The term "decree" is used in the legal system to refer to a ruling issued by an authoritative figure. For example, a decree can be a proclamation made by an official such as a head of state and usually denotes a new rule of law. Decrees are also commonly issued by courts of equity. These courts look at cases and determine outcomes based on fairness, instead of focusing solely on the application of law. In some areas, courts of equity operate separately from courts of law, and in other areas, a court of law can handle... Read More

Small Claims Court is a simplified legal venue where two parties can resolve civil disputes where the damages have relatively small monetary value. For the most part, this venue is implemented to collect relatively small debts and as a resource for landlords to evict negligent tenants. In most cases, a Small Claims Court will not accept cases where the monetary value of damages exceeds $15,000. Small Claims Courts in the United States became a part of the state level justice system in the 1960s. Justice of the Peace courts... Read More

Driving under the influence is not to be taken lightly – especially considering the severe consequences that can follow such a careless decision. DUI violations on all levels and in all scenarios can permanently damage the driver's record and significantly impact his or her life. However, many drivers aren't even aware of what distinguishes misdemeanor drunk driving from felony drunk driving. In both cases, drivers caught operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher are committing... Read More

Fathers’ rights, also known as paternal rights, are a loosely defined collection of responsibilities between a biological father and child. In fact, the construct of “parental rights” does not truly exist; instead, the law and family courts refer to “parental responsibilities”. This means that you, as a biological father, have the responsibility to care and protect your child. In turn, you have a role in certain decisions about your child’s future, including the ability to give consent to... Read More

Separation and divorce are stressful situations for any couple. At such times it sometimes seems that you and your former spouse or partner are at odds about everything, from property to who gets to keep the pets. However, virtually all couples agree that they want what is best for their children. Often joint custody is the answer that makes the most sense. What is Joint Custody? Although the specifics vary somewhat among the 50 US states, joint custody is a court order where custody of a couple's minor children is... Read More

First time offenders for some drug and alcohol offenses may be eligible for deferred prosecution through a court approved program. This means that while you are in a “probationary period” (either six months or a year) during which you take classes that educate you about either drugs or alcohol, your drug or alcohol charges are still pending. Once you complete the probationary period and successfully complete the requirements, your case will be dismissed and you will be eligible for an expunction of your record (record... Read More

This guide is intended for infomational purposes only for any individual with questions regarding divorce procedure in Michigan. Family law issues in the State of Michigan fall under the jurisdiction of the Civil Division (some courts separate the Family Division into its own separate division) of the County's court. A new case is initiated by filing a Complaint with the court clerk. The case will proceed using the same rules the court would use in any other type of case. When the case is complete the court will issue a... Read More

The State of California has very strong Lemon/Consumer Goods Laws. It also has strong Consumer Fraud Law. The strongest aspect of these laws is whats known as fee shifting. If a Plaintiff is successful in his or her claim against a manufacturer or dealership the Plaintiff's legal fees are paid by the Defendant. If you think that you may have a lemon, or that you were fraudulently sold a prior damaged car, our firm can help.

If you are contemplating a divorce in Colorado, there are several things you should know: 1. While Colorado recognizes Common Law Marriage, there is no such thing as Common Law Divorce and thus you must obtain a decree from the Court for your divorce; 2. In Colorado, the parties are referred to as the Petitioner and the Respondent, but the State does not differentiate between which party to the divorce takes on the title of Petitioner or Respondent; 3. Colorado is a no - fault divorce state and thus, the only standard... Read More