U.S. Legal Forms Joins Forces with World Wide Notary

The nation's leading provider of state-specific legal forms on the Internet, U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. went public that the company has ventured into a strategic partnership with World Wide Notary, L.L.C., a behemoth in electronic signature and electronic professional seal technology. The agreement lays down that the U.S. Legal Forms and World Wide Notary will work together to promote each other's respective products and services and to take further initiatives. The coalition will give professionals and the public easier access to online legal forms with e-signing and e-sealing services to accommodate e-notary needs.

"U.S. Legal Forms and World Wide Notary are leaders in providing Internet solutions to serve legal profession. Electronic signature technology has opened up an important avenue for attorneys and professionals in any industry who rely on the use of legal documents to have those documents executed quickly and efficiently. Many professionals who come to our site will benefit from e-notary services and we are pleased to have World Wide Notary working with us to better serve our customers," said U.S. Legal Forms CEO Frank D. Edens.

World Wide Notary utilizes advanced technology for personal and commercial business transactions needing notary services. Lately, the company has been chosen as one of only four authorized enotarization providers for North Carolina. The selection came after two years due diligence conducted by the Secretary of State.

U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. (www.uslegalforms.com) is the nation's foremost publisher of state-specific legal forms on the Internet. The company sells legal forms and related products to attorneys, small businesses and consumers. USLegalForms.com now lists more than 70,000 state-specific legal forms which are drafted in the required language and style needed to conform to the laws of each state. The production staff, comprised of attorneys, research and update legal forms to account for variations and revisions in state law. USLF products are designed to assist attorneys in conducting their business more efficiently and to help consumers with common and routine legal needs.

In 2005, U.S. Legal Forms was named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies in America, ranked at #261. The Mississippi Business Journal also placed U.S. Legal Forms on its 2005 Fast 40 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in the state. U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. is a subsidiary of USLegal, Inc. (http://www.uslegal.com), a legal publishing company which operates legal websites including FormsPass.com, SearchLaw.com and LawStore.com.

World Wide Notary (www.wwnotary.com), a privately held Texas Corporation, is a leading provider of electronic signature and electronic professional seal technology. World Wide Notary's technology can be utilized by any industry needing multiple signatures and/or professional seal approvals from multiple locations. Professional seals could be for example notaries, architects, surveyors, geologists and government officials. Pioneering electronic signatures, as early as 1996, World Wide Notary's management team has years of experience in the Internet technology industry working with stringent federal mandates, such as HIPAA, E-SIGN and state UETA regulations, regarding security and the use of electronic and digital signatures.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Tenants No Longer Terrorized

The tenants have often become the worst victim of the dishonest landlords in the world of apartment leasing. Short of sufficient knowledge regarding landlord/tenant law, they are often taken for a ride by dishonest landlords who withhold security deposits without good reason, raise rents without notice, ignore vital repairs, and attempt to evict tenants with no real justifiable reasons. Since most tenants believe they cannot afford to get professional legal counsel at $200-300 per hour, the actions of landlords go unchallenged and the tenant suffers. However, the trend has changed and the tide has turned a bit in the recent times. Tenants are finding that they can gain a professional assistant at a cost much lower than they thought.

Independent Associate Glyn Norman, who works with Prepaid Legal Services, Inc., explains: "Probably half my calls are from tenants being abused by landlords. They are being unfairly victimized and don't know where to turn. There is usually a great sigh of relief when I tell them they can get a consultation with a lawyer, and a letter written to the landlord upholding their rights, and that it will cost them nothing more than a $26 per month legal plan."

In 90% of the cases, this seems to be all that is required. When the landlord finds out that the tenant is not going to accept their actions, and that they have legal assistance backing them up, they usually put right whatever is wrong, and stop taking advantage. In the USA, the richest 10% of Americans have a lawyer on retainer, and the poorest 10% qualify for Legal Aid. That leaves a gaping hole for the middle 80%, and this is a hole that Prepaid Legal Services aims to fill, with over 1.5 million families already taking advantage of their legal plans. Finally tenants have someone on their side.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Software License Awareness Day is April 10, 2007

Wasatch Software, a famous name of reseller of information technology products, is sponsoring 'Software License Awareness Day' on April 10 to tell organizations about the legal risks involved with software licensing. Software license agents from Wasatch Software can be found throughout 'Software License Awareness Day' to help address any potential issues for organizations interested in participating.

Using of software when you don’t have license brings copyright infringement penalty.

If a software publisher brings civil action against an organization, it may face up to $150,000 in damages for each software program being used illegally. Also, organizations of all sizes can be held liable for employees' actions even if management was not aware.

It is always the best idea to fix the issues right away if you organization has any software piracy issues. Many companies can obtain financing, allowing them to spread the cost of getting legit over time. Even the purchase of a few software licenses each month can make a big difference.

If your company is at peril you may feel overwhelmed. Certainly, legitimate software licensing can be costly. Spencer Ferguson, President of Wasatch Software, notes that taking a few simple steps can go a long way towards fixing the problem. "If your organization faces a software piracy issue it is best to start fixing it right away, even if you must do it slowly. Many companies can obtain financing, allowing them to spread the cost of getting legit over time. Even the purchase of a few software licenses each month can make a big difference."

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), an organization that helps software companies fight piracy, estimates that the United States faces a piracy rate of 21%. Software license agents from Wasatch Software are available throughout 'Software License Awareness Day' to help individuals address any potential issues on a confidential basis.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Harvard study promotes mandatory prenups.

Those who believe that prenup is a provision against the negative outcome of marriages should find this article an eye-opener. The recent study by Heather Mahar of the Havard Law School reveals that most people are under the misconception that a prenup increases the likelihood of divorce, and concluded that a solid prenuptial agreement is likely to improve the chances of a successful marriage.

With five out of ten marriages going bust, a good prenuptial agreement can improve the chance of a successful marriage. A prenup should not only guard the assets, it should protect the marriage.

The least convincing reason for average American couples to prefer prenuptial agreements, since most couples do not enter marriages with significant assets.

Mahar argues that the division of assets is "the least compelling reason for average American couples to consider prenuptial agreements, since most couples do not enter marriages with significant assets." However, she finds that "for couples who choose a traditional partnership, with one spouse exiting the workforce to raise children, agreeing in advance about how to divide assets earned during a marriage or potential future earnings can protect the stay-at-home spouse against divorce laws, which have generally eliminated long-term alimony."

The procedure of creating a prenup acts as form of premarital counseling, making couples talk about what kind of marriage they want, and what legal implications there will be if one spouse veers off course. Mahar recommends mandatory prenuptial agreements, and using LawDepot.com's online prenup as a couple can make the process easier.

Courtesy:www.prweb.com

Unique New Law Firm Marketing Opportunity from Lawline.com

As one of the leading providers of online continuing legal education, Lawline.com is offering an exceptional marketing opportunity for law firms willing to get the word out about their practice. By tying up with law firms all over the country, Lawline.com is creating high-quality online seminars, featuring expert lawyers and specific areas of practice, at their online course center.

Law firms that are taking part in this event profit by delivering seminars via streaming video or mp3/podcasting format to an increasing user-base of over 10,000 members. Lawline.com is allowing firms to showcase their expertise to both clients and other lawyers keen on continuing legal education. In the interest of brand recognition each online course is displayed with a resume of the presenting attorney and a link to their firm's individual website.

Some of the advantages of being on the Lawline.com faculty include receiving local and national recognition, lawyers establishing themselves as experts in their field, developing a referral base, becoming featured in newsletters and marketing campaigns, leveraging Lawline's search engine rankings in Google, Yahoo, and MSN and using lectures as a marketing tool to send to potential clients.

Lawline.com's management team has a great deal of experience to produce and maintain high-quality and informative online New York CLE programs, as well as offering their services all over the United States. A family business since its inception, with 60+ years of experience in the practice of law, and 25 years of experience in producing legal programming, Lawline.com has been utilizing streaming video technology and the Internet as a medium since the early 1990s.

Founded in 1999 and having grown from Lawline, a well regarded legal television program in the New York Metropolitan area, Lawline.com was one of the first websites to proivde online CLE in New York State. Since then, Lawline.com has expanded to 20 states and currently offers hundreds of hours of CLE programming in all practice areas.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Fortiva Focuses Efforts on Channel Sales for On-Demand Email Archiving Solution

A renowned supplier of email archiving solutions, Fortiva Inc. has said that it is shifting its focus to channel sales with the initiation of the Fortiva Alliance Network (FAN) program. The new channel program will give resellers, value-added product vendors, and integrators the break to target the up-and-coming market for email archiving solutions with Fortiva’s on-demand solution. Components of the program comprises of full technical, sales, and marketing support as well as access to an online partner portal.

A fresh report by Osterman Research says that the compound annual growth rate for managed email archiving from 2007 – 2010 is estimated at 84.9 percent, compared to just 24.5 percent for on-premise solutions. As the only on-demand solution with support for a whole range of email archiving needs, including email storage management with attachment stubbing, advanced search for legal discovery, and compliance with supervision and retention requirement, Fortiva partners are in a best position to address this burgeoning market.

LegalView.com responds to National Pet Food Recall Crisis

The definitive legal resource, LegalView.com is answering to the countrywide Menu Foods pet food recall crisis with a practice area devoted to the newest information on the pet food recall. Located at http://pet-food-recall.legalview.com, it's a free legal resource for those concerned about their pets' safety and the possibility of pet death after consumption of stained Menu Foods pet food.

LegalView.com's pet food recall site is meant for being a starting point for apprehensive consumers probing for more information about recent developments in the Menu Foods pet food recall case. The site features news about pet food recall, dog and cat food dangers and links to advanced listings of the recalled Menu Foods pet food varieties. As well as, consumers whose pets have fallen ill or died after eating the stained Menu Foods pet food can use LegalView.com's easy referral service for a free, no-obligation consultation with a pet food lawyer who can help assess their case for a potential lawsuit.

The pet food recall site stands alongside LegalView.com's many relevant and informative legal practice areas. Covering everything from car and truck crashes to defective medical devices, birth injury and recalls, LegalView.com offers consumers with free legal resources such as legal blogs, a legal directory and a complete legal encyclopedia. It's your one-stop shop for everything legal -- and your clearinghouse for quick, competent lawyer referrals.

LegalView.com is a free public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation formed by a group of esteemed law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.legalview.com.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Children of Elderly Should Collaborate - Not Litigate

More than 5 out of 10 of US marriages lasting shorter than 6 months, quite a few Baby Boomers are aware that even when the bitter court disputes come to an end, the play may still be one. Property is divided, assets parsed and financial terms set but, when children are involved, there is a second act - the warring parties still must coexist. Quite a few Boomers are now on the brink of an encore performance with elderly parents at center stage in these emotions charged disputes. Siblings in growing numbers are resorting to filing lawsuits to resolve family clashes.

There is much evidence to show that, without a near term course correction, courts will soon be congested with such cases. However, two proponents of an approach called Collaborative Practice offer a non-litigation alternative to handle elder-related cases.

In an article featured during February on the Parent Care website, the two Collaborative Practice advocates offer insights into this emerging elder-related family dispute resolution tool. They trace its roots to the mid-70's when a Minnesota attorney sought and developed a means to have divorce disputes settled out of court. Lately, the technique has been increasingly and successfully used in elder probate, property and guardianship matters. To be used successfully, "Attorneys must learn the vocabulary and methods of peace making, and discard the language and strategies of courtroom battle," the authors offer. Both Stagg and Andrews are active in California's Collaborative Practice movement which includes financial, mental health, estate planning and related experts. Andrews is working with several bar associations across the country as they ramp up their own practices.

In addition to expert articles, subscription-based Parent Care provides reports on senior services in each of the country's 3,300 counties to help caregivers locate and evaluate local service providers. Daily tips, senior-related news, book reviews, safety checklists and videos complement an array of other features. Recent articles include topics from preventing slips and falls to reverse mortgages, maximizing doctor visits and relocating elderly parents. All are archived for future reference.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Michigan Car Accident Lawyers Publish New Attorney Guide for Handling Car Accident Cases in Michigan

The Michigan Attorneys can now freely access to the information related to the victims of car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. The information is available at Michigan Car Accident Lawyers. This is an ultimate guide and a complete legal resource center for lawyers and victims of car accidents.

Stevene M. Gursten, a Michigan Car Accident Attorney has developed this guide to help lawyers in Michigan to help them achieve the best possible verdicts and settlements on behalf of their clients. This broad guide is a part of the extensive resource centre that reviews Michigan No Fault Law, related to auto accident cases, how to apply for benefits, getting the right medical care and includes the most common errors committed by lawyers and victims.

The guide is one of many resources available to Michigan lawyers, auto accident victims and their families. All information is available at no charge and is a recommended link for legal and consumer advocacy web sites devoted to helping people injured by car accidents.

About Steven M. Gursten - Mr. Gursten was recently selected as "Lawyer of the Year" for 2005, by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, the state's largest legal periodical. Steve was selected after winning a $9 million settlement for one of his clients -- reported as the largest settlement for pain and suffering in Michigan in more than 10 years.

About Michigan Auto Law - Gursten, Koltonow, Gursten, Christensen & Raitt, P.C.
Michigan Auto Law has been recognized as Michigan's largest personal injury law firm practicing exclusively in serious car, truck and wrongful death cases. For more than 50 years and three generations, the firm has been helping people throughout Michigan, achieving more million dollar verdicts and settlements for car and truck cases than any other Michigan law firm. For more information about Michigan Auto Law, call 1-800-777-0028 or visit Michigan Car Accident Attorneys.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Reformed "Killer" Divorce Lawyer Reveals Secrets Of How To Get A Peaceful Divorce

The former high-powered divorce litigation lawyer, Cynthia Tiano is facing the music of her own profession. She was the divorce attorney everyone loved to hate - just the sight of her name on a divorce case was enough to send opposing attorneys a shiver down their spine.

After Tiano was faced with the harsh courtroom experience, she connected with what she had been dishing out to divorcing parties for over fifteen years - and knew that there had to be a better way. "The adversarial system is no place for families to find themselves," said Tiano.

She should know, having been a Certified Divorce Mediator exclusively now for over ten years after closing her trial practice. She also has created a website, MediateThis.com, to offer divorce help to a wider audience, as, says Tiano, "It's taking me too long to save the world two at a time."

Divorce Mediation is a process where people going through a divorce receive divorce support, when they meet with a neutral intermediary, in an effort to resolve their disputes. Mediation has been mandatory for all divorce cases in Florida since the mid-nineties, and is growing in popularity as the ultimate tool for creating a more peaceful divorce and improved communication between people with children.

When using an expert Divorce Mediator, thousands of dollars in lawyer's fees can be saved, and virtually any couple can experience a significant decrease in conflict and an improved ability to effectively co-parent their children. However, since a mediator cannot give divorce advice, each party may want to consult with a Mediation-friendly divorce attorney before signing a divorce agreement.

Cynthia Tiano, Esquire, is the President of Mediate This!, one of the nation's first companies geared toward the mass education of people and families going through divorce about the peaceful and cost-saving alternative of Divorce Mediation. Get your free Audio Series to save your money and your sanity at www.MediateThis.com, or phone 954-561-0105.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Protecting Loved Ones from Nursing Home Abuse

Solomon & Relihan, PC the leader in nursing home litigation, has recently launched NursingHomeAdvocates.com. Nursing Home Advocates is formed and all set to assist both family members of nursing home residents who have been forsaken and those who suspect mistreatment of a loved one in a nursing home facility.

In the United States alone, nursing home mismanagement has become a core crisis with rising numbers. Investigations done by the US Government have revealed that around 30% of nursing home facilities in the US have maltreated or abused their patients, resulting in significant harm. Studies also show that nursing home malpractice has resulted in over 4,000 deaths due to malnutrition, dehydration, and bedsores.

Solomon & Relihan's Phoenix based law firm has devoted their practice to focus on helping Arizona residents hold nursing homes answerable for harm resulting from nursing home neglect or abuse including: physical and psychological harm, and death. Contact Solomon & Relihan by using NursingHomeAdvocates.com and share your story to find out whether or not you have a case.

Courtesy:www.prweb.com

LegalMatch Again Sees Valentine's Effect: Largest In Metro Areas

According to LegalMatch.com, thenation’s leding online legal matching company, the rise in the pre-valentine divorce cases is all set to go further up. LegalMatch, which matches tens of thousands of clients to lawyers per month across the US, says the number of people wanting divorce attorneys, as well as attorneys to help with annulments and prenuptial agreements, increases significantly around Valentine's Day. According to Ken LaMance, associate general counsel for LegalMatch, "Over the last four years we have seen an average increase of 31% (compared to all other weeks) in divorce, annulments and prenuptial cases in the week prior to and directly after Valentine's Day."

Across the US, population density seems to play a major role in the Valentine's Effect. Philadelphia divorce attorneys saw the biggest rise in 2006 with a nearly 50% increase in new cases in the weeks around Valentine's Day. Texas, Dallas and Fort Worth saw a rise of 44% and 32%, respectively. The San Francisco Bay Area also saw a 27% increase in divorce, annulment and prenuptial cases and Atlanta saw the smallest spike of all metro areas, at 20%. Interesting, however, is LegalMatch data that suggests that it's the small towns across America that seem immune to the Valentine's Effect.

The phenomenon was first noticed in 2006 by LegalMatch, at which time they researched their cases to see if it was just a one-year anomaly. To their surprise, company records indicated that this spike in cases was indeed visible in each of the three years prior. This is not that surprising to attorney Ken LaMance. LaMance says, "The added stress of a holiday where you are all but required to express your love with chocolates, flowers and even jewels, especially so soon after the holidays, can make people anxious and questioning." "It may have something to do with the idealized images of love they see all over the media," continues, LaMance. "As more and more people turn to the Internet when looking for a lawyer, we expect to sift through our close to a million legal cases to uncover more of these statistical trends."

Courtesy:www.prweb.com

New Internet Legal Resource Launches

My-Law.info is the has remained the definitive destination for anyone seeking to enhance their knowledge on different legal issues for free. This new website offers a significant amount of legal resources to the public.

Filled with informative articles, My-Law.info is the most desired destination for anyone seeking a free internet legal resource. A great place to start research on virtually any legal topic, My-Law.info provides a very valuable service to the public. An infinite resource for lawyer referrals, child custody issues, DUI information, criminal, as well as injury cases.

My-Law.info also has news articles that relate to pertaining legal issues, that are updated periodically. Great for law students as well as people looking to take their own defense. Whatever your legal needs, My-Law.info has something for everyone. Best of all this service is provided free of charge. No membership fees, and no email address is needed. This is a public service that provided for anyone who has access to the internet.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Americas Watchdog to Assist Corporations being victimized by Global Counterfeiting and Piracy

Americas Watchdog has decided to tie up with Global Piracy & Counterfeiting Consultants to fight global piracy or counterfeiting of products or intellectual property. The task of this group will involve working on behalf of corporate clients or business clients to get rid of the theft of their intellectual property or the counterfeiting of their products. According to Thomas Martin President, "this huge problem is costing corporations up to half a trillion dollars a year". "Global piracy & counterfeiting also puts at risk consumers with unsafe or potentially deadly products" Industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Intellectual Property, Software, Music, Movie DVD's, Fashion, Fashion Accessories, Jewelry, Tobacco are the main target of counterfeiting.

The Global Piracy & Counterfeiting Consultants, on behalf of its clients, will carry out integrated buy operations particularly designed to spot the actual manufacturer of the counterfeit item or the participants in intellectual property/product theft and put up a case against those involved. The goal of these investigations will be civil or criminal prosecutions or sanctions. Americas Watchdog's Global Piracy & Counterfeiting Consultants will work with specific corporations, industry trade groups or their lawyers on a retainer + time basis/project basis.

Studies say that around the world, between 35 and 40 percent of all commercial, packaged software and musical recordings sold every year are thought to be counterfeit. Among patented products that are more difficult to duplicate, such as drugs, electronics and semiconductors, the counterfeit rates are lower but extensive, and increasing. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 10% of the pharmaceuticals sold worldwide every year are counterfeit, valued at more than $50 billion. By the year 2010, counterfeit pharmaceuticals could make up as much as 35%+ of the global market. This year global theft or counterfeiting of intellectual property, pharmaceuticals, entertainment DVD's or CD's, fashion, fashion accessories, jewelry, tobacco and other products will cost corporations between $250 billion to $500 billion dollars.

If a corporation, or business has a problem with intellectual property theft or product counterfeiting, Americas Watchdog & its Global Piracy & Counterfeiting Consultants is there to examine their specific situation and assemble a plan to attack the problem on a country by country basis or internationally. US based or international law firms representing clients victimized by intellectual property piracy or product counterfeiting are welcome to contact Americas Watchdog. The web site for the Global Piracy & Counterfeiting Consultants can be found at http://GP-CC.com. The anytime phone number for Global Piracy & Counterfeiting Consultants is 866-714-6466.

Courtesy:www.prweb.com

Legalmatch and The Utah State Bar Expand Partnership: Free Legal Information Online

LegalMatch, the progressive online legal matching company, and the Utah State Bar have declared their expansion plan on some new services. On the Utah State Bar (USB) website, LegalMatch will provide the USB with a co-branded version of LegalMatch's LegalCenter that now offers legal tips, a consumer law library, and resources for finding a Utah lawyer, all at no cost for the citizens of Utah. LegalMatch has been the legal matching service of choice for the USB for over three years.

The new cooperative law library offers more than 3300 articles on practically every legal topic. These are written with the average person in mind, who is looking for clarification on compound issues, and who might find him or herself in the middle of either a law suit, family dispute, or a criminal investigation. The legal tips area offers easy to use and helpful advice on finding, hiring, and working with a lawyer.

LegalMatch has built its customer base by empowering people when they are involved in the challenging task of hiring a lawyer; the LegalCenter is a central part of this empowerment. Toby Brown, Utah State Bar's Director of Communications says, "The Utah State Bar is very thrilled to be able to help more of our citizen with their legal questions and concerns. The online LegalCenter can now answer pressing questions, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, providing information and courses of action, whenever the people of Utah need it."

Apart from the 10% discount that Utah State Bar member attorneys receive on Legalmatch membership, this expanded service also extends important cost-saving benefits to all Utah State Bar member attorneys through LegalMatch's Financial Services Division. Chief among these is lower-cost credit card processing bereft of hidden fees and access to full practice financing.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Over One Million People Trust LegalMatch to Find the Right Lawyer

One of the biggest, oldest and most trusted online legal matching services, LegalMatch helps people by allowing them to present the details of their legal case in a secure and secret manner. The comprehensive case intake process imitates that performed by attorneys in an initial consultation. LegalMatch then sends the case intake information to the appropriate member attorneys to review and respond to.

"Monday, April 2, 2007, marks a milestone for LegalMatch," said Laurie Ziffrin, LegalMatch CEO, "over a million Americans have now trusted LegalMatch to help them find an attorney to solve their legal issues. Even more powerful is the fact that over 98% of our matched clients report they would use our service again. It validates that LegalMatch is the best way for people to find the right attorneys for their legal needs."

"We started LegalMatch to help people. Reaching this point; knowing that we've helped over a million people resolve some of the most difficult issues in their lives is both very humbling and satisfying," says Anna Ostrovsky, LegalMatch's Co-founder, Chairperson and General Counsel.

LegalMatch (www.legalmatch.com) is an online legal matching service that facilitates finding a lawyer. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Los Angeles and Austin, LegalMatch helps attorneys’ nationwide build and grow their law practice. LegalMatch pioneered the online legal matching industry in 1999; the service is free to consumers and available in all fifty states.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

LegalView.com Launches FDA Drug Database

LegalView.com, the definitive legal resource, has added an armory of advanced information on drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at http://fda-drugs.legalview.com/ The database, which lists significant information on over 3800 drugs and medications, was designed as another free resource for consumers who are worried about drug side effects, interactions and dosage information.

The FDA drug database joins LegalView's other drug-related resources, including practice areas on unsafe drugs, recall information for medications such as Zelnorm, Procrit and Pergolide, and informative articles and blogs on medical devices like the Composix hernia mesh patch and Guidant defibrillators. Listing dosage, generic, manufacturer, and form information, in addition to approval date and current FDA status, LegalView's FDA drug database is your one-stop shop for up-to-date information on a variety of commonly prescribed drugs and medications.

The drug database stands beside hundreds of unique, informative and totally free practice areas developed by LegalView. Current additions comprise of the Peter Pan peanut butter recall, pet food recall, birth injury, and car and truck accidents. LegalView.com also offers links to legal resources and informative websites in your state, legal blogs, a complete legal encyclopedia, and legal directory. And its free referral system can put you in touch with a competent Peter Pan recall lawyer or other specific attorney in your area quickly and easily.

LegalView.com is a free public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.legalview.com

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Make Your Employment Offer Clear this Summer

Another college semester is just about to wrap up, and that means that students around the country are on the lookout for summer jobs. LawDepot.com's online Employment Offer Letter allows employers to clearly outline the conditions of employment when offering a position to a potential employee.

Most summer workers are only hired for two to four months. LawDepot.com's Employment Offer Letter allows employers to clearly state the start and end dates for the position being offered. The letter can also be used for offers of permanent employment, or temporary employment without a fixed end date.

The Employment Offer Letter allows employers to rapidly and effortlessly draft a letter that clearly states the type of compensation, if there is any entitlement to a benefits package, what the hours of work are and more. The form also allows employers to draft a list of preconditions for employment. If passing a drug screening test is a prerequisite for employment, the employer simply selects that option from the list and it will be instantly added to the Employment Offer Letter.

Whether one is hiring a college student for summer help, or looking to fill a permanent position, LawDepot.com's Employment Offer Letter makes it easy for employers to formally clarify the terms of employment before a new hire is made.

Couetesy: www.prweb.com

Guardianship Disagreements as a Deterrent to Preparing a Will

The premier online legal document service, LegalZoom.com has announced the outcome of its most recent nation-wide survey measuring the number of people who have prepared a Last Will and Testament. The LegalZoom.com survey, which was conducted by InsightExpress and sampled 1,000 individuals with a +/- 3.09 percent margin of error, almost no change from previous results.

The findings of the survey says that 7 out of 10 Americans, or 70.2 percent, lack a Last Will and Testament. This number is more or less equal to the findings from preceding years, indicating that Americans remain mostly unprotected today. The survey also indicates that 20% respondents has not updated their Will for half a decade or more.

Most clearly, the study shows that parents with minor children were less likely to have prepared a Last Will than other individuals. A possible contributing factor: nearly 20% respondents with minor children cited guardianship issues as a deterrent to preparing a Last Will. Likewise, 42.3 percent of respondents had not made up their mind who would serve as a guardian to their children in the event of their death. As a result, 74.4 % of parents still did not have a Last Will and Testament, despite the fact that 79 percent of parents noted the importance of creating this legal document. While most respondents noted the importance of having a Last Will (73.8 percent), they also cited common barriers for not preparing one. Cost and time ranked among the top reasons.

LegalZoom.com suggests that everyone keep an updated Last Will to designate guardians for minor children, specify last wishes, and name beneficiaries for general and specific gifts, such as funds, automobiles, homes, and family heirlooms. It is especially important to update a Will following major life events such as marriage, divorce, new property acquisition, or the birth of a child or grandchild.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Court Reporting Careers on the Rise

Opportunities are aplenty for the high-caliber court reporters both in courthouse or a TV studio. There is more number of job openings for court reporters and hence, the court reporting skills are in high demand. About 60% of court reporters are employed in traditional roles in state and local government.

The number court reporters will keep on going up as federal legislation and the Americans with Disabilities Act require closed captioning and real-time translation on television and in classrooms.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has the following statistics:

* Job prospects for certified court reporters are expected to grow at a rapid rate until at least 2014.

* An official court reporter can work in many stable, leading industries such as closed-captioned television, government and divorce law.

* An increasing number of court reporters work from home-based offices as independent contractors or freelancers.

* In 2004, the average court reporter earned a salary of $41,000 dollars.

Many schools and institutions can help their students to start careers in many areas of court reporting. The Court Reporting Institute of Dallas (CRID) will commence its Spring Term on April 2, 2007.

The Court Reporting Institute of Dallas has helped graduates gain the knowledge and the know-how to develop a successful court reporting career For 27 years. CRID devotes their energy and resources to making sure students receive interesting and cost-effective court reporting training in this high-demand field.

To find out more about this exciting, expanding legal industry and how to become a court reporter, contact a court reporting school.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

CaseRev Reaches Significant Milestone: Over 400 Law Firms Now Registered on CaseRev Platform

The online community of virtual teams bridging claims professionals, attorneys, and vendors, CaseRev, Inc. has said that it has now registered over 400 law firms on its web-based platform.

"We are pleased to have reached this milestone so quickly," said Steve Pratt, CEO of CaseRev. "Each of these law firms has been identified by our clients as a participating firm in their litigation management improvement initiative. Now, each of these firms can be notified of the case management, reporting and authority events that are required by our clients' litigation guidelines, automatically and efficiently."

"As a former managing defense attorney I know how important this is to each of these participating firms," continued Pratt. "Associate and managing attorneys no longer have to look up each of their client's unique guidelines case over case, but now can be notified automatically of these requirements through the CaseRev application, along with any required reporting templates. This enables them to showcase a 100% guideline compliance rate with each of their CaseRev clients, strengthening their client relationships and further distinguishing their firms."

CaseRev clients can obtain key documents, status reports, case materials, and exposure and cost analyses from law firm participants in a shared, more efficient environment.


Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Law Firm Launches All-IP Blog

An All-IP web log focusing primarily on the legal issues related to intellectual property has been launched by the attorneys of McKee Voorhees & Sease. This IP blog will include different issues related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and various litigation cases concerning intellectual property industry.

"We've been developing our blog in-house for about six months," says partner and blog supervisor R. Scott Johnson. "It was our goal to develop an educational and informational resource for professionals and general practice attorneys to use to learn more about intellectual property legal issues. It is truly designed to be client-user friendly in the utmost professional fashion."

Aside from this, publishing timely news on IP topics (about 3 to 5 each week), each post will feature links to further clarify the news item providing users a full scope of each issue.

Each post will also be categorized by subject so users can choose a category and see only posts pertinent to that subject. Users will be able to subscribe via email to get updates when they are posted. Also, RSS feeds will be available for the blog as a whole and each category of posts, so users can select subjects they would like updates about. To subscribe or access the RSS feeds, log on to www.filewrapper.com.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Parents, Do You Know How to Advocate for Your Child in a School Setting?

Are you kids studying in school or college? Are you a student or professional? Do you home school or cyber-school and have you ever felt the sting of discrimination from your district? Anyone who is a parent or educational employee is in essence, an educational advocate; or should be. Older students may need to advocate themselves at times also - and anyone interested in the quality and responsibility of education should be equipped to advocate if need be.

The book "Pocket Guide for the Educational Advocate" has become a hit even its release, and it is now available for pre-order. Get yours now before it even hits the bookstores. This easy to follow guide is your first step in empowerment.

Educational systems can sometimes intimidate and manipulate; they may have policies on paper but those policies may not be adhered to with the responsibility or education that they deserve. Alternatively, the school or college may be doing all that they can and it is up to you to know when to fight a battle or accept the reality of what is and what is not legal and ethical.

This is the starting point in which to ascertain the situation and bring positive closure, and sometimes, empowerment and rights to the forefront. This guide is packed with valuable information, mock letters and communications that you can use, and specific processes on how to file complaints to the Department of Education as well as inside tips on how to protect yourself or your child, and your rights.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

True Answers from True Lawyers

Overtaking conventional legal listings or the arcane legal definitions, the whole new website True Lawyers (http://www.truelawyers.com) brings the consumer into an online, interactive office with a living, breathing attorney for free.

The greatest thing about True Lawyers, Inc. is that both consumers and lawyers save time, energy and money through internet communication. Attorneys no longer need to engage in lengthy telephone conversations to screen prospective clients and consumers get answers without any commitment.

The interactive office settings are divided into suitable categories such as Bankruptcy, Accidents and Injuries, DUI/DWI, Drug Offenses, Wills and Probate, Family Law, Small Business, etc.

However, this not all about True Lawyers. The free services for consumers and attorneys include an online chat room, mentoring forums, a job board, a resource room, an online store, a legal search engine, and personal home pages for each member.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

The Attorney Store .Com Launches Bailey & Galyen's Texas Father's Rights Website

The renowned law firm of Bailey & Galyen has recently officially announced their Texas Father’s Rights website. This website will be of massive help for many fathers, grandparents, and all those who are keen on learning more about the significance of father’s rights. With the hosting of this website, the state of Texas has got a whole new voice in father’s rights. This website www.texas-fathers-rights.com has been designed and developed by the web services team at TheAttorneyStore.com that provides legal information and services to the legal professionals and public.

Texas Father's Rights proivdes information on divorce, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, father's rights, grandparent’s rights, relocation and parental alienation. Further, the website helps you get in touch with an experienced lawyer, if they wish to seek counsel on any issues regarding father's rights.

A rising curiosity in the existing area of father's rights has compelled law firms and courts alike to acknowledge the existence and importance of men to protect and assert their rights as fathers. With statistics showing an increase in fathers who are divorced or single, issues such as child support, custody and visitation need to be revisited to reflect the active role that fathers wish to have in their children's life. Sadly, statistics also show that mothers are more favored by the courts, regarding custodial issues, even if less fit than the father. Understanding father's rights helps both parties come to a resolution in which the best interests of a child can be met, without compromising their relationship with both parents.

Bailey & Galyen is one of the biggest and most celebrated "consumer law" firms in Texas with offices in multiple locations around Texas including Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Bedford, Houston, as well as in Florida and Missouri. They are committed to providing counsel that is honorable and caring, from attorneys that are specialized as well as board certified.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Minnesota Department of Public Safety Taking Interesting Measures to Promote The Dangers of Drinking and Driving

More than 42, 000 motorists were arrested with a Minnesota DUI last year. As well as, over 200 traffic deaths and other alcohol related crashes cases were registered. With these appalling figures, The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has resorted to taking out of the ordinary measures in an effort to send their message across regarding the dangers of drinking and driving.

For instance, men who used urinals in some bars on St. Patrick's Day may have gotten a special message about drunken driving. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety deployed 'talking urinal cakes' in about 100 bars to encourage people not to drink and drive. The bottom line is they want the Minnesota DUI arrests to go down. The cakes, activated by a motion sensor, offered a message with a woman's sultry voice saying "Hey there big guy, having a few drinks?" The message was targeted toward primary Minnesota DUI offenders, young men.

The Department chose St. Patrick's Day because over the past five years, St. Patrick's Day holidays had traffic crashes resulting in nine deaths, four of which were alcohol related. In addition, over that same time period, nearly 1,400 motorists received a Minnesota DUI arrest on the holiday. Moreover, the urinal cakes, the Department held a public relations campaign using unique phrasing and sayings such as "Make sure you designate O'driver" and "Nothing goes worse with green beer than a DWI chaser. Road patrols will be thicker than a pint of Guinness".

Essentially, the State Department of Public Safety is using all measures possible to get the message out, revolutionize people's behavior, and improve Minnesota DUI statistics. They want safer roads for all drivers. Anyone facing charges due to the increased enforcement and targeted campaigns should prefer Kans Law Firm to represent them. Kans Law Firm has the experience

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Need a Ride Home this St. Patrick’s Day? Call a Cab – It’s on Berg Injury Lawyers

Though St. Patrick’s Day is a time to groove to the music and jive by celebrating the Irish culture, music and customs, it has also become a holiday when driving under the influence of alcohol has become a dangerous problem. This is why, Alameda-based law firm Berg Injury Lawyers has once again committed itself to providing free cab rides home to people who have been drinking and driving or who don’t feel that they have a safe way to return home.

Berg Injury Lawyers will join hands with Veterans Cab and Yellow Cab of Alameda to provide free transportation this St. Patrick’s Day. The law firm’s Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home program will be available in the cities of Alameda, Oakland, and Berkeley from 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2007, through 3 a.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2007.

To request a free cab ride home, individuals can call Yellow Cab of Alameda or Veterans Cab at(800) 281-4488 and tell them Berg Injury Lawyers is paying for their safe ride home. Cab rides are made available to area residents who otherwise might attempt to drive home after drinking. Rides are provided to an individual’s residence—not to other drinking locations.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Where There is a Living Will, There is a Way

If you have heard of a Living Will but haven’t gone for one, then you probably are not aware of the benefits associated with this. Let’s know what a Living Will is all about. A Living Will is a legal document that allows a person to convey his or her wishes regarding medical treatment in the event that he or she is incapable to personally convey them. Having a Living Will allows a person choose what type of care they would like to receive in the event that they suffer from a terminal condition, permanent coma, or persistent vegetative state. This is very useful for all who don’t their family members to take financial burdens should they meet with the above conditions.

After the Terri Schiavo incident took the center-stage of media attention in 2005, the importance of Living Will has been popularly realized across the United States. But, only 41% of Americans have taken the Living Wills. Of late, LawDepot.com has come up with an online Living will form to help people create them within minutes. The online Living will is easy and allows a person to decide what type of care he/she wants to get in the event of his suffering from the aforementioned medical conditions. LawDepot.com's recently revised Living Will form makes it fast and easy to draft a living will.

The number of Americans with a living will has, thus, increased 10% since 2005 for this reason. Without a living will, the family may not know what a patient's wishes are. As the Schiavo case illustrated, this can result in a situation in which members of the individual's family cannot agree on what course of action to take. A living will makes the patient's wishes clear and legally binding, and that can help prevent family discord regarding what treatments should or should not be administered.

LawDepot.com has recently revised its Living Will form to ensure that it is completely up-to-date, and is as fast and easy to use as possible. This form can also be bundled with the Medical Power of Attorney form as part of a full Health Care Directive package.

For more information about the news that is the subject of this release (or for a sample, copy or demo), contact David Pettitt or visit http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/living-will/.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

EBooks about Law - The Worlds Where Lawyers Roam

Just click your mouse and enter the world of information. EBooks About Law has announced the launch of a brand-new store designed to provide the best in legal information. Titles cover everything from running your own law firm to bankruptcy, consumer protection and even criminal law. EBooks about Law has the best selection of legal information for the layman in electronic form available today. Books from Nolo Press alone cover information about Worker's Compensation, child custody and living wills. Other titles include information of medical malpractice, patents and even taxation.

As an eBooks About Everything store, eBooks About Law offers customers reward points for registering, writing an online review or telling a friend. These points can add up to huge savings anywhere in the large and growing list of EBooks about Everything bookstores.

EBooks about Law is one of the EBooks About Everything family of stores. EBooks about Everything (www.ebooksabouteverything.com) has books for everybody, everywhere, every time (24/7/365). EBooks about Everything: Think it; Click it; Read it!

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

California Supreme Court Enforces Strict Labor Laws

WorkForce Software Inc., a leading workforce management solutions provider, responds to the California Supreme Court ruling in the California overtime lawsuit that hampers the interest of hundreds of thousands employees and several employers due to the increased number lawsuits. As per the judgment employees who did not obtain lunch breaks after 5 hours of work are entitled to back wages of an hour a day for up to the prior three years.

WorkForce Software’s EmpCenter solution was designed to assist employers meet these kinds of intricate state and federal compliance requirements. California has rigid employment laws such as the one referenced in the recent Supreme Court ruling that requires a 30-minute unpaid lunch for an employee who works five hours or more, and a 10- minute paid break for an employee who works four hours or more.

EmpCenter easily supports the California regulations and other state and federal regulations such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), helping employers avoid costly lawsuits. For employers who have been out of compliance, EmpCenter’s retroactive calculation features allow employers to calculate their exact liability to assist with claims and settlements.

In the April 18, 2007 issue of the Los Angeles Times, the article, Q & A: Employee Hours and Work Breaks, discusses the importance of automating the tracking of employee time:
State law imposes strict duties on employers to keep precise records of workers' hours and breaks, said Los Angeles lawyer Richard Simmons, who also represents employers. Employees may dislike their bosses keeping close tabs on their comings and goings, he said, but time sheets and computer programs that track work hours "are an employer's best friend in demonstrating compliance," he advises.

At the core of EmpCenter is a high-performance logic engine that automatically enforces labor regulations and an organization’s business rules, so time and labor information is always up-to-date and accurate, payroll costs are apportioned correctly, and the workforce can be managed within budget. Through multiple data collection methods and a web interface, employers can easily collect time and attendance information, control overtime, enforce required rest breaks, and reduce payroll processing costs while ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.


Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Texas Law Firm Expedites Billing Cycle With BigHand Digital Dictation

Texas law firm McCathern Mooty LLP has recently seen that its billing cycle has gone up by over 10 days following the installation of the award-winning BigHand Digital Dictation system, meaning firm wide revenue has been drastically enhanced over the course of a year and clients get their accounts much more quickly. The specialist legal voice productivity software is also helping improve team working and remote working for staff.

Attorneys who did not earlier use dictation and relied on typing themselves now dictate using BigHand as it has been established that the user-friendliness and effectiveness of the software makes every attorney significantly more efficient.

"We had some attorneys who used tapes for dictation and some who didn't dictate at all, but they all now use the BigHand system to dictate admin work, billing records or meeting notes. As a result we have found the billing cycle has been shortened by more than 10 days and obviously that has had a positive impact on the bottom line. It makes no sense for attorneys to be doing any type of administrative work themselves when they can be concentrating on providing quality legal advice and improving our service to clients."

Based out of Chicago, London and Sydney BigHand is the foremost digital dictation vendor in the global legal sector, maintaining the five largest sites at international law firms and with more legal installations in total than all other suppliers combined. BigHand3 was nominated as "Best of Breed System of the Year" at the Legal Technology Awards 2007. BigHand was named as the fastest growing legal software developer in The Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 league tables for both 2005 and 2006. BigHand was also recognized by Deloitte as one of the 500 fastest growing software vendors in Europe in 2006.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Leading Legal Firm, Busby & Lee, Helps Clients Understand Divorce Decrees Under New Bankruptcy Law

Among Houston's most renowned debt consolidation, consumer bankruptcy and family law legal firms, Busby & Lee helps inform clients of ever changing laws and the most effective modes operandi within them, in order to make sure the best possible result. The company's educational approach is turning out to be successful for its firm and its clients.

Most recently the company reported that a new bankruptcy law makes non-support obligations from a divorce or separation non-dischargeable in a chapter 7 bankruptcy. 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(15). A debt that is non-dischargeable means that an ex-spouse retains responsibility for repayment.

Attorney Michael G. Busby Jr. says that the discharge in a chapter 13 case is to some extent broader than that of a chapter 7. Debts dischargeable in a chapter 13 but not in chapter 7 include debts arising from property settlements in divorce or separation proceedings. While in a chapter 13 the debtor spouse would pay on the settlement, generally the payout would be less than dollar for dollar. In fact, in the majority of cases it would be pennies on the dollar.

"Understanding these differences is very important for our clients. The way in which the divorce decree is written can reduce the chance that the bankruptcy court will discharge the debt," said Busby. "You can reduce the likelihood that the debt will not be discharged by labeling the debt payments as either 'support' or 'alimony' in the decree. This usually applies in both chapter 13 and chapter 7," he added.

The Busby & Lee legal team underscored the necessity of having an attorney, who practices in both bankruptcy and divorce court, draft the final divorce decree in order to ensure that property interests are protected.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Survey Shows More Commitment Required at Legal Firms

When it comes to North West legal firms performing successful marketing functions, partner commitment is one of the most limiting factors. From a survey conducted recently by Strike Marketing reveals that about 40% of heads of marketing at North West legal firms feel that partners do not devote sufficient time and effort to the practices marketing function.

Nearly all of those surveyed say that non-lawyers taking up partnership, a key recommendation of the Clementi review will be beneficial both to firms and the industry as a whole. In many cases these changes will result in firms being more commercially focused and allow more senior management time to be given over to marketing.

The findings also show that legal firms are not fully prepared for the effects of the Clementi review. 25% of firms are unsure as to how the Clementi review will affect how they market themselves whilst another 48% feel that it will not affect them at all.

The survey was conducted on 150 law firms in the North West on various aspects of their marketing. The information was collected over the telephone, with a number of one-to-one interviews carried out with experts to support the findings.

The Clementi review is widely expected to change the way in which many legal practices operate, as its key recommendation will allow non-legal companies to offer certain legal services. The review also recommends changes to current partnership rulings. These changes will pave the way for non-lawyers to take partnership roles within firms. All of this will result in major changes in the way many practices market themselves as they fight against a sharp increase in competition. Although many practices are well aware of the Clementi review, relatively few have altered their marketing strategy to accommodate its effects.

The survey, which is now in its second year, also uncovered a number of other interesting trends. Average annual marketing budgets for law firms are slightly down on the previous year. When the survey was carried out in 2005, the average marketing budget for a North West law firm was £70.8k. This year the average budget was £66.4k. Despite this decrease, overall satisfaction on return on marketing investment has risen.

In terms of generating new clients, advertising is the most effective tactic used. Advertising came out as the most successful marketing tactic when gaining new clients, closely followed by referrals and corporate hospitality. This is reflected by the trend for eye catching and often controversial adverts that law firms have produced in recent times.

Firms with designated Marketing managers are on the rise. In last year's survey, 39% of firms had a dedicated Marketing manager. This year’s survey showed that 48.1% of firms now have a dedicated marketing professional working for them. This reinforces the movement, which has seen more and more firms developing a strong internal marketing team.

On his firm's commitment to marketing, Andy Duxbury, CEO of Aaron & Partners adds, "We are being proactive and widening out the involvement and contribution from staff in marketing. This way there are more people to share the burden. We have put together teams with responsibility for making the marketing and business plans happen and at the same time crystallising the services and focusing on the client."

If you would like a copy of the report or require further information, please contact Elpi Pamiadaki on 0870 740 1322 or email.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Lawsuit Claims Nursing Home is Responsible for a Fire That Killed a Disabled Resident

The renowned law firm Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, PA, is pleased to announce that they have started a lawsuit on behalf of the family of Ella Mae Johnson, a nursing home resident who lost her life due to severe burns sustained in a fire in her room at the 'The Health Center at Galloway' in Galloway, New Jersey. The lawsuit (Atlantic County L-1083-07) alleges that the fire and Mrs. Johnson’s injuries and death were caused by the nursing home employees’ carelessness and violation of regulations relating to patient care.

The fire erupted in Ms. Johnson’s room engulfing her in bed in the early morning hours of October 26, 2005. According to a fire department investigation, the fire was caused by a cigarette in Ms. Johnson’s room. Witness statements taken by investigators from the Galloway Township Police Department state that Mrs. Johnson, an amputee, was not permitted to have cigarettes in her room. Statements taken by investigators confirm that the nursing home’s staff was supposed to supervise her smoking and not allow or assist a patient in smoking in a patient room, the location of the fire that severely burned Ms. Johnson and caused her death twenty-five days later. Following the fire, investigators found no matches or lighters in Mrs. Johnson’s room.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of the Estate of Ella Mae Johnson claims compensatory and punitive damages from the owner and operator of the “The Health Center at Galloway.”

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

50% Divorce Rate Increases Demand for Prenuptial Agreements

With five out of ten marriages now going bust, more and more couples particularly those who are pondering over walking down the aisle for the second time, are working together to establish Marital Agreements prior to their marriage. Family law attorney, Christine Nierenz with The Harris Law Firm in Denver, CO has a thriving practice that focuses on marital agreements, also called prenuptial agreements, for second marriages.

Ms. Nierenz says that her experience as Colorado divorce lawyer had indicated that "While it is important for couples to be optimistic about their second marriage, it is also imperative, as it is in the formation of any legal partnership, to have a frank and honest conversation that addresses the financial concerns that may arise in the unfortunate event that the partnership fails. A well-drafted document can streamline the court case in the event that divorce is unavoidable, so it is important to create an agreement that is clear, binding, and legally sound."

The merits of Prenuptial Agreements for second marriages consist of several areas:

Estate Planning:

When spouses with children from previous relationships remarry, a Marital Agreement can be an essential tool for estate planning. For example, you may want to ensure that a part of your estate is passed on to your prior born children, and establish your will accordingly. In the absence of a validly executed Marital Agreement, when one of the spouses passes away, a considerable portion of the estate may pass to the surviving spouse, regardless of what is stated in the will. The reason for this is that the Colorado legislature has determined that is it unjust for a deceased spouse's estate to pass to someone other than the surviving spouse. The only way around this provision is to establish a carefully drafted prenuptial agreement that provides that property pass to someone other than the surviving spouse.

Protecting Business Interests

A Marital Agreement can also clearly designate the partners separate property vs. marital property in order to protect assets from business claims. For example: If one of the soon to be spouses own a business and does not have a Marital Agreement, it is possible for marital assets to be used to satisfy debts associated with the business. A properly drafted Marital Agreement can specify what property is separate, thus minimizing the risk that marital property could be used to satisfy business debt.

Addressing Maintenance

Many individuals going through a divorce are surprised when ordered to pay maintenance, or spousal support. Maintenance agreements can address this issue and specify if a spouse will receive maintenance, under what conditions it will be paid, the amount, and for how long. Many Marital Agreements also have a "step up" provision that determines the maintenance amount and/or the length of time it will be paid depending on the length of the marriage. While no maintenance agreement can be considered invincible to later challenges, based upon current law, a well drafted provision can reduce the possibility of having to go to court.

One of the overall benefits for a couple establishing a Marital Agreement is the clarity the agreement provides. While having an honest discussion about financial matters may not be the most romantic conversation a couple can have prior to embarking on their second marriage, clearly communicating with each other about issues regarding money, security and responsibility may actually increase the likelihood of this union being one that is both enduring and successful.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

DIY Divorce Just Got Easier

Net Lawman Ltd is geared up to transform the divorce process in the UK by introducing a new Internet divorce service. The flexible 3-tier system offers its users as much or as little guidance as they require. Users can take their pick from a complete ‘hand holding’ service, to a simple download of forms and templates to complete and use them. All the forms are provided with fully completed examples so that you can see exactly what is required at each place on a form. The service fills a big gap between “on-your-own DIY” and your traditional high street solicitor. Divorce is a rising reality for many married couples – times and ideals change, new needs and expectations are not met. Net Lawman plan to help people initiate their divorce petition, allowing them to get on with new, happier lives.

The divorce process is an easy one. Net Lawman has many free information pages, documents and forms to help you finalize the proceedings with least stress and worry. However, as soon as disputes arise, usually about children or money, the process becomes more complex than most people imagine. Net Lawman wants to make it as easy for their clients as possible.

The 3-tier system lets users access only what they want. The first tier is the provision of the vital forms and documents required to initiate and finalize the legal divorce. If they need only the forms, they are provided with guidance notes and completed examples for ease of use. The second tier includes legal advice. For those who need support and guidance, a female lawyer with years of experience in divorce law will communicate and guide the client. The unique live Internet chat system has also been introduced so that the client can talk confidentially, one-on-one to their expert in real time, without the need for expensive face-to-face meetings. Finally, the third tier provides a complete service. Net Lawman will guide users through the minefield at every stage.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Class Action Lawsuit Arises from Pet Food Recall

A first Class Action lawsuit against Del Monte Foods has been filed against Del Monte Foods for alleged sale of contaminated dog food and other pet foods to the public. The case has been filed by Sacramento law firms Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP and Wexler Toriseva Wallace, LLP. The pet food class action lawsuit alleges that Del Monte’s Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks, and Pounce Meaty Morsels are unhygienic and contaminated with chemicals that can lead to fatal kidney failure in animals that consume it. All of these brands were the subject of a recent countrywide recall and are learnt to have been contaminated by tainted wheat gluten from China. The lawsuit demands reimbursement for all veterinary bills that were paid by affected pet owners.

This is an extremely complex issue. Since the current wave of pet food recalls, more than 9,000 people have submitted complaints to the FDA. We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. At the end of the day we expect several thousands claimants to be part of this Class. The recent Del Monte recall follows directly on the heals of the Menu Foods Recall that resulted in more than 60 million cans of pet food being pulled from shelves. Sacramento attorney Stuart Talley commented: “This problem is massive. Since the recent wave of pet food recalls, more than 9,000 people have submitted complaints to the FDA. We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. At the end of the day we expect several thousands claimants to be part of this Class.”

Veterinarians recommend that all animals known to have ingested recalled pet foods be examined immediately. “Acute kidney failure can be reversible if caught early,” states Diane Roberts of Veterinary Medical Specialists in San Mateo, California, as reported by the San Mateo County Times. If you feel your pet has suffered injury or death as a result of consuming one or more of the pet foods listed on the Del Monte web site, and if you would like to participate in the Class Action, please visit www.petfoodsclassaction.com or contact Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff or Wexler Toriseva Wallace.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

New York Construction Accident Lawyer Praised by Opposing Legal Counsel

The experienced New York construction accident attorney and co-founder of the personal injury law firm of Perecman & Fanning, David H. Perecman was recently commended by opposite legal counsel as a "very experienced attorney" who is "very aggressive in the courtroom."

The appreciation came in a construction accident legal case that made headlines, where a 61-year-old construction worker, represented by this well-known New York construction accident lawyer, had fractured his hip when a scaffold collapsed on a job. New York City Civil Court Judge Eileen A. Rakower ruled for Mr. Perecman's client, awarding him $2.8 million for his injuries. The case, Kazimierz Brulinski v. 10 East End Avenue Owner's Inc., made construction accident news as another example of the growing problem of construction accidents in New York City. In a previous trial, Supreme Court justice Leland DeGrasse had granted summary judgment for the plaintiff, and Judge Rakower handled the damages portion of the trial.

Mr. Perecman's repute as a high-quality New York construction accident attorney has been built on 25 years of representing victims of construction accidents all through New York City. Mr. Perecman resolutely advocates for victims of construction accidents and their families to make sure they convalesce from their injuries and their misery.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

Best Legal Web Site Trends Detailed in New Report from the Web Marketing Association

The renowned group of leading web site awards competition, Web Marketing Association WebAwards released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) to help the legal industry to learn to construct more effective and engaging web sites. The WebAwards competition judges legal web sites on 7 criteria that combined create award-winning web sites such as Design, Innovation, Content, Technology, Interactivity, Copywriting and Ease of use. Legal web sites are usually in line with general Web Development, although there is a propensity to be a little below the ISAR Index.

The ISAR study says that content, design, copywriting and ease of use are legal web site's brawny points, and they meet or surpass the 3-year criteria standard in ease of use. They are likely to have the lowest scores for innovation and technology.

The 2006 WebAward for Best Legal Web site went to Thomson-FindLaw for Yanowitch Law, P.A.

Other past winners include:

• 2005 Frost Brown Todd LLC for Frost Brown Todd LLC
• 2004 Pierce Atwood for Pierce Atwood - Attorneys at Law
• 2003 Pepper Hamilton LLP for www.pepperlaw.com
• 2002 Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP for Lanepowell.com

Companies and organizations willing to have their legal web site evaluated against the ISAR Index and be considered for a WebAward, which can help enhance a Web site's credibility and marketing efforts, can learn more at www.07webaward.org.

The Internet Standards Assessment report and the 2007 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: Burst Media, PRWeb, Misukanis & Odden, Small Army, SimpleFeed, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, eComXpo, MediaPost's OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, OTOlabs, Internet World UK, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Legal, Rovion's InPerson and eMarketer.

Now in its 11th year, the annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.07webaward.org.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com

The Importance of Trusts in Asset Protection -- A Comprehensive New Article Published

Trusts are very frequently used in asset protection planning. Noted asset protection attorney Jacob Stein provides a well-thought out and whole summary of the use of trusts in asset protection, and also how asset protection needs play into trust drafting. According to Mr. Stein, "Not all types of trusts are effective asset protection devices, but a properly drafted and structured trust may be an almost impregnable form of asset protection."

The article covers revocable and irrevocable trusts, spendthrift clauses, discretionary trusts, dynasty trusts, self-settled trusts, domestic asset protection trusts and foreign asset protection trusts. Specific trusts discussed include living trusts, personal residence trusts and offshore asset protection trusts.

Issues covered by the article include trustee selection, choice of discretionary powers, protecting settlers and beneficiaries and selection of governing jurisdiction. Foreign asset protection trusts are expansively covered by the article, including a discussion of recent case law and the viability of this frequently used planning technique. The article draws on legal rulings and Mr. Stein's extensive practical experience in asset protection to logically and clearly reveal how to make trusts effective asset protection devices.

Courtesy: www.prweb.com