(ARA) - If you are waiting for your landlord to fix a leaky roof -- you may need a lawyer.
If you are adopting a child -- you may need a lawyer.
If your business partner, or spouse, is cheating on you -- you may need a lawyer.
If you are lucky enough to be selling or buying a home these days -- you may need a lawyer.
And if "dog bites man," it may not be news -- but you may need a lawyer.
How do you know if you really need a lawyer?
Every day, Americans face situations that can raise significant legal issues. From starting a business to making a home purchase, shopping online to adoption, from divorce to bankruptcy, it's often helpful -- and sometimes essential -- to get legal help to resolve problems if they arise.
A newly revised reference book, "The American Bar Association Complete Personal Legal Guide -- The Essential Reference for Every Household," brings together the expertise of the ABA's judges, lawyers and law professors to provide the average consumer with guidance in a practical, easy-to-understand format.
"Consumers need to know when they can handle something on their own, and when they need legal counsel," says ABA president H. Thomas Wells, Jr. "Many issues can be resolved or avoided altogether, provided people are aware of the basic laws, their own rights and the rights of others." This book helps consumers sort out whether and how to hire a lawyer for the various situations they might face.
The Guide now has tips on buying and selling real estate, fighting discrimination in the workplace, managing bankruptcy and creating wills, trusts, contracts and other legal documents. The updated version also provides a new chapter on legal matters facing the parents of children with special needs. Using real-life examples, the book gives straightforward information on these and other legal issues.
There is also a helpful glossary of terms, and a section called "The World at Your Fingertips," that provides information on government agencies and chapter-by-chapter resources on relevant organizations and Web sites. "The ABA's Complete Personal Legal Guide" is available online at www.ababooks.org and is also widely available in book stores and through online book sellers.
For more information on the book, visit www.ABALawInfo.org, which includes the "Top 10 Legal Issues for Families," a podcast and a sample chapter.
Courtesy of ARAcontent |
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