5 Times to Call a Lawyer That Go Beyond Divorce

There are times in life when it’s obvious that you need an attorney. For example, you know you need to call a lawyer if you’re getting divorced or you have been charged with a crime, but those aren’t the only reasons to call a lawyer.

There are a few other times you may want to talk to an attorney that you may not know about.

You Have Been Injured

An attorney isn’t going to be able to help you if you get hurt in your own home, but if you got hurt somewhere else, you might want to pick up the phone.

For example, if you got injured at work, you may be entitled to a settlement, even if the accident was partially your fault. You may also be entitled to compensation if you were injured in a store or on another person’s property.

Worried about how much it’s going to cost? Don’t be!

Most attorneys offer free consultations. If they decide to take your case, you’ll likely be charged a contingent fee. For example, a lawyer may charge 30% of anything recovered in your case, but you will only be charged if you win.

An attorney will only take your case if they think they can win, so you have nothing to lose by giving them a call.

You Feel That You Have Been Wrongly Terminated

It’s normal to have multiple jobs throughout your working career. It isn’t even all that uncommon to be fired from at least one job, but if you think you were unfairly fired, you should talk to an attorney.

Wrongful termination is illegal. If your employer is found guilty, you could collect all of the money you would have earned if not terminated, as well as additional owed wages, overtime, and other compensation. Perhaps most importantly, your termination will no longer negatively impact your chances of getting another job.

Examples of wrongful termination that an attorney can help you with include:

• Discrimination
• Violation of federal or state labor laws
• A report you filed or the refusal to participate in workplace harassment
• A report you filed or the refusal to conduct illegal or unsafe activities

You Get Married and Have Kids

When you get married, and again when you have kids, you should call your attorney. They can help you create and modify your will and plan your estate so it accurately reflects your wishes.

For example, when you get married, you’ll want to talk to your attorney about whether it’s best for you and your spouse to create a joint will or if it would be better to create separate wills. When you have kids you’ll want to discuss whether your estate will pass to your surviving spouse, as well as which children get what when both parents have passed.

You’re Adopting a Child

Adopting a child can be a wonderful blessing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are a lot of laws to navigate in order to make sure your adoption is legal.

That’s where talking to an adoption attorney comes in.

Don’t wait until you’re ready to adopt, either. Give a lawyer a call as soon as you think you might want to adopt a child. They can help you identify a reputable adoption agency or a private adoptee, in addition to preparing your paperwork, negotiating the terms of the adoption, and helping with reimbursements for birth expenses.

Most importantly, they give you a point of contact throughout the process. They know adoption law and can answer your questions and concerns along the way, which can make the process feel a lot less stressful.

You’re Starting a Business

It’s true not all businesses need help from an attorney, but there are some instances where a business lawyer is a must.

You should call a business attorney if you’re a partner in a joint venture or your business needs to hire employees. Not only can they help you with the creation of contracts and the enforcement of those contracts, they can also give you much-needed advice. They can tell you if you should form an LLC or file as a sole proprietorship, in addition to which laws and regulations are most pertinent to your new business.

You should definitely call a lawyer if you get divorced or are charged with a crime, but it turns out there are plenty of other reasons to call an attorney. If you’re approaching a serious life event like the ones on this list, give a lawyer a call. They will provide you with much-needed advice, even if they don’t end up taking your case.