As the U.S.’s third largest city by population, Chicago is a very diverse place. This diversity indicates a great need for law firms, and Chicago certainly has many law forms for the legal needs of all its residents. Criminal defense attorneys are one of the most well-known types of lawyers, but they can’t help you with all legal problems. Here are eight other common examples of when you may need to call a lawyer in Chicago.
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Buying/Selling a Home
A lawyer that specializes in real estate will help you with everything from residential and commercial properties to land. Most people aren’t aware of how helpful it can be to hire a real estate lawyer when buying or selling a home. Real estate lawyers can also be a big help to renters having issues with landlords, and vice versa.
Class Actions
Class action lawsuits are large lawsuits that bring multiple plaintiffs together to file one lawsuit against a defendant, usually a large corporation. The plaintiffs have suffered similar bodily injury or other damages that were caused by the defendant. This is slightly different from a mass tort, which is where multiple lawsuits are brought against the same defendant (instead of having them grouped into one lawsuit). An example of both cases would be a defective product or drug causing bodily harm.
Debt and Bankruptcy
Unfortunately, many Americans have large outstanding debts, and they may have to file for bankruptcy, but the good news is there are lawyers who are knowledgeable in bankruptcy laws that can help you understand the ins and outs of bankruptcy and the many chapters that can be filed. The three most common chapters of bankruptcy filed are:
- Chapter 7 (allows for the liquidation of assets to pay debts)
- Chapter 11 (usually only filed by businesses)
- Chapter 13 (arranges payment plans)
Estate Planning
If you have any assets that you want to be distributed after you pass away, you’ll need to contact an estate planning lawyer to help you draft living wills and set up trusts. They may also venture into family and tax law and help with arranging guardianship for minors and minimizing payable taxes on your estate, respectively.
Family Disputes
Family lawyers are experts in all things related to the family and not just divorce, which is what the majority of people think. Not only do family lawyers handle divorces/separations and alimony and child support payments, but they can also help draft prenuptial agreements. They can also help you with domestic violence and all things related to children, such as child custody, father’s rights, and adoption. Your reason for contacting a family lawyer doesn’t have to be a negative one.
Injured in an Accident
If you’re in a car wreck, slip and fall on public or private property, or if you get hurt at work, you call a personal injury lawyer. This type of lawyer is another well-known type of lawyer and is the most advertised on TV and radio— however, the majority of these personal injury lawyers only focus on motor vehicle accidents. This means that if you’re in a different kind of accident or get hurt in another way, you’ll have to find a personal injury lawyer that specializes in multiple injury types. This can include:
- Workers Compensation
- Sexual abuse
- Premises liability (including slip and fall, toxic chemical exposure, and animal bites)
- Nursing home abuse
- Medical malpractice (including birth injuries)
- Defective products and drugs
If any of these injuries result in death (known as wrongful death), you can also consult a qualified personal injury attorney in Chicago.
Social Security and Retirement
Social security and retirement lawyers are consulted by retirees who may believe their retirement savings have been abused. They can also help those who have retired early due to a disability.
Workplace Disputes
Employment and workplace lawyers help those who may be having problems in their workplace, whether it’s an employee or an employer— but it’s usually an employee as employers usually consult with business lawyers. Employment lawyers mostly focus on employee rights, including wage and hour disputes, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination. Business lawyers help employers form employee contracts and other types of contracts.
As you can see, there are a lot of specialties within the law, and even some subspecialties within some specialties. For the best outcomes, make sure to research the law firm you choose to ensure that they’re qualified to handle your legal problem.
