Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Child support can be a critical component that factors into a child’s quality of life and wellbeing. Unfortunately, child support often goes unpaid in the US and families are often torn apart by financial conflict. With the help of Pennsylvania family attorneys and mediators, parents can negotiate issues surrounding their divorce and the care of their children in a safe and fair setting.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  All too often in child custody cases, the stakes are high and parents are deeply upset by the judge’s ruling. A skilled child custody attorney can help you build a strong case and demonstrate your competence as a parent.
• Adoption
• Spousal Support
  When one party in a divorce may be rendered financially unstable as a result of the separation, alimony payments may come into play. There are 3 different types of alimony in our state, and a Pennsylvania family attorney can help you protect your assets and push for a fair ruling in court.
• Annulment
  Divorces and marriage annulments can be stressful and time-consuming, distracting from your day-to-day life and your sense of contentment. In PA, divorces are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, which means the unique circumstances of your divorce will factor into the decision a judge makes.
• Child Abuse
  In situations like divorce, alimony, or child custody disputes, emotions run high. You need your case wrapped up as quickly as possible with the least amount of grief. We’ve successfully defended thousands of clients against serious accusations. Working carefully with sound evidence and a winning strategy, our team of Pennsylvania family law attorneys has gotten countless clients acquitted of serious charges such as child abuse. Whether it’s helping you retain custody of your children, getting what is yours after a divorce, or proving innocence against a charge, we’ll help you present the facts clearly and effectively.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Attorney Michael H. Applebaum has more than 50 years of legal experience as a criminal defense attorney. He has tried hundreds of cases and defended thousands of clients in criminal cases. His professionalism, conversational style, statesmanlike honesty and tenacious skilled trial methods have earned him the respect of judges, jurors, clients, associates and the community as a whole.
• DUI/DWI
  If you are under 21 years of age and you are arrested for DUI/DAI, contact an experienced Pennsylvania underage DUI defense attorney immediately. Pennsylvania law is very hard on drunk drivers, and it takes a zero-tolerance stance on underage drinking. Your child’s future is on the line in these cases. Be sure that you have the right representation from the start.
• Traffic Violations
  One estimate showed that roughly 3,796 traffic tickets are issued in Pennsylvania in a given year. Speeding is the most common moving violation followed by failure to obey traffic lights and driving without an inspection. While you may be an otherwise law-abiding citizen, these offenses can carry serious consequences such as license revocation if enough points are issued against your license.
• Sex Crimes
  Sex crimes carry serious consequences and a stigma that can follow perpetrators for a lifetime. Sex charges include anything from sexual assault to child pornography and rape. The seriousness of the circumstances will determine whether a charge is a first, second, or third degree misdemeanor or felony.
• Fraud
  Deceitful or fraudulent activities committed by a business or government entity are considered white collar crimes. This includes insurance fraud, identity theft, embezzlement, and forgery, among other charges. A criminal defense attorney in Pennsylvania can help you get clear on the charges against you and decide how to fight them.
• Robbery
• White Collar Crimes
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Crimes are separated by the Pennsylvania Crimes Code into felonies or misdemeanors of the first, second, or third degree. If you are facing criminal charges in Bucks County, you’re not alone. While Bucks County is in the 98th percentile for safety compared to the average US county, criminal charges still occur. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony charge, being a first-time offender is one factor you may use to strengthen your defense.
• Embezzlement
• Drug Crimes
  Many drivers who are charged with driving under the influence of drugs are shocked. Drivers may be arrested for driving under the influence of a legal prescription medication. Drivers who have used drugs several days before driving may fail a blood test because it picks up traces of drugs in their system. Some of the drivers who are arrested on DUI drug charges are not even impaired, but a law enforcement officer has mistakenly concluded they were unfit to operate a motor vehicle.
• Assault
  “I was charged with aggravated assault and attempted homicide and I took a bench trial in front of a judge and attorney Applebaum argued that one punch should be considered simple assault and after explaining the circumstances regarding my wife’s cheating, I received a sentence of 30 days probation.
• Murder
  Violent criminal charges carry some of the most serious consequences from jail time to being barred from certain types of employment. Sentencing is largely dependent on the seriousness of a crime. Anything from a fist fight to a murder charge is considered violent crime.
• Juvenile Crimes
  Old Lehigh County Courthouse is widely known as a historic site and the oldest standing courthouse in Pennsylvania. Just a short walk down the street is the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. This court is ruled by 10 judges and 2 senior judges who share judicial oversight of a variety of affairs including juvenile crimes, lawsuits, probation, custody disputes, and domestic relations.
• Identity Theft
• Homicide
  Mr. Applebaum has defended clients in cases ranging from minor traffic infractions to homicide charges. He defends adults and juveniles, and he has experience defending clients against state and federal charges.
• Arson
  Property crimes involve any action taken to steal, damage, or trespass on private property. When less damage is incurred, such as a minor vandalism case, the charge may be a summary offense or misdemeanor. When more damage is incurred, such as a major arson case, the crime is considered a felony and carries a heftier sentence.
• Forgery

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  When an injury occurs on someone’s property, the injury may be considered that individual’s responsibility. The law around premises liability is not cut and dry, and many different factors play into who can be held responsible for an injury.
• Property Damage
  Within each of these tiers are more specific types of law. For example, civil law includes family matters such as alimony and child support, but it also includes lawsuits against property damage. Criminal law encompasses everything from a summary offense (e.g loitering), a misdemeanor offense (e.g drug possession), all the way to a felony offense (e.g murder). In many instances, a case will be transferred from a small district court to your county’s court of common pleas for a final decision. Each case will be reviewed de novo, or “as new,” and will not be influenced by any rulings made by the district court.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  No matter what type of legal situation you face, a Pennsylvania courthouse attorney can be there with you every step of the way. At Applebaum & Associates, more than 50 years of experience in criminal, family, and personal injury law have proven that our clients’ rights are top priority. Helping you navigate even the most complex or troubling legal situation, our attorneys stop at nothing to get you the outcome you deserve.
• Medical Malpractice
  While we may want to believe that medical professionals are infallible, this is unfortunately not the case. Many of our clients have been victims of medical malpractice, suffering knee injuries, hip injuries, or other damages from medications and surgeries.
• Auto Accidents