Lincolnton North Carolina Legal Blog

Estate planning is crucial for new parents

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, September 13, 2019.

Planning for your child's future is likely a priority. While you are getting things all set, make sure you plan for what will happen with them if you pass away. It isn't pleasant to think about this, but failing to plan can be devastating to your children.

You need to make several plans. First, set up powers of attorney for your finances and health care. This gives someone permission to make decisions in those two areas when you can't make them yourself because you are incapacitated. They can ensure that your children have what they need during this troublesome period.

Challenges come with custody plans for special needs children

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, August 30, 2019.

When your child has special needs, you have unique considerations to think about when you are going through a divorce. You can't fall into the mode of thinking that traditional norms are going to work for you. Thinking about your child's needs, requirements and wishes might help you to determine what needs to be done.

For some special needs children, transportation is a huge consideration. During a divorce, you have to think about which parent has the vehicle that can transport the child. This is important if the vehicle has to be adapted for a special wheelchair. You might have to set up the vehicle so that it goes with whichever parent has the child at the time. This likely won't be an easy solution, but it might be better than having to purchase a second adaptive vehicle.

Know how easements can impact a property before purchase

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Real Estate on Friday, August 16, 2019.

When you are considering the purchase of a property, you need to make sure that you have all the information necessary to decide about the purchase. One thing that you do need to find out is whether there are any easements attached before you buy the property. While these don't take the property away from you, they can alter how you are able to use the property and could affect your feelings about the potential purchase.

In the simplest of terms, an easement is an agreement to allow someone else to use your property without having to hand over ownership. There are different forms of easements, so finding out the specifics of the one attached to the property is important.

Easements and your property rights in North Carolina

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

When you buy property in North Carolina, you probably have specific plans for how you want to use your land. Whether you want to build a home, construct a building for your company or preserve the land for future development, you will want to learn everything you can about your property. This includes finding out if there is an easement that could affect your property use.

If you buy property that has an easement on it, you will want to find out what that means and how it will affect your daily land use. An easement is a property right that another party has to use or access your land. This may seem preposterous or unfair, but easements are quite common. You will want to be diligent in learning about the ways this could impact you or if there is a way you can effectively challenge the easement.

Weigh the pros and cons of plea deals offered to you

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, August 2, 2019.

If you are facing a criminal charge, you have a lot to consider. Once you make your initial plea, you may have the opportunity to mull taking a plea bargain. The primary factor that you must weigh is whether you actually did the crime for which you are charged. You shouldn't take a plea deal if you don't agree that you did the crime. This doesn't mean that you did it exactly how the prosecutor alleges or that you agree with all elements of the case, however.

For example, if you are charged with aggravated assault for hitting someone with a baseball bat, you should only accept a plea deal if, after consultation with your Lincolnton criminal defense attorney, you decide that it is in your best interests to accept the offer from the prosecutor.

Types of wills considered valid in North Carolina

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, July 19, 2019.

People who live in North Carolina should be aware of the requirements for wills in this state. Your will is the key to ensuring that your assets go to who you want them to go to and so that you can do as much as possible to take care of them. If you don't comply with the required elements, your will can be considered invalid by the courts, which would mean that your belongings would be distributed according to the intestate laws in this state.

In order to write a will in North Carolina, you must be of sound mind. This means that you know what you are doing and that you understand how it affects your estate and the individuals named in the will. You also have to be at least 18 years old.

Tips to help you make the most of co-parenting

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, July 5, 2019.

Co-parenting is sometimes a challenging situation but remembering a few quick points might help you refocus your efforts and ensure that your children have the environment they need.

One of the most important things to remember is that your children are always watching you. They try to see how to navigate through some of life's situations by watching what you do. What they observe can shape how they react to similar situations later in life.

Zoning laws keep cities in order, but might be problematic

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Land Use and Zoning on Friday, June 21, 2019.

Keeping order in cities is a vital function of the city government. In order to do this, laws must be put into place. Some of these laws outline what types of structures can be erected in certain areas, which is known as zoning laws. It is imperative that anyone who plans on purchasing or building a structure ensures that the structure and the intended use fall within the zoning regulations.

Besides keeping some type of order in the city, zoning laws have other purposes. They seek to protect the value of properties in the area. They also allow people to enjoy using their property in the intended manner. They ensure that there is suitable infrastructure to support the activities that will occur in a specific area. For example, a dirt road likely wouldn't be suitable for a very busy outlet mall, but it would be fine for a farmhouse.

Property surveys can help you avoid real estate problems

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Real estate problems are complex, sometimes costly legal concerns. They can cost you time and money, and they can ultimately impact what you are able to do with your land in the future. As a property owner, it is in your interests to learn as much as you can about your land. One way you can do that is by having a survey of your property done.

Property surveys can allow owners to find out certain important things about their property. This includes things like where boundary lines are and if there are any factors that could hinder future development. Whether you want to buy land, are considering this step in the future or already own property, you will find it a great benefit in seeking a new and up-to-date survey of your land.

Co-parenting relationships should be built on positivity

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Your co-parenting relationship begins at the second that you find out about the divorce. The tone of this relationship can be impacted by what happens during the child custody negotiations. It is imperative that you and your ex set the right stage for these situations. Everything that happens during this process can have a direct impact on your children.

It is going to take both adults to keep the co-parenting relationship on track. Both have to decide that they will focus on the positive. This might be a challenge during the times when there are disagreements, but there are some ways that you can keep your focus where it needs to be.