If you need relief from your creditors, you have the right to file for bankruptcy under federal law. Bankruptcy can help you find the financial fresh start you so desperately need. It can be an extremely helpful solution if you are facing a financial meltdown. However, it is certainly not a cure all. It can be critical to choose the correct time to file bankruptcy, so having an experienced bankruptcy lawyer can be a huge advantage.

Why You Should Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney

You should always wait as long as possible to file for bankruptcy. You can only file for bankruptcy every six years so it’s good to save it as a final solution, not something you do just to get out of debt. If creditors are harassing you and you have no property or wages, they have nothing they can take from you. It’s also important to note that it’s no longer possible to see any jail time for failing to pay civil debts. If you owe unsecured debts, it may be better to refinance them than to file for bankruptcy.

The only way to know if bankruptcy is really the right option for you would be to consult a bankruptcy lawyer in Baltimore who can help you make sense of it all. No two cases are alike and laws are constantly changing. Only an experienced bankruptcy lawyer will be able to provide you the most accurate information about filing bankruptcy.

Benefits of Filing for Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy does have some positive effects such as eliminating the need to pay back most of the debts you owe. This is sometimes referred to as a discharge of your debts. Bankruptcy will also help you stop foreclosure on your home, which will give you some time to catch up on payments. It can also help to stop the repossession of a vehicle or other property. In some cases, a bankruptcy lawyer will also be able to have repossessed items returned to you after you file. Bankruptcy also stops wage garnishments immediately after filing. You may also be able to be refunded ninety days worth of wage garnishments that were taken before you filed. Bankruptcy can also restore your power if it’s been turned off or even prevent the utility company from turning off your power to begin with.

What Doesn’t Bankruptcy Cover?

There are a few things bankruptcy doesn’t cover. It doesn’t void the rights of secured lenders. Secured debts include car loans and mortgages. You may be able to force secured lenders to start taking payments from you again, but generally you will not be able to keep something from a secured creditor that’s not being paid for. Bankruptcy also does not discharge certain types of debt such as alimony, child support and other debts caused by divorce.

Whether you are interested in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it’s important to work with a lawyer who really knows what they’re doing. A Baltimore bankruptcy lawyer is an important ally in an even more important financial decision, filing bankruptcy.

What Should I Do When I’ve Been in an Accident?

Many people find themselves wondering what to do when they’ve been involved in a car accident. The number one thing to do is to try and stay calm. Take a deep breath and collect yourself, you need to be able to think clearly. Next you need to check if anyone in your vehicle has been injured. If someone is injured, common sense will tell you to call 911 immediately. You should also make sure there weren’t any pedestrians involved in the accident and verify that the driver of the other vehicle is ok.

Collect Information

Next you’ll want to call the police to report the accident. Remember to collect a copy of the information exchange report from the responding officer as well as a phone number, name and badge number. After that you’ll want to exchange information with the other driver such as their name, phone number and insurance information. Remember to get their license plate number as well and write yourself a description of both vehicles involved and what happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. Next call the insurance company to report the accident. After that you’re free to go, assuming your vehicle still runs. Just don’t leave the scene until the police do.

Why You Should Contact a Car Accident Lawyer

Another common question people ask is how they can know if they have a personal injury claim. The short answer is that if you’ve been injured as a direct result of somebody else’s negligence or carelessness, you probably have a claim. If you think you might have a claim, you should contact a Baltimore car accident lawyer immediately.

People also want to know what kind of damages a car accident lawyer might be able to recover. If you have been injured or your property has been damaged in a car accident, you will need to file a claim. Depending on your particular situation, there are different damages that may be recovered. You can seek monetary damages to pay for your medical costs including future medical expenses that are directly associated with the injury caused by the accident. You may also be eligible for compensation for loss of income due to injuries keeping you away from work. You may even be awarded compensation for damages relating to mental pain and suffering.

One thing people always ask is what should I do if the other driver’s insurance company contacts me? The simple answer is that they shouldn’t be contacting you under any circumstances. You must not agree to anything they offer without first having it reviewed by a Baltimore car accident lawyer. You should tell them to contact your insurance company or your lawyer. The types of deals they offer are typically much, much less than you would be awarded if you had gotten help from a car accident lawyer in Baltimore.

What’s the Difference Between DWI and DUI?

Most people want to know, what’s the difference between a DWI and a DUI? Maryland is one of the few states to actually have separate DUI and DWI charges. They are similar yet can result in very different penalties. Typically, defendants will be charged with both a DWI and a DUI initially after they are arrested.

A DWI will be charged if there is only a field sobriety test and no breath test, or if the breath test is only .07 to .08. If the breath test is above a .08, usually a DUI charge will proceed. A DWI stands for driving while intoxicated and is slightly less serious than a DUI. A DWI is given when somebody is under the legal blood alcohol limit, yet still impaired. With a DUI you could spend up to a year in jail while with a DWI you can only see a maximum of two months.

Can I Refuse the Breathalyzer?

People also want to know what will happen if they refuse to give the arresting officer a breath test. Many people actually consider this a good idea for some reason. If you are later found to be under the influence after refusing a prior breath test you could face an additional $500 fine and an extra two months in jail. The bottom line is, always be cooperative, it never hurts.

The refusal to take a breath test will also look bad in court. Being uncooperative makes you look immature and the judge will see this immediately. The judge is ultimately in charge of your fate, so it’s worth your while to try to make as good of an impression as you can in a tough situation. A Baltimore DUI lawyer will help you to do just that, oh and a suit won’t hurt your chances either.

What Are the Consequences of a DUI or DWI?

The most important question people have about being charged with a DUI or DWI is if they will lose their driving privileges. Most of the time your normal license is taken away when you get a DUI and you are issued a temporary license that can be used for 45 days. You then have 10 days to meet with the MVA to try and maintain regular driving privileges. If you don’t schedule this meeting, your license will be suspended 46 days following your DUI arrest.

Any DUI or DWI offense will add points to your driving license. These points can have many impacts including higher insurance rates and even loss of your license. To help make sense of it all you will need to consult with a Baltimore DUI attorney as soon as possible. They will help guide you through the legal gauntlet that follows a DUI arrest.

Do I Need an Attorney to Close?

A common question that’s asked when purchasing a home is must I hire an attorney to close?  Some states require that you have an attorney conduct a closing while other states, such as Florida, do not. One advantage of hiring a real estate lawyer for your closing is the fact that your title insurance will actually be cheaper, which makes most people choose to hire one. Title companies provide limited service when performing a closing. Their employees are nowhere near as knowledgeable about your contract as a real estate lawyer would be. A Baltimore real estate attorney will also be capable of helping you negotiate any of the terms of your contract, which makes them invaluable.

What Will the Closing Costs Be?

Most people also wonder what costs are associated with closing on a real estate property. These costs vary greatly as they as negotiable terms associated with your real estate contract. Typically though, the buyer of the property will be the one stuck with the closing costs which include title insurance, a home survey, a wood destroying organism report, a recording fee from deeds and mortgages and any costs associated with the mortgage financing.

What is Title Insurance and Do I Really Need It?

People often ask what title insurance is and if they really need to have it. The short answer to this question is yes. Your lender will typically require that you get title insurance to insure the mortgage at the closing. Title insurance will protect you from such unexpected things as false impersonation of the property owner, undisclosed or unknown heirs, forged deeds or wills, liens and more. It’s an important way to literally insure that the closing process goes smoothly.

Do I Need to Be Present at Closing?

You may also be wondering if you are required to be present at the closing of your property. The answer is no. Many people buy property from other cities, states and even countries without ever stepping foot on the property itself. Typically this is done for investment purposes. A Baltimore real estate attorney can help prepare to legal documents required and send them to you by FedEx or through the mail. An attorney can help you to complete the documents correctly and can be another set of eyes to verify that everything is accurate.

A real estate attorney is an invaluable ally when purchasing or selling properties. They can help you from making huge mistakes that could potentially cost you thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars. That’s what makes a Baltimore real estate lawyer well worth their fees.

What You Should Know

DUI laws in Maryland have become much more severe in recent years due to the involvement of groups such as MADD, or mothers against drunk driving, and BADD, bikers against drunk driving. The legal limit has been dropped from .10 to .08 and can be even lower for commercial drives or drivers under 21 in some states.

The worst part about a DUI is that first time offenders can face severe penalties for their actions, even if it was the first time they ever drove drunk or did anything else illegal for that matter. After a DUI you may face mandatory jail time, placement of ignition locking devices (which YOU pay for), and thousands of dollars wasted on expensive legal fees.

What to Do if You Have Been Charged with a DUI in Maryland

If you have been charged with a DUI you should contact a Baltimore DUI lawyer immediately to file an appeal for your case within the first seven days after your DUI arrest. You must act fast as many states will charge you with a separate motor vehicle charge that can get your license suspended if you don’t fight back against it.

What if My Vehicle Has Been Impounded?

If your vehicle has been impounded following a DWI arrest in Baltimore, you may not even be aware that your license is about to be taken away as you have no access to your automobile. This makes consulting a qualified DUI attorney so important in protecting your rights. They have the experience to guide you through the complex legal system and have your best interests in mind.

If you’re one of the nearly hundred thousand people each year who is arrest for a DUI you must understand how the DUI will affect your life and the lives of the people who are counting on you every day. There are many, many negative impacts associated with being arrest for driving drunk which include time in prison, loss of driving privileges, huge fines, massive insurance rate hikes, and even loss of your current job as well as future job opportunities.

Be Responsible

A Baltimore DUI attorney can help to limit the penalties against you and may turn prison time into probation and massive fines into community service. It’s extremely important to be aware of how you represent yourself in a DUI case. If the judge thinks you are irresponsible you will likely face much more severe penalties. If you can prove that you’re normally a responsible person who just happened to make a mistake, it’s likely you will face much less severe jail time and fines.

It’s important to act quickly immediately following your DUI arrest. Don’t waste any time and contact a Baltimore DUI attorney immediately to protect your rights.

It should come as no surprise that a large majority of the personal injury claims filed in the United States every year are because of car accidents. If you’ve been in a car accident that was not fault of your own, a Baltimore car accident lawyer can help get you the money you need to cover medical expenses, loss of income, car repairs and even mental pain and suffering.

It is estimated that a car accident happens every ten seconds. Not only that, but it’s also estimated that someone will actually die in a car accident every thirteen minutes. Most of these car wrecks are caused by distracted motorists, drunk driving, or other drugs. Some accidents are also caused by weather conditions although this is a much smaller majority and typically sees much fewer fatalities.

Sometimes, as seen recently with Toyota’s breaking system debacle, car manufacturers may also be to blame for some car accidents. Unfortunately, nearly forty four thousand people die in car accidents every year. If you or your loved ones have been injured in a car accident, a car accident lawyer in Baltimore can help protect your rights.

There are many lawyers to choose from in Baltimore. There are literally thousands of lawyers operating small businesses in and around the city. They can handle any kind of car accidents in the Mid-Atlantic area, including injury and death caused by livestock and farm animals in the road or farm vehicle accidents. An experienced car accident attorney will be sure that you receive proper medical care, and receive all the compensation available to you by law.

It’s important to know that Maryland is one of only a handful of states that still has a contributory negligence law. This means that if it can be proven that you are even slightly to blame for a car accident; your insurance claim will be denied. This is why it’s crucial to hire a Baltimore car accident lawyer that truly understands the complexities of Maryland law and insurance regulations. You need to find someone who is experienced in both to make sure you receive what is rightfully yours.

If you have been injured in a car accident, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately and keep a documented record of all injuries sustained. Next you need to get the personal information from anyone else involved in the car accident. Keep a record of all the details of the car accident such as vehicle types, colors and where and when the accident took place. It’s important to NOT speak with the insurance company before consulting a car accident lawyer in Baltimore. People who are injured can easily be led into giving statements that will be used against them in the claim.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Divorce in Maryland?

Most people want to know how long it takes to get a divorce. The minimum amount of time a divorce can take in Baltimore is six months from when your significant other is legally notified, which comes in the form of being served with court documents. If your case becomes contested, it may drag out for a long, long time. It’s important to have a good divorce attorney when this happens to protect your rights and interests.

A lot of people also want to know if a divorce attorney is even required at all in Baltimore. The short answer is no. It’s important for a divorce lawyer to provide you with a consultation to answer all of your legal questions, but after that you can simply hire a paralegal to prepare the appropriate paperwork necessary to file your divorce. By using a divorce attorney from the beginning, you never give up your right to have one present in future proceedings. This is an extremely important advantage to have.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

People also want to know if they will have to go to court to complete the divorce. The answer to this is also no. If you can reach an agreement with your spouse you can have the agreement notarized by each of you and then submitted to the court without actually going in and appearing personally. If for some reason you aren’t able to come to an agreement, you will have to have your case decided in a court of law. Odds are if you go this route it will be much more than just a onetime trip to the court house. A typical divorce that’s contested in court can take months, if not years to be decided.

Should I Move Out?

Many people also ask if it’s necessary or beneficial to move out of the residence owned or shared by their spouse. It’s important to consult with a Baltimore divorce lawyer before leaving your home permanently. Leaving is legally defined as taking personal belongings with you when you go such as clothing, sentimental possessions and even your automobile and acting as though you plan on leaving to live somewhere else for a significant period of time.

What if I Don’t Want a Divorce?

You may also wonder what you can do if you do not actually want to get a divorce. Unfortunately, your spouse may have made up their mind long ago that divorce is the only option they see. Other than convincing your spouse not to file divorce papers, there’s nothing you can legally do to avoid getting a divorce. Consulting a Baltimore divorce lawyer is important even if you feel you don’t want to get divorced.