Posted on October 25,2021 in Real Estate Law

Over the past year or so, the real estate market has been booming here in Connecticut and across the country. The norm has become that when a “for sale” sign is put in front of a home, it is only a matter of days before an “under agreement” sticker is added.

If you are in the market for a new home or have already been lucky enough to have an offer you put on one accepted, there are a myriad of issues that need to be addressed for the transaction. While there is no law that legally requires a buyer to retain the help of a real estate attorney, having one looking out for your best interest can be critical to avoiding costly legal issues further down the road.

How a Real Estate Attorney Can Help

The majority of residential real estate transactions are done with the assistance of a real estate broker or agent. It is not uncommon for there to be two agents involved in a sale – the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. Keep in mind, however, that these agents are earning commissions on the sale. Therefore, their goals will be to do everything they can to ensure the sale goes through. If the purchase falls through, there is no commission and no financial reimbursement for the hours the agents have spent on the potential transaction.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 18,2021 in Criminal Defense

If you live in Connecticut and suspect there is an active warrant out for your arrest, there are critical steps you should be aware of. Whether or not you have actually committed the crime, a warrant means that police have enough probable cause to believe you did, a prosecutor agreed, and the warrant was issued. Before contacting police, it is important to contact a Stamford criminal defense attorney first.

Types of Warrants

There are two types of warrants that may be issued – an arrest warrant or a bench warrant. An arrest warrant is issued by a judge and cites a specific crime the individual is being accused of. An arrest warrant does not expire and is valid until the accused is in the custody of law enforcement.

Bench warrants are issued if a person out on bail fails to appear for any scheduled court dates or fails to comply with any orders issued by the court. It is usually issued by the judge who is presiding over the case. A bench warrant can also be issued for failing to pay a traffic violation, failing to pay child support, or even failing to appear for jury duty. While a bench warrant may not sound as serious as an arrest warrant, the result is the same – the accused will eventually end up in police custody.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 13,2021 in Criminal Defense

The state of Connecticut is teaming up with New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in an effort to combat gun violence and shutting down gun networks that pass back and forth across state lines. The four states will be sharing information regarding firearm purchases in order to help prevent gun crimes, including straw buyers. This data that is shared will only be available to law enforcement.

States’ Agreement

According to the governors from each of the states, the issue of guns crossing state lines has become an epidemic, citing how gun violence had spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the announcement, the governor of New Jersey pointed out that almost 85 percent of guns that have been recovered by law enforcement during the past six months have come from other states.

The four states will use the information they receive from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that reveals who purchased and sold any guns that are seized during a criminal investigation. Each state will have designated law enforcement personnel who will be the only ones to have access to the information. Should there be any unauthorized access, copying, disclosure, or any other misuse, the state must notify the other states right away.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 29,2021 in Traffic Violations

Truck drivers are required to follow strict regulations related to the operation of commercial vehicles. Some of the most important of these regulations address the amount of cargo a commercial truck is allowed to carry. Weight limits are based on the number of axles on a truck and trailer, and truck drivers are required to have their trucks weighed regularly to ensure that they are in compliance with these limits. Drivers who are charged with overweight truck violations will need to understand the specific penalties they may face and how these penalties may affect their ability to continue driving a commercial vehicle.

Fines and Other Penalties for Overweight Violations

Most of the time, the amount that a driver will be fined will be based on how far their truck is over the weight limit. The fines are charged as follows:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 20,2021 in Driving Under the Influence

Being pulled over by a police officer can be a stressful and intimidating experience, especially if the officer may have reason to believe that a person was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An officer will look at a number of factors when determining whether a person may be intoxicated, and in some cases, a driver may be asked to take field sobriety tests. These tests involve multiple physical or verbal activities that allow an officer to gauge a person’s level of intoxication, and the results of these tests may provide probable cause to make an arrest. Drivers can be sure they are addressing these situations properly by understanding the types of tests they may be asked to perform and how these tests may indicate intoxication.

Standardized Field Sobriety Tests

People may be familiar with tests that may be used by a police officer to determine whether a driver is intoxicated, if only because they have seen them performed on TV shows. Some of these depictions may involve a person being asked to recite the alphabet backwards or touch their fingertips to their nose. However, there are only three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) that are approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 15,2021 in Theft and Property Crimes

There are multiple different types of offenses that fall under the category of property crimes. While some of these crimes involve blatant theft, such as shoplifting or robbery, others are more subtle, and they may be related to a person’s activities as an employee or their handling of someone else’s money or property. Embezzlement is one such offense, and those who have been accused of this crime will need to understand the nature of the charges they may face and their options for defense.

What Is Embezzlement?

A person may be accused of committing embezzlement if they wrongfully take or appropriate someone else’s property that is in their possession or care. Embezzlement is generally related to a person’s activities when handling money or property for an employer, although it may also involve the mismanagement of property or assets that a person holds on behalf of a family member, friend, or business associate.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 03,2021 in Driving Under the Influence

Originally published: February 26, 2018 -- Updated: September 2, 2021

UPDATE: In addition to the consequences of causing someone’s death due to driving while intoxicated, a person may also face criminal charges if they cause a serious injury to one or more people. In some cases, a driver may be charged with assault, and when the assault is committed with a motor vehicle, this is a felony offense.

The charge of second-degree assault with a motor vehicle applies when a person causes a serious physical injury to someone else because they were operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An injury is considered a serious physical injury if it puts a victim at risk of being killed, results in disfigurement, or causes them to experience significant impairments to their health (including the loss of an internal organ or the loss of function of organs or bodily systems).

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 31,2021 in Real Estate Law

When buying or selling a home, a purchase contract will be created once the seller accepts the buyer’s offer. This agreement will detail the terms of the sale, including important dates during the transaction and the requirements that both parties must meet. Contingencies are an important part of a real estate purchase contract. Buyers and sellers will need to understand the types of contingencies that may be included in an agreement and how these will affect them as they work to complete the transaction.

Types of Contingencies in a Real Estate Transaction

Contingencies are terms in a purchase contract that describe certain conditions that must be met during the transaction. In many cases, these terms will allow one party to back out of the transaction if certain requirements are not met. Common contingencies include:

• Financing contingency - The buyer will need to qualify for a mortgage loan that will allow them to purchase the home. This type of contingency will allow the buyer to back out of the purchase if they are unable to obtain financing with certain terms, such as a specific interest rate or an affordable monthly payment.

  Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 27,2021 in Sex Crimes

While all types of criminal charges can result in serious penalties, sex crimes are often treated differently than other offenses. A person who is accused of committing these types of offenses may have their reputation and personal character attacked, and they may face consequences to their personal life, their relationships, and their career, even if they are never convicted of criminal charges. Offenses related to child pornography are taken especially seriously by law enforcement. Those who are accused of these types of crimes will need to understand how the law addresses these situations and the potential penalties they may face if convicted.

Child Pornography Offenses in Connecticut

Connecticut law defines child pornography as a visual depiction of a child under the age of 16 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In cases involving child pornography, a person may face multiple different types of charges, including:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 12,2021 in Marijuana Possession

While marijuana has long been treated as a controlled substance, attitudes surrounding this drug have changed in recent years. Many states have allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and a number of states have legalized marijuana for recreational use as well. Connecticut recently joined these states when the legislators passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. Residents of Connecticut will want to understand how this new law addresses the use of marijuana, as well as how it will affect those who have previously faced criminal charges for marijuana possession or other drug-related offenses.

How the New Law Affects Criminal Cases Involving Marijuana

As of July 1, 2021, marijuana has been made legal for recreational use by adults over the age of 21. A person can possess and use up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis plants or an equivalent amount of products that contain marijuana, such as oils or edibles. In addition, a person can possess up to five ounces of marijuana that is kept in a locked container in their residence or locked inside the trunk or glove compartment of their vehicle. While marijuana is not yet available for retail sale in Connecticut, the state expects that it will begin being sold near the end of 2022.

Continue Reading ››