I actively and purposefully practice in many areas of the law. Although some attorneys prefer to specialize in one or two areas, I believe that the best way to serve my clients is to be able to relate to all of their legal need. Unfortunately many clients need assistance in several areas of the law at once, and I believe that a broad understanding of the entire picture is the best way to prioritize and effectively represent my clients. Even if you only have one issue to be resolved general knowledge of how it may affect your other legal rights and responsibilities or your life as a whole can be beneficial. This can only be achieved by hiring an attorney with experience and knowledge in diverse areas of the law.
- Criminal Law: Being arrested or charged with a crime is a significant, and perhaps life changing event. It is important that you know your rights and you assert them aggressively. I have handled cases from minor misdemeanors up to felonies of the 1st degree, but I understand that no matter the severity of the charge it is a very significant time in your life. I will put in the time and energy that you expect and should expect from an attorney. In every case I work towards the most beneficial outcome for your situation. The best possible outcome may or may not be a full jury trial. It may be in your best interest to plea to a lesser charge in order to minimize fines, penalties and jail time. There may be programs to avoid a criminal record which will impact you for the rest of your life. It is imperative that you contact an attorney who can evaluate the merits of the prosecution's case and the risk and reward of taking a case to trial or taking a plea bargain. Contacting an attorney early in the process is important so that you do not compromise your own case.
- Divorce, Child Custody and Juvenile Law: Divorce and child custody issues generally represent a very traumatic time in the lives of not only the litigants, but any children as well. As a family law attorney I work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for my client with the least amount of trauma to everyone involved. Where minor children are involved it is generally in everyone's interest for all parties to work together. I sincerely believe this and work to come to a compromise that works for all parties especially children. Unfortunately it is not always possible for the parties to work together. In these cases I do everything within my power and the power of the court to gain every advantage and get my clients everything they are entitled to.
- Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Defense: It's not your fault. No one has ever said, "When I grow up I want to file for bankruptcy." You didn't intend this. You would love to have the means to pay back all of your creditors. You don't want to lose your house, or spend months trying to keep it. This is a difficult time in your life, and this is certainly not how you envisioned it. I can help. Together we can determine what the right choices are for you. Is it possible to fight and stay in your home? Is it the right decision? Is filing bankruptcy the right choice for you? What chapter? Can I keep my property in a bankruptcy? What debts can I discharge? How long will this affect my credit? These questions can only be answered after a thorough analysis of your specific financial situation.
- Wills, Trusts & Estates/Powers of Attorney for Finances and Health Care & Living Wills: No one wants to think about a catastrophic accident or their own death, but the reality is that without careful planning your wishes may not get carried out. If you were to suffer an accident and be unable to communicate your wishes regarding finances or health care who would make those decisions for you? Through Powers of Attorney and a Living Will you can direct those decisions and determine who will make those decisions. If you die without a Will the Ohio Statute of Descent and Distribution take effect. There is significant chance that those laws do not represent your wishes. I recommend having an attorney look over your Will as well as other end of life arrangements at least every 5 years, or sooner in the event of a significant change in circumstances such as a marriage, birth or divorce.
When a loved one dies, with a Will or without, it is important to speak with an attorney regarding the probate process. There could be significant assets that can only be properly dealt with through the County Probate Court. If the probate process is not done timely property and assets may be tied up for unnecessarily long periods of time, costing heirs significant amounts of money.
- Civil Suits: Suing or being sued is not something to take lightly. If you have been injured by someone I can help you make the decisions on whether to take legal action, who to file against, which court and under what law to pursue a lawsuit.
I cannot emphasize this enough: If you are named as a defendant in a lawsuit the worst thing you can do is nothing. If you ignore a court notice and miss a court date there could be irreversible consequences. If you have done this already it is important to contact an attorney immediately. There may be remedies that are only available for a limited time.
- Real Estate Law: Buying a home may be the most important investment you will make in life. Usually it is the largest amount of money you will expend on any given item, and it only makes sense to speak with an attorney regarding that purchase. Title companies and Realtors are very knowledgeable, but cannot and should not provide legal advice. Relying on their representations at closing is not always advisable. It is important to hire an attorney to represent you at your real estate closing.
- Transactional Law and Contracts: If you are contemplating starting your own business it is important to get all the facts before forming a business entity. There are significant legal and tax consequences which are wholly dependent on what type of entity you decide to form. The forms that must be filed and the procedures that need to be followed for the Secretary of State can be confusing and overwhelming. It is important to contact an attorney to discuss your options and guide you through the process.
If you are a small business or sole proprietor you may often be asked to sign contracts for goods and services. Those contracts are written in legalese and which is difficult for a non-lawyer to understand. Contract review is an inexpensive means to save you time, money, headache and hassle in the future.
- Landlord/Tenant: If you own rental property and are not being paid rent or are having other problems with a tenant an attorney can help you quickly and effectively evict the client so that you have less interruption in your income stream.
If you are a tenant and your landlord has started an eviction process or you are having problems with the property I may be able to help you stay in your home or get the satisfaction you deserve.
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Please don’t hesitate to contact me even if you do not see your exact legal problem on this page. Many cases cannot fit neatly into a category. Even if you are not sure that you have a matter that can or should be handled by an attorney it is probably worth it to contact one. In most cases I offer a free initial consultation or can tell you if you need an attorney during a short phone conversation.
