Tu Justicia Rapida
Servicio. Experiencia. Excelencia.
Torts
This term refers to legal claims arising from the negligent (and sometimes intentional) actions of a person cause damages to another. The most common types of tort cases are related to automobile accidents, falls, or professional malpractice.
If you have been injured or have suffered damages due to the negligence of another person, we can assist you in obtaining a just and reasonable compensation for your damages.
We handle all types of tort cases, whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant (the person being sued).
For the initial consultation, we recommend:
*- Bring a written narrative of what happened, in your own words.
*- If there’s an accident or incident report, obtain a copy.
*- If you received medical assistance, at least have the name of the doctor or hospital which assisted you, and the dates when you received attention.
*- Take or have someone take pictures of where the accident/incident occurred.
*- Have a list of potential witnesses, preferably with contact information.
*- If there’s a police report of the accident, please obtain a copy (or at least have the number of the police report).
Family Law
Family law is that which regulates the relationship between family members, among themselves and with people outside the family. The most common cases are those dealing with marriages, divorces, recognition of children born outside wedlock, adoption procedures or the appointment of a tutor in the case of minors or incapacitated people.
Marriages – Starting in April, 2017, Notaries (which in Puerto Rico have to be licensed attorneys) are authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies. Consult our office.
Divorces – We can represent you in a divorce action presented in the courts of Puerto Rico.
Divorce through Notarial document – If you and your spouse are in agreement to get divorced and in the marriage there are no minor children, disabled (due to a mental/emotional condition) children, nor joint assets nor joint debts, we can assist you in obtaining your divorce through a Notarial document without the need to go to court.
Money Collection
If you have provided a service to someone and haven’t been paid, we can represent you to obtain the payment of what is legally owed to you. Depending on the amount there are procedural options to obtain payment.
If you have been sued for a debt we can assist you to obtain a payment plan that adjusts to your economic situation or to prove that you paid the alleged debt or that the debt is smaller than the plaintiff claims. You have options but you need to take action because if you don’t defend yourself in court the other party will win by default.
Contracts
Drafting of contracts:
We assist you in the drafting of legally binging contracts, because the best way to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit is to have a well written contract that clearly stipulates the obligations of the parties, so that each party knows what it is obligated to do.
Breach of contract lawsuits.
We can represent you in court if you have a contract and the other party has not fulfilled their contract obligations.
We can also represent you if you have a contract and the other party claims that you have not fulfilled your contract obligations. We can help you prove that you have indeed complied with the contract, or that it is the other party which has not complied with their contract obligations.
NOTARY LAW
(in Puerto Rico notaries have to be licensed attorneys)
INHERITANCE
We assist you in all the necessary formalities when a loved one has passed away.
Declaration of heirs (when the person who has passed did not leave a will).
Expedition of testamentary letters (document issued in favor of the Executor when there’s a last will and testament).
Notarial documents for the division and partition of the inheritance – these documents are particularly important when there are real estate properties in the Estate.
Inheritance Tax forms.
LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS
The best way of establishing how your estate will be distributed after your passing is by preparing a will. If you don’t, other will decide for you.
APPEALS
If you have had a civil or criminal case in the courts of Puerto Rico and did not get the desired result, maybe because of a judicial error, we can assist you to defend your rights. Not all attorneys like to prepare and file appeals. We have ample experience in preparing appeals to the Puerto Rico Circuit Court of Appeals (Puerto Rico’s intermediate court) and/or to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. But it is important to act promply because in most cases, the term to file an appeal in state court is 30 days from the notification of the judgment.
We are admitted to present cases before the US Supreme Court so if the Puerto Rico Supreme Court has ruled against you in an appeal, we can help you explore the possibility of appealing to the United States Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
FEDERAL APPEALS:
If you have had a case before the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and did not have a favorable result, but your attorney is not admitted to the United States Court of Appeals, we can represent you before the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Consult our office and we will inform you of your options.
We are licensed to present appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
Civil cases in Federal court
Puerto Rico, as a US territory, has a United States District Court, popularly known as the Federal Court. This court, as established by the Constitution of the United States, has a jurisdiction that is more limited than that of the state courts.
Generally there are three ways in which the US District Court may assume jurisdiction of a civil case originated in Puerto Rico:
(a) The claim arises under the Constitution or laws of the United States, or
(b) Diversity Jurisdiction – a claim between residents of Puerto Rico and residents of another state or territory, or
(c) The claim is filed against the government of the United States.
We will evaluate your case to determine if the claim can be filed in Federal Court.
We file cases in the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in San Juan. Among the cases we handle are: Tort Claims; Claims of Civil Rights violation against state government officials; or claims against a federal agency under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Criminal cases in Federal court
We handle criminal cases filed in Federal Court. If you have been indicted or accused of having violated a federal law, we can represent your case.