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Hire a Bucks County Courthouse Attorney

Being involved in a court case can be jarring, especially when you don’t know what to expect at court. You may be burdened by worries and questions that you don’t have answers to. This is when a Bucks County courthouse attorney can lend a hand.

With courthouses located throughout the county, Bucks district courts handle over 100,000 cases per year including 10,000 criminal cases.

A professional attorney will provide you with critical legal details and give you the best shot at winning. With 50 years of experience, Attorney Michael H. Applebaum has represented thousands of clients and worked countless hours on criminal, personal injury, and family law cases. He knows the law and cares deeply about the progression of his clients’ lives. Applebaum & Associates is a team of legal experts who will walk you through your case from start to finish.

Navigating a Criminal Court Case in Bucks County

Arrest
There are two scenarios that may end in arrest. In the first, a citizen may be caught in the middle of suspicious activity. If the police have probable cause, they can arrest you on the spot. In other instances, there may be an extended investigation that eventually leads to your arrest when enough evidence is gathered. In this case, the police will need an arrest warrant.

Charges
After your arrest, the charges against you will be documented. If you are being held in custody, bail may be set for your release. Whether or not bail is granted may depend upon the severity of the crime or whether there is suspicion that you will not show up to court. For minor offenses, citizens are typically released without bail. Once you are released, you may receive mail detailing your charges and summoning your appearance in court. Throughout this process, it is best to remain silent to avoid incriminating yourself.

Preliminary Hearing & Arraignment
At this point in the process, you and your criminal defense attorney will prepare to go to trial. This will involve gathering evidence, getting clear on your strategy, and raising questions about any evidence against you that was acquired unlawfully. Depending on whether or not you choose to waive a preliminary hearing, arraignment may be the next step.

At a preliminary hearing you, your attorney, the prosecution, and a judge will meet to go over the details of your case. This hearing may appear like a real trial and will give your attorney a strong opportunity to defend you. While it is not your official trial, it is possible to have charges dismissed if the prosecution can not provide enough evidence.

A preliminary hearing provides an opportunity to dispute false charges against you. If the prosecution has enough evidence, your case will proceed to an arraignment soon after. During an arraignment, you’ll be asked to plead guilty or not guilty. Defendants working with a Bucks County courthouse attorney may waive their arraignment so there is no need to appear in court. It is at this point that your case may be transferred from district court to the Court of Common Pleas in Doylestown, PA.

Trial
Your day in court will be scheduled and your attorney will let you know how you can prepare. During your trial, your attorney will give their best shot laying out all of the evidence in your favor to have your charges dismissed to reduced. Depending on the circumstances of your case, your lawyer may believe that a judge is more or less likely to convict you than a jury. So in some instances, you may opt for a bench trial. A bench trial occurs when a judge decides on a verdict rather than a jury. If your attorney knows the judge assigned to your case, they can smooth things over and tell you what to expect from the judge.

Verdict & Sentencing
Everything leads up to the moment your verdict is read. In a typical criminal case, the verdict will be written down and signed by the jury. Either a judge or court clerk will read the decision to the courtroom. If found guilty on any of the charges brought against you, you will be given your sentence, or the assigned punishment if you are found guilty. This should not be a shock, as your lawyer will have prepared you in advance for all the possible outcomes. Sentences may include drug and alcohol education, probation, fines, community service, jail time, or a combination of these.

Appeal
If your trial doesn’t go the way you hope, you may wonder if you are eligible to file a Notice of Appeal with the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. You cannot file an appeal simply because you disagree with the judge or jury’s verdict. However, you may file an appeal if there are clear grounds for it in the form of a legal mistake made by the judge. An appeal must be submitted within 30 days of your hearing.

Depending on the crime you have been charged with, there may be some variation in how each of these steps plays out. Summary offenses like speeding tickets will not require as much involvement, while felony charges like aggravated assault will require more work on behalf of you and a Bucks County criminal defense lawyer.

Navigating a Personal Injury Case in Bucks County

If you’ve been injured as a result of another person’s negligence, a Bucks County courthouse attorney can help you file a claim.

Schedule a Consultation with a Lawyer
The first step is to determine whether your case is strong enough to go to trial. You’ll let your lawyer know everything that happened and they will inform you on how to proceed.

Have Your Case Investigated
At this stage, your lawyer will help you organize and collect all the necessary evidence and information to build a strong case.

Submit a Demand Letter
This is the first point at which you formally ask for personal injury compensation. The other party will be legally notified of the amount you are requesting and why. They are expected to respond within about 60 days to avoid further repercussions. At this point, settlement negotiations can begin.

Go through Mediation
At a mediation meeting, you, your lawyer, the other party, and their lawyer will attempt to come to a settlement agreement. A neutral mediator will be called in to attempt to resolve the conflict. If a conclusion cannot be reached, your case will move to a trial.

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If the other party is not willing to cooperate and wants to dispute your settlement claim, you may proceed to file a lawsuit with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Bucks County. At trial, your attorney will do everything in their power to prove that the settlement amount you are requesting is justified.

Receive Your Settlement
Fortunately, most personal injury cases are settled before a trial is necessary, saving both parties money. Even if your case goes to trial, it is possible that you will receive fair compensation for your injuries. Your lawyer will help you determine how to best receive your settlement, whether it be in small payments or in a lump sum.

Bucks County Divorce Attorneys & Family Law Attorneys

Whether you are undergoing a divorce, a child custody dispute, an abuse case, or any other family matter, you’ll be working through a courthouse in Bucks County.

The office of the Prothonotary is the division that handles the processing of family documents including divorce and child custody papers, subpoenas, appeals, and name change petitions. The Bucks County Domestic Relations Section (DRS) is the department that enforces child support and alimony payments.

The elements of a family case are highly dependent on the circumstances at play. Many family cases will include at least one mediation session. A mediator will help the disputing parties and their lawyers find common ground, and ideally, solve the dispute before a trial is necessary. In Pennsylvania, the average cost of divorce mediations were between $5,000 and $8,000, depending on how many meetings were required.

The Bucks County Court System

There are 18 magisterial district courts in Bucks County. You will be notified of which court will be handling your case. Regardless of whether you are dealing with a personal injury, criminal, or family law case, you will likely begin at a nearby district court. A summary offense ruling may be determined in district court. If charges are not dropped, a misdemeanor or felony case will continue to The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, located at 100 N Main St, Doylestown, PA 18901. If you need guidance about a legal issue, Applebaum & Associates can help.

Get in touch with our office to schedule a free legal consultation.