Life isn’t like the movies, and not everyone has a lawyer on speed dial or is being arrested, regardless of the prevalence of crime shows and police procedurals. In fact, most people will go through life without having to communicate with a lawyer for any reason or even being arrested. People don’t just need lawyers for criminal activity, as it is the first thing most people think of when it comes to needing a lawyer. There are many different non-illegal instances that you might need to retain the services of a good lawyer; let’s take a quick look.
Starting a Business
Starting a business can be a tricky endeavor, and there are many legal hoops you need to jump through to ensure you’re operating legally. But with the right legal guidance, be it discussing employment law, your responsibilities as an employer, or the need to look at trademarking intellectual property, understanding taxes, or anything else related to operating a business, a civil litigation attorney can provide you with the peace of mind you need when starting a business.
Bankruptcy
According to Wikipedia, there were over 374,000 personal bankruptcies in the United States in 2023 and just under 135,000 business bankruptcies in the same year. You need expert legal advice and support when declaring bankruptcy to ensure you reach the right legal solution for your financial situation. Sadly, despite no one wanting to find themselves in this situation, each year, hundreds of thousands do, and lawyers are an essential part of this process
Divorce
According to Statista, approximately 670,000 divorces occurred in the US in 2022. Additionally, third marriages have the highest divorce rate of all marriages, according to Divorce.com.
You actually don’t legally need a lawyer to get divorced. It is highly recommended that you get one, especially if things are becoming contentious, children are involved, or there are vast amounts of assets that need to be split fairly. A divorce lawyer can let you get what you’re entitled to and ensure the dissolution of the marriage so both parties can move on with their lives.
Real Estate
Again, this is not legally mandated, but a real estate lawyer can advise you on negotiating terms, understanding the process, drawing up contracts, and ensuring that you fully understand what is happening and your responsibilities when buying or selling a property.
They will be on hand to protect your interests, ensure compliance, navigate laws, and examine the title for any liens that might be on it. Not everyone is well-versed in property laws, so having an expert lawyer on your side can help ensure everything is above board, nothing goes unchecked, and you get the best deal possible.
Custody
When parents separate, who gets custody of the children or what visitation is appropriate can be challenging to agree to, especially if the separation or divorce isn’t amicable. A family lawyer can help you understand the legal rights of both parents in your state, what you can and can’t do, what the courts will be focusing on, and any child support payments that need to be made. Everyone involved in the process will have the best interests of the child at heart to achieve the best possible outcome if parents are unable to come to an arrangement on their own.
