Litigation Lawyers in Smithfield

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

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

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

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

Jury Duty: All adult U.S. citizens who live in Smithfield are eligible to be called for jury duty in Smithfield, Rhode Island. This is the only way that many people deal with the court system. If you are called to serve in jury duty (usually, 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 (usually 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 Smithfield, 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 Smithfield, Rhode Island court.

Being Sued: Likewise, if you're the defendant in a lawsuit, you're going to have a lot of work to do in Smithfield, Rhode Island's courts. You and your attorney will have to draft and file an answer to the lawsuit, and plenty of other documents, as well. Furthermore, there are many hearings that usually occur before a trial, to resolve procedural and evidentiary issues.

Divorce: If you are getting divorce, and there are disputes over child custody or property, you will have to go to a court in Smithfield, Rhode Island to resolve these disputes.

How Can A Smithfield, Rhode Island Tort Lawyer Help?

Most people who have to deal with Smithfield, Rhode Island's courts do so because they are facing extremely complicated legal issues, or disputes that they cannot resolve on their own.

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