LegalEase
Dear Friends:
Happy fall! We hope you are enjoying the weather as it cools down – we certainly are. We also have some exciting news to share: Attorney Christine King has joined our team! Please join us in giving her a warm welcome.
This edition of LegalEase contains information on protective orders and wills. Take a look, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Bienstock
Joshua I. Bienstock
PROTECTIVE ORDERS
What is a protective order? A protective order is a form of court-ordered relief from things like domestic violence, abuse, or harassment. A protective order is different than pressing charges against someone. If granted by the court, the order can require that the person stays away from you and does not contact you. It will also affect their ability to own firearms. A violation of the order may lead to an arrest.
To get a protective order, you will need to request it from the court and then attend two hearings: one for a temporary protective order, and another for the final protective order. At these hearings, you may have to present evidence for why the court should grant you protection.
If you need help getting a protective order, or if someone is taking a protective order out against you and you would like representation, please give us a call on 301-251-1600. We are here to help!
Q&A
We recommend that you review your will every three years to make sure it still does what you want it to. If there have been any major life events such as a new child or grandchild, a death, or a change in your assets (you’ve bought a new property, inherited money, or won the lottery!). Do you still want the same people to inherit, or act on your behalf? If you’re wondering whether it might be time to update your documents, don’t hesitate to reach out!
I am thinking of signing a legal document. What do I need to know?
Start by reading the document very carefully. Make sure you understand everything to which you’re agreeing. It’s always a good idea to have your attorney review it for you as well, and/or answer any questions you may have. You don’t know what you don’t know, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
BELIEVE IT, OR DON’T!
Court can be a serious place… but not always. Here are some actual court exchanges between attorneys and witnesses captured word-for-word by court reporters.
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Attorney: “Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?”
Witness: “Did you actually pass the bar exam?”
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Attorney: “What is your date of birth?”
Witness: “July 18th”
Attorney: “What year?”
Witness: “Every year.”
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Attorney: “How was your first marriage terminated?”
Witness: “By death.”
Attorney: “And by whose death was it terminated?”
Witness: “Take a guess.”
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Attorney: “Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?”
Witness: “No.”
Attorney: “Did you check for blood pressure?”
Witness: “No.”
Attorney: “Did you check for breathing?”
Witness: “No.”
Attorney: “So, then is it possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?”
Witness: “No.”
Attorney: “How can you be so sure, Doctor?”
Witness: “Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.”
Attorney: “I see, but could the patient still have been alive nevertheless?”
Witness: “Yes, it is possible he could have been alive and practicing law.”
Are there any topics you would like to hear more about?
Email our Paralegal, Carly, at carly@bienstocklegal.com
or call us on 301-251-1600.