why rent a lawyer

If you believe your landlord is discriminating against you, you may need a lawyer to stop the illegal actions and help you recover damages for any harm you suffered. One option is to hire a lawyer to sue the landlord in court.

Full Answer

Why hire a landlord or tenant lawyer?

As a practical matter, if you have an attorneys' fees clause in your lease or rental agreement, you will have an easier time finding a lawyer to represent you. Since the landlord pays the lawyer's bill if you win, a lawyer needn't worry as much about getting paid by you.

Do I need a lawyer for a rental property lawsuit?

A lawyer will also scrutinize the fine print of the agreement to be sure that you're not still on the hook for the lease of the apartment you're leaving, or if you're agreeing to be relocated, that there's not something hidden in the terms that will force you to leave that place before you're good and ready.

Should I hire a lawyer to represent me in a lease?

But if a prospect or tenant sues you for discrimination, or if HUD or a fair housing agency agrees to investigate a claim, you'll probably want to consult a lawyer. HUD administrative law judges can award a civil penalty of $16,000 per violation for first-time offenders, in addition to actual damages, attorneys' fees, and other relief.

Do I need a lawyer to evict tenants?

Apr 11, 2018 · The last attorney to rent from me was always late with rent and extremely arrogant about it. I filed at least six 3-day Notices on him and started the eviction four months in a row. Each time, he paid the rent right before the court date and then did it again the next month. He also sent me a two-page document full of legalese, arguing that I ...

Your Landlord Is Evicting You

If your landlord serves you with a termination notice that you intend to fight, hiring a lawyer can increase your chance of success. Choose a lawye...

Your Landlord Is Evicting You Without Proper Court Procedures

Landlords must follow eviction procedures set forth by state and local law. If your landlord tries to evict you by taking matters into his own hand...

Your Landlord Discriminates Against You

If you believe your landlord is discriminating against you, you may need a lawyer to stop the illegal actions and help you recover damages for any...

Your Landlord Won't Make Necessary Repairs

If your landlord isn't fulfilling important obligations under your lease and the law, it can lead to major problems. For example, think of the land...

Your Landlord Isn't Fulfilling His Promises

Sometimes, landlords make promises to encourage hesitant applicants to rent from them. For example, if an applicant is concerned about the neighbor...

You've been Injured Or Made Ill

Accidents can happen, even at a well-run rental property. However, if an accident is the result of the landlord's carelessness, you may have a lega...

Your Property Has been Damaged

Sometimes, a landlord's failure to maintain the rental property causes damage to your personal property. For example, a landlord's faulty wiring re...

How to Get A Lawyer's Help

If you are in need of a lawyer, choose one with expertise in landlord-tenant matters. For help in getting a lawyer, read the article "How to Find a...

What does it mean to hire a lawyer for a will?

Hiring a Will attorney means gaining access to their years of knowledge and experience. In your meeting, the attorney will also be able to provide insight on the best way to achieve your goals, particularly if you have challenging family dynamics. They also have the technical skills necessary to ensure the correct documents are prepared.

What is a probate attorney?

A Will attorney , also known as a probate attorney, can assist you and your family with: Drafting the Will; Assisting your family to ensure your wishes are carried out; Aiding in any legal proceedings should the need arise. More often than not an experienced lawyer can handle all aspects of both Wills and probate.

Why is a pourover important?

Why is a Pourover Will Important? This type of Will still names an Executor to manage probate; however, instead of naming beneficiaries to inherit your assets, a Pourover Will names the trust as the beneficiary of all assets that aren’t transferred into the trust.

What is a revocable trust?

All assets in a Revocable Living Trust are in held in the name of the Trust , however the grantor’s social security number is used for filing taxes.

Can a grantor revoke a trust?

Once the assets are transferred into the Trust, they are managed and distributed by the designated Trustee, pursuant to the trust terms. As long as the grantor has capacity, they can revoke or amend the trust. Within a trust, you can create subtrusts for beneficiaries.

Is it better to make a will or leave assets to beneficiaries?

Contrary to popular belief, creating a Will can be a relatively cost-effective way to leave your assets to specific beneficiaries. While attorney fees will range depending on their experience, your location, and your family needs, this option is a viable way to write a legally sound Will. Regardless, this is not the place to skimp. A poorly prepared Will can be worse than no Will at all.

What is holographic will?

Also known as a handwritten Will, holographic Wills have very specific legal requirements that differ from Wills drafted by attorneys. You would have to read the California Probate Code thoroughly to find the applicable law and may not properly interpret the law. Remember, attorneys spend three years in law school then take a bar exam that they have to study for for three months, with a 50% fail rate in California.

How to evict a tenant?

Still, many landlords try to evict a tenant themselves, often with success. (For more on evicting tenants, see Nolo's area on Evicting a Tenant or Ending a Lease .) But you may be better off hiring a lawyer if: 1 this is your first eviction 2 the tenant is fighting the eviction and has a lawyer 3 the tenant is an employee whom you're firing 4 the tenant is filing for bankruptcy, or 5 you must comply with rent control or housing program rules for eviction.

How much is the penalty for a HUD violation?

HUD administrative law judges can award a civil penalty of $16,000 per violation for first-time offenders, in addition to actual damages, attorneys' fees, and other relief. Your liability can be much higher if your case goes to court or you settle.

What happens if you make a mistake on your taxes?

If you made a serious mistake on your taxes that the government hasn't yet noticed -- for example, you didn't report certain income or you took deductions for which you're not entitled -- hiring a lawyer before the auditors uncover the mistake can help you avoid a potentially damaging and embarrassing situation.

Can you sue a tenant for not maintaining the roof?

Tenants or guests may also sue you if they think that your failure to maintain the rental property caused damage to their property. For example, if you don't maintain the roof and a leak occurs during a normal winter rain, soaking the tenant's furniture, the tenant may look to you for compensation.

Do you need a lawyer for discrimination?

You don't need a lawyer every time a prospect or tenant accuses you of illegal discrimination. In fact, landlords who diligently comply with fair housing laws can still get these accusations from prospects they reject or tenants they evict for legitimate business reasons.

Account Closed

What kind of legitimate lawyer would want to spend hour (s) defending a claim for a couple grand overdue rent in what amounts to basically a notch below traffic court ...? I realize law school is a different animal in the USA than here but good grief.

Thomas S

I personally choose not to rent to lawyers, legal aid, police officers or social workers. I have interacted with these professions a fair bit and find that generally speaking they have certain personality traits that I feel could make them difficult tennats.

What can a landlord/tenant lawyer do?

A landlord/tenant lawyer can help you win an eviction lawsuit, steer clear of liability, and collect or return a security deposit. Whether you are a landlord drawing up a lease or a renter trying to get back your security deposit, an attorney can assist in cases of all types, especially those involving illegal discrimination, property damage, ...

What is a tenant lawyer?

On the other hand, a landlord / tenant lawyer also helps landlords who have tenants breaking rules, such as moving out three months early or refusing to pay rent. Tenant eviction laws are very specific, with different rules in each city.

What is a landlord tenant attorney?

A landlord/tenant attorney can help you analyze your situation, determine what your rights are, and make a well-informed decision about how to protect your interests. We've created a list of trusted landlord/tenant attorneys to help you find a lawyer who is the best fit for your situation.

What are the legal issues with landlords?

Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. These often include: 1 Landlord/tenant disputes, such as those related to rental rates, late or unpaid rent, security deposits, disagreements about the habitability of rental property, and other tenant rights and landlord rights issues. 2 Eviction, either seeking to evict a tenant or helping a tenant fight eviction and stay in their home (especially during times where additional tenants' rights/renters' rights are in effect, such as the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic). 3 Rental agreements and lease agreements, including initial drafting and review of rental contracts, updates to the terms of the lease, and other contract-related matters. 4 Discrimination claims, including those related to housing discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, disability or other classification protected under the federal Fair Housing Act or other state or local ordinances. 5 Commercial real estate matters, from negotiating an initial commercial lease to litigating business disputes related to the lease or other issues. 6 Personal injury claims, if a property is not kept safe and in proper repair and someone is injured as a result. 7 Addressing tangential issues for landlords, including business law and estate planning-related issues such as business succession planning, and protection of rental property assets in a divorce or other family law matter.