Filing a Lawsuit in Burke, Virginia

Find the right Litigation attorney in Burke, VA

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Litigation Lawyers in Burke

Residents of Burke, Virginia who suffer legal wrongs are usually legally entitled to compensation for harm they incurred as a result. This compensation is usually obtained by filing a lawsuit.

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 Burke, Virginia civil litigation attorney.

The Burke, Virginia attorney you end up hiring will be able to advise you on whether you have a good case. If you do, they will also advise you on your best options on how to proceed. Your lawyer can also inform you about what their fees are, and if they have multiple payment options.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Burke, Virginia

Consultation with your attorney: You should always speak with a Burke, Virginia lawyer who specializes in civil litigation before filing any type of lawsuit in a court in Burke, Virginia. Your lawyer will have important information and advise, helping you decide whether or not your chances of success in the lawsuit make it worth your while to proceed.

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in a Burke, Virginia court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is usually the first step in actually filing a lawsuit. The complaint is the plaintiff's first opportunity to lay out the allegations against the defendant. If a complaint doesn't allege facts that add up to a valid lawsuit (that is, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, the defendant has still not committed a legal wrong that the court can compensate), the case will have to be dismissed. When a case is dismissed for this reason, the court usually gives the plaintiff a chance to re-submit the complaint, with the errors corrected.

Serving the Defendant: When you have decided that you want to file a lawsuit in Burke, Virginia, and have drafted the complaint, your next major step is to file the complaint with the court, and serve it on the defendant. The defendant must be given at least several weeks' notice that they're being sued, and as much time to review the complaint. This is a matter of basic fairness and due process, and allows the defendant to hire a lawyer and get to work on a defense. The law requires that the defendant be served in a few specific ways. The first choice is to give it to them in person. This has to be done by a person who does not have any direct involvement in the lawsuit. If that isn't possible, the defendant can be served by giving the complaint to another adult member of their household; this is called substituted service.

Await Defendant's Response: When you have served the defendant with the complaint in Burke, Virginia, the defendant has time to respond. The most common response is known as an "answer," in which they specifically address the factual allegations you've made against them, usually by denying most of the allegations. They might also move to dismiss the case if they can argue that the complaint is legally flawed. A judge then has to rule on this motion. If the defendant doesn't respond within a certain period of time, they are said to have "defaulted." This allows the court to enter a default judgment, in which the plaintiff essentially automatically wins the lawsuit. Once this happens, the defendant, if they're ever located, can be served with the judgment, and will have very little power to challenge the merits of your case.

How Can A Burke, Virginia Tort Lawyer Help?

The basic outline above does not come close to covering all the details involved in filing a lawsuit in Burke, Virginia.

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should consult with a qualified Burke, Virginia attorney.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Burke

Burke, Virginia isa community in Fairfax County. Its population is nearly 60,000 people, as of the 2000 Census.

The area now known as Burke has been populated by humans since prehistory, but really began to come into its own as a town in the 1840s, when the construction of a railroad brought industry and jobs.

The railroad station, and the accompanying post offices and telegraph stations, proved strategically important during the American Civil War, with both sides fighting to control the town.

Modernly, like much of Fairfax County, Burke, Virginia is considered a suburb of Washington, D.C. After WWI, many employees of the federal government began to move to Burke, because the Capital was easily accessible, thanks to the railroad.

Burke, Virginia is served by several public transportation options that connect it to Washington, D.C., as well as major federal facilities in the surrounding area, such as the Pentagon.

Given the large number of government employees who live in Burke, as well as its residential character, it shouldn't be a surprise that there are plenty of Burke, Virginia lawyers who can handle a legal issue that the average person is likely to face.

Whatever legal matter you're facing, or think you might have to face soon, it's an excellent idea to, at the very least, speak with a Burke, Virginia lawyer.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA