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Legal Tips
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING:
- A timeline of the day of
injury, witnesses to account of
injury, etc.
- Document every contact with
the local Child Protection
representative and the general
specifics of the contact. Note
any discrepancies, inaccuracies,
requests you made that were
either denied or not completed,
etc.
- Check laws in your state on
whether you can tape record
conversations between you and
child protective worker.
RUN ANY IDEAS THROUGH AN ATTORNEY
BEFORE TAKING ACTION:
- Consult attorney before
agreeing to a case plan or
voluntary services. Just
because it sounds easier and
might get your family back
together quicker doesn't mean it
is the best solution. You may
be placing yourself one step
closer to losing your children
if you fail to meet an objective
on the case plan.
- Consult attorney before
attempting to draw media
coverage on the wrong doings of
the system. If not properly
timed, this could jeopardize
your case.
DO SURF THE INTERNET:
- Don't just trust or rely on
an attorney to prepare your
case. Research for yourself.
No one has as much a vested
interest in your case than you.
- Find out the latest medical
research being conducted on the
particular injuries involved in
your case.
- Find medical, technical or
scientific experts to testify or
assist in preparing case.
- Find attorneys who
specialize in medical abuse
cases.
- Whether you are going
through a civil or criminal
court, research and become
familiar with the applicable
laws.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ
ON THE INTERNET:
- The information may not be
current
- Laws vary from state to
state
Defendants
Rights
- Right to an Attorney
- Defendants have the right to
an attorney throughout legal
proceedings. The court will
appoint an attorney for the
defendant at no charge if he/she
cannot afford to hire one. Yet,
at the end of the case, they may
be asked to pay all or part of
the cost for that attorney, if
he/she can afford to.
- Right to a Jury Trial
- Defendants have the right to a
speedy, public jury trial. At
the trial, the defendant is
presumed innocent, and cannot be
convicted unless 12 impartial
jurors have been convinced of
the defendant’s guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.
- Right to Confront
Witnesses - Defendants have
the right to confront and
cross-examine all witnesses
testifying against them.
- Right Against
Self-Incrimination - The
defendant has the right to
remain silent, to prevent
self-incrimination, and the
right to testify on their own
behalf.
- Right to Produce Evidence
- The defendant has the right to
present evidence and to have the
court issue a subpoena to bring
into court all witnesses and
evidence favorable to them, at
no cost to them.
Failing to appear in Court
An FTA (Failure to Appear) coupled
with a bench warrant for your arrest
will revoke any bail which you may
have posted and the next time you
are contacted by the police you will
be spending some time in jail.
Some Do's And Don'ts For The Bad Days
Do's
- Attorneys must earn enough in the time
they spend on your case in order to keep
their doors open and make a living wage.
Look for a reasonable fee, not the lowest.
Don't
- Don't call police officers liars -
jurors don't want to believe cops lie and
they won't believe you if you make that
assertion - whether it is true or not.
- Talk to anyone but an attorney about
your case.
- Hire a lawyer without sufficient
experience.
- Hire an attorney based on the amount of
the fee alone.
- The State has unlimited resources when
it comes to your case.
- You need to hire an attorney and pay a
fee which will allow him to put time and
effort into your case.
Do's and
Don'ts of Divorce
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