Civil law varies significantly from criminal law. When a law firm focuses on civil matters, there are several fields of law in which they may become involved including:
- Personal injury cases — when someone is injured due to the negligence of another party, a civil attorney may help them file insurance claims, review settlement agreements, and when necessary, provide legal assistance for a court case.
- Family law cases — dissolution of marriages, property distributions, issues surrounding paternity, issues with child or spousal support, and other family law issues are also handled by an attorney with a civil practice.
- Real estate cases — a firm with civil law experience may also handle disputes between landlords and tenants, assist those who are purchasing real estate, or draw up contracts when needed.
- Estate planning — when a person wants to put estate plans in place, there are numerous legal documents which are required. A civil attorney can help draft wills, trust agreements, medical powers of attorney, and more.
- Probate law — when a person dies an attorney is often needed to help assist the executor of an estate resolve matters surrounding the estate including filing a probate case, disputing aspects of a will, or helping administer a trust.
There are other areas of law which some attorneys focus on as part of a civil practice, including employment law, corporate law, and environmental law. In some instances, cases may require an attorney to be involved in arbitration or mediation of issues rather than representing their clients in court. However, a civil attorney does also handle cases which are litigated either in family or civil court.
The Role of a Civil Attorney
When you need representation for arbitration, require someone to represent you at a pretrial hearing, need to provide a deposition, or when you need someone to take on insurance companies as part of a civil lawsuit, you can count on an attorney who has a strong civil law background. Some of the other matters a civil lawyer may handle include:
- Investigation work on cases
- Researching laws which are relevant to a case
- Conducting depositions on behalf of their clients
- Filing motions with the court
- Standing in for their client at a court appearance
- Legal document drafting
- Settlement negotiations
Civil lawyers also provide clients with advice in other areas, including tax law. Some civil attorneys represent their clients at real estate closings, or review the documents associated with real estate purchases, including purchase and sale agreements.
Representing Client’s Best Interest
Whenever you hire an attorney to work on your behalf, you hire an advocate. Florida civil attorneys are well-versed in Florida laws and they will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your own legal cases. Once you have made the decision to move forward with any type of legal case, your attorney will serve as your advocate, always working in your best interest.
When you are facing any type of legal issue which does not require a criminal lawyer, a civil lawyer can provide you with the assistance you need. A Florida civil law firm can help you understand your legal options and help you resolve issues.
