For the Public

davis v. commonwealth

PA Supreme Court Rules to Protect Passwords in Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination extends to prohibiting law enforcement from forcing a defendant to provide his or her passwords for electronic devices. The PA Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to reverse a state superior court ruling in the case of Commonwealth v. Davis, a decision that may have immediate effect on technology-related criminal

Read More »

Why do I need a Probate Lawyer in Arizona?

A probate lawyer in Arizona can assist families or other interested parties in seeking appointment by the Court as a Personal Representative of a deceased person’s Estate.  Probate lawyers navigate the Court-ordered probate process through which Estate debts are settled and assets are distributed to creditors, heirs, and beneficiaries. People that are appointed to serve as Executors of a Will

Read More »

Avoid Probate Pitfalls: Filing for Probate

After a loved one dies, family members appointed as Executors or Personal Representative of their loved one’s Estate often struggle to understand their roles and responsibilities. Many people have heard the term “probate,” but few have a concrete understanding of what it requires of an Executor or Personal Representative and what pitfalls to avoid. Here, we discuss some of the

Read More »

Which Assets Are Included in Arizona Probate?

When a person dies in Arizona, it may trigger a court-ordered process known as Probate.  The court empowers the Personal Representative (aka Executor/ Administrator) distributes the deceased person’s property (known collectively as an Estate) to their creditor, heirs and/or beneficiaries. Not all property a person leaves behind goes through probate. Sometimes the probate process addresses the distribution of only some

Read More »
immigration court

Immigration Court: A System in Crisis and a Call for Reform

Recent policy changes affecting immigration courts are impeding their ability to safeguard the due process rights of non-citizens in a system that has always been hampered by fundamental flaws. With the immigration court backlog now exceeding over a million pending cases, as well as new deportation proceedings being initiated at record high numbers, it’s time for Congress to establish an

Read More »
crimmigration

Change Continues to Jolt America’s Immigration System

If anything is constant in today’s immigration landscape, it is that change is consistently happening. September has been no different with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changing how it will adjudicate Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for asylum applicants to be possible benefit of everyone else and the Supreme Court wading into the Trump Administration’s attempt to reduce the number

Read More »
CBD THC

CBD, THC, the FDA & Other Acronyms in an Emerging Industry: A Consumer Perspective

Cannabidiol. Tetrahydrocannabinol. These are the scientific terms for the compounds found in hemp and marijuana, respectively (thank goodness for acronyms). With the swiftly changing cultural and legal landscape dealing with these (potentially useful) chemicals, it’s important that consumers and consumer advocates stay aware of the nature of this emerging industry, and how its accelerating growth can attract snake oil salesmen,

Read More »
Illinois Trust Code

Illinois Enacts New Trust Code

Illinois residents will have a new Illinois Trust Code that replaces the Illinois Trusts and Trustees Act. The new legislation has a few notable changes concerning fiduciaries. The new code goes into effect on January 1, 2020 and for the most part adheres to the Uniform Trust Code (UTC) which has been enacted in 33 other states and D.C. However,

Read More »
social media tools

Think Twice Before Posting That Facebook Rant: How Social Media Can Be Used Against You in Family Court

Partner Gary Fishbein with Brot•Gross•Fishbein•LLP, one of the most soughtafter family law attorneys in Southern California, catering to celebrities and high-net-worth individuals, sat down with Attorney at Law Magazine to discuss the impact of social media on today’s family law cases. AALM: Is it common practice to review social media accounts in contested divorces or child custody battles? Fishbein: California

Read More »
parol evidence rule

Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule an Important Consideration for Litigation Strategy

Most remember “merger” and “integration” clauses from their contracts courses in law school. Where a contract purports to state it is the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter of the contract, no parol evidence can be offered to contradict, modify, or amend the terms of that contract. The fundamental purpose of a merger clause “is to

Read More »
davis v. commonwealth

PA Supreme Court Rules to Protect Passwords in Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination extends to prohibiting law enforcement from forcing a defendant to provide his or her passwords for electronic devices. The PA Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to reverse a state superior court ruling in the case of Commonwealth v. Davis, a decision that may have immediate effect on technology-related criminal

Read More »

Why do I need a Probate Lawyer in Arizona?

A probate lawyer in Arizona can assist families or other interested parties in seeking appointment by the Court as a Personal Representative of a deceased person’s Estate.  Probate lawyers navigate the Court-ordered probate process through which Estate debts are settled and assets are distributed to creditors, heirs, and beneficiaries. People that are appointed to serve as Executors of a Will

Read More »

Avoid Probate Pitfalls: Filing for Probate

After a loved one dies, family members appointed as Executors or Personal Representative of their loved one’s Estate often struggle to understand their roles and responsibilities. Many people have heard the term “probate,” but few have a concrete understanding of what it requires of an Executor or Personal Representative and what pitfalls to avoid. Here, we discuss some of the

Read More »

Which Assets Are Included in Arizona Probate?

When a person dies in Arizona, it may trigger a court-ordered process known as Probate.  The court empowers the Personal Representative (aka Executor/ Administrator) distributes the deceased person’s property (known collectively as an Estate) to their creditor, heirs and/or beneficiaries. Not all property a person leaves behind goes through probate. Sometimes the probate process addresses the distribution of only some

Read More »
immigration court

Immigration Court: A System in Crisis and a Call for Reform

Recent policy changes affecting immigration courts are impeding their ability to safeguard the due process rights of non-citizens in a system that has always been hampered by fundamental flaws. With the immigration court backlog now exceeding over a million pending cases, as well as new deportation proceedings being initiated at record high numbers, it’s time for Congress to establish an

Read More »
crimmigration

Change Continues to Jolt America’s Immigration System

If anything is constant in today’s immigration landscape, it is that change is consistently happening. September has been no different with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changing how it will adjudicate Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for asylum applicants to be possible benefit of everyone else and the Supreme Court wading into the Trump Administration’s attempt to reduce the number

Read More »
CBD THC

CBD, THC, the FDA & Other Acronyms in an Emerging Industry: A Consumer Perspective

Cannabidiol. Tetrahydrocannabinol. These are the scientific terms for the compounds found in hemp and marijuana, respectively (thank goodness for acronyms). With the swiftly changing cultural and legal landscape dealing with these (potentially useful) chemicals, it’s important that consumers and consumer advocates stay aware of the nature of this emerging industry, and how its accelerating growth can attract snake oil salesmen,

Read More »
Illinois Trust Code

Illinois Enacts New Trust Code

Illinois residents will have a new Illinois Trust Code that replaces the Illinois Trusts and Trustees Act. The new legislation has a few notable changes concerning fiduciaries. The new code goes into effect on January 1, 2020 and for the most part adheres to the Uniform Trust Code (UTC) which has been enacted in 33 other states and D.C. However,

Read More »
social media tools

Think Twice Before Posting That Facebook Rant: How Social Media Can Be Used Against You in Family Court

Partner Gary Fishbein with Brot•Gross•Fishbein•LLP, one of the most soughtafter family law attorneys in Southern California, catering to celebrities and high-net-worth individuals, sat down with Attorney at Law Magazine to discuss the impact of social media on today’s family law cases. AALM: Is it common practice to review social media accounts in contested divorces or child custody battles? Fishbein: California

Read More »
parol evidence rule

Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule an Important Consideration for Litigation Strategy

Most remember “merger” and “integration” clauses from their contracts courses in law school. Where a contract purports to state it is the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter of the contract, no parol evidence can be offered to contradict, modify, or amend the terms of that contract. The fundamental purpose of a merger clause “is to

Read More »

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