Litigation Lawyers in Mchenry County

If you live in Mchenry County, Illinois and think that you might be the victim of a legal wrong, you may determine that it's worth suing over, to recover compensation from the individual who wronged you.

If you wish to file a lawsuit, there are several things you need to consider, and the decision to sue someone should not be made without the counsel of a Mchenry County, Illinois civil litigation attorney.

Once you hire a Mchenry County, Illinois litigation attorney, he or she will be able to advise you on your chances of succeeding in your lawsuit. Furthermore, your lawyer can inform you on what a lawsuit is likely to cost, both in time and money. Obviously, your lawyer has some control over what it will cost you, based on their fees, and whether they bill an hourly rate, or charge on a contingency rate.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Mchenry County, Illinois

Consultation with your attorney: Before you proceed with any legal action in Mchenry County, Illinois, you should seek the advice and counsel of a reputable Mchenry County, Illinois attorney. He or she will be indispensable in helping you succeed in your lawsuit.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you determine that pursuing a lawsuit in Mchenry County, Illinois civil court is worth your time and effort, you need to file a complaint. The complaint can set the tone, and frame the issues, for the rest of the litigation procedure, which can drag on for months, or even years (and decades, in some cases). This is because the complaint lays out all the allegations against the defendant. It also usually asks the court for particular relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: Once you, or your lawyer, have drafted a complaint, the defendant must be served with it, so they have notice that they're being sued, and are given time to prepare a defense. Mchenry County, Illinois has specific rules governing how a complaint must be served, for the service to be valid. Personal service (having someone give the documents directly to the defendant) is preferred. However, some courts will also accept service by mail in limited circumstances, or service upon an adult member of the defendant's household.

Await The Response: The defendant has a certain amount of time to respond to your lawsuit, once they confirm that they've been served in Mchenry County, Illinois. The defendant will likely respond with an answer to your complaint. An answer is a document in which the defendant admits or denies the specific factual allegations made by the plaintiff. Typically, the defendant will admit the allegations that are not seriously in dispute (for instance, if the lawsuit concerns a car accident, they'll probably admit that an accident did, in fact, take place), but deny the more serious allegations (they'll probably deny that they were responsible for the accident). If the defendant fails to respond within a set period of time, they are in "default," and basically lose the case automatically.

How Can A Mchenry County, Illinois Tort Lawyer Help?

This article gives you a general picture of what is necessary to file a lawsuit in Mchenry County, Illinois. However, it should not, under any circumstances, be read as a complete guide to the litigation process.

Therefore, it's always a good idea to talk with a Mchenry County, Illinois litigation attorney if you are contemplating filing a lawsuit against a person or company.