Timing is Everything Signing a Document Many documents we encounter on a daily basis could have significant legal impact on your life. Signing a document may give you some protection, some rights or some responsibilities. Very few documents have simple, easily understandable content. Unfortunately, many could impose a legal burden on the parties. If you have any doubts about a document you are asked to sign, please consult an attorney so you completely and thoroughly understand what you are signing. Timely advice by one of our attorneys can possibly save you from later aggravation or financial loss. Statute of Limitation (SOL)Legal matters often have a finite time frame for a legal action to be initiated, called the Statute of Limitations (SOL). The SOL time period may vary from 14 days up to 10 years. If a meritorious action is filed or acted upon outside of this period, a party will lose his/her right to a legal remedy. Timely consultation with one of our attorneys may preserve your legal rights by avoiding late filing. Self-Help and Self-Initiated (pro-se) ActionsLife is a game that we all play; however, it often seems that attorneys are the one who know most of the rules. It is in our nature to think and feel that we are self-sufficient and that we can do almost everything on our own. But taking care of legal problems is not the same as a trip to the local home-improvement store. Some people believe that legal services are expensive and that they would be better off not seeking advice. Unfortunately, this might not be the most prudent course. Many things one does in life have some legal importance. If the conduct or action was within legal bounds, that conduct may secure person’s rights. However, one may find himself in much worse position if they are not fully informed. To avoid putting yourself in a complicated, expensive position, which is difficult to resolve and to avoid losing valuable time, we suggest that you seek timely advice from an attorney. Back to Top Minimize Your Risk In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, call home on your cell phone, order new checks, or apply for a credit card. Everyday transactions that you may never give a second thought to are an identity thief's bread and butter. Each of these transactions requires the sharing of personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your income, Social Security number and name, address and phone numbers, to name a few. While you can't prevent identity theft, you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely. Catching Identity Theft Early Sometimes an ID thief can strike even when you've been very careful. One of the best ways to catch identity theft is to regularly check your credit record. Order your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus each year and make sure all the information is correct. Also, follow up with creditors if your bills do not arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks. How do You Know if You are at Secure Site on the Internet? When you connect to a financial institution’s website, look for an image of a padlock at the bottom of your browser window. A Web address shall starts with “https” instead of “http.” Both of these mean that the page, and your information, is protected. If you do not see these markers, be cautious of what information you transmit, since it may be compromised. 
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