Every marriage is not meant to last forever. No matter what the reasoning behind the divorce, it is important to have legal representation for each side. I almost lost everything because my former spouse said that he was taking care of things and that he would be fair about how the assets were divided. It took several weeks for me to find out what he was up to. It was then that I hired my own attorney and got what I deserved. You should never attempt to go through a divorce without a lawyer working on your side. On my site, I have listed several of the issues that can get overlooked if you are inexperienced with divorce documents and proceedings.
Joy Johnson
If you received a traffic ticket, you are just like many other drivers. Many people simply pay the ticket because they don't want to bother fighting it. However, before you take the easy path, you should speak to a traffic ticket lawyer. The following are just a few reasons for this.
To reduce the effect on your insurance rates
If this is your first ticket, it may be possible to go to traffic school. Upon completion, the ticket will not appear on your driving record. Your insurance premiums will not be affected. Often you can do this yourself, but if this is not your first ticket, you are likely to have the citation on your driving record after it is paid. Depending upon the nature of the ticket, this can mean a substantial increase in premiums. An attorney may be able to fight the ticket. Even if you end up paying a fine, it may be possible for the severity of the ticket to be reduced. This means a lower fine and a smaller increase in your insurance premiums.
To reduce the chance of getting a criminal record
You may not have a criminal record, but you can end up with one if your traffic ticket is considered a felony. Although it may not be possible to successfully fight the ticket, it may be possible to reduce the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. This type of negotiation must be done with the assistance of an attorney. It is possible that the ticket was over-the-top for the situation you were in, and if the case goes to court, the district attorney's office may lose. But they want a high percentage of convictions, so when an attorney fights the ticket, they are often open to the idea of negotiations for a reduced charge in exchange for a guilty plea.
To reduce the chances of losing your licensed
You may think that you can only lose your license by receiving a conviction for driving under the influence, but it is possible to receive a traffic ticket and then have a judge take away your license. A speeding ticket can be so alarming to a judge that he or she wants to teach you a lesson by taking away your license. Or perhaps you were in a non-fatal accident that caused extensive property damage. You weren't intoxicated, so you were given a ticket. But once in court, the judge decides a fine isn't enough, and you lose your license. Judges have a lot of leeway in their decisions, but an attorney can often mitigate these punishments.
Before you pay your traffic ticket or plead guilty in court, you should consult with an attorney. They may be able to mitigate the effect on your insurance premiums, stop a felony conviction, or stop the loss of your license.