We have all heard the old tale of the elderly rich person that decides to leave his/her fortune to their pet instead of their children inevitably resulting in the largest twist of some terrible movie or television. Well, if you have seen that you may have wondered to yourself if those pets could actually have inherited the money left to them by the will, so does Fido get to become the richest pooch on the…
On Tuesday November 8, 2018, Voters in the State of Michigan approved the legalization of recreational marijuana. While the sales side of things will take some time for the State of Michigan to get set up, there are a number of potential collateral criminal issues that Hoosiers need to be aware of should you decide to take advantage of the legalization during a trip to Michigan or any other similar state. Marijuana is illegal in…
It is a common misconception that juvenile records disappear, whether sealed or automatically expunged, when an individual turns 18. Unfortunately, that is not the case in a wide variety of scenarios. This article will look into what records are available, who can obtain those records, how juvenile delinquency records can affect someone, and what you can do to try and make sure those records are sealed so you or your child will not face the…
Whether you or a loved one is facing a criminal offense, everyone knows that hiring a criminal attorney with experience matters most. Not only do they know the ins and outs of courtroom, but they often times know the little details that matter most when it comes to both orchestrating your defense, and if necessary, strategizing your acceptance of responsibility when a defense isn’t enough to win at trial. Some may think that once you…
Over the past decade, technological advancements have allowed parents to conceive children through techniques such as artificial insemination or surrogacy. In order to clarify, when we state the term “Surrogate” we mean a woman who agrees to biologically carry a child for another. In recent years, there have been some notorious cases in the United States that evidence that these advancements have taken place at a quicker pace than the adaptation of the Law to…
As a parent, you probably spend much of your time concerned over whether your child can avoid trouble and make the right decisions to propel themselves to a bright future. No matter how great of a parent you may be, sometimes kids are going to be kids and screw up sometimes. This blog will take an in-depth look into student rights when it comes to criminal investigations and police searches of persons and property at…
What are Specialized Driving Privileges or “SDP”? Starting the first of the year in 2019, individuals facing Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (“OWI”) charges have new hope in their efforts to avoid an immediate license suspension. Indiana Code (“IC”) 9-30-16-1 will be amended to allow an individual to actually stay (or delay) the suspension. In order to do this you still need to be eligible for Specialized Driving Privileges (“SDP”). Generally, you are ineligible for…
As part of any felony-based conviction (sometimes on misdemeanors with open terms and by judge’s request), a judge will typically order a pre-sentence investigation or “PSI.” A PSI came out of what is commonly referred to as Evidence Based Practices — a movement where judges wanted to make informed, evidence-based decisions when determining appropriate sentences for defendants. The practice of conducting PSI’s has long been a typical step in federal guilty pleas and sentences, and…
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Brad Banks who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a criminal defense attorney.