asset protection strategies, and the legal requirements for creating a living trust.

In conclusion, a living trust attorney can provide invaluable assistance in creating a living trust, avoiding probate, protecting your assets, updating your estate plan, ensuring your wishes are followed, dispute resolution, and legal advice. If you are considering creating a living trust, contact a living trust attorney today to ensure that your estate is handled according to your wishes.

 …

Have You Been Falsely Accused of a Crime?

It is a fear many people have. Being falsely accused of a crime would be terrifying, especially if the police and prosecutor say that they have evidence against you. After all, how do you prove something you didn’t do? In television and movies the protagonist is always vindicated, but this is real life after all. According to Ohio State University, as many as 10,000 people are wrongly convicted each year in our justice system. Just how could this happen?

False accusations and convictions can happen for a variety of reasons. One is the reliance some investigators place on witnesses. Contrary to popular belief, eye witness testimony is extremely unreliable. Our minds are designed to scan for general facts, not hone in on specific details. In addition, our brain will actually fill in information it does not know with what it conjures up just to make a coherent dialogue. This is not malicious intent on the part of the witness, just how our brain works. The result of this is that if they see someone who they believe was wearing a brown jacket and jeans and the next person they see if a picture of you wearing a black jacket, they may combine the two to the point they really believe you were the first person they saw.

Next is something often referred to as the “CSI Effect.” This is the effect popular television shows have had on investigations and juries. Because these shows make it seem like every case relies upon trace evidence, too much emphasis is put on it. You may be surprised to learn that a clean DNA sample is very rarely obtained, instead generally it is some kind of trace evidence like hair which can only be narrowed down to a segment of the population. When this is presented to the jury, they may put so much emphasis on what is really an unreliable piece of evidence that a conviction may be established incorrectly.

As you can see, there are several factors working against the defendant in a criminal case. Even if you are innocent, a jury which has been raised on television shows glorifying the prosecution and demonizing the accused will definitely work against you. An investigation that may be based on flimsy evidence only made important by pop culture may take the attention off of the actual criminal and onto you. Be careful, and take careful legal precautions if you find yourself in this situation.…