Litigation Lawyers in Opelousas

In Opelousas, Louisiana, the court system is a state institution of Louisiana to resolve disputes that occurred in, and involving residents of, Opelousas.

You are almost certain to have contact with the court system of Opelousas, Louisiana at least once in your life. If you are engaged in a legal dispute, the likelihood of having to work with the court system becomes even higher.

The court system in Opelousas, Louisiana handles both criminal and civil cases. Lawyers in Opelousas, Louisiana who practice civil litigation typically spend much of their working time at the courthouse. Consequently, 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 Opelousas, Louisiana courts:

Events Leading To Exposure To The Courts In Opelousas, Louisiana

Jury Duty: Under the law of Opelousas, Louisiana, all adult citizens of the United States who live in Opelousas 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: If you file a lawsuit in Opelousas, Louisiana, you will have to deal with the court system quite a bit, even if your matter never goes to trial. You, or your lawyer, will have to show up in court to file the proper paperwork, attend preliminary hearings, case management conferences, and resolve discovery disputes. Even if no trial occurs, you will become intimately acquainted with the courts in Opelousas, Louisiana.

Being Sued: If you, unfortunately, are getting sued in an Opelousas, Louisiana court, it's almost certain that you'll be spending a lot of time dealing with the local court system. You have to file some type of response (typically an answer or motion to dismiss) to the lawsuit, and there will be many procedural issues that might result in disputes that the court has to resolve. All of this happens in most lawsuits, even if they don't go to trial.

Divorce: While not all divorces in Opelousas, Louisiana require the partners to spend a significant period of time in court, some of them do, particularly when disagreements arise that the spouses can't settle amongst themselves.

How Can A Opelousas, Louisiana Tort Lawyer Help?

If you find yourself in a situation in which you're likely to deal with the courts in Opelousas, Louisiana, chances are good that some intricate legal issues are involved.

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