Legal Questions Answered

Probate is the legal process of validating a will and distributing assets after someone passes away. It's required when the deceased owned assets solely in their name without beneficiary designations. Our experienced probate attorneys guide families through this process with compassion and efficiency, ensuring proper estate administration and resolution of any disputes.

The probate timeline varies based on estate complexity, but typically ranges from 6 months to 2 years. Factors affecting duration include estate size, will contests, creditor claims, and court schedules. Our team works diligently to expedite the process while protecting your interests and ensuring all legal requirements are met.

Yes, you can contest a will if you have legal standing and valid grounds such as lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution. Our will contest attorneys have extensive experience challenging invalid wills and protecting rightful beneficiaries. We evaluate your case thoroughly and pursue the most effective legal strategy.

An executor must inventory assets, pay debts and taxes, manage estate property, and distribute assets to beneficiaries according to the will. This fiduciary role requires careful attention to legal obligations. We advise executors on their responsibilities and represent beneficiaries when executors breach their duties.

When someone dies intestate (without a will), state intestacy laws determine asset distribution, typically prioritizing spouses and children. The court appoints an administrator to handle the estate. Our attorneys guide families through intestate proceedings and help resolve disputes that may arise during this process.

Personal injury compensation includes economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future medical care) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life). In cases of gross negligence, punitive damages may apply. Our attorneys have recovered millions for injured clients by thoroughly documenting all damages and aggressively negotiating with insurance companies.

Statutes of limitations vary by state and injury type, typically ranging from 1-3 years from the injury date or discovery. Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims may have different deadlines. Acting quickly preserves evidence and witness testimony. Contact us immediately for a free consultation to protect your rights.

Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Document the scene with photos and witness information. File a police report if applicable. Avoid admitting fault or giving recorded statements to insurance companies before consulting an attorney. Our team provides guidance on protecting your claim from the start.

While not legally required, attorney representation significantly increases settlement values and success rates. Insurance companies have experienced lawyers protecting their interests—you deserve the same. We handle all legal complexities, negotiate aggressively, and work on contingency (no fee unless we win), removing financial barriers to quality representation.

Many states follow comparative negligence rules, allowing recovery even if you share some fault, though your compensation may be reduced proportionally. Our attorneys carefully investigate accident circumstances, challenge unfair fault attributions, and maximize your recovery regardless of shared responsibility.

Settlements consider medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and future care needs. We analyze accident severity, injury permanence, liability clarity, and insurance policy limits. Our experienced negotiators leverage decades of case results to secure maximum compensation for our clients.

You have the right to appeal the denial through your insurer's internal review process. If that fails, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department or pursue bad faith litigation. Our insurance law attorneys review denial reasons, identify policy violations, and fight for the coverage you paid for.

Insurance bad faith occurs when insurers unreasonably deny claims, delay payments, fail to investigate properly, or misrepresent policy terms. Proving bad faith requires documenting communication, comparing similar approved claims, and demonstrating the insurer violated its duty of good faith. We have successfully held insurers accountable through bad faith litigation.

Yes, you can sue for breach of contract if the insurer fails to honor policy terms, or for bad faith if they handle your claim unreasonably. Insurance litigation is complex, requiring deep understanding of policy language and insurance law. Our attorneys have decades of experience challenging unfair insurance practices.

Document all delays, maintain communication records, and send written requests for status updates. Insurers must handle claims promptly under state regulations. Unreasonable delays may constitute bad faith. Contact us if your claim has been pending excessively—we can intervene and accelerate the process.

State laws typically require insurers to acknowledge claims within 10-30 days and make coverage decisions within 30-90 days. Specific timeframes vary by state and claim type. Failure to meet these deadlines may support a bad faith claim. We hold insurers accountable to statutory requirements.

An enforceable contract requires offer, acceptance, consideration (something of value exchanged), mutual intent to be bound, and legal capacity. The terms must be sufficiently definite and the purpose legal. We draft airtight contracts that protect your business interests and minimize dispute risks.

Document the breach thoroughly, review contract terms regarding remedies and dispute resolution, and attempt good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, formal demand letters, mediation, or litigation may be necessary. Our business litigation attorneys protect your contractual rights and pursue damages for breaches.

While not legally required, attorney review is highly recommended before signing significant business agreements. We identify unfavorable terms, ambiguous language, and missing protections that could cost you later. Our contract review prevents disputes and ensures agreements align with your business objectives.

Contract damages typically include direct losses (compensatory damages), consequential damages if foreseeable, and sometimes attorney fees if specified in the contract. Specific performance may be available for unique goods or property. We maximize recovery by thoroughly documenting all damages flowing from the breach.

Our fee structure varies by case type. Personal injury cases are handled on contingency (we only get paid if you win, typically 33-40% of recovery). Other matters may involve hourly rates, flat fees, or hybrid arrangements. We offer transparent pricing, flexible payment plans, and free initial consultations to make quality legal representation accessible.

Case duration depends on complexity, court schedules, and whether settlement is reached. Simple matters may resolve in weeks, while complex litigation can take 1-2 years or longer. We provide realistic timelines during consultation and work efficiently to resolve your case as quickly as possible without compromising results.

During your free consultation, we discuss your legal issue, review relevant documents, explain your options and potential outcomes, answer your questions, and outline our strategy. There's no obligation—this meeting helps you make informed decisions about representation. We respect your time and provide honest assessments.

Gather relevant documents (contracts, medical records, correspondence, police reports), prepare a timeline of events, list key witnesses, write down questions, and bring identification. The more organized your information, the more productive our consultation. Don't worry if you don't have everything—we'll guide you through what's needed.