Litigation Lawyers in Portsmouth

The constitution of Rhode Island calls for the establishment of courts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island to help residents of Portsmouth resolve legal disputes as quickly, fairly, and efficiently as possible.

If you are immersed in a lawsuit, or any legal dispute, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, it's extremely likely that you will have some contact with the court system.

The court system in Portsmouth, Rhode Island handles both criminal and civil cases. Lawyers in Portsmouth, Rhode Island who practice civil litigation normally spend much of their working time at the courthouse. Thus, 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 Portsmouth, Rhode Island courts:

Events Leading To Exposure To The Courts In Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Jury Duty: All adult U.S. citizens who live in Portsmouth are eligible to be called for jury duty in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. This is the only way that many people deal with the court system. If you are called to serve in jury duty (normally, every person is eligible to be called for jury duty once per year), when you get the letter from the court telling you to show up for jury duty (normally a few weeks after the letter arrives), you are legally required to do so on the appointed date. You are then placed in a large "juror pool," and called into a courtroom that has an upcoming trial. The lawyers for each side of the case will then ask each juror some questions to determine if they are biased. If the lawyer doesn't want a juror serving on the jury, they can dismiss the juror (they only have a limited number of dismissals, however). If you are dismissed, you're done. If you end up on the jury, you are now serving a very important role in the justice system, and it's important that you follow all of the judge's instructions.

Filing a Lawsuit: When you decide that you need to sue someone in Portsmouth, Rhode Island civil court, it goes without saying that you're going to spend a lot of time dealing with the judicial system. Even if your case doesn't go to trial (and, statistically, it probably won't), the proceedings can drag on for months. Settlement conferences, disagreements over discovery, and many other issues not directly related to the merits of your lawsuit are going to be overseen by the Portsmouth, Rhode Island court.

Being Sued: Similarly, if you are sued, you will have your work cut out for you in the courts of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. You, or your attorney, will have to file an answer to the complaint, and many other documents. You might also have to attend discovery hearings, or case management conferences.

Divorce: Most divorces in Portsmouth, Rhode Island are relatively quick, and don't require a lot of involvement from the courts. Some, however, can get contentious, and the local court system may be required to resolve disputes between the parties.

How Can A Portsmouth, Rhode Island Tort Lawyer Help?

Most people don't have to go to court in Portsmouth, Rhode Island unless they're dealing with some convoluted legal issues.

Therefore, it's prudent to consult with an accomplished civil attorney in Portsmouth, Rhode Island if you feel that you will be encountering the court system in the near future.