Entries by Admin

Arraignment

What is it?

An arraignment is when the accused is brought before the court to plead guilty, no contest (where the accused pleads neither guilty nor innocent), not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity. It is during the arraignment that the issue of bail is settled, and the date for the trial is set. Essentially, it is the precursor to a trial for someone arrested for a crime.

 

 

What is it about?

What is Conservatorship?

In California, conservatorship is a case where a judge appoints a person or organization as financial caretaker of an adult who cannot manage their own finances. There are two main types of Conservatorship:

 

A)     Probate Conservatorship is the most common kind of conservatorship. There are two types of this: General and Limited.

 

Types of Bankruptcy

Filing for bankruptcy may be an option when one is overwhelmed by debt. There are several types of bankruptcy that may be filed, depending on the particular situation. We’ll look into the two more common types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.  

Chapter 7

Miranda Rights

What are they?

 

·         You have the right to remain silent.

·         If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law.

·         You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning.

·         If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire.

Ten Little Known Facts about the Magna Carta

1. Before the Magna Carta was signed, widows and daughters of Barons could be sold by the King in marriage in order to make money.

 

2. Only 3 of the original 63 clauses of the Magna Carta are still in use. They include a defense of the rights of the English church, the liberties and customs of London and the right to a fair trial and only being arrested for a just cause.

 

3. The Magna Carta was valid for just 10 weeks.

 

Expungement- What is it?

For those interested in clearing up their criminal record, one of the most popular ways is through expungement. A successful expungement can effectively erase the guilty verdict.  In California, expungement can only be used in cases where the verdict was a misdemeanor, or a felony that could have been a misdemeanor. However, there are some cases, such as sexual assault on a minor or a major vehicle code violation, that cannot be expunged.

 

The DREAM Act Clarified

Since December 2010, the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act has served to provide temporary and potentially permanent legal status to immigrant children, as well as allow them to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. To qualify for these benefits, a minor must:

·         Have entered the US before ages 15 or 16

·         Have lived in the US for five years or more