Feb 26 2012

Things You Should Know About Singapore Lawyers

While most countries can boast of having a huge number of lawyers people can choose from, Singapore lawyers actually belong to quite a small circle that currently number around 3,500. There is news of a possible increase in the number of practicing local lawyers in the country, although the increase is still considerably small compared to the number of lawyers in other countries.

This rather small number of lawyers in Singapore, added to the 840 foreign lawyers who practice corporate, banking and finance law, actually still gives you a wealth of choices when you need a lawyer to handle your issues for you. All you need to do is to conduct some online search and find a legal firm that can handle your case for you, and they can pair you up with the right lawyer for your needs.

What Singapore Lawyers Often Practice

Singapore lawyers and law firms can handle almost any legal case; however, there are some that focus more on practices that attract more clients than others. These practices see more lawyers being hired simply because there’s a rise in the number of people who need attorneys to cover these cases. Some of the areas that seem to be covered more by Singapore lawyers lately include taxation, employment, divorce, DUI and auto accident/injury. Bankruptcy, criminal defense, custody, workmen’s compensation, and wills and trusts are also some of the more popularly searched practices on various lawyer sites.

Where To Find The Right Singapore Lawyers For Your Needs

Finding a lawyer that can help you deal with a legal case is easier these days, thanks to online lawyer directories which show you lists of legal services that you can contact. These directories are arranged in various ways, and you can search for the lawyer or law firm you need through these lists. Law firm listings, practice listings and even directories according to location can help you easily find the right lawyer. To get details about lawyers in these directories, you just need to click on the available links which will show you contact numbers, addresses, and other pertinent information.

You can also try to find lawyers in Singapore with the help of people you already know. Referrals and recommendations can lead you to legal services that friends and family already trust. You may ask people you know if they could recommend good lawyers for you, should you find that you need one.

Feb 25 2012

Why Hire A Lawyer In Singapore When Getting A Divorce

Getting a divorce often burdens a person with a social stigma that make it hard for men and women who are trapped in an unstable marriage to get themselves out of such a state. These stigmas can’t be avoided but they can be gotten over, especially if the spouse seeking to get out of such a dilemma asks for the help of one of the many competent family lawyers in Singapore.

Reputable family lawyers in Singapore can help couples end their marital relationship without suffering from a lot of bitterness, humiliation and distress and can nullify their marital contracts with fairness through proper legal counsel. Marriages are contracts that bind two people to fulfill certain obligations they have to each other and to offspring they create in the marriage. When one or both people in the marriage neglect these obligations, a petition for divorce can be filed to terminate such a contract.

Singapore has two kinds of laws that cover divorce petitions. One is in line with the Muslim belief and the other, the Women’s Charter, is for non-Muslims. When Muslim couples want a divorce, Muslim Law Court, or the Shariah Court, handles these. The procedure is somewhat similar with non-Muslim divorce proceedings, with petitions for divorce going through the usual legal processes and can be either rejected or granted through the power of their highest officer in the court, which is the president of the Shariah Court.

On the other hand, the Women’s Charter Act is an act of Parliament which regulates monogamous marriages, the rights and duties of married people, the rights and privileges of wives and children, the protection of women, and divorces. Under this Law, either spouse may file a petition for divorce on any of the following grounds: adultery, desertion after three years, cruelty, living separately for seven years, and mental illness. A wife may also file a petition on the ground that her husband has committed sodomy, bigamy, rape, and bestiality during their marriage.

A person can petition for divorce as long as they meet the required three years of marriage before doing so and the parties involved should be residents of Singapore. But those who have been married for under the required period of time could file a petition for divorce on the grounds of of exceptional hardship or the extreme depravity of their partner.

Feb 24 2012

Important Guidelines On How To Deal With Your Lawyer

It’s indeed a bit of a challenge to get a good lawyer from a reputable law firm. But as soon as you find the fitting one for your requirements, you might not know how to properly deal with him or her especially if it’s the first time that you’re doing this. Here are several useful guidelines to help you go through this smoothly.

Once you have already finalized a schedule for a meeting with your lawyer, remember to come very well prepared. Gather all the needed details concerning the situation and be ready to confer this with your lawyer. Outline all significant events as well as the questions that you would like to ask so you will not forget to bring them up. Bring these along with you together with any document or evidence you may have that will help your lawyer understand the whole picture.

Be punctual. Remember that lawyers, like any other person, also have other crucial things to attend to. So turn up at the office or at your meeting venue on schedule. Come in decent clothes and bring with you everything that you’d need, making sure that you will not leave out details, however small they may be.

Be honest when discussing your case. Speak confidently and make sure that you use smart and sensible sentences. But make sure to provide relevant information only so as not to veer away from the actual issue or case. Know that you could be asked different sorts of queries. This will help your lawyer obtain a better grasp of the case at hand.

Be informed of the costs that you’ll incur in your defence. In studying your contract, be sure to ask questions in order to clarify things that appear to be unclear. It is okay to follow-up on the status of the case, but do not overdo it. A once-a-week phone call may be already sufficient.

The above mentioned guidelines shall serve to help you discuss any legal question or concerns with your hired lawyer. Given that you hired him or her to help you with whatever legal suit you are facing, you don’t have to feel intimidated or awkward during meetings or discussions. Adhering to these pointers will help you have a mutually beneficial relationship with your hired lawyer.

Feb 22 2012

How Criminal Lawyers Can Help You

Having watched a lot of crime dramas on TV doesn’t make you an expert in criminal law. You may gain a lot of info from “Law and Order,” but if you are in a true legal-related situation, your smartest choice is to employ a lawyer specializing in the criminal law if you didn’t study the same degree.

Hiring a criminal lawyer may save your reputation, freedom, or even life. Even if you are the one charged or the one who complained, you unquestionably need a legal counsel. It doesn’t matter if your case is a winning one, the technicalities of the law may confuse you and may subsequently have negative impact on your case.

For accused individuals who can’t afford to hire a lawyer, the court will appoint an attorney for them.

For individuals who can afford their own legal team, they are lucky enough to choose their own attorneys. In selecting your lawyer, base their qualifications on your case. If you are charged with DUI, your criminal attorney should have adequate experience in representing clients in the same case. If you are charged with a Web-based offense, employ an attorney who has enough knowledge on the case.

Begin with asking others for a recommendation. A good place to ask for referral is from the local Bar Association. You can also ask other persons who have been charged with or have filed a similar case for referrals.

It goes without saying that criminal cases are grave. It is just wise to hire an attorney with adequate experience in handling criminal offenses. A corporate law lawyer may not be the right person for the job because criminal suits are approached differently.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask the attorney pertinent questions, such as his qualifications and experiences. You can trust a rookie, but it is just smart to favor someone with lots of winning experiences in representing clients in similar cases. After all, whether you’re a suspect or a plaintiff, it is your case and a lot is on the line.

Naturally, your lawyer must also be licensed to practice in your place. It would definitely not do if your lawyer couldn’t defend you in court because his permit is limited in another state or province. Aside from license to practice, a lawyer familiar with your area’s legal setting is also an advantage. This would help you evade falling into legal pitfalls. So again, a rookie attorney may not be the strongest person for this job.

Knowing criminal law is also helpful. While you can gain data from a crime-themed TV series, it is still advisable to ask help from an expert in the matter and inquire using books and the Internet. Because criminal lawsuits are real unlike the lawsuits covered on TV shows.

Feb 17 2012

Hiring Attorneys To Help With Your Divorce

After years of living with the person you believed was your soul mate, you then realize that he has become a stranger. It didn’t happen overnight, for sure. You have spent the latter half of your life waking up next to somebody who has likely experienced the same transition as you. But as time goes by, you feel disconnected from the person you promised to cherish for the rest of your life.

You swore to be with your husband “till death do you part,” but you realize that being with him is destroying your soul. You thought you would have an ideal life with your spouse. But no matter how much you struggled to make it work, it’s simply the end of the line for your marriage.

Divorce isn’t easy. No one said it is. There’s simply too many affected. There are too much feelings and numerous matters to consider. But you know deep inside that allowing him to go would set you free, as well.

Because the process can get truly emotional, you would need somebody detached to help you through. You may not be in the best position to think about the practical things right now, such as the lawful aspects, separating of assets and custody of your children, if you have any. A divorce lawyer would assist the procedure go swimmingly and let matters fall onto their places.

At first, having divorce lawyers involved may look cold-hearted, but in truth, attorneys would aid in lessening the hurt of the entire process. As they would take care of matters and ensure that you will be treated reasonably, you would be spared from needless tension.

Divorce attorneys would help you get through the messy, and probably, hostile procedure. Getting divorce is not only physically and emotionally draining for the couple, but also for the kids involved, if they have any. And while tension is all part of the game, divorce attorneys help lessen it by dealing the strenuous lawful issues.

Having divorce may not be ideal, but sometimes, after trying on all possible solutions, it can’t be helped. Things might not have gone as you have wanted with your marriage, but ending it shouldn’t be as hard.

Feb 13 2012

Attorneys In Singapore: Practice Areas They Can Choose From

In one way or another, individuals and corporations in Singapore would need the service of a lawyer. The service that these clients would need may vary. But nonetheless they have to make certain that the lawyer they are hiring is best for their need since their choice will certainly affect how things will turn out. Legal firms in Singapore offer a wide range of legal services from corporate formation and licensing to legal issues related to crimes and family concerns.

Lawyers practice their profession either by dealing with general application of duties or by preferring to focus on a specific legal field. Those who provide general services are often hired for legal consultancy services, develop strategies and evaluate findings. On the other hand, attorneys with specialization are the ones consulted when a person needs an injury lawyer to take care of a road accident case, or a family attorney to manage divorce case, probates and wills.

According to Straits Times dated September 19, 2011, the number of attorneys practicing in Singapore is likely to reach 4,000 by the end of the year. That signifies a 25% increase to the current number of lawyers the country currently has. This is seen as a welcome development since the need for lawyers has been increasing steadily over the past few years. This increase will help augment the previous shortage of barristers the country has been experiencing lately.

What kind of practice a new lawyer will focus on still remains to be seen. There are a lot of practices that they can choose from and these include practice areas for individuals and for corporate clients.

A new lawyer in Singapore may prefer to focus on employment law, debt recovery, family law, and will and probate laws injury laws, to name but a few. If a new attorney wishes to practice corporate law, the choices they have include commercial matters like contract creation, licensing and others. The choices also depend on the law firms they choose to become a member and what these firms focus on or specialize in.

Feb 12 2012

Signing A Distribution Agreement And Granting A Power Of Attorney

Have you ever seen a foreign film or listened to a tune in another language? Whatever makes up foreign and local films for you, chances are that you have watched and listened to a film, TV program, and music made abroad. This is possible because the producers of those creations have entered into a distribution agreement with studios in your native country. This is what happens when an owner wishes to sell his wares to another market, which in this instance is a movie or music.

Selling an item to another market requires signing a distribution agreement with a supplier. Although you can do it by yourself, there would be times and places where you wouldn’t have the power to do so. If you have made an independent movie and you wish to release it in another country in addition to releasing it in your homeland independently, you would need the support of a studio located in that place to assist you. And since you would enter into a contract with the studio, you may have to give a power of attorney rights to the distributor.

It is not required that you grant a power of attorney, or POA, to the movie studio that will distribute your film. However, it would help your cause enormously as they would have the convenience of imposing your rights even if you aren’t in the same state. A POA authorizes them to act on your behalf. The agent or the receiver of the POA, who is the distributor in this example, doesn’t mean they have to be an attorney. The right simply means they can do whatsoever is in your best interest without obtaining your consent first.

What if someone made copies of your film and sold them to movie theaters? You and your film studio in that place would miss out in profits since you wouldn’t know that you are being deceived by someone else just because you are not there. But if the distributor has POA to sue a third party for unlicensed release and distribution of your movie, they would help fix the problem as soon as possible.

The same is true for any other merchandise, not just for movies, TV programs, or music. The same rights would still apply on any work that you wish to sell, like toys or food, though there would be slight changes. You can also modify the POA to what you believe just right. It could include only those you deem necessary such as suing a third party for releasing and selling your work without your consent.

Feb 11 2012

Basic Information On Singapore Lawyers

While most countries can boast of having a huge number of lawyers people can choose from, Singapore lawyers actually belong to quite a small circle that number no more than 3,500 at present. Although a local news story in the Straits Times talks about a rise in the number of lawyers in the city to 4,000 this year, it still is quite a small number when compared to the number of lawyers found elsewhere in the world.

Still, even with this number, and with about 840 foreign lawyers practicing finance, corporate and banking law in the country, you can easily find someone who can help you with many different legal issues. All you need to do is to conduct some online search and find a legal firm that can handle your case for you, and they will provide you with the right lawyer for your needs.

What Practices Singapore Lawyers Often Focus On

Singapore lawyers and law firms can handle practically any legal case; however, there are some that focus more on practices that attract more clients than others. More lawyers tend to focus on these practices because there’s a rise in the number of people who need attorneys to cover these cases. Some of the areas which Singapore lawyers seem to cover more recently include taxation, employment, divorce, DUI and auto accidents. Bankruptcy, criminal defense, workmen’s compensation, custody and wills and trusts are also among the more popularly searched practices on some lawyer sites.

Where To Find The Right Singapore Lawyers For Your Needs

Finding a lawyer that can help you deal with a legal case is easier these days due to the presence of online lawyer directories that show you lists of legal services that you can contact. These directories are arranged in various ways, and you can search through these different lists for the lawyers you need. Law firm listings, practice listings, as well as directories according to location can help you easily find the right lawyer. To get details about lawyers in these directories, you just need to click on the available links which will show you contact numbers, some vital information about the firm or lawyer and even addresses.

You can also try to find lawyers in Singapore with the help of people you already know. Lawyers that your close friends and members of your family have worked with may even be better than the ones you search for yourself. Try tapping your friends for help in getting a good lawyer, should you require one for some reason.

Feb 01 2012

Learn About the Essentials in Starting a Business

You have come up with a brilliant idea, managed to pull in essential resources and grown enough capital. Nevertheless, do you suppose that’s enough to have before you resolve to start up a business? Aside from having the befitting qualities and skills to run and establish a business, you have to assemble the right individuals to keep your company afloat.

Some business people don’t take the need for a business lawyer and an accountant in consideration before they plunge into the game. Apparently, an accountant is vital in a business to create account charts for you, review the amounts regularly and take care of lodging your tax returns.

So in this matter, why is a business lawyer important to a freshly molded organization? That is for the fact that someone has to provide the best assistance in all faces of your company such as giving advices on handling with copyright, trademark and zoning compliance issues peculiarly complying the approved business incorporation and demonstrating policies.

Stop waiting for the time when you would realize it’s too late to correct a mistake. Get hold of the chance to utilize a business lawyer to deflect any kind of disputes in the future and ensure that rights will be preserved. Truth be told, the costs you would have to yield to clear or settle a dispute will certainly be a lot more costly than getting a business lawyer initially.

A business lawyer primarily takes care of in handling cases, negotiating rental sites, taking care of lodging patent, copyright or trademark, drafting legal agreements and advising you on all obligatory matters to create easier and fuss-free transactions.

Whether you are a big or small company, it is recommended to look for business lawyers with the exact skills that you require and are also linked to dependable law firms to have more advantages.

Jan 31 2012

Protecting Your Property With A Divorce Lawyer

Divorce is never easy. frequently, the former lovers wind up emotionally hurt. One or both can also end up financially drained. Not to mention, if there are kids involved, things could get even more complicated. If you see yourself in a similar dilemma, you could make it a little tolerable and save yourself the suffering by hiring a lawyer specializing in family law.

The law needs you to settle all your properties and arrange a new setup for your kids even if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are splitting amicably. It would also force you to reveal your financial capacity and prove your character. This means that you must allot time to sort out documents, meet with the other party, and organize for your children’s wellbeing among numerous others. Ironically, just like marriage, divorce is hard work. You wouldn’t see the result favorable to you if you don’t have the time, willpower and endurance for all these.

Hiring a lawyer can do miracles for your case. Not all divorce cases are bitter, but each one takes time and energy. A family law attorney knows the ins and outs of the system, and would manage all the paperwork linked to the case for you. In addition to that, he or she can talk to the other party, often your former spouse’s attorney also, to reach a settlement. You can certainly talk to the other party yourself, but without an expert by your side, you might wind up with an unfair bargain.

Attorneys would make sure that your interests are justly protected. You might not get all you want in the end, but a good and capable lawyer can ensure that you wouldn’t wind up the loser. And since your lawyer isn’t emotionally concerned in the case, he or she can see every angle clearly and argue with the other party wisely.

And besides, no matter how pleasant you and your ex-spouse are with each other, there are still instances when things could get emotional and too much for you. Having somebody well-informed about the law and can think intelligently would spare you from more heartache. Your attorney can also help you prove your character in the eyes of the law, which is crucial if you want to obtain full or equal custody of your children.

You still have an option whether to hire a lawyer or act as your own counsel. Not every divorce case goes to court, some conclude after a few meetings with the other party. You can forgo hiring one if that is the case. But are you willing to put your and your kids’ future at risk? As much as divorce feels so personal, you should remember that it is also a legal concern. You might wind up losing more in the end without someone accomplished to help you.