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Federal Rules of Evidence, Criminal Procedure and Appellate Procedure Amended

Kurt Mattson December 11, 2019

There have been several recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (FRAP), Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE), and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure that went into effect on December 1, 2019. These amendments significantly impact federal civil and criminal practice. Notably, the changes discard the proof of service requirements for certain documents filed using case management/electronic case filing

U.S. Patent Applications – Our Need for Speed

Z. Peter Sawicki and James L. Young December 4, 2019

Human beings are amazing! Collectively, we are clever and excel at many things. We have harnessed fire, invented the wheel, eradicated noxious diseases, created the internet (and smart phones so we are never without it), and put a man on the moon! We are good at lots of stuff, but there is one thing that none of us is very

PA Supreme Court Rules to Protect Passwords in Criminal Cases

Kurt Mattson December 2, 2019

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

Why do I need a Probate Lawyer in Arizona?

Jason May November 22, 2019

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

Avoid Probate Pitfalls: Filing for Probate

Jason May November 22, 2019

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

Which Assets Are Included in Arizona Probate?

Jason May November 22, 2019

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

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

Gigi Gardner November 21, 2019

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

Change Continues to Jolt America’s Immigration System

Rishi Oza November 19, 2019

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

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

Patrick Brickman November 19, 2019

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,

Illinois Enacts New Trust Code

Kurt Mattson November 6, 2019

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,

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