Most people don’t feel particularly happy when they need to seek help from a lawyer. However, it’s almost inevitable that you will need to do so at some point during your life. Realistically, you will probably need an attorney’s assistance on several different occasions.
Selecting a lawyer based on their track record and specialty then becomes necessary. You need not just any attorney, but one whose skill set matches your requirements.
In this article, we will talk five situations where you’ll need to find a lawyer who knows about a particular area of the law.
You’re Divorcing Your Spouse
You will definitely need a lawyer if you’re divorcing your spouse. When you marry someone, your vows will almost always include the phrase “till death do you part.” However, not every marriage ends that way. You may find that you and spouse grew apart, and you both feel that you should dissolve the relationship.
In that situation, you’d hope that you and your soon-to-be ex can dissolve the marriage under amicable circumstances. Sometimes, though, you will both feel anger toward each other.
If that happens, then you will both need a lawyer to represent your best interests. Each of you may want to claim certain household items. You will have to figure out who gets custody of the kids as well.
Your attorneys can help each of you with those things. They will know the laws that govern these areas, and they can make sure that you each get fair treatment during this often difficult and painful process.
You’re Suing Another Driver After a Car Accident
If you have to sue someone, then you will need a lawyer. That applies whether you’re suing a doctor for medical malpractice or you have a premises liability lawsuit on your hands. However, if you’re suing another driver after a car accident, that’s a situation where you will need a great deal of help from someone who knows this area of the law.
Your lawyer will know how to file the necessary paperwork to start the lawsuit. They can advise you on what to say if you have to meet with the other driver’s insurance company. They can also instruct their investigator to find any evidence that suggests the crash happened the way you say.
You’re Making Out Your Will
You will need a lawyer if you are making out your will as well. You might choose to make out your will at any time. You can do so when you’re a teenager if you want. However, for most people, making out a will becomes more pressing as they get older.
That’s partially because most people accumulate more material possessions and wealth the older they get. If you don’t have anything of value, then making out your will shouldn’t have a high priority status.
If you own a house, a car, and you have thousands of dollars in the bank, though, that’s when it starts becoming more important. You may have stocks, bonds, and other items as part of an investment portfolio. You may also have jewelry that has sentimental value in your family.
Most people do not like talking about death or thinking about it. That’s why they might shy away from making out their will. It reminds them of their mortality.
It’s a responsible thing to do, though, especially if you have a spouse or kids. Any time that you have dependents, you need to do it.
By doing so, you make it clear what you want your survivors to do with all of your money and possessions. Once you make out your will and have a lawyer look it over to confirm its legality, it might surprise you that you will feel better.
The Police Accuse You of a Crime
You will need a lawyer if the police accuse you of a crime. It’s technically true that you can represent yourself if you want to, but that’s almost always a mistake, unless you’re a criminal defense lawyer.
If the police accuse you of a crime, then you might feel intimidated, frightened, or confused. A good criminal defense lawyer can help to calm you down. Hopefully, they can put you in a better frame of mind.
Then, they can talk to you about your options. They will explain the process that you’ll go through, and they can also talk with you about the ramifications if you plead guilty or not guilty.
If you plead not guilty, then they can help you to get ready for the trial. They will have many questions for you. They will also tell you what questions the prosecution will likely ask, and they can give you some advice on how you should respond.
You’re Buying a New House
You will probably want to get yourself a lawyer if you’re buying a new house as well. It’s true that you can buy a house without a lawyer, but it’s often in your best interest to have one by your side as you get ready to go through with this hugely important and expensive transaction.
The lawyer can look at the documents having to do with the house to see if they can spot any irregularities. They can instruct you to tell the seller about them if they possibly present an impediment to you buying the property. Your attorney can also give you advice regarding how much earnest money you should put down.
You can probably think of many other situations in life where you will require a lawyer. You always need to use one who you trust, regardless of the particular scenario in which you find yourself.
Ask for recommendations if anyone you know has used a lawyer in the particular situation for which you need one. If you can’t get any recommendations that way, do some searching online to find one who meets your needs.
Hopefully, you can locate a candidate who can help you achieve your intended goal.