When do you need a lawyer?   Sooner or later, almost everyone will need the services of a lawyer.  Many people only think of seeing a lawyer after they develop a legal problem, but the best time to consult an attorney is before, not after you have a legal problem.  Common situations when you should have a lawyer include: Before signing a contract to buy or sell a home, or other real estate, or business. Before signing a contract with major financial provisions or consequences.  As a general rule, oral agreements should be avoided and written agreements should be either prepared or examined by a lawyer on your behalf before being signed by you. Before making a will or planning your estate. When organizing a business.  Legal services do not end with the formation of a business.  There are ongoing concerns about intellectual property rights, employment law, workplace safety, etc. Whenever you are arrested or charged with a crime. When you are involved in an accident in which there is significant damage to persons or property. In addition, you should notify your casualty insurance company immediately. When there are changes in your family status — marriage, adoption, and divorce. When you have tax problems or questions. When a lawsuit is brought against you, or you want to bring a lawsuit against someone. The law exists to protect your rights, but often you must take definite action to make those laws work for you. Your lawyer is prepared to protect and enforce your rights under the law in all your personal or business affairs. OUR PRACTICE AREAS Although we are a full service real estate, bankruptcy and foreclosure defense law firm, our office is especially able to serve clients in the following areas:   BANKRUPTCY LAW Collections & Repossessions Consumer Bankruptcy Debtor Rights Debt Discharge Workouts   REAL ESTATE LAW Residential/Commercial Leasing Condominiums & Cooperatives Landlord/Tenant Proceedings Residential/Commercial Real Estate Closings Investor Transactions - Creative Financing Private Lender/Hard Money/Owner Financing Short Sale Negotiations Double Closings & Assignments Land Trusts Land Contracts/Agreements for Deed "Subject-To" & Assumption Transactions Special Needs Housing & Student Rental Leasing FORECLOSURE DEFENSE Mortgage Litigation Truth-in-Lending Litigation Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure Forbearance Agreements Loan Modification Short Sales Budget & Debts Credit Restoration Services THE LAW OFFICES OF TERESA R MARTIN, P.C. GUARANTEE WE GUARANTEE THE QUALITY OF OUR LEGAL SERVICES. You can be sure that all legal work that comes from this office will be of the highest caliber. If you ever find anything that does not meet your needs or expectations, please bring it to our attention. We will correct the situation immediately. WE GUARANTEE TO RETURN PHONE CALLS PROMPTLY. For a positive, productive lawyer/client relationship, we must communicate openly and freely with each other. We promise to return your phone call within two hours. If the lawyer you want to reach is in trial or otherwise detained, his secretary will call you and schedule a time when you can speak with him. WE GUARANTEE TO MEET ALL DEADLINES. Few things are as frustrating as deadlines that are not met. A missed deadline can do a lot to undermine a good lawyer/client relationship. What's more, we want you to know that you can trust what we tell you, and meeting a deadline is important. So we guarantee to complete all promised work on time. If we don’t complete the work on time, we will cut our fee in half. WE GUARANTEE THE FEE WE QUOTED YOU. No one likes financial surprises. That's why on every project we will provide you with a written fee quote. No matter how long it takes us, it will never cost you one penny more. Once we quote a fee, we stick to it, no matter what. You can depend on it. WE GUARANTEE YOU'LL ALWAYS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERSONAL CARE AND ATTENTION. No one likes to be thought of as a case number. Every person in our office is here for one purpose: To serve you. If you don't receive the close personal care attention you want, nothing else matters. When you're our client, you become part of our family. And we guarantee you'll receive the best we offer. WE GUARANTEE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU. You deserve to be kept current on the progress of your case. So anytime something happens in your case, we will contact you and keep you informed of what has changed. And if nothing has happened, we tell you that, too. Good communication is the key to a good working relationship with your lawyer. And we intend to make sure that your relationship with our firm is the best you have ever had...or ever will have.