In the world of laws and courtrooms, the average citizen can get very confused and lost. Some legal situations do not require you to have a lawyer represent you, but other ones do. Despite the knowledge you may believe you have from watching courtroom scenes on TV, lawyers have spent many years studying and understanding the law to represent citizens like you when they are confronted with criminal charges. Each case may be different and vary in how serious it is, but if you confronted with some serious charges and penalties, here are at least 5 reasons why hiring that lawyer sooner rather than later might be a good idea:

If your debts are so high you could never pay them, and you're behind on all of your bills, you want to talk with a bankruptcy lawyer to see what your options are. A legal consultation can help you determine if it's worth your time to file a bankruptcy application, and file for chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy. Not all lawyers are the same and every bankruptcy lawyer may not be the best professional for your case.

If your former spouse is not paying his or her court-ordered alimony, it is important to find out why. In the event that your former spouse is just refusing to pay it, you can file a petition with the family court requesting that a judge take action. Here are some of the options the judge has.  Contempt The judge can cite your former spouse for contempt. If this is the first time your ex has failed to consistently make payments, the judge might issue another order stating that your ex has until a certain date to catch up on the payments.

Spring is here, and as a result, you may be driving your motorcycle a lot more than you were a month or two ago. Motorcycle driving may be great fun, but in 2012, motorcyclists were 6 times more likely to become fatally injured in an accident when compared to car drivers. There are many reasons that motorcyclists are so much more likely to be injured in accidents, but a big part of the problem involves the relationship between motorcycles and cars.

Spring is finally here! With warm weather comes backyard grilling and fun in the sun. At least, it should be fun. Unfortunately, backyard barbecues have the potential to be dangerous, especially for children, if care isn't taken to ensure the safety of everyone present. If proper safety rules aren't followed, unfortunate accidents can occur. These safety tips will help ensure that the backyard barbecues your family attends are just plain fun, without injury.

If you have recently discovered an injury or ailment that you feel was work-related, but you are afraid you have lost your chance to file for damages, it may not be too late.  The statute of limitations vary for each state, but is two years in most states and as much as six in some.  However, there are exceptions to every rule, and you may still be able to seek damages for your case if the statute of limitations has run out.

Temporary staffing is a way to help companies manage aspects of supply and demand in their industries. Temporary workers provide a 'cushion' in terms of matching productivity demands with available labor. But in many situations where third-party services provide staffing for client companies, there are some gray areas when it comes to worker safety. A Joint Responsibility In general, companies that acquire, train and provide workers for industry have a joint responsibility with the client companies where these temporary workers may end up.

Child custody laws concerning same sex couples vary from state to state and are constantly changing, making a difficult situation even worse. The awarding of custody or visitation depends on several factors in both opposite and same sex relationships. In some cases, same sex parents are given the same treatment as opposite sex parents, but in many cases, legal precedents are still being set for same sex parents. When do both same sex parents have equal custody rights?

Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that the products they make are free from defects, but they sometimes fail in this duty, causing serious injury and even death to customers. Contamination of products such as beverages and drugs or design defects in medical equipment, automobiles and other products can cause serious harm and eventual death. Here is a look at 2 defects in manufacturing that can result in wrongful death suits and how a lawyer can help.

Getting handcuffed and hearing the police officer read you your Miranda rights can definitely be a frightening experience. However, if you panic and make irrational decisions, you will only make things worse for yourself. It is very important to remain calm and avoid doing something that may harm your case. Here are five helpful tips for coping with an arrest. Cooperate With the Police If you want things to go as smoothly as possible, you must cooperate with the police.