Author: Marge Smith

It may not seem legal, to confiscate your stuff like that, but the law is on the government’s side. And you know what, it’s happened before in the United States.

National emergencies are used to protect citizens in times of war or national hardship. Franklin Delano Roosevelt used this rationale back in 1933 when he declared a national emergency in one of his first acts as President of the United States. That declaration resulted in the government confiscating the gold owned by private citizens. They weren’t allowed to cash in their gold for paper money or anything else of value, and they were told to give up their gold or go to jail. Now, these laws only applied to gold. Citizens were allowed to keep their diamond jewelry, their silver watches, rings, and even platinum, which were in short supply. But the government claimed all the gold.

Today, American money is backed by the collective “belief” in its value, not gold and certainly not silver. So what is to stop the government from once again taking private gold and or jewelry? The answer is nothing. There is nothing to stop the procedure if the government decides this is what it needs to do to bolster its value in the eyes of the rest of the world. New legislation such as the Patriot Act passed in 2003, makes gold confiscation an eventuality rather than a possibility.

So what to do as a private citizen? Smart people are opting to take cash for gold, selling it at a profit to reputable dealers willing to pay top dollar for it. Or, you can protect your wealth by converting to platinum. Platinum is considered an industrial metal and is therefore not used to shore up the value of American currencies. Turning your gold and broken or no longer worn jewelry into cash is easy. A simple search online will turn up a multitude of dealers ready, willing, and able to strike a deal.

Most will mail out a free return pack. All you have to do is place the items you want to sell inside the pack and mail it back. In a little more than a week, your dealer will send you a check for the cash value of your gold. Most of these dealers trade in gold, silver, platinum, scrap jewelry, diamonds, watches, rings as well as other precious metals and materials. Selling your gold for cash before the government comes knocking on your door, is the wisest thing to do to protect your family’s wealth and well-being.

In recent studies, it is advisable to own 5 to 10 percent of your gold in physical form. Some feel that owning gold certificates is just a useless piece of paper. I do not agree with that statement because gold certificates are the same as ownership without the risk, however, there is nothing like having the real thing in your possession. In this article, we will discuss gold tips you can use from gold world and gold bullion.

According to the Patriot 1 and 2 act legislation was changed where in case there was a financial event, the banks could declare a “bank holiday” where they have the right to open your safety deposit box, and if there are guns or precious metals inside those vaults, they can legally confiscate them. This is why a lot of people are securing their gold inside their homes.

You can spend 500 dollars for a good safe. Afterward, you want to bolt this safe into a concrete floor from the inside, then cover it making the look inconspicuous to everything else. Make sure that this safe is fireproof of course. Also, it is a good idea to have a trusted member of your family know where your secret place is located just in case of an untimely death or illness.

Bullion vault is one of the safest places for your gold because they are secured by brinks security with very low insurance rates which are included. You should have no worries about the safety of your gold. Keep in mind, as the value of the dollar continues to fall, the world of gold continues to rise.

In the gold world, you can find some valuable gold tips about purchasing coins and bars from gold bullion. Whether you secure your values at home in a fireproof safe or trust Bullion vault to secure your assets with brinks, the decision is all yours. I’m sure that you will choose what is best for you and your family’s security. The time is now to purchase gold.

The current tax rules for selling gold in the United States should be understood by individuals and companies who are planning to invest in gold. If necessary, consult a financial planner to explain the mechanics to you and to guide you concerning your investment plans. Gold is classified as a “collectible” according to the Internal Revenue Service or IRS. This is why this precious metal incurs a tax rate of 28%. This is applied to gold no matter what form it is. It is also applied to other precious metals such as silver, palladium, and platinum.

Specifically, the rules concerning gold tax are designated to all types and forms of gold bullion coins. This also includes those rare coins collected by numismatics. It is designated to other precious metals such as those mentioned earlier, no matter what weight and regardless of where it is held (i.e. home or banks). Tax is also designated to gold wafers and gold certificates, as well as pool gold, rounds, and those commemorative coins.

Although the current regulation does not require buyers to report the sale of gold, the seller must report the gain you got from the sale and pay 28% of what you have gained. This is one important tax advice for gold investment. It may seem alright not to report any sale you have made with your gold investment, however, IRS has a method to track unreported sales. How would IRS know? All gold dealers are obligated to report any unreported sales from sellers due to the Patriot Act. Never underestimate this because it may lead to imprisonment. Hence, gold dealers shall be suspended, or worse terminated from their business, once they are caught with any illegal activity.

To Invest or Not To Invest

This tax information and tax advice for gold investment are stated not to scare off interested investors but to make them aware of the real deal. Buying and selling gold is a type of transaction. Every transaction comes with rules and regulations. It is indeed an assurance and a form of security on the part of the seller and buyer to know about the current tax designation with regard to other precious metals.

Perhaps you have decided to start investing in gold and silver. You know it’s the right thing to do to preserve the purchasing power of your dollars and your assets, but you want to find out what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting requirements are first.

In the United States, there is NO LIMIT to the number of precious metals you can own. You can buy as much as you want and not have to worry about reporting your purchases.

However, any transaction…or any two or more related transactions…that involve cash or cash equivalents in the amount of $10,000 or greater must be reported to the IRS by the seller. It’s the metal dealer who must report the cash transaction, not the transaction of the precious metal. Here’s a suggestion. If you want to purchase large amounts of precious metals, you can use a bank wire. Banks don’t report them and precious metals dealers aren’t required to either.

As I am sure you know, there is always a time to buy precious metals, and surely there will come a time to sell. When you decide to cash out and sell to a dealer, some coins and bullion items DO require the dealer to file IRS Form 1099B reporting the transaction of the sale. Here’s some really good news. The dealer IRS reporting requirements DO NOT apply to American Gold Eagle Coins nor do they apply to American Silver Eagle Coins, regardless of the quantity.

Please note, when you sell, you are obligated to report your capital gains to the IRS. Remember to keep all of your receipts and records and always seek advice from your tax advisor. Also, please note that this author is not a tax advisor nor an investment advisor. The reporting information above was understood to be true at the time this article was written, but as you know, tax law does change so it is suggested that you consult with a professional tax advisor and investment advisor before making any investment decisions.

As noted above, gold American Eagle coins and silver American Eagle coins make excellent precious metals investment choices.

Many people keep asking me the question, “When it’s time to sell, where do I sell my gold & silver”?

More than likely, there will come a time when you want to sell at least some of your gold and silver. So when it’s time to sell, where do you sell it, and how do you sell it?

It’s easier than you think. Gold and silver have been around for over 5,000 years.

There’s a global marketplace for it and you can sell it at any time you wish. It’s a very liquid investment.

You could pretty much be in the middle of nowhere and be able to easily sell your gold and silver because it’s instantly recognizable worldwide.

The key is… getting the best price when you sell. You can pretty much sell it anywhere at any time… however, if you want to get the best price when you sell, you need to do your homework.

Some brokers will attempt to lead you to believe that since you bought it from them… your only option is to sell it back to them… at the price, they choose to pay you for it. Don’t let them trick you. You have options.

Here are some options for selling:

You can sell it back to your local coin dealer. Keep in mind, some of these guys are somewhat similar to used car dealers. To survive in their business, when they are selling to you, they generally need to sell at premium prices.
When they are buying back from you, they need to pay you the very lowest price they can, so they will have enough room to mark it up again and sell it to someone else at a profit.

It’s unlikely that you will get top dollar selling back to these guys however, it is convenient. You can just drive down to your local coin dealer and sell them… and you are done.

You can choose to sell it yourself on eBay, Craig’s List, the newspaper, etc., but it can be tricky. It takes some time to do this and you should know what you are doing before you choose this method.

If you choose to sell to someone locally, you need to be careful, very careful. If you end up selling to the wrong type of person, there is not a lot to stop them from just taking your metals… and perhaps your life.
I have friends who do this and they always try to meet people in the parking lot of the local police station, in a bank lobby, etc., for safety reasons. This option is not for everyone.

Some of the big dealers allow you to sell back to them. Some pay you decent prices when selling back to them, and others build in all kinds of different discounts that enable them to pay you less than they should.

However, this is a much safer option than trying to sell it yourself.

Just do your research and see who has the best prices and terms. You do not have to sell back to the dealer whom you purchased from.

You should sell back to the dealer who will give you the best price and terms.

You should shop for the best price when you sell… every bit as hard as you shop for the best price when you purchased.

It’s crazy not to. So many people don’t. Why would you only shop hard when buying, and leave a lot of money on the table when selling?

Typically you will have to pay to ship it to a dealer, and you should always insure the package to more than cover the value, but this is easy to do.

You simply stick it in a FedEx or USPS box, insure it, and ship it to them. It’s safe and easy. Hundreds of people do this every day. It’s no big deal.

Dealers will usually lock in your price at the time they receive your shipment. They typically don’t lock in the price at the time that you shipped it unless they are paying you far less than they should. It’s common sense.
I should also point out that Preservation Of Wealth (POW), does buy back gold and silver from its members.

If you are a member, you can even sell back gold and silver that you did not buy from them originally.

The important thing here is… POW pays its members the highest buyback prices that you will find anywhere! No kidding.

You can shop, and shop, and shop until you drop… and you will not find anyone who will pay you more when selling back your metals.

Smart metals buyers pay attention to both the BUY prices and the SELL prices, or as they call it, the “Round Trip”.

If you can buy at the best price… and if you can sell at the best price… you will be miles ahead of the average metals investor who does not have this information.

Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injury (PI) attorneys are legal experts who specialize in Tort Law. This involves plaintiffs/clients who claim they have been wronged physically or psychologically by a negligent party. The PI acts as the civil litigator and legally represents people who have been harmed in some capacity by a person, business or entity.

Tort Law
A Personal injury lawyer exclusively practices in the area of tort law, which covers civil cases where an individual was wronged as well as breaches of contract. The ultimate purpose is to help that person be compensated fairly and to hopefully prevent the problem from occurring again. For example, a drunk driver runs a red light and injures someone. The injured person would hire a personal injury attorney in the effort of seeking justice and compensation from the drunk driver for the wrongdoing they have experienced.

Common reasons for compensation include loss of the ability to work, medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more. Another area that PI attorneys operate in is the protection from unfair insurance practices against victims.

Types of Cases
– Medical Malpractice
– Animal Bite Injuries
– Bicycle, Boating, Auto Accidents
– Defective Products
– Aviation Accidents
– Insurance/Bad Faith Claims
– Wrongful Death
– Slip and Fall Accidents
– Motorcycle Accidents
– Pedestrian Accidents
– Nursing Home Abuse

Functions of Personal Injury Attorneys
Many of the duties of a PI attorney are similar to most other lawyers when it comes to investigating claims, interviewing and deposing witnesses, creating legal theories, collecting evidence, drafting pleadings, motions and discovery requests. However, PI attorneys have responsibilities outside of trail preparation such as ensuring their clients are taken care of and not hindered in any way during the trial process. They serve as advocates and make sure to legally shield their clients since personal injury cases can be life-changing and extremely emotional.

PI attorneys are for the most part very busy and handle several cases at the same time. The job can be demanding and it can be difficult dealing with certain clients and this is understandable as tensions are high. Through all of this, PI attorneys have a passion to help people seek justice and that is the most rewarding aspect of the profession for many.

Personal injury law encompasses a variety of complex areas and it is not ideal for an attorney to spread themselves too thin. This is why most specialize in one category and some even go further to specific cases only. For example, a PI attorney may focus on Medical Malpractice with a keen focus on informed consent cases. The medical malpractice area could be too broad and it may be more efficient for the attorney to only accept cases where a medical professional is suspected of breaching consent.

Education
Education for PI attorneys are the same for all other attorneys. They are required to earn an undergraduate degree, pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), work towards a law degree and successfully complete written bar exams. There are some certifications for specialties available in certain states.

Some states also require PI attorneys to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with additional training courses. The MPRE makes sure the attorney is fully aware of their professional behavior, especially towards vulnerable and injured clients.

Professional Skillset
Personal injury attorneys are expected to deal with difficult and uncomfortable situations while prioritizing the well-being of their client. Great ones are solid communicators and excellent negotiators. They advocate for their client at all times and ensure legal proceeding go as planned without anything unexpected getting in the way.

Experienced PI attorneys generally do not charge their clients straight away and rather wait until the case comes to a close. They usually receive a percentage of the plaintiff’s compensation, around 30-40%. New PI attorneys are encouraged to start off with a law firm before starting their own practice, so that they can learn how the system operates.

Cases accepted on a contingency basis are risky for the attorney because it depends on them winning in order to get paid. It can also take years for a case to reach a conclusion. Therefore, attorneys must take on smaller cases in order to make a living. Time management is a crucial factor in determining productivity and success.

Top PI attorneys are self-aware of how much they can handle and turn down new cases if current ones prove to be most time-sensitive. They ensure that their workload does not interfere with client care as they are the main focus.

Much of our modern law comes originally form the bible. In fact, up until 1953 the Book of Hebrews was taught at Harvard Law School in the early phases of study.

I have always been fascinated with the Bible as a law book. Let me illustrate.

In the old Septuagint bible, there is a great passage I really like. I believe it is Proverbs 9:10. In the Septuagint is says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is the character of a sound mind.”.

 

The same passage in King James reads ” knowledge of the holy is understanding”.

An interesting rule of evidence says that ” specific evidence overrules general evidence”

 

Which one of these 2 passages sounds more specific…or makes any actual sense for that matter.

 

You be the judge!

Having a child in your life is an amazing adventure. For those who are considering adoption, you are offering a child a chance of a normal life rather than being in the foster system. When it comes to adoption, there are many things to consider and having personal injury lawyers who are there to guide you and help you through this process is crucial to making the process easier on everyone and making the transition a smooth one.

When it comes to adopting, you want to make sure that you have the right attorney. There are many things to consider when looking for Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers, especially in serious accident cases.

The first thing you will want to look for is their experience handling adoption cases. Injury lawyers who have dealt extensively in cases like yours are more often able to answer questions, guide you through the process easier, and know what to expect so they can keep you going in the right direction. They will know what bumps can come along in the process, they will know what challenges are being faced, and they will be able to give you more peace of mind in the fact that they are specialized in these types of cases.

You will also want to consider their reputation as injury lawyers when it comes to adoptions. Did they have a good success rate and if not, why not? Do they have a lot of experience or are they just starting out into this area? Do their clients rave about the work they did or do they tell you to steer clear? The reputation of your personal lawyers when it comes to adoption is very important. You want someone who will do everything they can for you, and who will make sure that things are going according to the rules of law.

Injury lawyers are often specialized in certain areas of family law, but there are those who are generalized practice lawyers in the area of family law. Using a family lawyer who is of general practice may also be in your best interest. If you are adopting a child and plan to add them to your will, family lawyers who also do wills and estate planning may be the better option so that you are not seeking more than one person and offering your personal information to too many people.

It is also important to choose someone that you feel comfortable with (and if your child is old enough, someone they feel comfortable with as well). You don’t want to end up with someone who you cannot stand and cause your adoption to fall apart based on that.

While each person is different, seeking personal injury lawyers who work with adoption cases shouldn’t be too hard to find!

Each year brings its share of events that take everyone by surprise as well as shake up the global economy. Several prognosticators saw Britain voting to leave European Union in year 2016, even if the decision will have important implications for the global trade in the coming years. It also goes without saying that majority of the pundits and polls failed to anticipate the victory of Donald Trump in the United States.

With that said, numerous economic trends shaped the world. Whether it is the return of the fiscal stimulus under the administration of Trump or plans of Federal Reserve to accelerate the pace of the interest rate hikes, these are the trends to focus in 2017 global economy:

Europe Continues to Slow Down

If the surprising Brexit were the only problem of Europe, the European stakeholders and policy makers in the economy of the continent rest easy. However, Brexit could be the least of its worries. Analysts argue that Italy’s recent referendum reaffirmed the appeal of populism as well as anti-European sentiment, which shows just how fragile the entire European project.

It isn’t clear when the next elections of Italy will be held, yet the results of referendum recommend that the mainstream parties, which favor for unified Europe are losing their support quickly. Once Italy decides to move out of the Euro Zone and away from EU, the financial and economic effects will throw the European economies into recession.

Trump’s Economy

Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the US will be embarking on substantial reform projects. One effort will a program of infrastructure spending and tax cuts that independent analysts say will expand the deficit of the federal government simultaneously that spending on the entitlements will increase. Depending on how current administration structures its infrastructure investment, this spending might be a boon to a growth going forward and one that could be purchased cheaply given the low interest rates today. However, such decisions will be made depending on the politics and economic fundamentals.

Trade Remains at the Fore

Probably, the most stable worldwide policy stance of the past few decades has been the steady march to ever-freer trade. However, the low-hanging fruit of getting rid of the trade barriers has long since it has been chosen. 2016 showed people that the electorates in the world of wealthy people aren’t longer going to brook every policy that they feel sap their income growth for imperceptibly inexpensive products and increased pay for some.

All eyes will surely focus on Donald Trump as he sets the tone for the trade across the globe. Will he consider pulling out of NAFTA? Will he set sights on reshaping the trades with China, possibly running some rules on World Trade Organization? Trump might even play an important role in the Euro Zone drama because he has indicated that he is willing to negotiate a trade deal with Great Britain, making an option to leave European Union a more enticing one for states that continue to be a member.

Gold and Silver

Precious metals will continue to be in an upward trend as long as stimulus measures continue unabated. See videos.

Source of info durhampreciousmetals.com

Here are the Reasons Why They Didn’t Work for Your Business

When it comes to business growth and development SEO services play a crucial role. Thus, it is a must to check the services used and monitor them every now and then. Your job doesn’t stop once you hire a service provider. Instead, it is also important to maintain the services. 

But, how will you be able to tell if the SEO services are really working for your business or not? Below are the main signs you have to watch out for to know if your SEO services are effective or not.

Redesigning Your Website

If you don’t receive enough number of clicks from your links, poor content and old website design, it means that your site lacks in terms of digital marketing services. It then makes it necessary to redesign the website so that it will receive more feedback. If your website has a long loading time, a new design is also needed to make it search engine friendly. 

Less Time Spent on SEO Services

Remember that SEO is not something that can be done within a few hours or days. Month after month is needed for developing the website or planning SEO strategies that will ensure success. It is a must to allow more time for these services, not to mention that more money might also be required to make it work positively for the business. Once you get things working, you will then have to spend time and money for its maintenance. 

Old SEO techniques

Your SEO services have to be updated on a regular basis. The use of old tools and techniques will only give you low ranking on Google and the rest of the search engines. The tools used must then be regularly updated together with the content and keywords. 

Poor Social Media Services

The most number of clicks on a website often come from social media. If there is a poor social media advertising put in place, it wouldn’t help the site to get more traffic. Any link posted on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter will never work for the site. Thus, it is a must to create the right links to generate the right results.

Poor Response

 If you don’t receive appropriate and adequate traffic from the SEO services and links used, it shows that you are lacking in terms of your search engine optimization effort. When the website fails to respond to clicks, gives lesser details and loads slowly, it is a sign that you have to update the SEO services you are using. The unresponsive website will never help you gain more clients because of the poor links.

When the SEO services you are using no longer give you the kind of results you expect, then, it is high time to double check and see where you did wrong. Take note that you cannot simply make the services work for you. You also have to exert some effort to make these services do their job. 

A wrongful death lawyer is a legal professional that is contacted when a person’s life has been taken due to negligence.  Negligence can be defined as both action and inaction that resulted in the loss of life.  It is common for wrongful death  to have a highly stressful effect on the surviving friends and family because they are left with the knowledge that should an establishment or person have acted differently, their loved one would be alive.  It can be increasingly traumatic if the negligent party is not brought to justice, and this is when contacting a wrongful death attorney can be useful.

There are various cases where the services of a wrongful death lawyer can be used because wrongful deaths can occur in various ways.  For example, if a person was killed by a drunk driver then the surviving family members may be able to sue for compensation.  Of course, drinking is not the only way a wrongful death can occur in a vehicle.  There are several careless decisions a driver could make which can result in a wrongful death lawsuit; however, the best method to determine negligence would be to seek an experienced lawyer.

The resulting compensation from wrongful death lawsuits will vary, but the majority of cases will receive compensation that is greater than the average personal injury suit.  In these cases, the court will take into account the emotional trauma being experienced by the family and based on suffering the families are successful.  Other financial losses are also considered, such as hospitalization as a result of an accident, loss of wages, medical bills, and the cost of the funeral service.  All of these financial losses must be paid by the negligent parties.

The wrongful death attorney will represent the client to win their lawsuit.  Experience is required in wrongful death cases because there are various elements to be considered making the suit highly complicated.  The settlement can assist in the victim recouping some losses, but it also assists in bringing those responsible for the death to justice.

Please visit personal injury lawyer Newark NJ if you are looking for a wrongful death, personal injury or car crash lawyer.

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The Importance Of Getting Legal Advice From Divorce Attorneys

Whether you’re the one wanting to file for divorce or you have just received divorce papers, you will want to seek legal advice from a divorce attorney Reno NV. It’s a good idea to know what kind of legal advice divorce attorneys can provide, as well as the benefits of receiving legal advice from divorce attorneys. The rest of this article will give you more information.

Types Of Legal Advice They Provide

Divorce attorneys can provide you with an array of advice, and this includes telling you how to proceed with the case. They will advise you on what you should do and what you may be entitled to. A good divorce attorney works hard to make sure you get everything you are allowed to, and this may include retirement income from your spouse, alimony, and things of that nature.

If there are children involved, a divorce attorney can advise you on how to go about getting custody or if you have a chance of gaining sole custody and if you want advice on this you can visit http://divorcelawreno.com/family-attorney. Furthermore, there may be debt that you and your spouse have incurred, and if this is the case, a divorce attorney can advise you on how to protect your assets. If you own property before you got married and owned a property together, then your divorce lawyer will advise you on whether or not you will be able to retain the ownership of property you acquired before getting married.

Those are only a few examples of the advice a divorce attorney can provide. They can advise you on all aspects of a divorce. This is why it’s important to seek their help as soon as you find yourself facing divorce.

Benefits Of Receive Legal Advice From Divorce Attorneys

The main advantage of consulting with a divorce attorney and hiring one is they will provide you with expert advice. If you hire an expert attorney who has handled many divorce cases, then the chances are they have handled cases that bear similarities to yours. No two divorce cases are exactly alike, but a reasonable attorney will have had cases that are similar.

Another benefit is a divorce attorney will handle virtually everything with your case. This means they will take care of paperwork, double check it to make sure it is correctly filled in and they will ensure the case moves through the court system as smooth as possible. When you get advice and help from a divorce attorney, then you can rest assured that there will be little room for mistakes to be made.

Let’s not forget to mention that the entire process will be stress-free. Going through a divorce is stressful, and this is why it’s easy to make mistakes. If you want to reduce stress, then hire a divorce attorney.

When To Seek Legal Advice

The best time to get advice from a divorce attorney is right away. As soon as you want to file for divorce or have received divorce papers, you want to get legal help. Divorce proceedings can be complicated, even if the couple wants a mutual divorce.

There are always things that can arise and make a seemingly simple divorce case much more complicated. Generally speaking, the sooner you receive legal advice, the better because this will increase your chances of getting a desirable outcome. This is because it allows the attorney to start working on your case right away.

The last thing you want to do is proceed with a divorce without seeking legal advice. It’s always a good idea to hire a qualified and highly skilled divorce attorney because they will provide you with the best information and guidance. Now you know the importance of seeking legal advice from divorce attorneys and the benefits of doing so.

Most Common Mistakes to Avoid in Finding a Lawyer

When it comes to legal cases that concern essential matters, hiring the right attorney is necessary. There are several factors that you first need to consider to make sure that the attorney can help you solve the dilemma—regardless if you win the case or not. Here are the most common mistakes that you should avoid in the process of looking for a lawyer.

1. Opting for larger firms

The bigger, the better does not apply to finding the best lawyer in town. In fact, it is better to choose a small law firm if you want the attorney to focus his attention on your case. Chances are if you hire a lawyer from a large firm, he has multiple clients already, and his attention is divided that he will fail to provide quality services to you.

2. Money as a significant deciding factor

While it is essential to consider your budget in the process of looking for the best attorney in town, it shouldn’t be the primary deciding factor. “Do not look for an attorney who offers the cheapest rate and also avoid the common misconception that high prices are equal to excellent services. It should never override the reputation, skills, and experience of the lawyer you are planning to hire. Moreover, a professional lawyer knows how to value its services and offers a reasonable price.” Says Immigration Lawyer – David Kaplan

3. Being intimidated by lawyers

Always remember that you are the client. Even if the lawyer you’ve hired graduated from Harvard University and is the most reputable attorney in your local area, you should not be intimidated and refuse to ask questions. It is vital that you ask questions pertinent to the case he’s going to handle to avoid confusions and misunderstandings in the long run.

4. Thinking all lawyers are the same

You should know that all lawyers are not created equal. Hence, it is wise to ask for a written agreement on the price you have already agreed with. Since they are lawyers, it should not be a problem with them. Securing your written fee contract will give you peace of mind in the long run.

5. Hiring the first attorney you encounter

Perhaps the most common mistake you’ll commit is hiring the first lawyer you are going to meet. You should take to multiple lawyers as much as you can so you choose the right lawyer for your case. Trust your instinct. If you don’t feel 100% confident in what they can offer, do not feel obliged of hiring the attorney. Learn to shop around and ask recommendations from your trusted friends.

The factors mentioned above are the most common mistakes that you should avoid in hiring a lawyer. It will help you to narrow down your options, secure yourself, and ensure that your lawyer can offer quality services. Your goal is not to find the lawyer you can make you win the case but find the one who can settle matters and as much as possible, not elevate it to the court of law.

The term bail bond is derived from the two words bail and bond. The term is used to refer to a written promise which is signed by both the surety and defendant. It’s insurance that the defendant will appear in court on the scheduled date and time.

Bail is the amount that is set by a court judge during the bail hearing. It’s the amount of amount which acts as an insurance set between the defendant and the court of law.

At times, the bail can be set on the higher side. This might force the defendant to seek the services of a surety bond company.

How does a bail bond work?

A bail bond works in a very simplified manner. A judge usually set the bail amount. In case the defendant is unable to raise the amount in full, they can seek the help of a bail bondsman who pays the bail in the form of a loan.

The defendant is required to pay the bail bondsman 10% of the total bail amount.

What next after the bail has been posted? Two things are bound to happen and they include the following:

1. The defendant might fail to attend the hearing — In this case, the bail bond is forfeited. The Bail Bondsman will have to pay the remaining 90% of the bail amount.

2. The defendant attends the court hearing — When the case comes to conclusion, the bail bond gets dissolved. The collateral of the defendant is returned to them. The Bail Bondsman gets to retain 10% of the bail amount as their profit.

Types of Bail Bonds

There are several types of bail bonds but we will only focus on the four most common types of bail bonds.

1. Cash bonds

A cash bond is when the full amount of bail is paid in hard cash. The defendant can receive a refund but the court gets to retain a percentage of the bail as an administrative fee. When the defendant fails to appear for the court hearing, the cash bond is forfeited.

2. Surety bond

This is among the easiest and safest method of securing release from jail. It is also referred to as bail bond. It’s often used when the defendant cannot raise the bail amount in full. A surety bond can also be used when a defendant doesn’t want to risk the forfeiture of the cash bond. They are issued by bondsmen who charge a certain percentage of the total bond amount as a service fee.

Should the defendant fail to appear in court, the bondsman has to pay the full amount of the cash bail.

3. Property bond

A property bond is when the court accepts property from the defendant as a form of a bail bond. This is allowed in some counties and the amount of the property should be valued at twice the amount of the bail.

This type of bond may take significantly longer to process compared to the other types of bail bonds. This is because it requires a number of appraisals to verify the value of the property being presented as bond.

4. Personal bond

This is a type of bond where the defendant is released upon paying a small upfront cost. This is done with the assumption that the defendant will appear in court. It is only granted to defendants who are not considered dangerous to others or who are unlikely to jump bail.