Litigation Lawyers in Arcata

The court system in Arcata, California is a government institution of California to settle disputes involving residents of, or events that occurred in, Arcata.

If you are involved in a lawsuit, or any legal dispute, in Arcata, California, it's very likely that you will have some contact with the court system.

The court system in Arcata, California handles both criminal and civil cases. Lawyers in Arcata, California who practice civil litigation usually spend much of their working time at the courthouse. Therefore, they are familiar with its local rules, and can deal with the court system efficiently and fairly easily. To most people, however, the court system can be an intimidating bureaucracy. These are some of the scenarios in which you're likely to find yourself dealing with the Arcata, California courts:

Events Leading To Exposure To The Courts In Arcata, California

Jury Duty: Under the law of Arcata, California, all adult citizens of the United States who live in Arcata are required to make themselves available for jury duty, if they are needed. When you are called upon to serve on a jury, you are required to show up, or else you might face criminal charges leading to hefty fines, in possible imprisonment. When you are called for jury duty, there's a good chance that you won't actually have to serve on a jury, either because there are already more people in the jury pool than are needed, or one of the lawyers involved in the case decides to excuse you. If you are selected to serve, on the other hand, you should follow the instructions of the judge to the letter. In particular, you need to show up to the courthouse every day of the trial, and on time, or risk being held in contempt of court.

Filing a lawsuit: When you sue a person or company in an Arcata, California court, it's a given that you will have to deal with the courts, to one degree or another. At the very least, you'll probably have to attend some hearings, deal with discovery disputes, and attend case management meetings. Even if your case never goes to trial (which it probably won't, statistically), you will probably become very familiar with Arcata, California's courts.

Being Sued: Likewise, if you're the defendant in a lawsuit, you're going to have a lot of work to do in Arcata, California's courts. You and your attorney will have to draft and file an answer to the lawsuit, and plenty of other documents, as well. Furthermore, there are many hearings that usually occur before a trial, to resolve procedural and evidentiary issues.

Divorce: If you are getting divorce, and there are disputes over child custody or property, you will have to go to a court in Arcata, California to resolve these disputes.

How Can A Arcata, California Tort Lawyer Help?

Most people who have to deal with Arcata, California's courts do so because they are facing extremely complicated legal issues, or disputes that they cannot resolve on their own.

Therefore, it's prudent to consult with an experienced civil attorney in Arcata, California if you feel that you will be encountering the court system in the near future.