There are over 1.3 million attorneys actively working in the United States. They all specialize in assisting people with legal matters. However, they do not all do the same job.
It helps to understand the different areas of law to know when you need to hire an attorney. This article will give you five situations where you’ll need to hire an attorney to represent you.
1. Estate Planning
What will happen to your possessions and assets after you pass away? Do you want them to transfer to specific people? If so, then you need to hire an attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan.
Each state has specific rules about how you go about creating inheritance documents. If you don’t follow these rules, your estate plan may not be enforceable, and your estate will get distributed according to intestate laws. This may or may not align with your intended distribution of assets.
Another concern is what happens if you’re incapacitated. This is a stage of life where you’re incapable of voicing your wishes. You need to have legal and enforceable documents in place that outline your wishes for medical care and financial matters.
2. Family Affairs
The most common legal family issue is divorce. However, family attorneys can also assist with prenuptial agreements, child custody, visitation, child support, paternity, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and emancipation.
Having legal representation ensures each family member’s best interests get legally represented.
3. Criminal Charges
If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need to hire legal representation. This could be a public defender through the court system or a private criminal attorney. Either type of attorney will be able to walk you through the criminal court process.
Your attorney will advise you of your options and negotiate with the prosecutor. They may be able to avoid going to trial, or they will argue your defense in court.
4. Personal Injury
One of the most common reasons people hire a lawyer is because they have been injured due to someone else’s intentional or negligent actions. If you’ve experienced an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you can read more here about how an experienced personal injury attorney can help you with legal representation of your case.
People can hire attorneys specializing in motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, workplace injuries, product liability, premises liability, and dog bites. You can read on here to learn more about what not to do after an accident.
5. Business Matters
When you participate in business dealings, you need to memorialize everything in writing. This could be when forming a business, contracting, or developing business to business relationships.
A business attorney can assist with contract disputes. They can also represent clients who face collections efforts by unpaid lenders.
One of the most important things they do is to determine the best formation entity for new businesses. This sets you up for the most favorable taxation.
Should I Hire an Attorney?
If you find yourself experiencing one of these life events, then it’s time to hire an attorney. Maybe you’re considering starting a business, adopting a child, or considering your future life plans. Then there are sudden events, such as facing criminal charges or an injury that’s caused by someone else.
Browse our other articles to learn how to live a luxurious life.