When You Need an NJ Real Estate Attorney
The world of real estate can be increasingly complex and challenging to navigate.
As a result, there could be countless scenarios where you need an NJ real estate attorney.
At Donnelly Warner, we represent a plethora of both residential and commercial clients, helping them with various real estate needs.
Not everyone requires a real estate attorney. So, how do you know if you need one?
Below, we’ll run through some common situations where you will find one useful. But first, what does a real estate attorney do?
What can a real estate attorney do for you?
A real estate attorney will handle a host of different tasks depending on the client.
This can include drawing up contracts when sales are being completed or creating a range of legal documents such as financial agreements, leases, and so on.
Not only that, but an NJ real estate attorney can help negotiate good deals for clients. Along with this, we’re capable of reviewing sales transactions and identifying any problems that might be present.
This prevents instances where you might agree to a sale, but you end up facing lots of problems and issues. A qualified and experienced real estate attorney can handle foreclosure proceedings and litigation tasks.
We can represent clients if things get taken to court, ensuring that your best interests are protected.
When do you need a real estate lawyer?
As you can see, an attorney can do lots of things for you.
So, when will you need one?
Here are some common situations where a real estate attorney will provide you with some much-needed help:
When you’re buying a property
Regardless of whether you’re buying a residential property or investing in commercial buildings, it helps to have an NJ real estate attorney by your side.
We can help draw up the initial contracts to ensure that the purchase goes through with no snags. With an attorney on your side, you have peace of mind you’re buying a property that won’t present any issues.
Because of our experience, we can check that the building meets all the current regulations, ensuring that you don’t invest in something with hidden problems.
The overall result is you buy properties with more confidence.
You get exactly what you want from the purchase, and the seller receives precisely what they’re after. The whole process can go much smoother.
When you’re selling a property
You will benefit from having an NJ real estate attorney when selling any property.
We will handle many legal issues and can draw up different documents.
Our goal is to help the sale go through, ensuring that the right contracts are developed and that you’re protected if the buyer pulls out after signing.
When you need help with commercial leases
If you’re dealing with commercial real estate, then you definitely need to call an experienced real estate attorney.
Amongst the many things we do, we can help with commercial leases for landlords and tenants. If you’re a landlord, we will help you construct leases for tenants to sign.
These documents will include all the correct details, ensuring that you provide tenants with all their rights, and make it clear what’s expected from them.
Similarly, if you’re a tenant, we can help check your lease to make sure the landlord isn’t overcharging you or breaching your rights.
If they are, we can help represent you if you want to sue them.
When you’re involved in a foreclosure
The technical definition of a foreclosure is that it is a home that belongs to the bank, but used to belong to a homeowner.
Typically, foreclosures happen when you struggle to afford mortgage payments. You can no longer keep up with your payments, which means the bank seizes your property to cover your debts.
In this scenario, a real estate attorney will play a vital role. Our firm has represented both banks and borrowers in these situations.
As the borrower, we provide legal representation to help make life as hard as possible from whoever is foreclosing your property.
This includes looking for any flaws in the foreclosure process, along with trying to negotiate with your lender to reach an agreement that prevents them from going ahead and foreclosing your home.
We represent financial institutions and banks in foreclosing a property. In this scenario, we do all we can to make sure you follow the correct proceedings when foreclosing.
We represent you in court, and we will file a lawsuit for you. So, if you’re involved in either side of a foreclosure, then you should come to us for help.
Likewise, if you’re interested in buying a foreclosed property from a bank, then we will provide legal help for this.
When you need a land application
At Donnelly & Warner, we also represent commercial clients that are looking for land use applications.
We will support you as you submit your applications to local and county boards.
As a result, we make it more likely that they will accept your application.
When you’re taken to trial
We represent lots of different clients, including commercial landlords, businesses, and real estate brokers.
Therefore, we know that specific issues can crop up, meaning you’re taken to trial. Brokers are faced with employment issues and disputes involving fraud.
Businesses may face problems relating to land applications or building regulations. Regardless of what the issue is, we’re here to represent you when you get taken to trial.
A real estate attorney can defend you if someone is filing a claim against you, ensuring that a fair outcome ensues.
Likewise, if you want to take someone else to trial, then we can represent you here. The bottom line is that an NJ real estate attorney can help you in many situations.
It doesn’t matter if we’re dealing with commercial or residential real estate; we’re here to help you.
If you want to learn more about our services, then feel free to get in touch with our team today.
What You Should Consider When Hiring a Lawyer in New Jersey
When you are hiring a lawyer in New Jersey, there are several factors to consider.
Whether you are looking for representation during a business dispute or help with an injury claim, there are many reasons you might need a reputable lawyer in your area.
Hiring a lawyer is a very important choice you will make in your life and it can have a significant impact on the outcome of your claim and the quality of your life.
This isn’t a process to rush, so take your time to discover some of the most important aspects of hiring a lawyer in the New Jersey area you trust implicitly.
Watch Video Summary:
You Should Consider Their Areas of Expertise
If you have a specific legal query, you want to make sure that your chosen lawyer in New Jersey specializes in your area.
Let’s say you are looking to get into real estate; you will want to find an attorney in New Jersey that can help you with a variety of real estate transactions and issues.
Whether you are purchasing your first property or figuring out a problematic real estate deal, you need a New Jersey lawyer that will pay careful attention to your case.
Understanding their areas of expertise will help you figure out whether they are the right fit for your case.
How Much Experience Do The Prospective Lawyers Have?
You also need to consider how much experience your chosen lawyer has. If you are facing a complicated case, you don’t want a lawyer new to the field.
You need an experienced lawyer in New Jersey, who has a good track record. Look at their credentials and see how long they have been working in the industry for.
There are some fantastic lawyers in New Jersey who haven’t been practicing for long, but you need to choose someone you feel confident in.
Do They Have High Success Rates?
When you are looking for a reputable lawyer in New Jersey, you want to make sure they have a proven track record of success.
Remember that not every lawyer will have a 100% rate of success, but look for one that is as high as possible.
It is all about you and you want to make sure you get the best legal representation as possible. If this lawyer has helped clients in a similar situation to you in the past, it is likely that they will do the same for you.
Check if they have a history of being a strong and loyal advocate for their clients and you should be safe with your final choice.
Check Out Their Previous Client Reviews
One way to check out their track record is to look at previous testimonials from their clients.
Spend some time researching the firm and look for positive and negative reviews on their services so you'll get opinions from different perspectives.
Make sure you read the details on all the review to make sure you have a well-rounded view of the lawyer in New Jersey.
Make Sure They Fit Within Your Individual Budget
Hiring a lawyer in New Jersey is an expense that won’t come lightly to many people. Therefore, you need to consider legal representation that fits within your individual budget.
The cost of changing lawyers halfway through the process is much more damaging, so spend some time making the right decision the first time.
Ask the firm whether there are any additional costs you should know about. Similarly, there might be cases where you need not pay at all.
In many personal injury lawyer cases, they work on a contingency basis, meaning you don't have to pay unless you get a settlement.
Be Sure to Make a Good Connection With Them
Ultimately, you will spend a considerable amount of time with your chosen lawyer in New Jersey.
This means you need to connect with them on a personal level and make sure they understand you and your case.
They need to get to know the emotional and physical impacts to you so they do everything they can to fight your corner.
Are You Happy for Them to Represent You?
Remember that the lawyer you choose in New Jersey will serve as a representative for you.
If there are any reasons you wouldn’t be happy for them to be your spokesperson, you need to make a different choice.
You deserve to have complete control over the lawyer you choose, so don’t allow the firm to dictate which lawyer in New Jersey you get.
After an initial meeting, you should be able to request that specific person rather than another lawyer from the firm.
Do Your Research on a First-Hand Basis
You should be cautious of referral services online because they might not give you an accurate representation of the lawyer in New Jersey.
Work with a real-life lawyer who is genuinely knowledgeable in their field of work. Referral service websites often have no legal background and won’t be of much help to you.
Do your own research and make sure the lawyer in New Jersey has access to all the resources and information they need to support you in your case.
Consider these pointers when you are looking for a lawyer in New Jersey. Only the best of the best will support and protect you in the way you need.
Donnelly Warner can provide you with a variety of legal services, so explore our website and see if we can be of any help to you.
When You Need an NJ Family Lawyer
When you hear "family lawyer", what first comes to mind?
For most, they will think about divorce. That is correct, at least partially.
While divorce is one of the most difficult chapters that people will encounter during their lives, it's not the only component of family legal representation.
In this post, we will highlight other common cases that will require an NJ family lawyer.
Video summary here:
Marriage
While we've already touched on divorce law (and more details will come in the next section), let's kick things off with a more positive topic, marriage.
Marriage, matrimony or wedlock, is a legal union between spouses.
Under the marriage umbrella, included are civil unions and domestic partnerships.
A civil union is a legally recognized union of a same-sex couple, while a domestic partnership is a relationship with two unmarried individuals who live together.
One of the major components of marriage that an NJ family lawyer can help with are prenuptial agreements, commonly referred to as a prenup.
A prenup is signed before marriage to settle financial matters prior to unforeseen life events such as death or divorce.
Prenups are not just for the super wealthy and celebrities - anyone who has personal assets, liabilities or property might consider a prenup.
Some items included in a prenup are:
- Debt protection
- Family heirloom, business, or inheritance protection
- Estate plan and will protection
- Alimony after divorce
Divorce
Now we're back to where we started.
Divorce is the termination of a marriage.
During divorce proceedings, the court will determine the equitable, or fair, distribution of property, assets and debts.
This property includes your home, personal effects, financial assets and other items of value.
As mentioned above, a prenup helps avoid some of these future problems, but many couples are against prenuptial agreements as they feel it sets the marriage up for failure.
Where a prenup is not in place and tempers are flaring, mediation with your New Jersey family lawyers would be beneficial to avoid leaving it up to the court to decide.
This is where you, your spouse, and both parties legal representatives meet with a neutral third party to help resolve any open issues.
Settlements through mediation are often less expensive than going to going to court, which is why they are a good option.
In divorce, there are three additional situations where an NJ family lawyer would be necessary. They are:
Post-judgment reduction or increase in alimony and child support payments
Alimony is an amount of money ordered by the court to be paid to a spouse following a separation or divorce.
Child support is a continued periodic payment made from one partner to another to financially to benefit a child following the termination of a marriage.
After a divorce case is complete, a spouse may move to reduce or increase alimony or child support payments.
If that is the situation, a New Jersey family lawyer can help defend your case.
Child custody and visitation
Child custody is having the legal authority to decide on your child's medical care and education.
Two primary types of child custody are sole and joint custody.
Sole custody means that one parent has the authority to make every decision pertaining to the child.
Joint custody means that both parents share the decision making authority for their child.
There's also the physical vs. legal custody component.
Legal custody means that both parents can make legal decisions, while physical custody allows a child to live with a parent, but the parent has no legal decision making power.
Siblings, half-siblings, and grandparents can also request visitation rights. This is also common for parents who weren't awarded any custodial rights, but want to spend time with their child.
In visitation disputes, it is up to the court to determine what is in the "best interests of the child".
Annulments
An annulment is a legal procedure that declares a marriage void.
You can seek marriage annulment for several reasons including underage marriages, misrepresentation and bigamy.
There are two types of annulments, civil and religious.
Civil annulments legally end your marital status, while religious annulments are granted by a church or religious organization.
Domestic violence, child abuse and restraining orders.
Sometimes, marital relations get ugly.
This comes in various forms including domestic violence, child abuse and restraining orders.
Domestic, or intimate partner violence, is a pattern of behaviors that one partner uses over another to maintain power or control.
Violence can come in a physical, sexual or psychological capacity.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, it's important to talk with a New Jersey family lawyer to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Child abuse can also result from physical, verbal or sexual harm, and you should not be afraid to take legal action against perpetrators.
In situations where a perpetrator continues to harass an adult or child, you can have a restraining order issued.
This blocks the abuser from contacting or engaging with the victim. If the offender violates the terms, you can bring them to court with an NJ family lawyer and prosecute them accordingly.
Special cases
There are countless other special cases for a New Jersey family attorney.
This list includes, but is not limited to:
- Adoptions - Legally taking ownership of another parent's child and raising as their own.
- Surrogacy - An arrangement where a woman agrees to get pregnant and birth a child for parents unable to conceive on their own.
- LGBT - There are special laws that apply to members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, particularly in marriage and discrimination.
- Military - Members of the military are subject to a unique set of family laws.
- Juvenile law - Pertains to legal matters related to minors, often status offenses, delinquency, emancipation and adjudication.
- Paternity - For cases where the biological parents of a child are in question.
- Guardianship - A legal tool that determines a person who has authority over another person, often in children, seniors and developmentally disabled adults.
Conclusion
Family law cases are difficult for individuals and their entire families, both emotionally and financially.
Our firm has extensive experience in family law. As NJ family lawyers, our goal is to help minimize stress and uncertainty by keeping you informed about your case and the legal process.
We hope you find the information in this article helpful!
Dividing a Divorce List of Assets & Liabilities
Are you and your spouse thinking of getting a divorce?
Divorce is one of the most difficult chapters that people may encounter in their lives, and it can get much more complicated than you might initially think.
You’ve built a life with this person, some longer than others, and you likely have many shared assets and liabilities.
While it might be easy to decide you don’t want to live together anymore, it becomes difficult to determine who gets what.
Couples who can agree to split assets fairly and evenly often experience a much smoother transition.
Unfortuantely, it’s rarely that easy to do amicably.
In this article, we’ll first dive into some factors that the court will consider when dividing your property.
Then we’ll provide divorce list of assets and liabilities you must make sure are factored in so nothing gets overlooked.
Dividing Property: Court Considerations
While many cases are settled without a trial through property division agreements, often with bitter spouses it’s not that simple.
In divorce cases, the court has a long list of criteria it weighs to fairly divide marital property, otherwise known as equitable distribution.
This list includes, but is not limited to:
- Marriage length
- Spouse age and health
- Property value and income
- Standard of living
- Economic circumstances
- Spousal earning capacity and contributions - includes education, experience, time off, job search, child custody
- Homemaker contributions
- Property settlement agreements
- Tax implications
- Trust requirements for medical or educational costs for children or spouse
- Career goal deferment to benefit the marriage
Divorce List of Assets & Liabilities
Now that you know what the court will look out for, it’s time to know what you need to be prepared for in your own specific case.
As your case progresses, your divorce attorney will request a list of all marital assets and liabilities.
Here’s a divorce list of assets we commonly see couples disputing during a divorce settlement:
Real Estate Assets
Any stationary property or land you own falls under real estate assets.
These will commonly include:
- Marital homestead
- Vacation homes
- Business property
- Rental property
- Undeveloped land
- Timeshares
When it comes to these types of properties, it’s also important to come prepared with the following information about them:
- Purchase dates
- Purchase price
- Down payment amount
- Down payment source
- Monthly payment amount
- Tax and insurance amount paid
- Open mortgage balances
- Property fair market value
Financial Assets
There are surely several financial assets you and your spouse have accumulated together over the years.
These usually become huge points of contention during divorce settlements.
Here’s a list of some common financial assets to split:
- Bank Accounts
- Credit Cards
- Debt
- Taxes
- Pension Funds
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Trusts
- 401(k)
- IRAs
- Social Security
- Retirement
- Mutual Funds
- Annuities
- Alimony
- Certificates of Deposit
- Life insurance
- Other insurance policies
A few of the above assets will require more details.
Make sure you have as much information as possible in the following instances so there are no surprises:
Insurance policies
- Name of provider
- Policy #
- Face and cash value of the policy or policies
- Name of person/item insured
- Outstanding loans against the policy
- Outstanding payment amounts
- Reason for loan
- Date of loan
Bank Accounts
- Bank name and address
- Account type and number
- Current balance
- Names on account
- Date opened
Pension Funds (401k, 403(b), military retirement, etc)
- Plan name
- Contributions and co-contributions made
- Percent vested in the plan and years until vested
- Lump sum and monthly payments collectible now
- Monthly payments availability date
Stocks, Bonds, IRAs, Mutual Funds
- Name and number
- Purchase price
- Face and market value
- Current Total
Certificates of Deposit
- Maturity date
- Face amount
- C.D. location
- Interest
Business Assets
If you or your spouse own or share a business, you must divide those assets too.
Types of businesses and involved assets can include:
- Sole proprietorships
- Partnerships
- Professional practice
- Professional degree
- Creditors
- Education
- Patents, copyrights and trademarks
As you should know by now, the more detail you have the better.
Some business information to have handy is as follows:
- Acquisition date
- Business name
- Business start date
- Is it incorporated?
- Shares owned (if public)
- Number of employees
- Business net worth
- Last tax year and quarter profit/loss
- Business books location
Personal Property
While the big-ticket items such as real estate, financial and business assets are a major point of contention for some, for others it comes down to the personal, and more sentimental items.
Here are some commonly disputed personal property assets:
- Furniture and Appliances
- Tools
- Sports Equipment
- Art
- Collectibles
- Antiques
- China
- Home decorations
- Firearms
- Computers
- Jewelry
- Clothing
- Motor vehicles
- Boats
Separate Property
When it comes to your divorce list of assets, separate property is property owned prior to marriage or after divorce is filed.
While there are a lot of grey areas in these cases, separate property can include:
- Gifts received from anyone (except the spouse) during the marriage or an inheritance
- Income received from separate property
- Property and debts designed as separate in a legal contract
- Personal injury awards
Conclusion
As you can now see, there are many factors to consider when going through a divorce.
With so many shared assets, this can be one of the most difficult components of a divorce.
It is our goal to minimize the stress and uncertainty by keeping our clients informed about their case as well as the entire divorce process.
That’s why we put together the above divorce list of assets to help guide you through the process.
We believe it is important for our clients to understand what to expect.
If you have more questions about the divorce process, visit our website.
How to Find the Right DWI Lawyer in NJ
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) stats are sobering.
Over the course of a year throughout the United States, over one million people are arrested for driving while intoxicated or under the influence according to MADD.
Thousands of dollars in fines and fees, license suspensions, and possible jail time are just a few of the major consequences of DWI, the largest being loss of life for innocent pedestrians and drivers who made poor choices.
That said, wrongful convictions are more common than you might think.
You may challenge your blood alcohol test based on the results, certificates, and administration. If there is a defect, they might suppress the test results as evidence upon application to the court, which is why finding the right DWI Lawyer in NJ is essential.
Here are some tips to consider:
1. Make a list and do your homework
While you might be a little flustered after a DWI arrest, it’s important to take a calm, strategic approach to your DWI Lawyer search.
Follow these steps to get started:
Create a list
To get started, create a sheet in Excel, or whatever spreadsheet tool you are most comfortable with.
List out some categories such as their:
- Name
- Website
- Location
- Cost
NOTE: There will be more categories to add as you move along and read through this post.
Research online
Begin your online research.
Start with a simple Google search of “DWI Lawyer NJ” or “DWI Lawyer Near Me” and see what comes up. We would recommend listing results from the top 2-3 pages.
Add their names and websites to the sheet as you comb through the pages. You can even snoop around and look up the lawyers' business and personal social media pages.
Read reviews
Check Facebook pages, Google My Business profiles, Yelp, Glassdoor, Avvo.com, Lawyers.com and other valued review sites to see what people are saying.
Look at recent reviews and note both positive and negative experiences. Be on the lookout for any DWI mentions as those may provide more relevant insight.
Ask around
Word of mouth is still a powerful and grossly underutilized tool.
Ask your family, friends, co-workers and other important people in your life if they have any recommendations on DWI Lawyers.
2. Interview the DWI attorney and let them interview you too
It’s essential for you to interview the lawyer and not be afraid to ask questions about their background, experience and expertise.
You are literally interviewing them for a job (the job = your case).
You also must come prepared to answer all of their questions accurately. You can’t lie or bend the truth about what happened, by now there has already been an official police report filed.
You need to be upfront, honest and stand by what you say.
Come prepared with a list
We suggest going into each meeting or phone call with a DWI attorney with a list that outlines questions you need to ask, and details you yourself need to disclose.
This will ensure that each legal service provider gets and gives all the same information, which will help in the decision-making process down the road.
Ask about their DWI experience
Would you hire someone to build your home who has never built a house before? Probably not.
Try to find lawyers that have extensive DWI experience and training.
Many criminal defense attorneys may have a lot of experience that can benefit you more than just representing yourself.
If they specialize in or have handled several DWI cases successfully, hiring them may work to your advantage.
They would be more familiar with the rules, regulations and processes of fighting a DWI charge and would have less of a learning curve based on their experiences.
Ask about their relationships with local Prosecutors
This is an important one that many people overlook...
Make sure your DWI Lawyer has a good relationship with the local court, police and prosecutors!
If they have had trouble in the past, or have a bad reputation, look elsewhere for a legal service provider.
If you choose an attorney who has had negative experiences with the local court system in the past, it might reflect poorly on your behalf from the get-go.
3. Additional considerations
The above steps were to help you get started, but there are several other important factors to consider when choosing a DWI Lawyer in New Jersey if you want to go deeper.
Here are a few more:
Size of the firm
Size can impact the representation you receive.
If it’s a large firm where each lawyer has a lot of cases, you might not get enough close attention, but you may have more resources at your disposal.
If you go with a small firm, they may be more focused on your individual case, but have limited resources available.
Costs
For many, it comes down to cost when choosing legal representation.
You should consider how much you have at stake to lose, and what you’re willing to pay to make these problems go away.
If you’re facing jail time, you might be more inclined to go all out and spend more, while if you're facing only a couple hundred dollars in fines and just want to plea out, you can go with a less expensive option.
Comfort level, confidence and trust
As you analyze the size of the firms you’ve been in contact with, think about who you truly feel most comfortable with.
Do you want a cheap, sleazy lawyer with amateur commercials and billboards, or one that has a strong online presence with positive reviews and DWI experience who was referred to you by a friend?
Some may be more comfortable with the former, while others prefer the latter. It’s all about personal preference and who YOU feel comfortable moving forward with.
4. Weigh your options and decide
By now you’ve got a long list of DWI Lawyer’s and data. It’s time to make a decision.
We suggest making this decision in the comfort of your own home rather than in the office of an attorney. Go through your list and cross out ones you’re sure wouldn’t be a good fit.
Narrow it down to the final few and decide what matters to you most about the ones that left.
Once you’ve chosen a winner, call them and inform them of your decision. From there, the defense process will begin.
Whether you wish to reject a plea offer and mount a defense, or accept your charges, to move forward with your life you need a strong DWI Lawyer in NJ by your side.
Our team at Donnelly & Warner will zealously defend you at trial if that is your wish, or guide you through the plea deal and guilty verdict processes if you want to accept your charges.
Call us at (973) 696-6770 to speak with a D&W representative today.
9 Tips to Finding a Business Law Firm in NJ
Choosing a business law firm in NJ to represent you is an important step you as a business owner should take seriously.
There are many factors to consider before choosing a provider of legal services so you get somebody who best fits your businesses needs while still being affordable.
The person or firm you choose extends your business, and you should treat the process of choosing a provider as if you were hiring a new employee.
Here are a few important points to consider:
1. Think About What You Need
The first step is to define what type of legal services you need. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why do you need an attorney? Are you trying to fundraise for your business? Did you have former employee or client suing you?
- Do you need real estate, medical malpractice, personal injury or another form of legal representation?
- Does your business law provider need to be near your physical location?
- How much are you willing to spend for lawyer services?
2. Do Your Research Online and Read Reviews
Once you have the legal services you need down pat, then it’s time to start your internet research.
You can start with a general search such as “Business Law Firm NJ” and see what results appear. Then to take it a step further, search the specific service you’re looking for, and consider adding in the city you operate out of finding the most accurate local legal service providers.
Build out a list of the ones you think are the best fit, and comb through their websites and even social profiles. Read reviews and look into who is writing these online reviews. Often, many positive ones are written by employees or marketing companies, so take them with a grain of salt. We also suggest checking out the negative reviews and seeing how the firm handles unhappy clients.
3. Ask Your Friends for Referrals
Word of mouth is a powerful tool, particurlar in today's day and age of fake news and falsified online reviews as mentioned above.
Surely you’ve got friends who are business owners themselves, or maybe they even own a New Jersey business law firm of their own.
Tap into your network and see who some of your friends and business partners have used in the past, and if they have somebody they feel comfortable referring you to.
4. Meet with Multiple Providers
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You shouldn’t fall in love with the first and only business law firm in NJ that you talk to.
Do your due diligence and speak with multiple law firms and attorneys. That way you can weigh the pro’s and con’s of each and make more of an unbiased decision.
5. Determine if You Want a Large or Small Firm
The size of the business law firm you choose in New Jersey can impact the representation you get.
If you choose one that is too large, you might not get enough close attention to make you feel comfortable. On the flip side, if they’re too small, they may not have the tools and experience to represent you successfully.
There are large firms that can give you close attention, and small firms that can handle large cases, but size is still an important factor to consider.
6. Don't be Afraid to Ask the Nitty-Gritty Questions
You’ve got a lot on the line with the legal choice you’re preparing to make, so don’t be afraid to ask difficult questions.
Did you see a scathing Google review they received about a similar case? Ask them about it.
Don’t be afraid to ask about their experience or expertise. You may feel you are prying, but you’re getting ready to make a big decision. No stones should be left unturned, and if they want your business, they will understand.
7. Ask About Their Previous Clientele
Has the law firm worked with a business similar to yours before? How did that business fare with their representation?
You can even ask for names of clients of theirs that you can reach out to and get their opinion of their services from.
They likely will not give you the name of a client who will not speak highly of them, but it’s just another box you can check off on your list as you get closer to a decision.
8. Consider Costs and Expenses
No matter how big of a case you’re facing or who you want to represent you, sometimes it comes down to how much you’re willing and able to spend.
Before the end of each meeting, get a quote from the business law firm, and ask about their payment structure.
Some might require portions of the payment up front, and others will allow payment plans. Others may put in place contingencies based on the successful or unsuccessful representation of your legal case.
It’s important to ask these questions so you know where you stand financially before, during and after your legal case.
9. Make a Decision
Now you’ve done your research and asked all the important questions to consider. It’s time to make an unbiased and informed decision.
Think about what you’ve seen, what you've read and heard. Decide who would be the best fit for your business's legal needs based on their online presence, referrals, expertise, experience and cost.
Certain factors may be more or less important for your business and that’s ok - that’s why we suggest going through these each of these steps, as every business’s needs are different.
Once you decide on a legal representative, you’re one step closer to getting your legal woes behind you and moving forward with your business.
Are you ready to speak with Donnelly & Warner Attorneys at Law about your business law firm needs in NJ? Contact us today to speak with one of our professionals.