Salem Criminal Defense And Legal Blog

What estate planning matters do new parents need to consider?

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC on Thursday, June 14, 2018.

Parents of young children want to do everything that they can to protect their children. Many of these same parents don't take steps to ensure that their children will be taken care of if something happens to both parents. This can cause unfortunate consequences for the children if they lose both parents. They could wind up in state custody or be placed with family members with whom they have little to no ongoing relationships.

Those with minor children have some special considerations to think about when it comes to estate planning. Making sure that parents plan well in advance for any eventualities can help them feel more secure since they will know that there is a solid custody plan for their children.

Signs of drunk driving that cops look for during patrols

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Police departments are charged with keeping the roads safe. In New Hampshire, they face a unique challenge because of the upheaval of the laws surrounding sobriety checkpoints. In this state, these checkpoints have to be approved by the court, announced in advance, and conducting in compliance with the established and approved procedures.

In February of this year, the New Hampshire House moved a ban on these checkpoints forward. While it is still possible for police to conduct checkpoints, it looks like they will soon be a thing of the past. This means that police officers will have to rely heavily on observations in order to find drunk drivers.

Divorce is difficult for children to handle

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Friday, April 13, 2018.

The end of a marriage is difficult for everyone involved. When you have children, you might not realize how much they can be impacted by the divorce. Adults tend to think that children will just cope with it all and be fine, but this may not be the case.

Having their parents split up is a hard situation for children. They have to learn how to live with an entirely new family dynamic that is split between two homes. This can make the children stressed, fearful and worried about the future.

What are your plans for medical care in your final days?

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

Thinking about your final days on Earth is certainly not pleasant. Even though this is true, you have to think about how unpleasant it would be to be subjected to medical treatments you don't want because you have never documented your wishes and nobody has the legal grounds to stand up for your needs. This situation is where having your living will and power of attorney for health care is essential.

When you are creating the living will and setting up the power of attorney for health care, there are several things that must be handled properly.

What can you do when you aren't receiving child support?

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Thursday, February 15, 2018.

During or after a divorce, your financial situation can easily become strained. Even if you have a solidly middle-class income, you will incur expenses from the divorce while dealing with reduced income at the same time. Parents who receive custody of their minor children can face particularly serious financial issues when learning to live on a single income.

That, along with a parent's decreased potential for income when caring for kids, is why the courts order the other parent to pay child support. You likely depend on that ordered child support amount to pay your bills, from your rent or mortgage to your car insurance. Child support can also help you buy items you need, like clothing or shoes for the kids, school supplies or even groceries. Without the help of child support, you may struggle to provide the necessities for your family.

Drunk driving in New Hampshire has serious consequences

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

New Hampshire is a state with strict laws against drunk drivers. These laws aren't on the books in an effort to target specific people. Instead, they are simply meant to discourage people from getting behind the wheel drunk because intoxicated drivers can kill people.

Whether you are a resident here or just passing through, the state's drunk driving laws apply to you. Here are some important points you need to remember about drunk driving in this state:

Understand the finer points of a field sobriety test

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Monday, December 18, 2017.

People who are pulled over because an officer thinks that they might might driving drunk will usually be asked to take tests to determine if they are intoxicated. One of the options that might come into the picture is a field sobriety test.

The field sobriety test doesn't give the officer an actual blood alcohol content percentage. Instead, it only provides the officer with a way to determine if the person's movements and other clues point toward a likely intoxication.

Understand the purpose of different estate plan components

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Friday, November 17, 2017.

Making sure that your family is taken care of when you are gone is a priority. Your estate plan is the way that you can set this up. This plan must be customized to suit your wishes and needs, so you can't base yours off of what someone else did.

There are a few different components of an estate plan that you need to think about. Understanding the purpose of each of these can help as you put the plan together. Here are some points for you to consider:

Don't let your children fall for these 3 big divorce myths

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Monday, October 16, 2017.

Children often don't have a good grasp on why adults do some of the things they do. When parents get divorced, there are many thoughts that can creep up in a child's mind. It is imperative that parents don't let their children fall for common divorce myths.

There are three big myths that almost all children will believe at one point or another about their parents' divorce.

If you own a business, it’s time to start making an estate plan

On behalf of Howie Law Office, PLLC posted in blog on Thursday, September 14, 2017.

When you were a teenager, you planned to go to college. While you were in college, you planned to graduate. And when you worked at your first internship, you planned to one day have your own business in Salem. Now that you have put the "open" sign in the window and opened your doors to the public, it is time to start estate planning.

Many people think that they do not have to worry about putting an estate plan in place until much later in life, but the reality is that none of us know what day will be our last. That is why if you own a business, there is no time like the present to be sure your affairs are in order.