On October 8, police in Oak Creek were dispatched on reports that a car was driving the wrong way down a street, struck a civilian car, and hit a utility pole. According to an article on the Patch, when police arrived on the scene, they arrested a man on “carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, recklessly endangering safety, hit-and-run, and operating while intoxicated with a passenger less than 16 years of age.”
In the state of Wisconsin, all of the charges brought upon the individual are very serious and can result in consequences that could impact the rest of his life. As residents of the state know, Wisconsin is a concealed carry state, the issue as to whether or not he had valid permits for the two weapons found on him and in his vehicle will determine if this charge stands. Unfortunately, for this individual, even if he did have a valid CCW, being accused of an OWI will results in the DOT moving to revoke the suspect’s drivers license. Although this man is not a client of Southworth and Stamman, there are many key takeaways that others can use to protect their own freedoms if they find themself in a similar situation. Talking to an attorney as soon as possible after being accused, can ensure that there is a case being put together in your defense and the facts are being collected. We will explore every viable defense strategy, including challenging the stop, the breath and blood tests, the field sobriety test, and other elements of the arrest and investigation. We will defend your rights in the criminal justice system as well as in the administrative process of defending your driver's license, or lifting a suspension or revocation. To speak to one of our attorney’s today, please call 608-254-9589. Over the past couple of years, Wisconsin, as well as across the United States, we have seen an alarming increase in the number of synthetic marijuana overdoses. In July of this year, there was a reported 102 overdoses in one county alone. With this problem not going away anytime soon and the number of emergency responses increasing, prosecutors are cracking down on individuals accused of possession and the sale of synthetic marijuana.
In the state of Wisconsin, law currently states, "If a person possesses or attempts to possess a controlled substance specified in s. 961.14 (4) (tb), or a controlled substance analog of a controlled substance specified in s. 961.14 (4) (tb), the person may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both upon a first conviction and is guilty of a Class I felony for a 2nd or subsequent offense." If this is the first time you have been accused of possession of synthetic marijuana, the consequences can be just as serious as if this were a subsequent offense and should not be taken lightly. Any time you are accused of a crime, the sooner you talk to an attorney the better. Getting a case started to protect your freedom and name requires time. If the state is already building a case against you, you should be working to defend yourself. To arrange your free initial consultation, please contact our law offices online or by telephone at 608-254-9589. With the number of crime programs currently on television, you have probably heard the term “bond hearing”. But, unless you have had personal experience with the law, you may not fully understand what is going on or are aware of the benefits of having an attorney present.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature, the initial appearance before a judge occurs when, “any person who is arrested shall be taken within a reasonable time before a judge in the county in which the offense was alleged to have been committed. The initial appearance may be conducted on the record by telephone or live audiovisual means under s. 967.08. If the initial appearance is conducted by telephone or live audiovisual means, the person may waive physical appearance.” Being accused of a crime and having to show up to a bond hearing can cause a lot of stress on an individual, whether or not this the first time or there have been run ins with the law in the past. Having an attorney present at Bond Hearings is beneficial for many reasons. First, as stated in the Miranda Rights, you have a right to an attorney, whether or not you can afford one. Second, being in front of a judge and being accused of a crime can bring up a lot of emotions. Having someone by your side that is fighting for you can help calm your nerves. And lastly, an attorney knows the law and will fight for you. If they feel the bond is not conducive to the crime, they can bring up facts and work towards getting it reduced. The sooner you contact one of our defense attorneys, the better chance we have of helping you. It is important to talk to a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible, even if charges have not been filed, but you have reason to believe they may be forthcoming. In Juneau County Wisconsin, the possession of Heroin is a very serious offense. Under the current law, the weight of possible punishment is dependent on the amount of heroin that was on the person at the time of the arrest, whether the individual in question knew about the possession, and if there was an intent to sell, manufacture, or traffic the drugs.
We understand that there are times people get caught up in situations or were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We will work tirelessly to defend your rights and freedom regardless of whether you are a first time offender or have had run ins with the law in the past. The best thing you can do for yourself is to contact representation immediately after the incident. Waiting to hire an attorney only allows the prosecutors to start building a case against you. The sooner you talk to us, the sooner we can start working on your case and learn the facts. With law offices in Wisconsin Dells, we serve clients throughout central Wisconsin as well as those who were visiting here from other states. Our defense attorneys are former prosecutors. Having stood in the shoes of the prosecution, we are able to anticipate and counter the strategies they are likely to use against drug crime defendants. For many, there is a belief that estate planning is only for those that have accrued a lot in assets over their lifetime, but this is a misconception. Every person that has contributed to a 401(k), owns a home, or has a savings account, needs to plan for the future.
Some of the basics that go into estate planning, include hiring a trusted attorney who can help guide you through the creation of the estate planning documents. The documents that should be included in your plan are a will, power of attorney, and a healthcare proxy. Other information that you may want documented would include anything you want your loved ones to be aware of should you pass away. Although it is not required by law that all estate plans be created in the presence of an attorney, having someone with the knowledge of how gifts, heirs, power of attorney, and taxes will be taken care of, without having a stake in the estate, will ensure there is no bias or influence in your decision making. Taking control of your finances and your future will help safeguard all that you worked for in life. In the case of an untimely passing, having an estate plan can help ease the burden placed upon family and loved ones. At Southworth and Stamman, LLC, we can help you take control of your estate planning matters by establishing strong documents that stand up to scrutiny. Allow our Wisconsin Dells estate planning lawyers to help you safeguard your finances, ensure you have a say in future medical decisions and enhance your life legacy. For many, Labor Day weekend is the final hoorah of summer. Often celebrated with barbecues, get togethers, and final trips to the beach. Unfortunately for some, most celebrations involved long days in the sun with alcohol, and later, getting behind the wheel. If you were pulled over this past weekend and accused of a DUI in Juneau County, you may feel like you have nowhere to turn. Being pulled over and accused of a DUI is a sobering experience and a situation that many don’t think they’ll ever find themselves in.
Although a DUI does not immediately mean a conviction, it can carry very serious consequences, even if it is a first offense. Our defense lawyers are former prosecutors who know how to identify and expose weaknesses in the state's case against you. We will explore every viable defense strategy, including challenging the stop, the breath and blood tests, the field sobriety tests, and other elements of the arrest and investigation. We will defend your rights in the criminal justice system as well as in the administrative process of defending your driver's license, including lifting a suspension or revocation. If you are serious about fighting this charge, our lawyers are here to defend your rights. To arrange your free initial consultation with an experienced OWI/DUI defense attorney in Wisconsin Dells, please contact us online or by telephone at 608-254-9589. For many people, the dream of owning a home in Wisconsin is something that they grow up yearning for. Being able to say “this is my home” is a sense of accomplishment that many work their lives for. The road to home ownership is one that does not happen overnight. From working and budgeting, to finding the perfect home with the perfect schools, buying a home is a process, a process that more often than not, involves a mortgage.
Going through the mortgage process makes everyone take a long look at their finances and determine if they can afford a house. Unfortunately, for some, the prestige of being able to afford a home will make them go to unprecedented lengths to intentionally omit information on their mortgage application in order to get the loan. Whether it is not admitting to defaulting on past loans or credit cards, mortgage fraud is a white collar crime not only in Adams and Sauk County, but throughout the state of Wisconsin. At Southworth and Stamman, we have the experience and investigative resources to uncover the facts in complex mortgage fraud investigations. Whether you are the sole individual on the mortgage or you cosigned with another person and were not aware of the accused fraud, there is often a lengthy paper trail. Evidence can be hidden deep in computer files and databases. Whatever the circumstances of your case, we will aggressively work on your behalf to achieve the best possible result. The sooner you contact one of our defense attorneys, the better chance we have of helping you. It is important to talk to a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible, even if charges have not been filed, but you have reason to believe they may be forthcoming. It seems though every night on the news, whether local or national, there is a story regarding domestic violence. For almost all of these stories, people are quick to assume guilt and want the harshest possible punishment delivered without knowing all the facts associated with the incident. The Attorneys at Southworth and Stamman know that there is more than one side to the story. With our experience as litigators and knowledge of the Wisconsin Dells court systems, we are ready to advocate for you.
In a time when it seems like no one is on your side, we are here and ready to fight for you. When choosing a firm or individual to fight for your freedom and reputation, experience should be the driving force. We urge you not to give up without a fight no matter the circumstances of the accusations. No matter what anyone says or thinks about this domestic assault accusation, you are innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law. If you want to talk to an attorney who believes in the rights of the accused, we will be here for you. Call us today at 608-254-9589 or contact us online. As attorneys, we understand that people make mistakes, including the misuse of prescription medication. There are innocent explanations as to why someone else’s prescription medication was mistakenly left in another’s vehicle. Often times, the charges look worse than what really happened. If you are being accused of a drug crime in Adams County, Wisconsin, it does not always mean a conviction. As former prosecutors, we are able to anticipate and counter the strategies they are likely to use against drug crime defendants. We are here to help you from the time of the arrest until we are in front of a judge.
If you are visiting the Wisconsin Dells from out of state or are a resident of Wisconsin and find yourself in legal trouble over prescription drugs, we can help. In Adams and Sauk county, prescription drug crimes include the unauthorized possession and / or sale of OxyContin, Oxycodone, Valium, Adderall and other prescription drugs, as well as related charges such as prescription fraud and forgery. It does not matter if you are a first time offender or have had troubles with the law in the past, these are charges you need to take seriously and find an experienced attorney to defend you. The sooner we can start working on your behalf, the better chance you have of obtaining a favorable result. To arrange your free initial consultation, please contact our law offices online or by telephone at 608-254-9589. If you have had a life event such as a marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child, it is in your best interest to review and update your will. There are a few steps that must be taken to ensure the new will is valid and the old will is revoked. If something were to happen to you you want to have peace of mind knowing your final and most recent wishes are being respected.
The first step in modifying a will is revoking your any prior wills. You can revoke a will by either creating another document clearly stating that any previous wills have been revoked and are no longer valid or by physically destroying the will. The next step is to write a new will with your wishes such as what happens to your estate, and if there are minor children involved, who will become their legal guardian? The third step in the process, just like when you originally wrote a will, is signing the document in front of at least two uninterested witnesses. We recommend having a lawyer act as a witness, as they are unrelated to you and thus will not inherit anything. The fourth and final step in modifying your living will is notifying necessary individuals of your new will. You should also keep a copy with other important documents. Notifying family members and the individual named as the executor or personal representative of your estate will also ensure that no one is surprised by any modifications. Our estate planning lawyers offer a personalized, client-centered approach to planning your estate. We welcome calls and visits to our office at no-cost to you, allowing you to make informed decisions about your future stress free. Contact us today online or by telephone at (608) 254-9589 to prepare for your future. |
AuthorSouthworth Law Office, LLC. Archives
December 2018
Categories |