Filing a Lawsuit in Lakewood, New Jersey

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Litigation Lawyers in Lakewood

If you are in Lakewood, New Jersey and believe that some type of legal wrong has been committed against you, and decide that seeking legal redress will be worth the time and expense involved, you may wish to file a lawsuit.

If you think that filing a lawsuit is a good option in seeking redress, you should not rush into this decision. A lawsuit is a time-consuming and expensive process. You should not make a final decision without speaking to a Lakewood, New Jersey attorney.

Your Lakewood, New Jersey civil litigation attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not you have a legitimate case, and, if so, your best options on how to proceed. The attorney will also discuss with you the fees for their services, and whether he or she can represent you on a contingency basis.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Lakewood, New Jersey

Consultation with your attorney: Before you file a lawsuit in a Lakewood, New Jersey court, you need to meet and confer with a local lawyer. You lawyer in Lakewood, New Jersey can advise you on whether or not your lawsuit has merit, and how likely it is to succeed.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you decide that pursuing a lawsuit in Lakewood, New Jersey 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 process, 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 typically asks the court for specific 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. Lakewood, New Jersey requires that lawsuits be served on defendants in a specific 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 strongly preferred to serve defendants in person (with a disinterested third party delivering the papers to the defendant). Sometimes, 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: In Lakewood, New Jersey, the law gives civil defendants a fairly long period of time (a month or two typically) to respond to a lawsuit against them. The most prevalent response is either an answer (where they address the factual allegations against them, typically denying most or all of the allegations) or a motion to dismiss (where the contend that, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, those facts would not establish liability). If the defendant does nothing, and fails to respond, they run the risk of having a default judgment entered against them. This typically means that the court automatically rules against them, treating the plaintiff as if they won the lawsuit. This gives the plaintiff a judgment against the defendant, which they can seek to collect using all legal means.

How Can A Lakewood, New Jersey Tort Lawyer Help?

As you can see, it can be an intricate and difficult process to file a lawsuit in Lakewood, New Jersey, and it is, in fact, much more intricate than the basic outline you just read.

You should seek the advice of a knowledgeable litigation attorney if you are planning on filing a lawsuit against somebody who you think has wronged you in Lakewood, New Jersey.

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Life in Lakewood

Lakewood, New Jersey is a township located in Ocean County. Its current population estimate is about 60,000 people.

In the early 1900s, Lakewood was a popular place for New Yorkers to visit in the winter, because it has an unique microclimate which makes it significantly warmer in the winter than surrounding areas. It is home to a lake, and large wooded areas, making it a popular place to visit year-round.

Modernly, portions of Lakewood are designated as Urban Enterprise Zones. These are special areas seen by the state government as being in need of economic development. Businesses are encouraged to open in these Zones through tax and regulatory breaks, and consumers are encouraged to buy goods and services because they have a lower sales tax rate than other parts of the state. The sales tax in these Enterprise Zones is half the statewide rate, which should serve as a major incentive for consumers to shop there.

If you live in or near Lakewood Township, New Jersey, there's a good chance that you'll be able to find a lawyer to handle virtually any legal issue you might be facing. Lakewood, New Jersey lawyers are well-trained and competent, and chances are good that there's at least one Lakewood, New Jersey lawyer who can handle whatever legal problem you present them with.

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