2023 Bucks County Legal Guide

Bucks County 2023 Legal Guide

When To Seek Legal Advice

Most people think that they only need a lawyer in an extreme situation. You were the last person to leave work the night before and police are at your door because that boss who didn’t give you the promotion was found slouched over his desk from a bullet wound to the heart. Or you go for carpal tunnel surgery, and the hospital makes a mistake and you end up with a triple bypass. Other than such extreme situations, you figure that you can do without legal representation.

There are, however, plenty of reasons you may need a lawyer and most of them are not extreme in the least. There are areas of life that involve legalities where a lawyer isn’t called for, like dealing with a parking ticket or paying a fine for not shoveling the snow on your sidewalk. However there are many things that involve severe consequences and could result in broken agreements, loss of income and even jail time.

HERE IS A LIST OF SOME COMMON REASONS TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE:

Injuries: Auto accident, defective product, or a medical practitioner.

Administrative Problems: A zoning variance, workman’s compensation, regulatory violations that carry a stiff fine or other penalties.

Financial: Bankruptcy, business indebtedness, selling a business, business collections, law suits by employees, not being paid for services, not getting settlement from insurance company.

Criminal: DUI, domestic violence, possession of illegal substance, juvenile offences.

The only certainty in life is that as time goes by, you and your family will face new challenges and your plans for the future will change. Whether you have Elder Law, Estate Planning or Long Term Care concerns, you want an experienced Lawyer who can help you understand your options.

At the offices of Bucks County Elder Law, we help families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey face their concerns and plan for their future. From the moment of your complementary, no obligation, initial consultation you are a part of our family and we will do whatever we can to help you and your family.

Areas of Practice

• Life Care Planning

• Asset Protection Planning

• Estate Planning

• Last Will and Testaments

• Trusts

• Powers of Attorney

• Living Wills • Medicaid Planning • Estate Adminstration

• Special Needs Planning

• Guardianship

Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) Masters of Legal Letters in Taxation (LL.M)

301 OXFORD VALLEY RD, SUITE 101B, YARDLEY, PA 19067 • BCEL@HACIILAW.COM Call for your complimentary Consultation 215.493.0727 / www.buckscountyelderlaw.com

Henry A. Carpenter II, Certified Elder Law Attorney

Why Life Care Planning?

Henry Carpenter and Bucks County Elder Law specialize in this cutting edge area of Elder Law. Life Care Planning’s primary goal is to allow a senior to age in place with all the necessary supports. A Life Care Plan is a personalized strategy that addresses the legal, financial and practical issues which may arise in life.

Our multifaceted approach combines the preparation of Estate Planning documents with the preservation and protection of assets while considering care needs. This multi disciplinary plan is developed by Henry and supervised by our Care Advocates, who are trained social workers, equipped with the proper tools to provide support and the benefit of their knowledge to properly implement the Plan. We are here to assist you through

difficult times.

You’ve worked hard! Regardless of the size of your nest egg, no one wants to see their accumulated assets lost to long term care needs. We all want to retain our dignity and leave a legacy to our loved ones. Bucks County Elder Law is here to help achieve your goals.

Bucks County Elder Law has been lead by Henry, our founding member, for over 30 years. Henry Carpenter, a Certi-

fied Elder Law Attorney, has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Bar Association with the Excellence in Elder Law Award and by Philadelphia Magazine and Super Lawyers as a Top Elder Law Attorney. Henry is the former Chairman of the Elder Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

We are proud of our achievements and the service we provide to our clients at Bucks County Elder Law. Henry and his team of trained and caring professionals offer guidance, answers and solutions to some of life’s hardest dilemmas. Bucks County Elder Law offers a Complementary Initial Consultation. We are located in the Makefield Executor Quarters, 301 Oxford Valley Road, Suite 101B, Yardley, PA. Find us on theWeb at www.buckscountyelderlaw.com or call us at 215-493-0727.

Henry A. Carpenter II, Esq. Chairman Emeritus of the Elder Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Recipient of the prestigious 2020 “Excellent in Elder Law Award” as presented by the Elder Law section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Certified Elder Law Attorney

WE CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES • MEDICAL MALPRACTICE • WRONGFUL DEATH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY • PREMISES LIABILITY

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury, we understand that your life has likely been turned upside down. Your normal life patterns have been disrupted, and the future you had envisioned could be permanently altered. We are sensitive to the highly personal and emotional nature of serious injuries, and provide an understanding ear as well as strong legal representation. This could be the most important fight of your life. We respect what you're going through and look forward to learning how we can help you prevail in this difficult time.

After a serious injuiry, you need the strongest legal help you can get as soon as possible. Carol A. Shelly is a seasoned trial lawyer with a reputation for aggressive representation.

70 West Oakland Ave., Doylestown, PA • 267-454-7940 • www.shelly-law.com

Shelly Law Offices, LLC And Car Insurance Options

Options, options, options. Once you seek out insurance from one of the many auto insurance companies out there, you will be presented with many options to protect yourself and your family. First, you will need to choose monetary amounts which will cover you if you’re found legally accountable for an accident which causes bodily injury or property damage to another. Second, you will need to decide if you want or need comprehensive or collision coverage for physical damage to your own motor vehicle, regardless of fault. Third, you will need to choose from the many insurance options available if you are injured. You have the option to choose the amount of benefits you want for medical expenses, funeral benefits and wage loss benefits. You also have the option to select one of

the most important forms of coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits, which will protect you if you’re involved in an accident where the at fault party is either uninsured or doesn’t carry enough insurance to cover the costs related to your bodily injury (or property damage). You will be presented with the option to choose from limited or full tort coverage. Limited tort coverage may be less expensive, but it limits your rights to seek financial compensation for pain and suffering due to injury from an accident. Selecting the full tort option allows you retain unrestricted rights. At Shelly Law Offices, LLC we have the experience and the knowledge to help you interpret your auto insurance policy after you are involved in an accident and to secure for you the compensation you deserve. Even better, we know how important it is for you to consider your options carefully before that accident

happens. Shelly Law Offices, LLC, 70 West Oakland Ave., Doylestown, PA; 267-454-7940; www.shelly-law.com.

Williams Family Law is a premier family law firm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The firm is built around four core principles: experienced guidance, compassionate advice, powerful advocacy and local knowledge. Our family law attorneys understand the sensitive nature of life-changing circumstances that arise when individuals are faced with divorce, support, custody and related matters.

The Williams Family Law team is comprised of leading attorneys who are recognized as being among the best divorce attorneys in Pennsylvania. They are skilled in litigation and tactical planning, have years of experience in both private practice and as county prosecutors, have earned specialized degrees that

foster understanding of the financial and tax implications of divorce and family law, and are, put simply, incredibly wellequipped to help you to succeed.

Among our honors and certifications, Williams Family Law is the only law firm in Bucks County with two fellows of the

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, an honor reserved solely for skilled negotiators and experienced litigators representing individuals in all facets of family law.

Learn more about the firm at www.bucksfamilylawyers.com.

Family Problems: Divorce, child support, child custody.

Trusts: Wills, powers of attorney, advance directives.

A competent attorney can navigate the complexities of our legal system as your advocate and can make sure that you get the best results depending for your situation. The Website www.hire alawyer.findlaw.com lists 10 reasons to hire a lawyer instead of trying to act on your on behalf.

1. The law is complicated. If you are not a lawyer you probably have no business acting like one in certain instances. Even experienced lawyers typically do not represent themselves in court. A solid case can quickly unravel without the help of a trained and emotionally detached

attorney. Similarly, failing to hire a lawyer when starting a business, reviewing a contract or embarking on other endeav-

2. Not having a lawyer may actually cost you more. What is at stake? A criminal case may determine whether or not you spend time behind bars, while a civil case could hurt you financially. Besides, many civil attorneys don't collect a dime unless they win your case. Also, you may be able to claim legal fees as a plaintiff in a civil case, so hiring a lawyer can actually save or make you money.

3. Lawyers know how to challenge (and sometimes suppress) evidence. You may not even know that a key piece of evidence against you was improperly obtained or that the testimony of a witness contradicts an earlier statement. And did the crime lab properly handle the evidence every step of the way? Your attorney will find out.

ors with potential legal ramifications can result in otherwise avoidable pitfalls.

4. Attorneys understand how to

Williams Family Law: David Hamilton, Maris Weiner, Susan Smith, Jeffrey Williams, Robert Salzer and Shauna Quigley

Attorneys understand

how to properly file court documents and handle other legal procedures. If you're not an attorney, you may struggle with the deadlines and protocol for properly filling out and filing certain legal documents.

Liebmann Family Law

Liebmann Family Law in Newtown was founded in 2008 and is one of a handful of firms in Bucks County that focuses exclusively on family law and related issues: Contested and uncontested divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support and alimony; pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, Division of property, wills and estate planning; probate of wills, grandparents’ rights, and adoption. The Liebmann Family Law Team includes three full-time attorneys: Jeffrey A. Liebmann, David Sowerbutts, and Mindy J. Snyder, as well as four legal assistants. Each of the attorneys has more than 25 years of Family Law experience, and are known for their special skills and knowledge, as well as handling cases with a great deal of care and compassion. The firm has created an atmosphere in which any one of the attorneys can step in and handle any emergency, and each of them has access to all the files to answer any questions that arise throughout a case. The attorneys of the firm appear in Bucks and the surrounding counties, including New Jersey. Please contact the office to schedule an initial free consultation. Liebmann Family Law is located at The Atrium, 4 Terry Drive, Suite 4, Newtown, PA 18940. For more information, call 215-860-8200 or visit www.Liebmannfamilylaw.com.

properly file court documents and handle other legal procedures. If you're not an attorney, you may struggle with the deadlines and protocol for properly filling out and filing certain legal documents. One late or incorrect filing could derail your case, delay a given legal procedure or worse—have the case thrown out altogether (and not in your favor).

5. Because you don't know any expert witnesses or private detectives. Attorneys depend on an extended network of professionals to help their clients' cases. Most nonattorneys do not personally know the types of professionals who can help with discovery or challenge evidence or testimony by the opposing party.

6. You're not sure how to plead—or what a 'pleading' is? Pleading guilty is not

Woosley Naragon LLC, the Finish Up Experts

We've earned our reputation as the "finish-up" experts; many of our clients contact us, frustrated and discouraged, after they've become disheartened that their case has not advanced as they had reasonably hoped. Our reputation is based upon commitment to personal service and we work individually and personally to help identify solutions that will meet your needs. Although we stress mediation instead of expensive litigation, if we need to go to court we will diligently, vigorously and aggressively pursue and protect your interests. We specialize in business matters and divorce done right. Woosley Naragon LLC is located at 72 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Visit WoosleyNaragon.com or call us for a free initial phone consultation. 215-230-7776.

the only choice, even if there is evidence pointing directly at you. An attorney who understands the law will be best situated to explain your options and can help you avoid potentially severe penalties even before a criminal trial begins.

7. Because it is probably better to avoid problems in the first place rather than try to fix them once they arise. You may have heard the saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" Well, hiring a lawyer in many instances will help you avoid potential legal headaches down the road. Do you really understand the fine print of that contract you are signing? A lawyer will.

8. A good lawyer can strike up a good settlement offer or plea bargain, if necessary. An experienced lawyer probably has seen cases similar to yours or at least knows enough to make a calculated guess about

how it might resolve at trial. Sometimes a settlement is the best choice, while other times it makes more sense to see your case through to trial.

9. The other party has legal representation. Non-attorneys are generally at a disadvantage when squaring off against opposing counsel or doing business with another party that has legal counsel. As explained above, the law is complicated and an attorney representing your adversary (or even a non-adversarial party entering into a legal agreement with you) will take advantage of this inequity.

10. Lawyers often provide a free initial consultation. Since many attorneys will meet with you for free during a face-to-face consultation, there is really no harm in talking with one. Not only will a free consultation give you an idea of the type of case you have, it will help you decide whether you actually need to

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