Having a legal problem can be overwhelming. Do you need an attorney? How much will it cost?
To help you navigate this confusing territory, here are some of the most common situations when hiring an attorney might be worth your while.
If You’re Facing Criminal Charges
If you’re facing criminal charges and haven’t hired an attorney, it’s important to know that this could be a huge mistake. If you are not prepared to defend yourself in court, the cost of making a mistake could be severe – jail time, loss of freedom, or fines.
You need an experienced attorney who can navigate any procedural intricacies involved in defending you against serious allegations without losing sight of your ultimate goal – proving your innocence or mitigating the damage caused by any wrongdoing on your part.
People often make the mistake of relying on a free public defender. Unfortunately, a public defender may represent hundreds of clients at once, which means that even with their best efforts, they may not be very helpful.
Starting a Business
The process of starting a business is complex, and if done incorrectly, it can lead to some serious problems. If you’re setting up a legal LLC, hiring employees, or figuring out insurance, you should get an attorney involved, particularly if this is your first time starting a business.
Having an attorney from the beginning is also a good idea if an issue arises later down the road. Having an attorney who is already familiar with the ins and outs of the business will help them to represent you in the best way possible.
Getting Divorced
If you are in need of a divorce attorney, it is highly likely that your situation is complex and has many moving parts. You may be involved in child custody, alimony, or property division. There might be many retirement accounts to divide between the two parties, or property that is owned by both but not possible to realistically split.
An attorney can also serve as an unbiased party in the situation. Oftentimes, both sides feel they should be entitled to certain property, custody, or possessions. Much of this is driven by pride and frustration. An attorney can serve as a fair and unbiased guide to help the two sides come to terms before appearing in court.
Writing a Will or Estate Plan
You should hire an attorney if you need to write a will or estate plan. A will is a legal document that describes how you want your assets distributed after death. An estate plan is much more complex and leaves fewer questions or debates, such as power of attorney or how trusts can be distributed.
It can be quite difficult to get one written accurately and legally. In addition, there are certain requirements for writing the document itself depending on where you live and how much money you have. For example, many states require that lawyers draw up wills because they’re so complicated. It’s not worth taking the risk of doing it yourself and having something go wrong.
In addition to ensuring that everything is done correctly, hiring an attorney gives peace of mind in knowing that there’s someone who knows what they’re doing handling all of this important work for you.
Conclusion
In the end, if you have questions about the law or if you’re facing criminal charges, it’s best to seek professional help from an attorney. Your future may depend on it!
