Before looking for an attorney, decide what kind you need. Common fields include:
These programs offer a variety of ways to get legal aid. Some limit their services to people with low incomes.
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You can appeal, but expect to be required to pay an appeal bond in the amount of the judgment. If you appeal or move to vacate, you need grounds for the judge to rule on. Without grounds, expect to lose. The judgment will remain on your credit report for as long as it is valid, which can be more than 7 years.
Mr freedman has set forth out the basics. To add to his comments, once the creditor (plaintiff) has a judgment they will eventually try to enforce (collect) the judgment via wage/account garnishment.
Once you fall behind on a debt your credit record is marked for 7 years. Here you fell behind and were sued. There was a court hearing and a judgment was entered against you. This history of these events will most likely appear on your credit record for 7 years. Once the judgment is entered the creditor's attorney will look for assets to satisfy...
Ask around among your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances to see if they know of any attorneys they could recommend. Personal references can be some of the most reliable references you will find.
You can run an attorney search at databases such as Avvo and Martindale Hubbell, which provide information such as practice areas, location, disciplinary records, and lawyer reviews.
Now that you have some attorney options, it’s time to choose. To get you started, here’s a list of questions to ask an attorney before hiring them:
One way to get a feel for an attorney’s practice is to be observant when you go for your first consultation.
I have a judgement that's 6 yrs old. I need a low cost lawyer aware of consumer law to help me negotiate a settlement and get the judgement off my credit report! I want to settle and speed the payments out over several months.
Why hire a lawyer? The money you pay him can go towards the judgement. Look at it this way. You can write a letter to the ?? asking them to consider an offer of settlement for complete removal. Make a reasonable offer and ask that all correspondence be in writing. Don't lowball too much. They more than likely will respond with a counter.
The reason to hire a lawyer is because they might pull a fast one. First of all the original judgement is for $3500, 6 yrs of interest (allowed by law), and penalties, processing fees, blah,
It could be worth a try. Go to naca.com and look for a lawyer in your area. All those listed are consumer attorneys. When you find one, be sure to have him go over all of the paperwork in hopes of a possible error in the judgement. I didn't realize it was that much. Most of all, they have to remove the negative off of the CR or no pay.
If all you want is an attorney to send your letter offering a settlement, get a prepaidlegal attorney for that. They can do it for around $35 once you sign up (that is the fee in most states). They can send the letter out for you within a couple of days. If you're interested I can give you the number of a friend of mine who sells prepaid legal.
After the case concludes, you will: Hear the final result (called a "court judgment") or receive a "money judgment" by certified mail. Follow the judge's instructions to return personal property, pay fines, be paid a settlement, or other retribution, or file an appeal if you do not like the outcome of the case.
If you won the court judgment or money judgment, your battle might not be over yet. Some people will refuse to pay you, or they may need a payment plan. The courts will not help you get the money you won.
The court process is simplified on purpose, so people without a legal education can understand what to do. You will likely have a fighting chance in small claims court if your case is straightforward.
Small claims court is where anyone can bring a civil case in front of a local judge if it is under a certain amount of money. It provides relatively fast resolution to disputes at a low cost. This option is good for people who cannot afford an attorney or who believe their case is simple. The court process is simplified on purpose, ...
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If your child was raped, you may be able to file a lawsuit against a party or parties that both Perpetrated the assault, as well as who may have been negligent in allowing that assault to happen. You should discuss your Daughters case with counsel in your jurisdiction to investigate the possibility of bringing a civil action against the perpetrator and/or other culpable... Read More
You want to be reasonably certain that you will be able to collect a judgment before you spend a lot of money on a lawsuit. The courts will not help you get the money you win in a court case. Instead, the final judgment is often sent by certified mail and you have to collect the money yourself. 5.
You can expect to gather evidence, have contact information for yourself and the other party, talk clearly in front of a judge or courtroom of people, and follow any court orders. Even if you do not win, taking your case to court means you must follow whatever the court decides.
From car accidents and injuries to family-related issues to financial disputes, disputes can often be solved through communication and compromise. Not every dispute involves a legal cause of action.
1. Do You Have a Good Case? This may seem obvious, but you need to have a genuine legal claim or " cause of action " in order to have a court support your position .
Lawsuits can be expensive, and recovering your attorneys' fees is often not an option. Ask your lawyer for an estimate of legal fees, and do the math. It may be cheaper to settle. Get legal advice from an attorney you trust and consider the amount of money you could win compared to the amount you'd get in a settlement.
A lawsuit may take a lot of time and energy, and can be emotionally draining. Remember that you might find that you have less time and energy to devote to your work, business, family, and social life for the duration of the lawsuit. The case may involve completing demand letters and paperwork, filing at the clerk's office, waiting in court until your turn to speak, and following any of the judge's orders.
Each state's court system has some variation of " small claims court " or "conciliation" court, which only hears disputes in which a certain dollar amount is at issue (usually $5,000 or less).
Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.
Don' t forget that lawyers don't always need to take more cases. Yes, new clients are a great thing, but I don't want clients that will eat all my time and get no where fast. Your tip: keep your communication very simple and to the point.
If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.
Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.
While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.
If no one can confirm that the story is true, you will at least need something external, such as a hard copy document, to prove your case. Be prepared.
If the judge can see your boobs, he's not listening to your story. If I can see your boobs, then I know you didn't care enough about yourself to talk to an attorney. Dress like you are going to church. Credibility is one of the most important things in this world - and most important in a courtroom.