Here is a handy checklist of basic questions to ask before you hire a lawyer:
# What is your experience in this field?
# Have you handled matters like mine?
# What are the possible outcomes of my case?
# What are my alternatives in resolving the matter?
# Approximately how long will it take to resolve?
# Do you recommend mediation or arbitration?
# What are your rates and how often will you bill me?
# What is a ballpark figure for the total bill, including fees and expenses?
# How will you keep me informed of progress?
# What kind of approach will you take to resolve the matter - aggressive and unyielding, or will you be more inclined to reach a reasonable settlement?
# Who else in the office will be working on my case?
# Can junior attorneys or paralegals in the office handle some of the substantive legal work at a lower rate?
68 users commented in " 12 Questions To Ask Your Potential Lawyer "
Follow-up RSS Comments Feed or Leave a TrackbackI have a brother that has a 25 year sentence and i want to get him a time cut.
We will need more details about your particular situation. Please describe it breafly if possible.
I HAVE PLACED A BIB ON JULY 9, 2008 ON A FORCLOSED HOME IN LINDEN, NJ FOR $220,000. THE OWNERS OR TENANTS ARE STILL IN THE HOME. I HAVE NOT RECIEVED AN ANSWER WHETHER THE BANK WILL ACCEPT MY BID OR NOT.
CAN I LEGALLY LOOK FOR ANOTHER HOME AND PLACE A BID?
Generally speaking:
In civil court, as long as I can prove “arising out of” can I continue to purse a civil case years later. Regarding a Civil Court Case arising out of a Workers Compensation Case,by law
-Correction ***Fired attorney after 4 wks.***
I was Stopped at a traffic light, so was the car directly behind me. We were rearended by a third car at 35mph on 2/19/08 in Florida.My car was totaled,I had my two children in the car 7 and 3 years old. I had no insurance coverage. I had hired an attorney and never was able to speak to the attorney about my case, after FOUR WEEKS I subsequently fired him and hired an new attorney. The new attorney has just settled my case and informed me that the old one has filed a $1000.lein against my $10,000 settlement award.My new attorney advised me,AFTER I endorsed everything that I have 4500.00 in Chiro fees(but 17 visits = $2994.00 according to the summary of charges FROM the Chiropractors office) and $3300.00(1/3 for 2nd attorneyin fees) ..The same chiropractor was used by both attorneys and I never switched, 17 visits total between the two! I feel like a victim all over again,my children and I will receive $1200. Although I lost six months wages… What can I do? IS THIS LEGAL?-PLEASE HELP!!
I was assaulted by a police officer and wish to file a civil case. Is there anyone that will help me?
I am currently unemployed,heading to divorce have 1 son want 1/2 phys $jnt cust,may “buy” out wife to have home for son $ I, Home IN need of repairs. how will these issues affect child cust,keeping or selling home,its “value”,& how to remain both responsable in paying for repairs & or selling,please respond with pro&con suggestions if possible.
We recently found out that someone in our community is writing letter to the Police Depart saying we drink & drive all the time. They gave the police our license plate numbers. Those numbers, color of our vehicles and our names were posted on the Deparment Board so they could be on the look out for us. We understand there are at least 6 anonymous letters received. Were told they were destroyed, but we now have a copy of one. Is this harrassment? profiling? what legal recourse do we have?
I got married in 1990 and seperated from him 2 years later and never divorced and I want to divorce him now, our daughter is grown I want to start divorce proceedings, approximately how long will this take? we don’t have any shared property or belongings between us, I moved away back then and never stayed in touch with him for the safety of myself and daughter because of domestic abuse I don’t have a lot of money to spend on a divorce, is this something I can do on my own and if so where do I start?
In Michigan do they have a way to set child support at an indefinite rate? Where the rate can never be altered or changed? As long as the paying party is sticking to the guidleines of the agreement? Also,if you already have legal physical joint cutsody can your child support be $0 and make that indefinite? This case has no rearages and late fees currently,
and he pays the assigned child support fee. He also has joint custody.
If my husband walked out on me and our 2 yr old last week and I want to move to another state where my parents are so they can help me…get on my feet..( I haven’t worked the entire marriage and have no education) Can I move or do i need to wait until separation papers are filed?
What are possibilities for a foreign citizen person who came to the U.S. and applied for Asylum Status then went back to his country to apply for a Green Card through his son. In addition, his security name check was denied once for applying a Green Card?
MY HUSBAND ABANDON ME AND MY TWO CHILDREN FROM A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE.AND,WE HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TOGETHER.AND,WE WERE MARRIED FOR FOUR YEARS.I WOULD LIKE TO GET A DIVORCE, AND GET CUSTODY OF OUR THREE YEAR OLD.I CAN NOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY.AND,I WAS ORDERED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT.AND,MY HUSBAND HAS VIOLATED MY VISITATIONS BY TAKING OUR DAUGHTER TO ANOTHER STATE.AND,I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE THEY ARE.AND, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER’S WELFARE.PLEASE,HELP ME WITH SOME ADVICE ON WHAT I COULD DO AND, SAVE MY DAUGHTER. THANK YOU
I was bent down at work and a superviser came behind me and started to move in a sexual motion and brush up aginst me and made a comment saying i will send you home with something nice for the hoildays while tree other guys were laughing. i was sexualy abused when i was younger and this deeply hurts me to the point iam scared to work i feel angry and abused serverly i filed a complaint and i want to file a lawsuite how do i do so? and can i sue?
what do i do
will this stand up in court
do i need to contact any one else other then fileing a complaint with my employer.
can you help me
will i be fierd
my boyfriend got lifted on new year and he broke his bail condition and his curfew what will happen to him?
A TWO YEAR OLD [DRUGCASE]CAME UP WHILE THAT PERSON WAS IN PRISON&JAIL THEN RIGHT WHEN THAT PERSON ABOUT TO GET OUT THE CASE COME UP,THEN GET DISMISS. MY QUESTION IS DO THE 180 DAY RULE COME IN EFFECT? OR LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
ALSO DO HE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CASE COMING BACK UP.?
In acase such as mine, I have a fifteen yearold who prefers to be with one parent.
When I contest the divorce can I be the one
ammended custody? She has been currently into
drugs and because she wants to be with her Dad
he has all the say in her rehabilitation- counseling and she doesn’t want to speak to me whatsoever.
I have a relative that has been charged with murder, armed robbery, and discharging a firearm in public. There is no evidence to charge him with this. The arresting officers know he is not the trigger man. The true culprit is locked up as well. Is it legal to still hold my relative with these such charges?
i was 61 & bot a “park model” in Littlefield, AZ, the person selling the models (she 50 yrs old) made bogus contracts and stole people (all elderly) money they put down on models. She was shut down my AZ planning comm. and put in jail for meth…and i kept making payments to the seller, she went to DMV signed lien over to her Aunt, her Aunt said now you make payments to me, i asked to see what contract* or legal doc she had and she said she will call the baloon payment due, i’ve made all my payments for 3 yrs, cpa has total accounting of what i’ve paid…she said i owe HER and she’ll charge me 25. a day late fees, and I NEED legal help. She, the seller of the park models committed major finanacial scams on elderly, i can’t afford to fight the crooks and need legal advice and aide. The Aunt keeps threatening to take my place. It cost 80,000. i put down 38,500 and financed 42,000. The seller gave me three different piece of paper (no legal documentation or contract) from puter saying it was a balloon and i’ve been faithfully paying on it, until Aunt took over lien. Then called me and left nasty notes and said i owe 45,000 (been there 3 yrs) and she’ll call the balloon due, i don’t think i can even sell my place today for 80,000. plus i don’t want to, this all happened after the seller was put in jail in November for Meth…my life has been hell since then. help.
Me and my husband are getting a divorce we have a two year old girl and one on the way and i was wanting to move to a different state. He is saying he will take the kids away from me if i move away. Can he do this as long as i let him know my new address so that he can see the kids? He is trying to make me stay in the state with him
I was divorced approx 7 years ago. The divorce was uncontested and I have been paying child support ever since (approx $33,000). I did not receive the tax deduction for my son in the settlement and my ex does not want to give it to me. She has remarried very well ($$$). What steps should I take to take back the dependant deduction?
I had a fire, insurance company hire a company to come in and remove all contents. When contents were returned, items were broken beyond repair. Total value for replacement is $5400.00. On-set the company is willing to pay half and if I pay out of pocket to get my things replaced then they will pay me the balance of what the owe. There are also items they didn’t return and said the couldn’t find them.(Yearbooks, diplomas etc.) The insurance company says they think this is fair but also said they have nothing to do with this part of the claim. My question is why should I have to be out of pocket for things this company destroyed and misplaced.
I had a car accident almost two years and yesterday I found in my front door some papers in which they are telling me that I’m being sue. I was the one that hit the car in front. In the accident, an old couple was involved. Ambulance came and took the lady to the hospital. Accoding to her husband she was suffering from chronic backpain and she was planning to have a surgery. To make it short, now, of course they want money. I have no money. My family is living from paycheck to paycheck enough for us to go by it. I have thousands in debts. What am I to do? Should I call their lawyer and tell them that i have no lawyer or maney to even afford one? Should i just let them take me to court? I honestly do not know what to do.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT 4/24/07 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN SUE A TRUCKING LEASING COMPANY
WHO WOULD BE LIABLE FOR COMPENSATIONS IN A ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY AND BACK CHILD SURPORT THAT BEHIND DUE TO AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED FROM AN ACCIDENT.
I am thinking of asking for a child from my ex husband . we been divorced 4 yrs ago. He has been physically and verbally abusive to me and I am worried that If I ask him for child support that he will ask to see his son and have stay with him a period of a time in the year. He has mental illness and I am worried about him poisoning my son’s thought. My son is special needs and has PDD(Autism).
i have 2 adopted babies in the philippines , i was married to american navy last oct2007 how can i get my family to come over here , how lone will i wait to get them so that we will be together?
I just purchased a clubhouse for my motorcycle club. And I want to be a private Club Memebers only. What are the liquor laws in a private club. And can you sell ticket to purchase alcohol.
I am a 46yr old man who had a house fire.The fire was caused by my 1999 Ford Windstar.They wanted to settle for 5000.00 dollars. The law firm took 80% of the money. We accepted the 5000.00 but only received 999.00 We have yet to cash the check, what should we do?The law firm is from Houston , Texas
The car fire was a defected cruise control switch.This happened in 2005 we spent 41 days in a hotel until they found somewhere for my wife and kids to live. Can the law firm do this? The agreement was 45% for the law firm.
I was in a accident in the working truck and I did apply wsib. wsib’adjudicator gave me decisions made-up.I have evidences prove it.May I proceed wsib in the federal court?Thank you for your help.
Is it legal to use your ex-husbands last name and your current husbands last name for different things?
My son-in-law accidentally broke the glass in the entrance door of my condominium building while attending my party. Am I legally responsible for this repair or should the bill be sent to him?
my husband and i are going to file for divorce. I have a 3 yr old daughter that was born during the marriage and husbands name is on birth certificate but i know that he is not the biological father. i need help deciding what to do.
good afternoon,
I have a family member who went through criminal trial. His attorney that was representing him never provided one witness on his behalf. Now this family member is trying to file a Writ of Habeaus Corpus. I was told witnesses that were never contacted can declare their testimony. Is this done with a notary public doing a jurat? Or a declaration signed.? Hope you can answer my question or guide me to who can. Thank you.
Can anyone help please i have been trying to get around all this and im going in circles!!!
espinoza6192001@yahoo.com
hope you can help
if i didnt sign the birth certificate at birth and take responsibilitiy of the birth of the child is it the law that my my name has to be put on the birth certificate? in florida. a father.
1)How often can your boss tell you that you are to old to keep up with the younger people in your department.
2)Can your boss ask you to take a medical leave even if you have not missed that many days.
3)Can your boss ask you for a doctors excuse after you have missed only one day.
4)What if a boss yells and screams at you in the company of your co-workers telling you that she is your boss in a threating matter.
5)Is this definition of character for a boss to make a false statement in a meeting in the company of co-workers to humiliate and degrade someone because they reported an employee for saying that the information they were working with could be used for inside trading.
HI,IWOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN FILE PAST DUE MORTGAGE PAYMENT IN A BANKRUPTCY? I DECIDED THAT I WOULD DO THIS ON MY OWN NOT REALLY THINKING IF I’M DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND IT DID HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH BEING TO AFFORD A LAWYER.MY CASE GOES TO TRIAL ON MAY 28TH,AT 10:00.I HAD WENT TO COURT AND ASKED FOR A CONTINOUS,BECAUSE THE LAWYER FOR THE HOUSE WAS SAYING TO THE JUDGE THAT I THOUGHT I COULD DO THIS WHICH I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD BEFORE I GOT THERE OR I WOULDN’T EVEN BE TRYING TO USE IT. I REALLY CAN’T AFFORD TO PAY THE PAST DUE PAYMENTS BECAUSE OF MY JOB SITUATION. I’M ONLY WORKING 32HRS,AND EVERY THING IS BEHIND,NOT JUST THIS.SO IF YOU WOULD BE SO KINDLY TO HELP ME OUT,AND EVEN REPRESENT ME PRO BONO,I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT .PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SHERRY
I was put on restricted hours by my doctor because I have a disability but my supervisor keeps telling me that I can perform certain job at work, but when I decline she always tell me that my doctor have to write specific what is my problem and I bought an excuses that stated what happens if I do a certain job,but she insist that i go back to the Dr. and have him describe every detail. Im not the only was that on restrictions, but she always come at me. Im a good worker, no absentee, never late, and one of the top workers on my job, but I feel as if Im being harass for just trying to do whats right. Can some help me!!!!!!
summons to court over credit cards and need a cheap car to get around disable,,,,can they take car from me
is there any thang i can do about a nabor who keps harrasing me she blames me for the deth of her husban we where on way home and he went off the rode an crashed into a bilding he dies i go through winsheld every time she sees me walking an shes driveing by me an i have to quickly get off the rode just today she came inches from hitting me what can i do please help befor she kills me thank u
can u stop a contractors forcloser with a bankrupty
just have a question a friend of mind have a house he wants to get from under. I want to take over the mortgage payments.
But we wants to leave the mortgage in his name also he`s and army.
My credit is to low to put and my name.
Is there a way we can work out
a legal agreement for this property
I’m Jean bernard leveillard I was in haiti i had a job life was not really difficult for me. There’s a women she was born in usa she has an uncle in haiti she said to him that she needs someone serious to spend the rest of her life. Her uncle who knows me came to talk to me and said i have a niece of mine who needs someone for her husband. He proposed me that, at that time i was single and i said to him let me think about it. He said his niece needs someone who’s 36 year old and single that was the only condition.A week after her mother called me and talked to me about the case. She spoke to me a second time before her daughter called me. After, she and i used to talk together. She proposed to come in haiti to meet me. She went fourth times with her mother. Then she decided to apply for me to find a k1 visa meaning fiance visa. I came here on Marc 15th 2009. When i came i lived in her parents house since Marth 15th to April 5th 2009. We moved on April 5th 2009 and we got married on April 6th. Since the day of the marriage until 2 weeks she never want to make love with me there was something wrong that i could not understand. After 2 months she decided to break up and get me out. She just said she is not confortable in this marriage, she doesn’t feel good and then she can not stay. In realty we did not really have something wrong between us; just one day i was ordering some movies and when she got the bill there was and extra about $128 and she was very angry and said some hardword to me and i was crying all the night. I called her to explain my case her mother said to me i did not come for her daugther oh i like to watch tv, i like compunter etc, that’s a good reason for a relationship to break up. Now she did not send my application in immigration, she cancel every thing. I cannot come back because i don’t have anyihing overthere and i don’t have anything to stay here and my visa will expires in september 2nd. This is more than abuse this is a criminal act. Up to now i never got sex with her can i call that sexual abuse too. Please let me now what can i do.
my boyfriend of 8yrs walk out of the house we both bought 3yrs ago, now I am left with all the bills. If the house should sell in the future what is he entitle to get from the sales.
My husband and I are going through alot of problems right now, I want to leave the situation and take the kids (3) with me. I don’t plan on leaving the city, the province or the country. Do I have any right, am I able to take the kids even though he doesn’t want me too.
Please Help!!!
I am in the process of going thru a settlement on my Mother’s house, she passed away in March 09 she had the deed to the house in trust for her 5 minor children and never changed it. We are all grown now except one of my siblings has also passed. He died way before my mom but she never changed the deed. I have been told that I must now be bonded to cover his estate and become the administrator of his estate even though he died 15 years ago? am I held responsible for his debt? they also said once all is said and done that I need to get UN bonded? What happens if I never get Un bonded? will someone or the courts file a legal action against me? Please help. Thank you.
my husband is incarcerated and filed for our divorce and i filed a statment that agrees with the divorce . and i got a letter from the judge asking me to file a counter divorce petition but know one can tell me what that is and how to get the form! can u help me ?
was terminated after 4 years for a drug test thatwas handeled all wrong cup was already open dint want to no what meadication they singed for me and i need sume help please let me no thanks
My case will be dismissed soon, and if i do an expungement will my file sealed and erased from web pages?, because when i search it online it is appearing from local news web sites, Or it will stay forever? Thank you in advance.
Im a48years grandmother my younger son girlfriend got pregnant and gave birth reccently a beautiful litle girl because of my son past with bipolar and his girlfriend also has autism i trie to help them as much as i can but after all their are adults with a lots of problems its very hard to help them she gave birth and the Division of the State came to the hospital and take the baby my husband and i are stable and wanted to take care of the baby they wont let us they are taking advantage of them because of their disability please help me reunite with my grandchild i need some serious advise.thank you.
my grandson at age 13 kick n his mother door where he lived…she called the police…she did not want to procecute him…because he only took his glasses..because he can’t c without them…his medicine..he has acute breathing problems..and a change of clothes from his room..however the d.a. decided this was a good case to take to court…so the state procecuted my grandson..he 17 now and has been out of customy for about three month..while on house arrest and at school a girl ipod came up missing…because he was on probation …he was taken back and lock up..so he has felony burgrey from d.a. on breaking n his mother house..felony theft for the ipod that was returned back to the girl from another girl that had it while he was locked up and now facing resisting an officer from new charge when he was at a local mall with his white girl friend …current in juvenile waiting for court…this is a snowball rolling only because there was no money for a lawyer the first time..so my grandson’s entire teen year he has been lock up…since his release in aug…he was currently attending school …had found him a job..purchased him a car…not stolen one..and now back in lock up..his mother or i have no money…i feel like he will become a meal ticket for others..what can i do to help him
I am a disabled person who was banned by a nursing home administrator permanently from ever seeing my mother alive again because I pointed to their staffs’ attention a moldy ceiling tile above my mothers bed after she caught pneumonia 3 times. So I called the New Jersey DOH. The DOH cited the nursing home in violation of their own health code policies. So in retaliation the nursing home banned me from visiting my mother for over two months until her death. I never got to see my mother again. She passed away on 11/07/09.
Can I sue for wrongful death and intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress?
-I have documents of health code violations from the NJ DOH and photographs for evidence.
My mother was in a nursing home and could not talk or use a call button due to a Massive stroke she had back in september.Can I sue them for abuse because they did not give her medications to her when they were suppose to which led her not to be able to breathe than had to be put on oxygen and now has died from all thier neglect?
I am an innocent victim of a “Work from Home” scam. I did not know it was a scam until I was arrested and charged with a Felony Forgery of a Financial Instrument. I hold a professional license with the Texas Dept. of Insurance and they want answers or I will lose my license. I have had a lawyer but he wanted me to plea to a misdemeanor. I cannot plea because I am Not Guilty. At this time I am unemployable therefore, I need to find a good lawyer that will take my case Pro Bono or for a reduced fee. I had saved some money before being laid off due to the economy from GMAC Mortgage last year. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to go to find these types of lawyers? I am in Tarrant County Texas.
Thank you and God Bless
If you have already paid your lawyer and he seems to not be doing what is right- can you let him go and get some of the money back that has been paid?
My name is M.Marian Zubek.I am Leader-Volunteer Polish-Catholic person-”UNITY”. I have very difficult problems neeeded JUSTICE and LOW for my Human Rithgs -discrimination,discfalification,dismissing cases problems. I have cases in U.S.Fed.Disctict Court in Chicago.I have big problems,because I am not low expirence,and I don’t have lawyers-Diffender for my cases for Human Civil Rights. Jurdges dismissing my 100% proff-evidence for discrimination,discfalification,poison action. This is very wrong situation,because I don’t have any maney for my life.I ask for recompensate,benifit for my discrimination,because this is very scandal action for justice dismissing,discfalification my 100% proff cases for my person. Please like help me,because I am disibility,because my discrtimation,POISON,discfalification Go to my person to very,very wrong-difficult life,HEALTH situation.I am SS-I discibility humen.(Social Security Adm.HELP me for my very critical situation in my life).Please like help me for JUSTICE FOR CIVIL HUMAN RIGHTS. My contact:Mr.Marian Zubek-P.O.Box:408517- Chicago IL.60640.phone:773-525-9000,(ask for me-Marian Zubek,because I live in Nursing Home). I like needed assistence for my cases for Humen Civil Rights Under Law and JUSTICE. I needed Lawyer. Thank you for your help,support.”God Blees you”.Mr.Marian Zubek.
Please like help me for Cicil Rights. My information: Mr.Marian Zubek-Funder-Leader-Volunteer-Discrimabation for Human Rights person.My addersee: P.O.Box: 408517-Chicago IL 60640.phane: 773-525-9000.This is Nursing Home.I wait for Low assistence for JUSCICE for my Civil Rights problems.Thank you for YOUR HELP,SUPPORT.
dear sir/madam
good day to you.my name is kerryann,and i am deeeply concern about my satus here,i have a h2b visa i have been here from november of 2008
can i apply for this 6 year residency oppertunity..if yes how can i apply for this and when can i apply?
thanks you
if you been on a job for server an get pull from full time to part time do you lose your benifit such as your retirement money if they put in a 100% in from the company
do i have any right from being part the do i have to sign the paper saing i accept if i don’t agree with the letter it more to that this what he ttry to say
my daughter has a scar on her right arm from a dog bite from 5 fives ago she is 15 and she told we her arm was hurting a black spot was on her arm took her the doctor he found that one or more of the stiches was left in her arm and was sticking thorugh her skin that we needed to go back to the plastic surgeon that did that he wouldnot touch it please help
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