FAQs

HOW DO I GET THE CHARGES DROPPED OR REDUCED?

You will need to hire an attorney to get your charges dropped or reduced. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to assist you. The initial court appearances are crucial and it is at these appearances when we learn the facts that the State’s Attorney’s Office is presenting against you, and is the first opportunity to show the prosecutor that we will be putting on a strong defense. Presenting a strong defense gives you the best chance to have charges reduced or dropped

WHAT IS PROBATION?

Probation is a sentence in lieu of prison time. It means that you will have to report to the probation office and follow certain rules that the court imposes on you. It is a chance to prove to the Court that you do not belong in prison and can function in society. Probation must be taken seriously as if you violate any of the terms, you can be sent to prison on a Probation Violation. Some forms of Probation allow you to keep your record clean without a conviction.

WHAT IS PRETRIAL DIVERSION OR THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM?

Pretrial diversion is a program offered by some State’s Attorney’s Offices that allow you to keep your criminal record clean without a conviction. It is usually only offered to first time offenders of non-violent crimes. Pretrial diversion programs insist that you follow the rules of the program, perform community service, get drug tested and not violate any further laws for a period of time, usually about 1 year to 18 months. If you do everything you were ordered to do, the case is dismissed and can be expunged after two years, eliminating the case completely. Eliminate Burglary, Theft etc.

CAN ONE ATTORNEY HANDLE MY DIVORCE?

One attorney can do all the work necessary to get two people divorced, but he or she can only represent one of the parties. It is unethical to represent both parties to a divorce. The party who is not represented by an attorney must understand that the attorney is working for the party who is paying him and not for both sides.

HOW MUCH WILL A DIVORCE COST ME?

Unfortunately, this is a difficult question to answer because each person’s case is different. I, like most other divorce attorney’s, bill for my time hourly. The more things that can be agree to, the less time that I have to spend, the lower the attorney’s fees will be. However, the more times I am in court, the more motions that need to be argued, the longer that a trial goes, the higher the attorney’s fees. Of course, cases involving millions of dollars in assets are more complicated than those involving relatively few assets.