Litigation Lawyers in Saugerties

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

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 retain a seasoned attorney from Saugerties, New York before you proceed.

Your Saugerties, New York civil litigation attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not you have a legitimate case, and, if so, your best avenues 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 Saugerties, New York

Consultation with your attorney: Before you proceed with any legal action in Saugerties, New York, you should seek the advice and counsel of a seasoned Saugerties, New York attorney. He or she will be indispensable in helping you succeed in your lawsuit.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you determine that pursuing a lawsuit in Saugerties, New York 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 normally asks the court for particular relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: Once you and your attorney have written a good complaint, and filed it with the court, it needs to be served on the defendant within a particular period of time. This is necessary under the law of Saugerties, New York to ensure that the defendant actually knows that he's being sued, and has time to find a lawyer and prepare a defense. Generally, the defendant should be served in person. However, when this isn't possible, service by mail is also acceptable in a few instances.

Awaiting the Defendant's Response: Once a lawsuit has been filed, and the defendant has been served in Saugerties, New York, the defendant has time to respond. They normally do so by drafting an answer to the complaint, in which they deny the plaintiff's allegations, or assert a legal defense. If the defendant fails to respond within a set period of time, they will be in default, and you may be able to get a "default judgment" against them, in which all of your allegations against the defendant are viewed as if the defendant admitted them, and you only need to show that you've suffered losses that warrant the damages you're asking for.

How Can A Saugerties, New York Tort Lawyer Help?

This simple outline is meant to give you a basic idea of what goes into filing a lawsuit in Saugerties, New York, but it is by no means a comprehensive guide.

Thus, it is essential that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in Saugerties, New York.