Litigation Lawyers in Goodlettsville

If you are a resident of Goodlettsville, Tennessee and believe that somebody has committed a legal wrong against you, and have determined that the effort and expense involved in seeking payment is worth it, you may consider filing a lawsuit.

If you think that you may want to file a lawsuit, you should not make this decision easily, and there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account. Obviously, you should never go into a lawsuit without at least consulting a knowledgeable Goodlettsville, Tennessee civil litigation attorney.

The Goodlettsville, Tennessee attorney you end up retaining will be able to advise you on whether you have a good case. If you do, they will further advise you on your best options on how to proceed. Your lawyer can also inform you about what their fees are, and if they have multiple payment options.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Goodlettsville, Tennessee

Consultation With Your Attorney: Before filing any case in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, you should talk with a local attorney. Your Goodlettsville, Tennessee attorney will be able to advise you on the merits of your lawsuit, and your chances of success.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you determine that pursuing a lawsuit in Goodlettsville, Tennessee 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 typically asks the court for particular relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: After you draft your complaint, and file it with the court, you have to let the defendant know that they're being sued. The law of Goodlettsville, Tennessee states that the defendant be given advance notice of the lawsuit as a matter of general fairness: if you were being sued, you'd want to be given time to find a lawyer and prepare your defense strategy, right? So, with that in mind, the law prefers that defendants be served personally, usually through the use of a paid process server.

Awaiting the Defendant's Response: Once a lawsuit has been filed, and the defendant has been served in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, the defendant has time to respond. They typically 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 establish that you've suffered losses that warrant the damages you're asking for.

How Can A Goodlettsville, Tennessee Tort Lawyer Help?

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

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should speak with a qualified Goodlettsville, Tennessee attorney.