Top 5 Reasons to Call an Attorney

When you have an electrical issue at your home, you know to call an electrician. When your car stops running, you know to call a mechanic. So when do you know it is time to call a lawyer? While there are potentially many reasons you would call at attorney there are five main requests one might have when calling a lawyer: business issues, estate planning, family issues, crimes and harm done to another.

Let’s get down to business

One of the most common reasons people hire an attorney is for business issues. Business formation, contracts for business to business relationships, credit collections; these are just a few business issues that might prompt a call to an attorney. When you’ve decided to create a business it is supremely important that you get the foundation right. The initial setup is key to the future success of any business and that includes: taxation issues, growth plans and ownership determinations. Professionally, it is vitally important that you never conduct business without a contract. Attorneys can help you understand better what you need to protect, what you should promise and what you will agree to. Understanding what you sign is so important to your success as a business. Calling an attorney to help you understand the ins and outs of business is a great decision.

What will you leave behind

 Protecting your assets for the future is one of the wisest decisions an individual can make. Life is not promised, tomorrow may never come; if you have accumulated assets it is important to make a plan for what happens in the event you are gone. If you do not have any plans in place and you pass away, unfortunately your belongings will go through a state-required process. Having an attorney who understand the state laws around estate planning is a pivotal decision of your family’s future. Estate planning is not just what happens to your possessions. Planning for the future also includes: providing for elderly parents, children or a disabled family member. Additionally, having a will in place can prevent your family from owing estate taxes. Calling an attorney to have a difficult conversation can help your loved ones in the long rung.

We are family

Divorce is not the only family issue you should, and could, call an attorney for. While having a good attorney to work with through a divorce is incredibly important, there are many issues that can arise after the judgement is sealed. Sometimes there are modifications needed for original decrees. Things changes. Things like visitation rights, child custody agreements, collections of child support, spousal support or even division of property. Paternity and guardianship are also key issues that an attorney can assist you with. Adoptions are another significant issue that require legal support as well. Calling an attorney can help change the course of your future and your familial situations.

 Crime doesn’t pay

You would not call an electrician for a plumbing issue, likewise, you would not want to face a criminal charge without a criminal defense attorney. Having representation in legal matters involving a crime are so important the United States legal system provides public defenders for free to those who cannot afford an attorney. Some of the benefits that come from having a legal defender are the researchers and investigators their offices have, having someone on your team to go to bat for you and someone who understands all aspects of the legal system you are facing. Calling an attorney when you’ve been charged with a crime is one of the best calls you can make. 

One person hurts another

There are civil matters that arise that may not include a crime, but instead involve an accident or negligence has occurred. Most accidents are not criminal matters, but accidents. While a criminal charge usually carries jail time, most accidents do not. The duty of most personal injury attorneys is to ensure their clients have received sufficient settlement to meet their needs from an accident. Another aspect of civil law is medical malpractice trials. The sole responsibility of a medical malpractice attorney is to prove a causal link between an injury and the harm to the client. Having someone on your side when you’ve been injured or wronged is important to your ability to move forward. Calling an attorney might just secure your ability to move forward from the harm you have endured.

While there are numerous reason to call an attorney, these five issues are the main reasons you might find yourself searching for a good lawyer. If you find yourself facing family issues that might be bettered with legal representation, give us a call at Proffitt Family Law.