Litigation Lawyers in Bellefontaine Neighbors

If you live in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri 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 are contemplating filing a lawsuit, you should know that there are many factors that need to be considered before doing so. You should definitely hire a reputable attorney from Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri before you proceed.

Once you have retained an attorney in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, he or she will be able to help you devise a strategy on how to proceed, which will hopefully maximize your chances of success in your lawsuit. Your lawyer can also provide you a rough idea of how much the lawsuit is likely to cost, taking into account court fees, expert witness fees, and other costs.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri

Consultation with your attorney: Before you file a lawsuit in a Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri court, you need to meet and confer with a local lawyer. You lawyer in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri can advise you on whether or not your lawsuit has merit, and how possible it is to prevail.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you determine that pursuing a lawsuit in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri 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 have drafted your complaint, you need to serve the defendant with it, and file it with the court. Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri requires that lawsuits be served on defendants in a certain way. This is to ensure that the defendant has a good deal of notice that they're being sued, giving them time to find an attorney, and work on how they're going to defend themselves. It is highly preferred to serve defendants in person (with a disinterested third party delivering the papers to the defendant). Occasionally, however, the defendant cannot be found, or is trying to avoid service, they can be served by mail with court approval.

Await Defendant's Response: When you have served the defendant with the complaint in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, the defendant has time to respond. The most common response is known as an "answer," in which they particularly 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri Tort Lawyer Help?

Filing a lawsuit in a Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri court is a bit more complicated than the basic outline laid out above.

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 Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri attorney.