PRACTICE AREAS

ASSOCIATIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

I got a traffic ticket a few months ago. I never did anything about it. Is there a warrant out for my arrest?

Most traffic courts give you a very specific period of time to respond to a ticket. That period varies from ten to thirty days, depending on which court you are dealing with. If you ignore the ticket beyond that response period, it is usual for the court to issue a warrant for your arrest based upon your failure to appear in court. That means that you probably have a second charge filed against you, which has the potential to cost you much more money once you do end up in front of the judge. It also virtually destroys any chance You may have had of “beating” the original ticket since you have now forfeited your credibility with the court. Lastly, it means that the next time you get pulled over for a traffic ticket, you may get to go to jail instead of being released with a citation. You need to take care of the matter immediately. This is probably a situation where a lawyer could help you out a lot.

My roommates are FROM HELL! I never signed a lease, and I want to move into my boyfriend’s apartment. Can they legally make me pay rent, or can I hit the road?

If you never signed a lease, you are probably not liable to the landlord for rent. However, if you had a verbal agreement with your roommates, you could be liable to them for your portion of any unpaid rent for the period you were actually living there and any other expenses you caused them to incur (such as long distance phone calls you made), and no more than thirty days worth of rent after you tell them you are leaving. Of course, leaving under these terms is bound to cause bad feelings between you and your roommates. Be careful not to leave them with any opportunities to “return the favor”.