Family Law

• Divorce
  If you can’t reach a final agreement, your case goes to trial. The trial date depends on the length of time needed for the hearing and the court’s other business. Contested divorce trials are costly and involved. The court enforces rules of evidence, which contain many pitfalls for the unwary. The best way to avoid these is to hire an attorney.
• Child Support
  The trial court can modify certain orders, such as child support and physical placement, in the future, although usually you must show that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred since the current orders went into effect before a trial court can revise a judgment. In most cases, orders regarding property division cannot be changed, once the orders are approved by the court.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  As mentioned earlier, the family court’s counseling services provide mediation for couples needing help to settle child custody and placement issues. Family court counseling usually doesn’t address property settlements, maintenance, or child support – unless these issues relate directly to child custody or placement. But you may discuss these issues if both of you agree in writing to do so.
• Paternity
  For more than a decade, Attorney James C. Murray has handled trials, appeals, and other hearings in divorce, separation, and paternity cases.
• Spousal Support
  * Debts relating to certain taxes, governmental fines, forfeitures and restitution, criminal or fraudulent conduct, child and spousal support, drunk driving, most student loans, and willful and malicious injuries, may not be dischargeable;
• Legal Separation
• Child Abuse

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
• DUI/DWI
  For more than a decade, Attorney James C. Murray has handled trials and appeals involving drunk driving and other traffic offenses. Cases are often won prior to trial.
• Traffic Violations
  If you’re charged with an ordinance or traffic offense that is not a crime (such as speeding), you’ll be given a citation. In most cases you won’t be taken into custody. Police may not search you or your property without permission if you are not taken into custody for a noncriminal offense. The citation will usually give you a choice of paying a forfeiture or going to court. It will state a date for you to appear in court if you choose not to pay the forfeiture.
• White Collar Crimes
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  If you’re convicted of a misdemeanor, you may be imprisoned for up to one year. Any “time” you serve will be in the county jail or house of correction. A felony charge is much more serious, because it can mean a year or more in prison. In either case, it’s very wise to consult an attorney. If you can’t afford one, the judge will refer you to the State Public Defender’s office.
• Drug Crimes
• Homicide
• Shoplifting
  In most cases, traffic offenses and city, town, or county ordinance violations are not criminal offenses. Certain offenses can be charged as either ordinance or criminal offenses – for example, retail theft (shoplifting) or disorderly conduct. And some offenses are non­criminal for first time offenders but criminal for second time violators. The most common example of this is operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.

Health Law

• Auto Accidents

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  Finally, while a debtor's personal liability for debts secured by a home, car, boat, furnishings, and the like may be discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the affected creditor's right to enforce its lien against collateral pledged for a loan (such as the right of repossession) is generally unaffected by bankruptcy. To retain the collateral, the debtor may have to reaffirm the debt or redeem the collateral. These concepts will be discussed later.
• Foreclosure
  * Most liabilities relating to credit card debts, civil judgments, past-due accounts, and judgments due to repossessions and foreclosures may be discharged;