Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
Representing Clients Facing a Variety of Criminal Charges, Including:
Family Law
Rafuse Law Firm, P.C. offers free consultations to parties facing the stress and strain of a divorce. We can help you and your spouse put your agreement on custody and division of property into the proper form to be approved by a court. Since there is always a potential that an uncontested divorce can become contested, our firm can only represent one party. It is very important that each spouse understand that our firm cannot represent both spouses.
Other cases in the family law category include:
Bankruptcy
When the money at the end of the month isn’t enough to pay all your bills or when you are facing the threat of repossession, foreclosure or a tax levy, you may consider filing a bankruptcy to get relief.
There are two chapters or types of bankruptcy available to individuals and small businesses. This firm handles both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.
Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy and lasts for approximately 6 months. This chapter discharges all unsecured debts with the exception of student loans and taxes. With Chapter 7, you can choose to keep your secured debts but you have to continue with the payment plan you had prior to bankruptcy unless you are able to refinance your debt. Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy and can last up to 5 years. If you are below the State Median Income level based on the number of persons in your household, you may have a shorter term than 5 years but no less than 3 years.
With Chapter 13, you can sometimes lower the amount paid to unsecured creditors, pay tax debt with no further interest and penalty accruing while you are in bankruptcy and, after the end of making monthly payments, discharge your debts. Mortgage payments would continue through the bankruptcy and would have to be paid pursuant to the original promissory note unless you are able to modify your loan. Chapter 13 can prevent repossession if you are behind on a car loan, prevent foreclosure if you are behind on house payments, or prevent or suspend a tax levy if the IRS has attempted to take your property for failure to timely pay your taxes.
Probate
If you have lost a member of your family, the disposition of his or her property sometimes has to go through a process known as Probate. Sometimes, if the deceased left a Will, the Will can be probated and it is necessary for an attorney to guide you through that process. This firm can help with the filing of the application, the appearance in court, and the preparation of paperwork to fully probate the estate of the deceased.
If the deceased left very little property, a Small Estate Affidavit may serve your needs. Once you have determined all the property of the estate and all the heirs entitled to a share of the estate, this firm can help you put all that information in the proper form to be filed with the court.
In some cases, where the deceased did not leave a Will, and the property is of substantial value, or a probate of the estate is necessary, an application to determine the heirs and request for Letters of Administration must be filed to start the process. This firm can help with the initial investigation of the deceased potential heirs, filing all the paperwork needed to start the process, making the appearances in court, assisting with the preparation of an Inventory, Appraisement, and List of Claims, and closing the estate once all the debts have been paid and all of the assets have been distributed. In most cases, a hearing will be necessary, and in all cases, the court will need to appoint an Attorney ad Litem who will represent any unknown heirs of the estate.
Probate
If you have lost a member of your family, the disposition of his or her property sometimes has to go through a process known as Probate. Sometimes, if the deceased left a Will, the Will can be probated and it is necessary for an attorney to guide you through that process. This firm can help with the filing of the application, the appearance in court, and the preparation of paperwork to fully probate the estate of the deceased.
If the deceased left very little property, a Small Estate Affidavit may serve your needs. Once you have determined all the property of the estate and all the heirs entitled to a share of the estate, this firm can help you put all that information in the proper form to be filed with the court.
In some cases, where the deceased did not leave a Will, and the property is of substantial value, or a probate of the estate is necessary, an application to determine the heirs and request for Letters of Administration must be filed to start the process. This firm can help with the initial investigation of the deceased potential heirs, filing all the paperwork needed to start the process, making the appearances in court, assisting with the preparation of an Inventory, Appraisement, and List of Claims, and closing the estate once all the debts have been paid and all of the assets have been distributed. In most cases, a hearing will be necessary, and in all cases, the court will need to appoint an Attorney ad Litem who will represent any unknown heirs of the estate.
Estate Planning
This firm helps those who want to set forth in writing their intent concerning the disposition of their property after they have passed away and the appointment of agents in the event they become unable to make important financial and medical decision for themselves.
This firm helps with the preparation and execution of the following estate planning documents:
Civil Litigation
Whether you have received a demand letter asking you for money, been sued for money, or have a claim for money against a person or company who has wronged you, this firm can represent you prior to the suit and in court once a suit is filed.
Civil suits involve debt collection or defense, property damage, personal injury, or financial harm caused by a merchant or individual who made false representations concerning the products provided or the services performed.
