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Real Estate Attorneys – Here to Assist You in the Complicated Legal Maze

Buying or selling a property brings with it a flood of emotions. From the excitement of finding a place to setting down roots or moving on to a new location, to the apprehension of ensuring that you are getting the very best for your hard earned dollar, there are a lot of things to consider. While a real estate professional may be able to help you choose the best property for your family, they are not always aware of the legal intricacies of the real estate process from both a buyer’s and seller’s perspective. Having a real estate attorney on your side is a great way to ensure the process is handled in your best interest.

Real estate transactions are complicated – There are a lot of details that go into a real estate transaction. Buyers need to be aware of any concessions as well as contract contingencies. In addition, if the property you are considering is a leaseback or short sale, there are additional things you need to be aware of that could impact the transaction. An experienced real estate lawyer will help you understand all the terms of the real estate contract and make you aware of any risks that could hinder the process.
Legal issues with the property – In addition to the property purchase terms, there are additional things that could have a dramatic impact on the property sale. These might include unknown property liens, zoning restrictions, property easement requirements or issues with the property title. Each of these could have a profound effect on your real estate investment. A qualified attorney will help you understand each of these and determine the best options moving forward.
Move negotiations forward – If the deal seems to be faltering, your real estate attorney can assist you in finding options to save the proceedings and get things back on track.
Legal ramifications – If the real estate sale ends on a sour note or starts to move in a contrary direction, a trusted real estate attorney can assess your options to determine if you should consider further legal recourse to enforce your rights.

Skinner & Associates Attorneys at Law LLC has experienced real estate attorneys that can ensure your best interests are being met. Contact their qualified legal team to discuss your legal needs.

Real estate transactions in the Columbus OH area

Discussing Safe Driving with Teens

This summer, your teenager may be hitting the road for the first time, or driving further than their usual routes. Summer jobs, roadtrips, and moving for college can mean letting teens go further afield than before. Prepare your teenager for responsible driving well in advance to help ensure their safety on the road.

Seatbelts: A Non-Negotiable Necessity

The invention of the modern seat belt changed the face of the auto industry and has prevented millions of deaths and serious injuries worldwide. Yet, according to the CDC, only 86% of Americans wear their seat belt, and auto accidents remain the biggest cause of death in the United States for those under the age of 54.

Auto fatalities are highest in the 16-24 year-old age range, according to safecar.gov, with 53% of teenagers involved in fatal crashes not wearing seat belts. Unfortunately, not all young drivers can be trusted to buckle up even if an adult modeled excellent seat belt usage. Tell your teen they should never take “no” for an answer when it comes to every passenger in the vehicle wearing a seat belt.

Distracted Driving: A Modern Epidemic

Distractibility causes many of the minor collisions involving teens. Emphasize at all times that road safety is the first priority when driving. Phone calls, texting, loud talking, and too much activity from other passengers in the vehicle can distract any driver. Unfortunately, teens are far more likely to be involved in collisions or near-collisions while texting.

Although texting while driving is now illegal in 39 states and Washington, DC, 23% of all accidents in the United States involve cell phones, resulting in over 1.3 million crashes in 2011 alone. Unfortunately, many teens feel confident they can text, websurf, or talk on their phone while driving, and justify this habit by claiming their parents do it, too. Being a good example, and having your teen sign a “no cell phones” pledge can help him or her resist the temptation to reach for the phone.

Good Judgment: A Learning Curve

Learning how to drive involves practicing good judgment on the road. Many teen accidents are due to the “learning curve” of judging distances and hazards. Examples include underestimating the danger of road conditions, such as wet and icy surfaces, following another vehicle too closely, and driving too fast at night. Remind your teen of how to adjust for various road conditions, and what to do in case of an emergency.

With your help, your teen will have the confidence they need to get themselves from point A to point B safely.

Skinner & Associates of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, provide trustworthy, knowledgeable legal services to our clients in the central Ohio area. To schedule a no-obligations consultation today, please call (614) 664-0200.

Discussing Safe Driving with Teens in the Columbus OH area

The information at the Skinner & Associates, LLC web site is intended for general informational purposes only and not as specific legal advice. Use of this site is not intended to and does not in any way establish an attorney-client relationship. Visitors to this site should seek professional legal counsel regarding their specific matters. Attorneys at Skinner & Associates, LLC would be pleased to speak with interested parties, but we can only represent clients where we are licensed to practice, and where no other bar to representation exists. If the information provided by this website does not comply with the legal or ethical requirements of a particular user’s state or country, we may be unable to represent you.

Although we are a general practice law firm, we may be considered a debt relief agency because we help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

What is Civil Litigation?

Civil litigation is a legal process that enables individuals, businesses and other entities to utilize the court system to work through disputes. Unlike a criminal case, in which an individual is prosecuted for violation of a law or statute with the end penalty being monetary fines, imprisonment or both, civil litigation is a personal disagreement in which one or more parties is seeking for a judge to award monetary restitution for a wrong committed against them. There are five common types of civil litigation which might be heard in a court of law.

Personal injury
Breach of contract
Divorce and family law
Property disputes
Landlord and tenant disputes

Personal injury

A person injured case is filed because of the negligence of another individual or entity that results in some form of bodily injury. The most common cases are the result of a motor vehicle accident, a slip-fall case or a product liability.

Divorce and family

A family law case can be a particularly difficult civil litigation process because of the emotion that is involved in family dynamics. Generally, these are the result of a petition for separation or divorce, child custody, child support and domestic violence cases.

Breach of contract

Contracts typically state very clearly the expectations one party has of another. When the terms of this documentation are not met, the wronged party has the right to file a lawsuit for breach of contract. The plaintiff can sue to recover the monetary loss as a result of the default of the contract or they might request that the judge order the defendant to act in accordance with the stipulations of the contract.

Landlord and tenant

One of the most common forms of landlord/tenant legal matters is an eviction. This typically arises when the tenant does not comply with the terms of the lease agreement.

Property disputes

Typical property disputes include property line disagreements, ownership rights and concerns and title claims. While the plaintiff might choose to seek financial compensation for these cases, often they are simply looking for the right of ownership.

At Skinner & Associates, Attorneys at Law, we are professionals in civil litigation cases in the State of Ohio. If you or someone you know has a civil dispute, contact our trusted team for a free consultation.

Civil Litigation in Columbus, Reynoldsburg OH

Chapter 7 vs 13 Bankruptcy: Making the Best of a Difficult Situation

Filing for bankruptcy can be a very trying experience. At Skinner & Associates, we understand that good people can find themselves in unfortunate circumstances. Navigating the waters of a bankruptcy proceedings can be confusing. Determining the right option can be even more overwhelming. This is where a skilled bankruptcy attorney can help you make the best decisions for your situation.

Chapter 13 Overview

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to retain ownership of your property while you pay off your debts. Under this type of bankruptcy, you will work with your attorney to create a repayment plan over a predetermined period of time. Generally, the plan lasts from three to five years. During the repayment period, creditors cannot seek collection of outstanding debts. At the end of the plan most unpaid debts are discharged by the court.

Chapter 7 Overview

Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires you to sell all non-exempt property. Once property is sold, the proceeds of the sale are distributed to the creditors in an effor
t to repay debts. The nonexempt assets are sold by a trustee of the estate. After the sale of property and repayment of creditors, most remaining debt incurred by an individual will be discharged by the courts.

Who is eligible?

Corporations are not able to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, nor are individual debtors with an annual regular income of a certain level. Conversely, both corporations and individuals are able to file Chapter 7. There is no limit to the amount of debt you can seek relief from, however it is important to point out that the discharge of any unpaid debt is only available to individuals, and not corporate debtors.

Freezing debt

In the case of both Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies, all outstanding debts are frozen until the legal proceedings are finished. Individuals filing Chapter 7 can still be subject to foreclosures on property. Additionally, it will not stop a creditor from filing a lien on the property. Chapter 13 does stop the foreclosure process and gives the debtor time to make up past due payments (the debtor is still required to make current payments).

If you or someone you know is considering filing for bankruptcy, contact the professionals at Skinner & Associates. They have been providing reliable legal representation in Columbus, Ohio and surrounding communities for over 25 years.

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Columbus OH