Flemington Legal Blog

Many people understand the legal system as a method to protect their rights and punish wrongdoers. However, the legal system has many other functions to help individuals accomplish everyday tasks and to serve their everyday needs. For example, not all New Jersey residents choose to create estate plans for the distribution of their assets upon their deaths. When individuals do not have an estate plan or have assets that require administration, probate may be necessary.

Probate is a legal process that involves identifying assets, collecting them, distributing the assets to beneficiaries, paying the decedent's bills, and closing out their estate. Probate is important because it ensures that property is dispensed properly when a person dies, but it can suffer from some serious deficiencies. For example, the probate process can take a long time to complete. When individuals make their own estate plans, distribution can be more direct and can take less time.

New Jersey residents may be aware that not everyone uses the best judgment. Whether they are out on the roads, walking through their communities or shopping in their favorite stores, they may see others distracted by their cell phones or engaging in other behaviors that are dangerous to themselves and others. While it may not be possible for everyone to always be perfect in terms of their actions, when individuals make poor choices that lead to others suffering harm they may be held liable for their victims' losses.

An allegation without evidence is baseless, and for that reason when New Jersey prosecutors plan to charge individuals with alleged criminal activity, they need to know that their actions will be supported with data, facts, and other corroborating information. Much of this information is collected through police searches and the seizure of property. When law enforcement officials wish to search and seize the property of a private citizen they must have a reason to do so or a warrant that justifies their actions.

For example, if a law enforcement official makes a traffic stop and sees illegal drugs in the vehicle of the person they have stopped, they may seize that evidence of illegal conduct since it was in their plain view. However, a law enforcement official who stops a speeder may not go through the driver's car and look for illegal drugs if they have no reason to believe that such contraband is present.

The human body can ordinarily take quite a beating. Strong bones, thick skin and protection for your organs allow you to come through some traumatic events relatively unscathed.

Then, in other instances, the forces exerted on your body push it beyond its breaking point, and you suffer serious injuries. One of those injuries could involve an open bone fracture, which could actually be life-threatening without quick and proper treatment.