 Probate Matters: Probate law concerns issues such as wills, estates, trust and powers of attorney. The Powell Law Office handles a host of probate matters but here are a few of the most common matters we assist in.
Wills: When an individual dies, an estate is created comprised of that individual’s (decedent’s) assets. When the decedent dies with a will, he is said to have died testate, or with a will. When an individual dies with a will or testate, his assets pass according to the will as long as the will is valid. There are a number of criteria that must be met in order for a will to be considered valid. In the event the will is not valid, then the assets will pass the same as if the person died without a will, by intestacies procession.
When a decedent dies intestate, certain laws (intestacy laws) decide how the testators assets will be distributed. Intestacy laws do not always meet the desires of a decedent and therefore it is very important to consult an attorney to insure that your wishes are carried out at the time of your death. The Powell Law Office is equipped with making arrangements for our clients that will meet their needs. A computer software program or anything other than a competent license attorney puts a person at risk of making an irreversible mistake.
Trust: A trust is a vehicle which insures that an individual or group of individuals (beneficiary) receive certain property (corpus) over a period time or a time in the future. A trust can be designed in such a way that creditors can not access the property or in such a way that the beneficiary can not spend all at once. A trust can even be created from funds that will only come into being in the event of death, such as a life insurance policy. Trusts can take different forms and can be very helpful but can also be misunderstood and dangerous. It is important to contact a competent license attorney to find out your options.
Estate Administration: When an individual dies with assets, an estate is created. An estate executor or administrator carries out the provisions of the will if a valid will is present. Estate administration can be a complicated matter because certain rules and guidelines must be followed. An attorney can be used to either administer the complete estate or certain aspects of the estate such as performing certain procedures in order for a financial institution to release funds.
 Business Matters: Creating a business can be very time consuming. The Powell Law Office has been there before and so we know what avenues are most advantageous to our clients. Many entrepreneurs are not informed of the advantages of forming corporations rather than a limited liability companies or an s-corporation rather than a c-corporation.
Whether it is your desire to create a business or deal with a commercialcontract disputes, The Powell Law Office can help you make smart decisions that will keep your business thriving for many years to come. Some of the more common areas that we may assist in are as follows:
- Consultation
- Business Form Conversion
- Tax
- Contracts
- Employment Law
- Negotiations
 Criminal Law: Being charged with a crime can be a devastating experience, especially if an individual is not represented by an attorney who understands the judicial process. Whether an individual is guilty or not, a competent attorney can accomplish goals that could not have been accomplished otherwise. Among other things, an attorney is there to shield the client from the dangers of being taken advantage of.
Prosecutors often take the approach that every defendant being charged is guilty and are often only willing to take another view when the defendant has gone through the process of hiring an attorney. In some cases, the prosecution understands the weakness of their case and once an attorney is hired, the prosecution sometimes drops charges, having met their match in the legal arena. In such cases, the prosecution recognizes that going forward with the case could prove pointless. Still, there are other times when the prosecution decides to lower the charges in order to resolve the matter rather than fighting with an attorney. You are best served when you hire an attorney to fight your case.
The Powell Law Office is poised to handle your case whether for a traffic violation or a drug crime. Some of the more common cases that The Powell Law Office handles are:
- All Misdemeanors
- All Felonies
- All Traffic Violations
- Post-Conviction Relief
- Appeals
 Family Law: Domestic issues such as adoptions, emancipations, support arrangements, custody, divorce, contempt representation, paternity determination, visitation, emancipation, and issues of this similar sort can drastically effect the lives of those involved. The Powell Law Office offers the informed counsel that decision makers facing these issues need.
Moreover, we are capable of insuring that the process takes place as quickly as possible with as little burden as possible. We understand that these are not always the easiest decisions to make and that is why we offer the necessary comfort to ease the stress that so often accompanies the process. The Powell Law Office handles many domestic issues but the more common issues that we assist in are:
- Divorce
- Visitation
- Paternity Determination
- Custody
- Emancipation
- Support
- Adoption
 Mediation: The Powell Law Office provides mediation services by a license attorney who has endured the rigors required to be placed on the Indiana Roll of Certified Mediators. Mediation is sanctioned by the courts of Indiana as a means of settling disputes is quicker fashion and without as much cost as using the court.
Mediation allows the parties to come together and decides the outcome which typically allows both parties to more easily accept the result. Similar to settling a dispute in court, mediation results can have the effect of a court judgment. Many courts require a matter to go through mediation before using the courts. Many of the same matters that can be handled in court can be handled in mediation.
 Other Areas: The Powell Law Office is a full service firm which allows us to assist our clients in many different areas. Though we did not give these areas the same explanation as given to the above matters, if a client has a concern in the following areas, are services are available.
- Personal Injury
- Bankruptcy
- Landlord/Tenant
- Negotiations
- Collections
- Non-profit Organizations
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