Lawyers Blog Blog,Legal Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

February 9, 2019February 9, 2019 | David J. HernandezDavid J. Hernandez | 0 Comment | 2:40 pm
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The majority of people in the Houston area that need to hire a criminal defense attorney usually have little experience with being in trouble with the law. The minute they are arrested, they simply choose the first attorney they can find out of fear of spending any time in prison. Use a few of these tips to ensure you hire the best criminal defense attorney in Houston.

A Board Certified Attorney

If you do nothing else when looking to hire a criminal defense attorney, make certain they are certified with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. There are well over 70,000 lawyers that are currently practicing here in Houston, but there are only under 200 that are board certified. This will ensure that if your case goes to trial you have the absolute best chance of beating the case.Years of Experience

Just like any other profession, the more years experience on the job, the better the person is at what they do. Trail experience is very important when it comes to finding and hiring the right criminal defense attorney. Find out if they have recently become a defense attorney after a long career as a prosecutor. The transition is often difficult, and you do not want to be one of the first cases they are trying as a defense attorney.

Trust Your Gut Feelings

This criminal defense attorney in Houston will basically be holding your life in their hands, so make sure that you communicate well with them. If you get the feeling that you are just another case and that they are not getting emotionally involved, it might be a good idea to look for an attorney you communicate better with. They should be easy to talk to and yet aggressive when it comes time to defending you in front of the court.

Time To Pay The Bill

Make sure that you understand the payment structure, and then be certain that you are comfortable with the payment plan. Just because an attorney says that they promise to be the lowest rates in Houston, never let that be deciding factors in how you choose your attorney. You are most likely going to be paying for these fees upfront, so getting a crystal clear understanding of the payment should be laid out in your written contract. If your criminal defense attorney decides to charge you per court setting, you might want to negotiate a different payment structure.

Paying for each court setting could wide up costing you a tremendous amount more than a traditional defense attorney fee. In addition to paying more, if you lose the case, you are going to be spending much more and be extremely unhappy too.

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What Does Your Social Security Disability Attorney Need to KnowWhat Does Your Social Security Disability Attorney Need to Know

August 25, 2018August 25, 2018| David J. HernandezDavid J. Hernandez| 0 Comment| 2:37 pm

Sometimes people need the assistance of a social security disability attorney to help them with the claim that they need to file. Because this is a federal government program that has been designed to support citizens who can no longer work due to a disability, people can take advantage of these finances when they need it most. However, before an individual can secure the funds from this kind of program, there is a process that they will need to adhere to, and it is managed by the social security administration.

Even though the benefits are available to citizens when needed, there is process of approval that people will need to follow very closely prior to being granted the finances for their specific situation. Also, due to the complexity of this program, its not uncommon for an individual to seek out the assistance of a SS disability attorney in the initial stages of the process. Therefore, before an individual meets with this kind of attorney, there is some information that they will need to gather so that it can presented for their review.

What items should the individual disclose to their SSD attorney

Previous Work History Information

In order for an individual to obtain help from the social security disability program, they will need to meet specific requirements. One common requirement that people must meet is a certain amount of work credits in order to qualify. Therefore, the person who files the claim must have this kind of information available to present and review with the attorney in the first initial meetings. It is also important to note that the injury that the person has sustained or the illness that they have been diagnosed with must be serious enough to remain off the job for an extended period of time. The list of illnesses and injuries are currently maintained by the social security admininstration so people can review the social security administration site to see how the injury or illness applies.

Medical documentation

If the condition that the person has is on the list, they will need to make sure that they have the appropriate amount of documentation from their physician. The medical documentation should contain the date that the person is expected to be out of work. Specifically, if the illness, disease or injury is expected to last one year or more. In some cases, the social security administration is normally looking for a condition that is serious enough to pay the person while they are off work recovering or until the person’s demise. Regardless to the circumstances, this information should be supplied to the SSD attorney if they want the attorney to win their case in court or settle it on the outside.

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How to Find Help With BankruptcyHow to Find Help With Bankruptcy

December 21, 2017December 21, 2017| David J. HernandezDavid J. Hernandez| 0 Comment| 2:56 pm

Over the last decade more and more Americans are considering bankruptcy to help them recover from financial losses. Most do not have the background or knowledge to decide if it is the right move for them. Fortunately, Kirkpatrick & Associates has the answers you are seeking. Over the last few years U.S. bankruptcy laws have changed, they are much tougher to navigate than previous years. We believe everyone deserves a chance to start over by wiping away most of their debts and protecting as many assets as possible. A skilled Attorney will help you decide which form of bankruptcy is correct for you, chapter 7 or chapter 13. Some people become overwhelmed by the debt, embarrassment and creditors bothering them. A skilled attorney will put an end to the harassment and relieve the burdens.

The first step will be to schedule a no obligation appointment with a bankruptcy attorney. During this meeting, he can evaluate your situation and explain the options available to you. Depending on your debt and income he will recommend which chapter is correct for you, 7 or 13. He will explain what assets can be protected and which ones must be included in the bankruptcy. Which debts will go away and which ones must be paid regardless of bankruptcy. He will explain all the cost associated with filing and the attorney fees. An experienced attorney will help you plan for the bankruptcy process. It is important to protect assets and also help you prepare for recovery afterwards. With a proper plan, you can be back on your feet financially faster.

A skilled attorney not only knows the law but also has relationships with the Bankruptcy Judges. This is an important question to ask your attorney. When you have a bankruptcy hearing, the Judge will decide whether to allow you to keep or pay for certain assets based on values claimed in the petition. Your attorney will explain what values are acceptable in the courts eyes. The attorney representing you can help “paint a picture” for the Judge that will put you in the best light. Relationships are important in all walks of life and especially when your financial future is being determined.

Finding help for bankruptcy can be confusing, the first step is gathering information to make the best decision for you and your family. Kirkpatrick & Associates will provide a free consultation and stop the bill collectors immediately!

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Should I Consult With a Lawyer?Should I Consult With a Lawyer?

March 20, 2019March 20, 2019| David J. HernandezDavid J. Hernandez| 0 Comment| 2:55 pm

You know you qualify for social security disability benefits. For instance, you worked in jobs that paid into the social security system. You also have a medical condition that meets the social security administration’s (SSA) of a disability. However, you still need to consult with a disability lawyer before applying. For example, a lawyer will evaluate your claim, medical records and request medical tests that will further help your case.

Even though you know you’ll qualify for disability, there are some cases where you will be denied. There could be reasons why you are denied such as:

  • You made too much money. The SSA considers a “substantial gainful activity”, or SGA, which means that your income is too high to be disabled. In 2014, the SGA limit for people who aren’t blind was $1,070.
  • Your medical condition won’t last long. You must have severe impairment that lasts at least 12 months.
  • You didn’t follow physical therapy as required unless there is an acceptable medical excuse. If you don’t follow your physical therapist’s orders, it could stop you from receiving disability.
  • The SSA can find you in the system. The Disability Determination Service, or DDS, determines your medical eligibility. If either agency can’t locate you to schedule an examination, you will be denied.
  • You committed fraud by trying to obtain disability benefits.
  • Your disability is caused by a drug or alcohol addiction.
  • You committed a crime that prevents you from collecting social security disability.

So, now you are thinking about reapplying to overturn your denial. You can do this by yourself, but due to various terminology, rules and deadlines, you will need a lawyer. For example, a disability lawyer will know the type of evidence needed to support your claim. In addition, he or she will advise you of the relevant laws and how to proceed with your claim.

You have worked and put money into the system. You are disabled and need that money back to support yourself and your family. You shouldn’t go through the process alone. Instead, you should consult a disability lawyer.

It often takes a couple of attempts before a denial is overturned and you receive your benefits. However, with the help of a disability lawyer, you have a legal warrior on your side to help you. If you are in the Kansas, Missouri or Illinois and need help with any social security disability questions, concerns or assistance.

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