First we believe it is important to sit down with our client to explain the charges against them. We break down the charges to ensure that clients understand exactly what they are being charged with, the elements that need to be proved to be convicted of each charge, and the minimum and maximum sentence of each charge. Additionally, we provide our clients with a “road map” of what to expect in the coming weeks or months whatever the case may be. Together you and your New York criminal defense attorney will discuss and put together a plan for your case.
Most importantly we take the time to listen to our clients. Although legal aid or the public defender are well intentioned and good attorneys they often cannot dedicate the time that a private attorney can dedicate to you and your case. By listening closely to our clients we are able to fight for them and present their case to the district attorney, judge, and if need be, the jury.
Our criminal defense attorneys service Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Stanton Island, and Yonkers.
]]>Generally, New York Family Courts seek to give both parents input with respect to raising their children. If both parents cannot reach an agreement on what is best for the child, a judge will have to decide the matter. If you are seeking an initial order of custody, have an order of custody but are having issues with the child’s other parent, or need help determining what form of custody is right for your particular situation, a New York custody attorney can assist you in getting the best possible outcome.
Visitation enables the non-custodial parent to spend time with the child, often referred to as “parenting time.” Often times non-custodial parents want more time with their child(ren) than a few hours on weekends or holidays. New York family Courts generally encourage liberal access for parents, unless there are specific issues or problems. Our New York City visitation lawyers work to obtain significant and fair parenting time for non-custodial parents, that reflects not only their desire to see their child as much as possible, but which also addresses other issues important to parents such as telephone and web cam access, transfers, etc.
As we are a mobile society, how parental moves are handled has become an important part of Family Law practice. Where the custodial parent wants to move out of the jurisdiction with a child, and the child’s other parent objects, the custodial parent will need Court permission to do so. Courts consider various factors in deciding relocation cases. Family law cases can be very sensitive, and difficult to resolve, and our family law attorneys strive to help you do so as calmly and fairly as possible. A New York family law attorney can help you present your case to the court and make the best possible argument for having your request or objection for relocation considered.
Parents must support their children until such children are 21. Our New York child support attorneys help custodial parents obtain initial orders of support, and non-custodial parents ensure that whatever order is entered fairly reflects their ability to pay. Our New York Child Support lawyers also assist parents in obtaining upward and downward modifications, and help them enforce orders they already have.
Our family law firm also handles other Family Law matters, including cases involving domestic violence, paternity, and spousal support.
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Our immigration lawyers believe in working closely with our clients to give them the best possible chance of winning their cases. Immigration court proceedings can be a life changing event in your life. The outcome of your immigration case will have serious consequences because the right to stay, work and live in the U.S. can determine whether families are permitted to stay together.
Immigration court can be very confusing for those not represented by an attorney. An immigration attorney can use his experience to help you provide evidence to the court explaining why you should be permitted to stay. Unlike criminal court proceedings, immigration court is an administrative court and there is no court appointed attorney, therefore you should hire your own attorney.
Legal permanent residents may be placed in removal proceedings if they are convicted of a crime of “moral turpitude.” An immigration attorney can help you determine whether you qualify for cancellation of removal. Once it has been determined that you qualify, the attorney can assist you in building a case on why removal is not appropriate.
Non-permanent residents may also qualify for cancellation of removal, however the requirements are different than for legal permanent residents. Non-permanent residents do not have to be convicted of a crime to be placed in removal proceedings. An immigration lawyer can help you determine your best course of action.
*Past results do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
]]>Our attorneys represent both mothers and fathers in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester. While usually basic child support is based upon the standard guidelines, an attorney can help you present the best case possible whether you are seeking child support or responding to a petition for child support. In particular, a New York child support attorney understands the intricacies of the legal system and can explain the law and the process clearly to you. Additionlly, our child support lawyers are experienced in organizing and presenting evidence to the court in a clear and concise manner on more complicated determinations that involve health care expenses, child care expenses, and deviations from the basic guidelines.
It is critical that you present the best case possible when the original order of support is being determined because once a child support payment is set, it becomes significantly more difficult to increase or reduce the payment amount. In fact, once a child support amount is ordered, it can only be modified if the court finds that there is a change in circumstance that would justify such a modification.
Child support can be ordered by either the New York Supreme Court Matrimonial Division or New York Family Court.
New York has a formula (called a “guideline”) for calculating basic child support payments. The guidelines are generally followed in most cases unless there is reason for deviation. Reasons for deviation include the financial resources of both parents, the physical and emotional health of the child, tax consequences, and non-monetary contributions made by both parents.
Generally, a pink summons for marijuana possession means that you must appear in court to hear the charges against you and enter a plea to those charges.
In New York, marijuana possession can be charged as either 1. felony; 2. misdemeanor; 3. violation. Jail can be potentially imposed for all three levels of marijuana possession.
No two cases are exactly alike. The likely outcome and consequences will depend on the facts and circumstances of your particular case. An experienced marijuana possession attorney can educate you to your rights and thoroughly explain the possible outcomes given your particular situation.
Marijuana possession is a drug charge which means it can potentially have serious consequences pertaining to your employment or even your immigration status. The criminal court system can be confusing and an attorney can assist you in navigating through the system.
1. An attorney can explain the charges you are facing and possible sentences. In addition, an experienced marijuana lawyer can explain what needs to be proved by the prosecutor in order to be convicted.
2. Generally, the District Attorney will not answer calls or discuss the case with a defendant. They will only discuss the case with an attorney. A New York marijuana possession attorney can assist you in negotiating with the prosecutor to secure the best possible negotiated plea.
3. An experienced attorney is familiar with the criminal law and procedure allowing them to help you build a case in the event that you choose to take your case to trial.
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An uncontested divorce is appropriate where: (a) your spouse does not disagree with with any of the issues set forth in your divorce petition (including but not limited to child custody and support, division of marital property and/or spousal support); and (b) your spouse either agrees to the divorce by voluntarily signing the divorce papers, or does not appear to contest the divorce action after proper notice.
If your spouse disagrees with any of the issues in your divorce petition and contests them, you have a “contested divorce” and not an uncontested divorce.
You can start your uncontested divorce with a New York attorney for as little as $200 initial payment.
Uncontested Divorce (No Children): $350
Uncontested Divorce with Children: $450
Additional Fees:
Index Number Filing Fee: $210
Request for Judicial Intervention (depends on county of filing): $95
Note of Issue: $30
Motion for Divorce: $45
Certified Copy of Judgment of Divorce: $10
Firm cost, disbursements & service fees: $245
Total additional fees: $630
Expedited priority processing fee: $100
* Full payment including all court costs are due prior to filing. Uncontested divorce fees listed are for those who already have a valid settlement agreement or court order disposing of all possible marital issues.
If you are seeking a divorce it is highly advisable to have an attorney. An attorney will clearly explain your rights to you and will advocate on your behalf to ensure that those rights are protected. An uncontested divorce attorney thoroughly understands the process and issues that commonly arise in a divorce action. Unlike a paralegal who merely fills out forms, an attorney can give you legal advice with respect to your specific situation.
On the other hand, some people will try to file for an uncontested divorce themselves or hire a paralegal thinking that it is the simple filing of a form. Unfortunately, mistakes can lead to a delay or denial of your petition. In addition, without the advice of an attorney you may risk losing certain rights because you did not understand them properly. Complications are common and fixing a mistake is often times more costly and time consuming than getting your legal issues taken care of correctly the first time. A New York uncontested divorce attorney from our office can assist you in answering your legal questions and ensuring that your uncontested divorce process goes as smoothly as possible.
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An attorney from our office is a sworn small claims court arbitrator who decides small claims cases. Although our attorney cannot arbitrate cases for clients who have retained us, our small claims court attorneys can use the knowledge and experience as an arbitrator to represent you on your case.
Our attorneys can help you determine if you are eligible to file a claim in small claims court, and the appropriate court in which to file. In addition, our small claims lawyers can clearly explain now to serve process on the opposing party and the court room procedure the date of your trial or arbitration.
Our attorneys can advise you on reopening a case in which a default judgment was entered because you failed to appear in court. We are experienced in filing the appropriate paper work and making the appearances necessary to argue to the court the judgment should be set aside due to an “excusable default.”
There are six New York City Small Claims Court locations: New York County, Bronx County, Kings County, Queens County, Richmond County, Harlem Community Justice Center. Our New York small claims courts lawyers can represent clients in each of these locations.
]]>Bankruptcy is a legal right provided to people under Federal law to help them when they are in debt in order to put their debt and financial troubles behind them and build a stable future. There is nothing morally wrong , embarrassing or bad about bankruptcy. It is a legal tool with which a Brooklyn bankruptcy attorney can help you to utilize.
For many people bankruptcy is a good option. By declaring bankruptcy in Brooklyn, one may be able to discharge their debts and get a new start. In particular, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows those who qualify to eliminate most of their debt. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy also allows a debtor to eliminate most of their debt through a payment plan. An alternative to bankruptcy is debt settlement in which we help you negotiate with your creditors to reduce your debt.
Whether or not bankruptcy is your best option, our experienced attorneys can help you craft a plan to rebuild your credit. By adhering to a financial plan set forth by a New York bankruptcy lawyer you can put yourself in a position to get car loans, a home loan and business loans. We also offer credit repair services to help you improve your credit score.
A Brooklyn bankruptcy attorney can review and evaluate your financial situation to help you figure out what the best course of action is for you. Our Brooklyn bankruptcy attorneys provide you with individualized advice because we understand that your legal issue are important to you and affect your daily life.
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In most cases a New York City Summons, normally a pink ticket, can be issued for offenses ranging from disorderly conduct and drinking alcohol from an open container in public, public urination to more serious offenses such as unlawful possession of marijuana. This ticket requires you to appear in criminal court on a specified date to answer for a criminal offense.
Am I being charged with a misdemeanor or a violation? What is the difference?
In my experience, you will initially be charged with a misdemeanor. However, in most cases your attorney should be able to negotiate this initial charge down to a violation and a fine or in the best case scenario have it dropped completely. Misdemeanors can carry jail time and will go on your criminal record. In contrast, violations are not crimes so they will not add to nor create a criminal record. In the end, with the help of a New York City Summons Attorney you are likely to end up with a violation or for the offense to be dropped.
How can this charge affect my future?
If you receive a New York City summons you might think that it is nothing more than a minor ticket and mistakenly ignore it, but as stated above you may initially be charged with a misdemeanor, a crime that could add to or result in a criminal record. As you may know a criminal record can impede your chances of obtaining student loans, affect your immigration status, it may negatively impact your ability to get or keep a job. Notably, if you intend to or do possess a professional license of any kind such as a Doctor, Dentist, CPA, or even if you work in a school, pleading guilty to a summons could put your employment or prospective employment in jeopardy.
If you receive a New York City summons it is important to contact a New York City Summons Attorney who can help you resolve this problem quickly and in the best manner possible so as to protect your livelihood and future.
What if I can’t be in court that day?
The ONLY way to avoid going to court yourself it to hire a New York City Summons Attorney to appear for you. We understand there are many reasons why you may not be able to appear in court, you might have to be at work, you might live outside of New York City or you might simply wish to avoid the anxiety and long wait times that often accompany a trip to court. If you hire a New York City Summons Attorney, he or she can appear on your behalf to resolve the matter.
Do I have to hire a New York City Summons Attorney?
If you are a business and you receive a summons you MUST hire an attorney whether you are going to appear in court that day or not.
However, if you are personally given a pink ticket it is in your best interest to hire a New York City Summons attorney. An experienced New York City Summons Attorney can help you avoid potential pitfalls. Although it may appear to be a trivial problem, you want to get your New York City summons taken care of to avoid potential serious and unwanted legal consequences for you and your future.
What happens if I ignore a New York City summons?
It is imperative that you do not ignore a summons. If you receive a New York City summons and ignore it an arrest warrant will be issued for you. You can be arrested at any time or anywhere which can be a hassle, embarrassing and potentially costly. This warrant will show up if a potential employer runs a background check on you and can be a major inconvenience if you try to travel by airplane. Therefore, it is extremely important to appear in court or alternatively for you to hire a New York City Summons Attorney to appear on your behalf.
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Domestic violence is an under-reported type of abuse. Although most people associate domestic violence with physical injury, threats and other forms of verbal abuse may be considered domestic violence. Victims can also suffer from depression, anxiety, etc. as a result of the abuse.
Domestic violence cases are difficult to handle alone our New York family lawyers are here to help you get you and your family back on the right track.
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