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Name: Applebaum & Associates
Brand: Applebaum & Associates
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Going to court can be a charged experience, especially if you are facing your first trial. You may feel overwhelmed with questions and concerns about how your future will be impacted. This is why choosing the right Montgomery County courthouse attorney can make or break your case.

A committed legal team will know exactly how to traverse the waters of your case. With over 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 guide you through your case from start to finish.

What to Expect during a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases are handled by a district court if the amount of money in question is under $12,000. If a claim is over that amount, the case will be handled by the Court of Common Pleas. The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas is located at 2 E Airy St, Norristown, PA 19401.

Consultation
A personal injury case begins with a legal consultation. You may have been in a car accident, suffered a slip and fall, suffered medical malpractice, or experienced another type of accident. A Montgomery County personal injury lawyer will learn about your injury and help you determine the next best steps.

Investigation
During the investigation phase, your attorney will help you gather all the information required for a strong case, such as medical records, accident reports, photos or video footage, insurance documents, or anything else that is relevant.

Demand
Submitting a formal demand letter gets the ball rolling on a personal injury case. You and your attorney will work together to create an official request for compensation. This will be sent to the responsible party, who can decide whether to comply, negotiate, or refuse the request entirely.

Lawsuit
Working with a lawyer does not always mean you will have to file a lawsuit. However, if prior negotiations fail to create resolve between the two parties, the injury victim may proceed to the lawsuit phase of their case. This is when a Montgomery County personal injury lawyer will devise a strategy to help you prove your injuries and win your claim in court.

Appeal
Appeals do not always occur, but it is possible for the opposing party to appeal a judge’s decision to award your settlement money. In this case, there would not be another trial. Instead, an appellate court would review the trial to ensure that a just decision was made. If your personal injury case was won fairly and within the confines of the law, the appeal will not succeed.

Settlement
Whether a settlement is determined through the initial demand letter, a pre-trial mediation, or after a lawsuit is filed, you will receive the funds in the same way. A Montgomery County courthouse attorney will help you arrange payouts to be deposited at a certain interval or to receive your settlement in a lump sum.

Montgomery County Divorce Attorneys & Family Law Attorneys

Divorce, alimony, child custody, and domestic violence fall under the umbrella of family law and are also handled by the Court of Common Pleas.

Pennsylvania allows both no-fault and at-fault divorce cases, which means each party can agree amicably to the terms of the divorce or allege that the other party is legally at fault. Divorces can be filed

The following legal procedures are relevant to family cases:

TRO – A Temporary Restraining Order is one avenue for individuals to feel safe and prevent further conflict leading up to a legal ruling. This is a means for an individual to legally protect themselves from any erratic behavior from the other party, including non-violent actions such as leaving the area before a child custody case is settled.
Discovery – The discovery phase of a family law case is a time for both parties to work with their lawyers to gather data and information. If it is a divorce case, this is when financial assets will be reviewed, relevant information about the couple’s children, or anything else that needs to be sorted out.
Mediation – A mediation typically occurs at least once during the progression of a family case. Both parties in dispute, their lawyers, and a neutral third party mediator will be in attendance. This is an opportunity to try to settle the dispute without spending additional time and money in court. If an agreement cannot be reached by family members, the case may be brought to trial. Montgomery County’s Custody Mediation Orientation Program provides qualified mediators and requires each party of a custody dispute to attend mediation. Parents can choose a different mediator or allow the county to provide one. In the event that one party or the party’s child has suffered abuse, these mediation sessions are not required.

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What to Expect During a Criminal Case

Summary offenses such as traffic violations are fully handled by PA district courts. Misdemeanor and felony offenses will begin at the district court level and proceed to the Court of Common Pleas unless the charges are dropped. The Court of Common Pleas reviews each case independently and is not influenced by the district court’s previous findings.

Some choose to represent themselves in district court, particularly for minor legal offenses like speeding tickets. However, if you are being charged with any crime, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even minor convictions can weigh on your record and disrupt your plans for the future in various ways. A Montgomery County criminal defense attorney will bring expertise of your specific charge and knowledge of all the possible outcomes.

Criminal Charges
Once the prosecution has filed criminal charges against you, the case formally begins. Probable cause must be demonstrated during the early stages of a criminal case. If the defendant is retained in police custody, a hearing must be held within 48 hours to decide what charges will be filed.

Arraignment
The purpose of an arraignment is to officially inform the defendant of the charges against them and to allow them to plead. It is common for defendants to plead not guilty at this stage, although the plea can be changed to guilty or no contest later on. Pleading no contest means that you are neither admitting guilt nor challenging the charges against you.

Pre-trial Hearings
Depending on the complexity of a case, there may be multiple pre-trial hearings. A hearing may be held to discuss witness testimonies, relevant evidence, or plea negotiations between the defendant’s attorney and the prosecution.

Pre-trial Motions
Pre-trial motions are used when either the defendant’s attorney or the prosecution requests certain actions to be taken before the final trial. For example, a pre-trial motion is used when the defendant’s attorney believes that the prosecution holds evidence that is unlawful and should be thrown out. This is a Motion to Suppress. Similarly the defendant’s attorney may file a Motion to Dismiss if they believe there is not enough evidence to prove a charge against you.

Trial
Criminal defendants are legally entitled to a jury but may opt for a judge to determine their case instead. During your trial, your attorney will present all evidence of your innocence or evidence that suggests the charges against you should be reduced. The prosecution will do the same, presenting evidence and interviewing witnesses if applicable. Once the trial has concluded, you will receive your verdict of guilty or not guilty and the details of your sentence will be shared.

The Montgomery County Court System

There are 30 magisterial district courts in Montgomery County, one of which will be assigned to your case. District courts are the entry point to Pennsylvania’s judicial system and handle a variety of issues including: