Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Estate Without Administration - Probate Law In Las Vegas

Your probate lawyer in Las Vegas can assist you with this category of probate law, which applies only to probate estates that have a net value of less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). This section of probate law permits the transfer of both real and personal property. Net estate value is calculated by taking the fair market value of all probate assets in the estate and subtracting all mortgages and liens, excluding non-secured debt. Your Las Vegas probate lawyer is familiar with this probate calculation. At least thirty days must have passed since the death of the decedent before the petition can be filed. A Las Vegas probate lawyer should prepare the Petition.

Contents of the Petition submitted to the probate Court are: (1) A detailed description of all the estate property; (2) A record of all the liens and mortgages against the estate on the date the decedent died; (3) The estimated value of the estate assets;
(4) An account of the decedent’s estate debts so far as known to the petitioner; and
(5) The names, residences, ages, and relationships of the heirs and devisees to the decedent, so far as known to the petitioner. Your Las Vegas probate lawyer should assist you with assembling these required probate documents, and preparing the petition for the probate Court.

A Set Aside Estate Without Administration requires a hearing in probate Court. Your Las Vegas probate lawyer will prepare a Notice of Hearing that sets the date and time, and gives notice to all interested persons involved in the probate estate of the hearing. The Nevada State Welfare Department must also be notified. Newspaper publication is not required in this section of probate. If the probate attorney does not mail the petition with the Notice, then the probate attorney must specifically state in the Notice to whom the estate is being set aside. This section of probate law is often complicated and problematic, requiring the assistance of a competent probate attorney in Las Vegas.

Probate Law In Las Vegas, Nevada

Attorneys typically do not inform and educate their clients about probate law and procedure, or estate administration. Probate is an area of law that most people know very little about. Daniel J. Potucek, Esq., a Las Vegas probate lawyer, always provides his clients with a general description and explanation of probate in Las Vegas, and will even provide details to further explain as much of the process as the client needs as case administration moves forward. Probate in Las Vegas usually involves the transfer of assets of the Decedent such as title of real property or a vehicle to the beneficiaries. Probate Las Vegas also normally involves the decedent’s creditors, the filing and/or rejection of creditor’s claims, and the appointment and/or removal of administrators. Of course, all probate in Las Vegas is court supervised, and Daniel, your Las Vegas probate lawyer, will vigorously represent your interests.
When a family member dies, or when you need assistance with an estate or trust in which you hold an interest. Daniel, your Las Vegas probate lawyer can assist you with the proper administration or representation regarding both estates and trusts. Your probate attorney Las Vegas will attend probate court proceedings, assist you in liquidating estate assets and debts, advise as to the proper distribution of assets if not specified in the will, inform of appropriate tax returns, and vigorously defend and/or prosecute your interests in will contests and other contested matters regarding probate in Las Vegas.

Probate Fee’s - Las Vegas Probate Lawyer

Las Vegas probate attorneys’ fees in estate matters must be approved by the Probate Court. The Court has wide discretion in awarding fees to probate lawyers in Las Vegas, but the fees must be reasonable. Las Vegas probate attorneys must file a petition with the court requesting their fees and give notice of the hearing to all interested parties. However, Nevada statutory provisions state that probate attorneys for personal representatives are entitled to reasonable compensation for their services, which are to be paid out of the decedent’s estate. The statutes also provide that probate attorneys in Las Vegas are required to have an agreement with the personal representative regarding fees and costs, although at times they fail to reduce the agreement to writing.
Ordinarily, the court will approve Las Vegas probate attorneys’ fees as requested in the petition. However, if an interested party objects to the fees or the court views the requested fees as unreasonable, the fees must be independently reviewed by the court for reasonableness based upon consideration of all of the factors set forth in Nevada Rule of Professional Conduct 155. The nature of the particular probate case in Las Vegas is reviewed with respect to the rule.
Considerations in the Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct are: (1) The time and labor required of the probate case in Las Vegas, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (2) The likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the probate lawyer Las Vegas; (3) The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services in a probate case in Las Vegas; (4) The amount involved and the results obtained by the probate lawyer; (5) The time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances; (6) The nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) The experience, reputation, and ability of the probate lawyer in Las Vegas performing the services; and (8) Whether the fee is fixed or contingent.
The above explanation addresses only a small part of the rules, statutes, and case law surrounding Las Vegas probate attorneys’ fees in probate matters. Several new statutes went into effect on October 1, 2009. In addition, fee agreements between probate lawyers in Las Vegas and estate administrators are based on either an hourly rate or a percentage of the value of the estate. More on probate attorneys’ fees later.

When You Sustain A Personal Injury

In the event that you sustain a personal injury of any kind, there are some things that you must keep in mind. Never try to estimate the extent of your own injuries or physical damage.  Even if you're eager to put the event behind you and forget what happened, it is important to remember that your injuries may cause problems for you in the future so it is best to pursue your legal claims now.

To give you an idea of the sorts of things you must remember when you are involved in a case like this you can do a little research. You will find information available on the internet by browsing trough websites that address the subject. You may benefit from reading the blogs of others who have experienced the legal battle. You can also do research on sites run by professionals who offer the services which deal with the issues. You may also find joining that online forums, participating in discussion groups and reading member posts related to the subject matter will be helpful to your cause. 

If you feel that printed materials will help you to understand the situation easier, you will be able to search for books on related topics at your local library.  You can also purchase the book if you wish.  Take some time to scan through the pages first so you will be sure that the material was written for people who need help in understanding the law, and not for lawyers themselves.

If you find yourself involved in an accident that causes you injury, you need to know how to act.  Do not wait for someone else to happen by. Complete the following actions in order to protect your rights should you decide to pursue a case if it is determined that you have a viable one at some point in the future.

Before you do anything else, make certain that you are alright. If you are not OK, then ask someone to complete the rest of the steps for you while you are being treated for whatever injury and pain you have sustained from the accident. 

A cell-phone camera can be used to record evidence from the scene in place of a full scale digital camera if there is not one available to you. Be detailed and capture all the relevant information that you will need to support your claim if you decide to pursue it at a later date. If your injuries prevent you from doing this, then have someone else do it for you. 

If You Have Suffered a Personal Injury, What Should You Do?

You might be the sort of person who is not prone to misfortune, but even if that's true, you can't predict when a calamity might happen to you. It it important for you to be prepared with the correct procedures you will need to take in the event that you fall victim to a personal injury. What makes this essential?

Even if you are the most cautious person in the world, you are still not in command of what other people do when they are behind the wheel of a car, or of the weather, or of other automobile accidents.

There is a multitude of ways you can get hurt that can change your life entirely, based on how bad you are hurt. You might be hurt to the point where you have to go to the hospital for treatment, and if you are, you will want the people responsible for the accident to pay your bills. Of course, during the time you are recovering from your injuries, you will not have the ability to keep working at your present job either. Your paycheck will be adversely impacted due to the accident. You could also experience anxiety and distress, which will also be experienced by other members of your family and your friends.

You should never negotiate a settlement with the other party just to get past the unfortunate events and move on with your life. You need to objectively examine your injuries and determine if they will impact your life for the years to come. Once an accident occurs, you need to get as much information and proof of responsibility as you are able. You have to do this even if you don't know if you're going to file a lawsuit. You might be unable to get much information if you are transported to a medical facility, but you can take advantage of friends who will be willing to assist you with documenting the events for future use.

Get photographs of the accident area. Take pictures of the scene from all angles, and visually document any injuries that happened to you as well. Write down all facts regarding the accident that you can recall, such as date, time, and area of the accident, so you can remember them in the future.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Alliances in Personal Injury Law Offices

As you are getting ready to start your own personal injury firm, you will need to decide whether you want to be the only attorney in the office or if you want to accept partners. In order to come to a conclusion, you will have to examine your preferences and decide if you even want to split your office with a partner.

If you are by yourself, you will have a less demanding schedule. You won't have to attend company conferences. You won't have to divvy up the office equipment or staff. It will all belong to you. But, if you have a dilemma, you will not have a partner off of whom you can bounce your ideas.

Office alliances are beneficial both socially and money-wise. Office alliances are like being married. You will have more than one person who will be able to contribute to clientele, make revenue, and split costs. If you go through a rough patch, you won't have to worry as much, since your partner can back you up financially, and you would do the same for him/her.

You can always run ideas across other attorneys who aren't in your office, however it's sometimes better to take the suggestions of people who are involved in your firm, since they have a vested interest in your success. If you don't have a person there to help you keep your head, you will be inclined to make rash judgments. Personal Injury Lawyers will also afford you the opportunity to take time off if you need to, since they will be there to take care of the office.

If you do not have partners, your legal clerk will be there to cover your office when you are gone, but if an unforeseen legal proceeding occurs, he/she cannot stand in your place. You could possible get an attorney from another office to represent you, but that can be difficult at times. When you establish an office partnership, you will always have an attorney that can appear in court on your behalf if you are away from the office. It goes without saying that you will cover for your partner if needed as well.

Managing Personal Injury Cases : The Critical Time Window

When meeting with a possible personal injury client initially, instruct him to keep in constant contact with you with any pertinent case history.  It is critical to start working on the file right away to best serve the plaintiff as well as to reinforce the importance of your services. Repeatedly admonish your client not to talk to anyone regarding the civil case except the authorities, without your express permission.

The complainant must be made aware of the need for an investigator to take pictures of any and all important items before they are tampered with.

Any third party witnesses should be spoken to immediately. The accident scene should be inspected and photographed before anyone touches any important evidence. Your client must be instructed to retain clothing and any other personal items before the hospital destroys them. Injuries or markings of any sort are extremely important for photo evidence.

The plaintiff must be made to understand that the main responsibility of the  insurance carrier is to minimize their financial damage, rather than being interested in the welfare of the injured party. The defendant is advised that he has 21 days to respond after the recorded date of service for the civil summons and complaint. The complaint is sent with two copies to the defendant, with instructions to provide a set to the appropriate insurance carrier. Make sure that all documented medical evidence is correct per complete agreement with the plaintiff. Allow yourself sufficient time to read everything over carefully. Don't forget that the insurance carriers put much greater emphasis on the opinion of a certified physician, as opposed to a layman. 

Keep stressing to the client both in correspondence and in conversation that you believe he has a very strong chance of winning this case, based on existing information. This illustrates the attorney's difficulty in assessing the probable liability of the defendant when he is still scrambling to gather the much needed damage information.

A Look Into Personal Injury in Las Vegas

People who get a personal injury in Las Vegas can sometimes commit some essential errors due to the fact that they are not familiar with the laws. Sometimes the injured party is aware of the legal aspects of personal injury. However, they still commit important errors that end up costing them cash when the lawsuit is filed. There are three major errors often committed by injured people, which include: not receiving adequate medical treatment, incorrectly documenting the incident, and failing to gather evidence. Hopefully, you won't ever need this information, but if you do, you will be glad that you read it.

When people initially get an injury, they often think it will go away on its own. Males in particular, would rather not see a physician to determine a correct course of treatment. Even if you do not notice anything wrong at the time of the accident, you might discover that something is amiss the next day. In addition, if you do not seek immediate medical care, you could be forfeiting any physical evidence that your injuries were created by that particular collision.

The key point is to visit a physician immediately. This is normally the best way to proceed. You will be able to report to the doctor the exact set of circumstances in which you were injured. You should definitely consider going to the ER, since by doing so, you will get the necessary attention immediately following the collision. Even if you are not hurt, it's still better safe than sorry. In any case, getting immediate attention will protect you if an injury is worse than you expected.

You also might want to think about not returning to your job right away. Often times, immediately following a car accident, people are not very effective at their jobs anyway. In addition, the insurance company could possible state that since you returned to work so soon, you are not actually injured, or that you are just seeking their cash.

Secondly, injured people often do not correctly document the collision. You need to do this while you are still able to recall every detail. For a short time, isolate yourself and document what happened in chronological order. This documentation will be essential when the police question you. You should also take some of this time to contact your lawyer. You should, of course, tell the police what happened, but under no circumstances should you discuss anything with an insurance agent. Insurance companies have the sole intention of trying to reimburse you at the lowest rate possible. A lawyer wants to protect you. Lastly, you need to gather as much evidence as you can. Get the names and telephone numbers of any bystanders who saw what happened. If their accounts of what occurred match yours, you should get as much personal information as they are willing to give in order to back up your case. After the accident has been cleared and everyone leaves, you won't be able to find them again once you decide to file a lawsuit. So it's important to learn who they are now. You can't always count on the law enforcement officers to get witness information since it's not always required by law, especially when it involves a minor collision.

Document how the collision occurred, how the injury changed your life, how many days you have been away from your job, and what the medical costs add up to. Nothing is insignificant. Are you no longer able to perform certain tasks? Are you in pain all the time? By documenting your issues that stem from the accident, you will be able to recall many more details if your case goes to trial months down the road.

Workers Compensation Law and Personal Injury Law -- How They Differ

Very often, when there is an accident or injury, the majority of people can't tell whether it falls under Workers Compensation or Personal Injury under the law. A competent Las Vegas Personal Injury attorney can assist you with identifying some principal points of law -- though some states' laws may vary. 

If a person is harmed as a result of another person's actions, that is Personal Injury law. Someone else's failure to act is also included here. Similarly, Wrongful Death is also included in this category. It is up to the injured party to actually prove negligence to receive personal injury damages. It is necessary to prove that those particular damages resulted from the defendant's negligence. It is necessary for the negligence to have cause the damages.

Personal injury law's focus is trying to "make whole" the injured party. The defendant may have many defense options that will shield them; none of these are set in stone. They can escape paying for damages they caused through their negligence or wrongdoing. In Workers Compensation law, the employer does not have the "defenses" common to Personal Injury law at its disposal. If attempts at a settlement fail in a Personal Injury case, a jury will make the decision on the case.

The only individuals protected under Workers Compensation law are those who are injured while working at their place of employment. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the injury, an injured employee will receive Workers Compensation. An employer cannot be sued for Wrongful Death or Personal Injury as long as Workers Compensation benefits are provided to all its employees. The person injured on the job thus has Workers Compensation as his or her principal recourse. If a person is injured on the job by another person, then the injured person can file a Personal Injury claim. The benefits paid in Workers Compensation cases are limited, covering re-training, disability payments and medical expenses. These limitations make it difficult for an injured employee to really be fully reimbursed for his injuries and his losses. An accident attorney usually not take a Workers Compensation case, because he is not needed unless the insurance company of the employer "controverts" (denies) the claim. In Workers Compensation cases, unlike in Personal Injury cases, there is no jury; rather, the Workers Compensation Board hears the case, and decides the case if no agreement can be reached between the injured worker and the employer's insurance company.

These are the major differences between the two kinds of law, though there are many others as well. A competent attorney can advise you of your best options; do not hesitate to consult one if the need arises.

Your Personal Injury Insurance Coverage Is Minimal - What Do You Do?

Victims of auto accidents in Las Vegas face many issues, most notably when they are injured by someone whose insurance coverage is poor, or even nonexistent. Depending on your state of residence, you are required to maintain a certain amount of coverage for property damage and bodily injury. Even if you are covered by the minimum amount of insurance, those with injuries have expenses that are greater than the amount of the insurance.

This is apart from the notion that this injury may potentially change your entire life. If the financial ramifications of this event aren't completely covered by insurance, your situation only becomes worse. This is when you should find an attorney who has experience in personal injury cases.

How well are we covered to begin with? This is the initial thing to try and ascertain. What is currently in place to protect me? Occasionally, the defendant's insurance company will not admit to the type or amount of coverage tat is present. Fortunately, an attorney can compel them to make this information available to you. Once this is done, you can immediately start to manage your own finances and pay your medical bills. Is there additional coverage available to you? Ar there other options for you? As the victim of a car accident, you need to determine the owner of the car, and if this person is different than the driver during the accident. Does a company own the vehicle in question, rather than an individual? If this is the situation, you can pursue coverage under the main insurance policy, as well as a larger umbrella policy.

Were there other parties present for this accident? It's crucial to explore all of the options that you can take advantage of. There are situations in which an additional driver can be held partially responsible, therefor involving their insurance company also. This might not be simple to determine, but if you want all of your medical bills to be covered by insurance, it's valuable to explore all of these avenues.

Does the defendant have additional assets that can be drawn from? If the person who injured you is guilty for causing this situation, their own liability does not end with what their insurance is willing to cover. This person can be forced to use their personal assets to compensate for damages caused to you. Be aware that it's a difficult process to get compensated by the personal assets of another party unless they are unusually wealthy - even if you deserve the compensation.

Once you have determined the total coverage that is available to you, as well as other resources that you can use for compensation, your lawyer will negotiate exactly how these funds will be used. Usually, multiple injured people will take part in these negotiations to arrange a method in which these funds are distributed among the damaged parties.

Insurance companies might also wish to be compensated, also. If they think they can benefit from also recovering for damages, they are free to attempt it. This process requires that you have a skillful lawyer to negotiate for you. It's tremendously difficult to manage all of the crucial issues yourself, especially if you are coping with injuries also. To perform these legal tasks during your recovery can be a herculean task. Finding an injury lawyer with a lot of experience and knowledge of how the system works is a crucial step to emerging from this process with what you deserve.

What Type Of "Damages" Have Been Suffered As The Result Of An Accident?

It is critical, when handling a Las Vegas injury Law case, to ascertain what type of "damages" an individual has incurred. In a case where a person has been out of work for five months as a result of an accident, and their monthly salary is $5000, it is quite evident that they will be looking to recover $25,000. Although this seems very cut and dried, there is frequently more to this type of case than meets the eye. An attorney with a background of working on, and winning these types of cases, will be well equipped to decide how to calculate the relevancy of criteria that may be included in damages. Therefore, it is in your best interest to hire an experience attorney as soon as possible.

Factors to Consider 

It is prudent to assess your present damages, and estimate what your damages will be long term, after your injuries have healed. Has your injury improved as much as it can?  What, now, is your state of recovery? How has the stress of this injury changed you and your family? Once these questions have been answered, it it time to examine the accompanying details.

What has the cost of medical bills been to you? Have you had to miss work? Was sick leave utilized for these needed days off? (You are due compensation for lost earnings, even if sick leave was used). Will you be able to return to work, or will this injury be permanent? Will your injury keep you from performing your job functions? How has your family been affected?  Are you no longer able to take pleasure in daily activities with your family and friends? Is there any part of this accident that you are at fault for? What portion of it was another person's responsibility?

Did you experience a Significant Loss as a result of this accident?

It is imperative that you distinguish between whether you suffered an injury, only, or a significant loss was incurred.  In cases where there is no permanent injury, and your time out of work is insignificant, there will be little monetary compensation. It is sometimes frustrating when a defendant has exhibited careless or negligent behavior, but because of the nature of your injury, you may not be entitled to much compensation. In comparison, a permanent injury resulting in lifelong disability, such as being confined to a wheelchair, will dramatically increase your chances for a hefty financial recovery, regardless of whether a portion of the accident was your responsibility.

There is no financial settlement that can repair a permanent loss suffered in an accident, but the compensation can be helpful in coping. The long term consequences of your injury is what you need to consider when calculating damages. Then, what evidence will an experienced injury attorney be able to present to the jury or insurance company, to support your claim of damages.

Personal Injury Attorney Advice In The Event of an Accident

If you're in a car accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. The most important part of winning a personal injury case is proving that your event qualifies as one. As you drive, you are held responsible for driving in a way that obeys all traffic laws and prevents collisions with other cards, keeping your personal vehicle under control at all times. As such, if you were driving, the accident is often your fault. For the most part, damages are taken care of by the car insurance firm.

In some cases, however, someone else may have caused your accident, leaving you not at fault for it. This could happen due to the other driver's negligence, or even driving on unsafe roads. If you drove on improperly maintained roads, the city will be responsible. Even in matters as simple as ill placed signs, the municipality in charge of that maintenance is at fault for your accident, and should be treated as such.

You could even blame a problem with the car itself for your accident. If this is the case, you could hold the car manufacturer, or the most recent repair shop you went to, at fault. Do what you can to see if anyone was negligible when dealing with the circumstances of your accident; this can be hard to do, but having a precedent in your area of a similar case going in your favor can help you.

Following an accident, you are permitted to get medical attention. Personal injury cases are contingent on the belief that anything you lost because of something that wasn't your fault should be compensated for. They are known as compensatory damages. When you are awarded damages, they should be sufficient to allow you to be back to the way you were, in some financial form. There are many ways you can incur losses from an accident, apart from the obvious. Being injured leaves you unable to earn money through wages. There are medical bills to pay. Add to that the personal grief you've suffered. The accident may have left you permanently disfigured. You could be disabled and be unable to work in the long term. Loss of consortium involves the accident leaving you to have sexual intercourse with your spouse.

Punitive damages can even be given when someone else directly caused your injury or disability through a car accident, something that doesn't often happen. Using a product that had an unforeseen accident or side effect, leaving you injured, can also give you the right to collect punitive damages from the company involved. You'll get punitive damages along with the compensatory damages you would normally get.

Depending on the state, you may only be able to collect on compensatory damages due to no fault laws. You will not be able to get punitive damages if you incur an accident in these states. All you can get back is money for lost pay, medical bills, and damaged property, and no more than that. You may not even be able to be compensated for mental anguish damages. The best thing you can do is consult an experienced lawyer to find out how strong your case is, and what you can potentially get. Knowing if you're in a no fault state can help you as well.

Legal Advice for the Injured - Personal Injury

Personal injury describes a many conditions of bodily harm or damage.  Personal injury lawsuits are among the most filed in Las Vegas courts.  Automobile accidents are the most popular type of personal injury case.  Serious injury and death are a common result of accidents like these. 

Before settling with an insurance company, the first I recommend you do is meet with a qualified attorney.  This isn't legal advice but advice to protect your best interests.  Dealing directly with an insurance company is not a good idea because their objective is to make a deal serving their interests.  Your personal injury attorney will protect your interests and ensure you're not taken victimized. 

Lots of personal injury attorneys use contingency fees.  You won't have to pay anything in advance, not even for the initial consultation.  Most have a no-recover, no-fee policy.  This benefits you in a few ways.  You won't have to find spend extra money for professional representation and because you and your attorney are 'partners', you are assured they are working to get you the best settlement.  This also lets you know if your case is legitimate.  Most attorneys won't take a case that has no merit.  They know which cases are good and bad.  Will they be able to show damage and neglect to the court? As they're not paid until the the case settles, it's unlikely they'll take  case unless they think they will win.   

Here are a few more tips if you get injured. 

•Immediately seek the advice of an attorney While the information is fresh, you will be able to provide many detail about the accident.  You don't have to select the first attorney you speak to.  It's practical to seek many opinions.  Some select the attorney they think will perform the job best, while others pick the one they like better.  It's up to you.

•Collect documentation immediately.  Get as much information from witnesses as soon as possible.  The more time passes, the harder it will be for people to remember details, and for you to contact them.  Gather insurance letters, accident reports and insurance company settlement offers. 

•Don't talk to either insurance company util you've consulted your attorney.  When you are contacted by their insurance company, just say you are unprepared to offer a statement. 

•Record how much money you spend or lose.  It's all important - income lost from not working, hospital bills, property damage, all of it!