Wind Gap District Courthouse
Northampton County Magisterial District Court 03-03-02
31 W 1st St, #1
Wind Gap, PA 18091
Phone: 610-863-5447
Fax: 610-863-7002

This court serves The Boroughs of Chapman and Wind Gap; and the Townships of Bushkill, Moore (Philips and Eastern Voting Districts), and Plainfield (Belfast, Kesslersville, and Plainfield Church Voting Districts)

Northampton County Lawyers For Criminal, Family, & Civil Law

The Best Law Firm serving Wind Gap

Wind Gap Attorney For District Court 03-03-02

With just over 300,000 citizens, Northampton County handles roughly 70,000 criminal and civil cases each year. This efficient network of courthouses manages the county’s criminal and civil caseload. Cases include divorces, child custody disputes, misdemeanor and felony charges, traffic cases, and personal injury claims. If you are involved in a criminal, civil, or traffic case, you will be scheduled to show up in district court for a hearing. If you are looking at criminal charges or anticipating an upcoming civil case, it’s time to get in touch with a Wind Gap attorney for district court 03-03-02.

What is the difference between magisterial district courts & The Court of Common Pleas in Northampton?

There are 14 magisterial district courts in Northampton County and one Court of Common Pleas located in Easton. Northampton is within the Third Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The vast majority of legal proceedings in the state take place in district and common pleas courts. Common pleas courts are a step above district courts and manage more serious cases.

• If you have been charged with a summary offense, a misdemeanor, or a traffic violation, your case will be heard in a district court. Here, defendants have the opportunity to plead their case and present any evidence that supports their innocence.
• If you have been charged with a felony, all preliminary hearings will be held in district court, but the final trial will be held at the Court of Common Pleas. The arraignment will be held at a district court and the defendant will plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
• If you are involved in a family case such as a divorce, this is considered civil law. Your case will be handled by a district court. Similarly, if you suffered a personal injury or your property was damaged, this is considered civil law. If the amount of money sought is over $12,000, your case will be heard by the Court of Common Pleas. Otherwise, a trial will be held in district court if the case can not be settled out of court.

If a decision is made in a district court, it can be appealed and sent to the Court of Common Pleas for another trial. The Court of Common Pleas operates independently of smaller district courts and thus all decisions are made without influence from the district court that previously heard the case. However, appeals should only be filed if there is considerable evidence that the first ruling was made in error. Merely disagreeing with the outcome of your court case is not enough justification to file an official appeal.

Criminal Law in Northampton County

In 2010-2011, Northampton significantly amended its criminal trial process to resolve cases faster and with fewer legal expenses. The county now allows final case reviews at pre-trial conferences and arraignments if a conclusion can be reached. This has allowed fewer cases to undergo lengthy criminal processes and has freed the Court of Common Pleas to focus on only more serious cases that couldn’t be resolved outside of trial. The application process for the Alternative Sentencing Program (ASP) and Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) programs has also been streamlined to allow for more efficient dispositions, reduced county expenses, and fewer citizens called to jury duty.

During an arraignment, the defendant is provided with an official copy of the charges brought against them. With the help of a Northampton criminal defense attorney, you will decide how to respond to these charges and what amount of litigation is necessary. This will depend on the seriousness of the charges and how you would like to plead. For example, if you plead not guilty, you may want to push the case to trial to present evidence of your innocence. In another scenario, it may be best to plead guilty, negotiate a lesser sentence, and avoid a costly trial.

If you’ve been charged with a crime, get in touch with a Wind Gap attorney for district court 03-03-02 as soon as possible. With an expert law firm on your side, you can avoid the worst sentence and keep your record as clean as possible.

Personal Injury Law in Northampton County

Personal injury cases are classified as civil law and may be heard by a magisterial district judge if the amount in question is less than $12,000. Once the amount of damages claimed exceeds this amount, the case must be heard by a Northampton Court of Common Pleas judge.

There are a number of instances that might require you to hire a Northampton personal injury lawyer. These include:

• Car accidents
• Bus accidents
• Slip and falls
• Medical malpractice
• Dog bites
• Brain injuries
• Workplace injuries

There are many tasks to complete in the process of filing a personal injury claim, many of which fall under the duties of a Wind Gap attorney for district court 03-03-02. An attorney will help you gather evidence, build a strong case, and make an official request for compensation.

Fortunately, most injury claims are settled out of court so you can forget about exorbitant legal fees that hinder the process. If you’ve been hurt in a serious accident, you have up to two years after the incident to file an accident claim in Northampton.

Family Law Cases in Northampton County

Different proceedings are necessary for different family law cases. Family law includes issues such as:

• Divorces, annulments, and alimony
• Child support and child custody
• Protection from abuse
• Temporary restraining orders
• Mental health reviews

Northampton County courts have many services in place to handle the steady stream of family cases that are opened each year. One such service is the Co-parenting Education Program, which teaches parents how to reduce the negative impact of divorce on children.

If you are in need of legal advice, Applebaum & Associates law firm has helped countless clients who faced the same legal issues you are facing now. With 50 years of experience in Northampton County, there is nothing our team of legal experts can’t handle. Get in touch to schedule a free appointment at our Allentown location and get the help you deserve.