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While it is impossible to predict precisely how the judge will rule your custody case, it can be safely anticipated that the court has one goal in mind: determining your children’s best interests. To help you win child custody and put the stress of the dispute behind you, here are some factors that you can bet the court will be using to determine their decision.

Your living situation
After a divorce, the parent who stays in the family home is sometimes granted custody of the children because it allows the children stability in their daily lives.

Your relationship with your children before the divorce
If a parent was not especially involved with their children’s lives prior to the divorce, but now has a sudden desire to be their primary caretaker, a judge will likely notice the change of heart. For the children’s best interests, the judge will take some time to evaluate the situation and ensure that the request for custody isn’t being made to “win out” over the other parent.

Your ability to provide
Especially if your child has costly medical needs, or is attending a private school, each parent’s income will likely play a factor in the custody decision.

If you’re going through a child custody battle, it is important to know the laws and how decisions about your custody battle will be made. An excellent way to obtain this information is to reach out to a local child custody lawyer in Orlando, FL, who can explain the details and represent your interest.

After an accident occurs, it may not always be entirely clear if whether you should call an accident attorney. Unfortunately, many people debate for too long whether or not they actually need an attorney, and during this time, their case can fall apart. Even if you are unsure about your case, the right lawyer can help you determine if it would be beneficial for you to pursue it. Here are some reasons why you should call an auto accident attorney in Orlando, FL, immediately following an incident.

Preservation of Evidence
Law enforcement is not required to preserve all evidence it collects. If you do not have an attorney on your ride, evidence may be lost or destroyed.

More Accurate Witness Statements
It can be harder for witnesses to recall the events leading up to the accident clearly if a substantial amount of time has passed.  This is why it is best to obtain statements as soon as possible.

Likelihood of Compensation
The longer you wait before calling an attorney, the chance of you receiving the compensation you deserve decreases as each day passes.

Waiting too long to call an accident attorney can create a negative impact on your case. Turn to the professionals at Torres Law for fast help and peace of mind.

At Torres Law, we do our best to take the mystery out of legal services. We understand that to the untrained ear, some legal terms can sound like a different language. That being said, we have listed simple definitions for some common legal terms you may have heard while speaking with your DUI lawyer in Seminole County, FL.

Admissible: A term used to describe evidence that may be considered by a jury or judge in civil and criminal cases.

Affidavit: A written or printed statement made under oath.

Burden of proof: The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff generally has the burden of proving his or her case. In criminal cases, the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt.

Complaint: A written statement that begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims against the defendant.

Counsel: Legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.

Defendant: An individual or business against whom a lawsuit is filed.

Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty which resulted in harm to the plaintiff.

Lien: A charge on specific property that is designed to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation. A debtor may still be responsible for a lien after a discharge.

Plaintiff: A person or business that files a formal complaint with the court.

Settlement: The payment of compensation by one party in at least partial satisfaction of the other party’s claim.

Personal injuries can occur in a number of different circumstances: car accidents, slipping in a store, medical malpractice, etc. The one thing each circumstance has in common is that when you find yourself trying to recover from an injury, the last thing you want is an overcomplicated process of getting the help and compensation you deserve. That is why we’ve broken down some important questions you should ask when searching for a personal injury attorney in Seminole County, FL.

Do they specialize in personal injury cases?
Different lawyers usually specialize in different areas of the law. For the best results, you will want an attorney who specializes in personal injury law.

Have they litigated cases with circumstances similar to this one? How did they turn out?
While making sure your attorney is experienced in personal injury cases, you also want to make sure they have also seen success in those cases. Inquire about the attorney’s prior cases and results. While results of cases before yours will not guarantee a similar outcome, a strong record can indicate their level of knowledge and dedication.

How long will resolution take?
While no lawyer can provide you with the specific date that your case will be resolved, an experienced one will know the legal system and your situation enough to provide you with a general timeframe.

In our previous post, we discussed what you should do if you find yourself a victim of a slip and fall injury. With safety being at the forefront of your mind in an accident, always seeking medical help after the injury is crucial. Here are your next steps after taking a fall, and how these actions could help to protect you legally.

Collect evidence of the injury
This part may be done in the initial injury report process. However, it is important to gather evidence regarding the cause of your injury in the event legal action is necessary. Eyewitness reports of the incident, pictures, or video footage can all be of assistance here, as well as any detailed recording of how the event transposed is crucial in protecting yourself.

Deciding if legal action is needed
After you have become injured, it can be challenging to ultimately decide if you need legal aid. If there was negligence that led to your injury, blatant disregard for help during the incident or anything else regarding the accident that may seem like it could be unethical on the part of the property owner, you should consult a lawyer. Having a team of experienced lawyers in a situation like this – even if on retainer – can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

When you are in need of a qualified personal injury attorney or auto accident attorney in Orlando, FL, turn our team at the Law Offices of Jonathan Torres.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have fallen and hurt yourself on someone else’s property or business, it is vital in the event of legal action that you take the correct next steps. Here is what to do in a slip and fall accident, and what steps you need to take directly after the incident occurs.

File an accident report
Depending on if you are physically able to alert someone after you have fallen on their property, your next step is completing an accident or injury report. This is a document that outlines the events leading up to the fall and details how the injury took place. If the police or an ambulance was called, you could ask the first responder to help you fill it out properly.

Speak to your doctor
If your injuries are not life-threatening or require emergency attention, it is best to follow up with your physician for an evaluation after the accident has occurred. Regardless of how you may feel before the incident, your doctor should thoroughly evaluate the situation to ensure there is no existing damage. IT will also help to have a doctor’s view of what happened on file in case legal action is necessary.

If you are looking for a personal injury attorney in Orlando, FL, to help you in your slip and fall case, turn to the Law Offices of Jonathan Torres today. Visit us or give us a call at 407-953-5318 to set up a consultation.

In our previous blog post, we discussed some ways in which you can prepare your teenager for the responsibility of driving a car. It is crucial to remember that your child will need time, dedication, and practice while learning how to drive an automobile. However, there are specific ways you can get your teen comfortable with driving and understand the responsibility they have in safely getting behind the wheel. Here are a few ways you can help them to prepare.

Prepare them for the most common situations
Unfortunately, there is not a rulebook that parents can follow when teaching their child how to drive. However, there are some common scenarios that you can prepare them for that all drivers face during their time operating a vehicle. Talking them through situations like what to do if you are pulled over, what to do in the event of a crash, and how to change a flat tire are all critical things they need to know before getting behind the wheel of a car.

Practice patience when you are a passenger
No one is born with the ability and knowledge it takes to operate a vehicle, and you can probably recall how frustrated you were as a teen when you started learning how to drive. Remind yourself that your teenager will need your patience to succeed, and there will be times of frustration when they are in the process of learning. Correct their actions kindly and practice patience when you are with them during a lesson, and they will be able to absorb more information.

Finding reputable, friendly, and professional auto accident attorney in Orlando, FL, shouldn’t be a difficult task. Turn to the Law Offices of Jonathan Torres, LLC today. Give us a call at (407) 953-5818 to schedule your consultation.

If you are a parent or guardian of a teen who is just learning to drive, we sympathize with the fact that it is not the easiest process for either one of you. In today’s world more than ever, it is essential to prepare your teen as best as you possibly can for the responsibility of driving. Here are some ways that you can work with your child to get ready for getting behind the wheel so they are safe, and they make sure others are also safe on the road as well.

Don’t pressure your teen
While many teenagers cannot wait to learn to drive, some are just not as comfortable with the thought of operating a motor vehicle. It is important to gauge if your child is ready physically and emotionally to drive a vehicle, and not pressure them if they are not comfortable just yet.

Start small
Another thing to do in preparation for getting your teen on the road is to start small with their driving lessons. Whether you are leading the lesson or you have hired an instructor to help, make sure that the sessions are shorter and in locations with generally light traffic. As your child gets more comfortable behind the wheel, you can lengthen the lessons and incorporate roads with heavier traffic.

If you or someone you love is in need of a car accident lawyer in Orlando, FL, turn to the experienced team at the Law Offices of Jonathan Torres. We will be prepared to represent and fight for you.

Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, some of these crashes result in an injury to one or both parties or fatality. However, there are things that you can do in the event of an accident to keep yourself safe physically, legally, and financially. Here are some steps you need to take directly after being involved in an automobile accident:

*Please note – If you or any other party involved in the accident is injured in any way, your first step should always be to call emergency responders and law enforcement by dialing 911.

• First, stay at the scene of the crash. It is vital that you not leave the area in which the accident happen, regardless of what the crash entailed. Pull your vehicle to the side of the road if possible and immediately call 911.
• Next, check on the condition of the passengers in your car. If everyone is not injured and seems to be okay after the accident, step out of the vehicle to check on the other cars and passengers involved.
• Once you have made sure that all parties involved in the accident are not injured and have stayed on the scene, gather your insurance, car, and personal information for the other driver in the crash. Exchange necessary details regarding your insurance policy, driver’s license number, and phone number in which they can reach you. Do not give any unnecessary information to the other driver, such as your social security number or any banking information,

If you are in need of a reliable auto accident attorney in Orlando, FL, turn to the Law Offices of Jonathan Torres, LLC today. Give us a call at (407) 953-5818 to schedule your consultation with our legal team.

In our previous blog post, we discussed how you can talk to your children about you and your spouse’s divorce. While this is a life-changing event for all family members involved, it is important to keep your kids at the forefront of any choices you make. Since they are some of the most affected people in your divorce, delivering the news to them should be done in a delicate but factual manner. Here are some other things to keep in mind when talking to your children about your divorce:

Give their teachers a heads up about the conversation– If the children are in school the day of or after you plan on telling them, address their teachers about the subject as well. Making the teachers aware of the talk that you had with them regarding your divorce can help them understand if your child is acting distant, distraught, or is not behaving normally.

Reiterate the fact that the divorce is not a direct result of anything they did – While it may not seem like an adults’ first thought after someone tells them about a divorce, it is common for the children in the marriage to think they had something to do with the divorce. Whether they think they could have behaved better to save their parents from fighting or think they are the reason for the split, it is essential to remind them that it is not a direct result of their actions.

If you are looking for a dependable divorce lawyer in Orlando, FL, that will help to navigate this difficult time alongside you, call the Law Offices of Jonathan Torres, LLC for help today at (407) 953-5818.