In legal terms, homicide is committed whenever one person kills another, whether it was accidental, self defense, or otherwise. The term murder is only applicable when an individual intentionally and unlawfully kills another human being. It is a felony, and is punishable to the highest degree. In some states in which capital punishment is legal, the punishment can potentially be death. In 2007, there were over 15,000 reported cases of unjustified and tragic slayings within the United States.

The law further divides these crimes into two categories, known as first and second degrees. It is important for citizens to understand the differences between these categories, as their causes and consequences are very different.

First Degree Murder

This charge applies in cases where the victim's death was premeditated, meaning that it was planned out beforehand. For example, a man who walks out of a grocery store annoyed with the level of service he received is guilty of first degree murder if he then goes home, pawns his watch for a gun, and then figures out the chief offender's schedule before going to the grocery store to shoot the clerk that upset him. Because he intentionally planned out his attack and thought everything out in advance, he can faces charges in the first degree.

This kind of offense can also be committed during the commission of another felony. This is part of the felony murder rule and can make a person eligible for the harshest legal punishments if he or she killed a person during felonies like arson, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, or rape. So, if one were to intentionally set another person's house ablaze and someone inside dies as a result, then the fire-starter can be charged in the first degree.

In Wisconsin, this terrible offense is considered to be a Class A felony. It is punishable by life in prison.

Second Degree Murder

This term applies when the death in question was intentional but not premeditated. It is not considered as grave as more thought-out crimes. This legal term also encompasses those forms of bloodshed that result from dangerous, reckless behavior on behalf of the killer. An example of second degree murder would be physically assaulting another person with the intent of seriously injuring him or her, but instead actually killing the victim. Another example would be accidentally shooting and killing the person next to the intended victim.

In Wisconsin, this is considered a Class B felony. It punishable by incarceration by up to 60 years.

By: Joseph Devine
To learn about the legal options available to a person accused of one of these major offenses, contact Milwaukee homicide defense attorneys Kohler & Hart, LLP.

1. Waiting too long to hire an attorney.

After their arrest for a DWI, many people are angry, upset, scared, and confused. They are often embarrassed and would rather not deal with their situation. The great majority of the time, they are afraid to talk to their family or friends because they do not want to be judged. So often they end up doing nothing but waiting and hoping it will all go away. The truth is that the DWI can be a nightmare if it is not dealt with quickly and with action.

1. Time can be your friend or your enemy depending upon how it is used.
2. Inactivity after a DWI case is always a bad idea.
3. The problems with waiting to hire an attorney can only magnify over time.

Many DWI cases are successfully defended based upon learning the details of the stop and the arrest. A Successful Defense is always in the details.

• The defense of the case may require an investigation of the scene.
• The defense of the case may require a discussion with potential witnesses.
• The defense of the case may hinge on the memory of the events and activities before and after the stop and arrest.
• The defense of the case requires immediate investigation because memories fade, roadside conditions can change daily due to weather, videotapes can get erased, and witnesses can move or prove difficult to locate.
• The defense of the case requires pinpointing timelines. When each and every event occurred can be crucial, such as, when the stop occurred, when statements were given, when the Miranda warnings were given, when the Field Sobriety Tests were given, and when the arrest was made.
• The defense of the case may require a thorough and detailed analysis of how the Field Sobriety Tests were instructed and how they were performed.
• The defense of the case may require analyzing how the Police Officer recorded his observations, the words he used, his notes about the stop and the arrest, and his filling out police forms and records. These pieces of evidence can all prove significant to a successful defense.
When should I hire a DWI attorney?

Immediately. New York law requires that you have 45 days after your arraignment to file all Pre-trial motions. An experienced DWI attorney will immediately demand that the prosecution hand over all discovery documents and all proof that they are going to use against you. If you fail to hire an attorney and you do not file any pre-trial motions (challenging the probable cause of the stop, the probable cause of the arrest, and the voluntariness of your statements), you then give up your right to fight the stop, the arrest, and all evidence that came from them.

In short, the sooner you act, the better chance I will have in providing the best DWI defense.

2. Not hiring an experienced and local DWI attorney.

My practice focuses on Ithaca and Tompkins County DWI cases. The majority of my retained clients are Tompkins County New York DWI cases. New York DWI laws are complicated, and techniques in defending DWI are constantly changing. That is why it is important to find a lawyer who stays on top of the current DWI laws, trends, and what occurs in Tompkins County Courts everyday. I am that lawyer.

Furthermore, I concentrate my Continuing Legal Education on DWI specific seminars, rather than general criminal law issues. This assures I always have the most current, up-to-date information to benefit my clients.

3. Not taking the matter seriously.

New York State has no expungement law so if you are convicted, this is a charge that will follow you for the rest of your life. In fact, a conviction will stay on your record even after your death. The additional insurance charges alone could cost you thousands of dollars. Also, a NY DWI or DWAI charge will be used as a predicate offense if you receive another within a 10 year time period. For this second DWI, you will most likely be indicted as a Felony DWI, class E which could mean a real possibility for prison time.

4. Continuing to drive after your license has been taken away.

No need to tempt fate. If your license has been taken, suspended, or revoked, you are only hurting yourself if you continue to drive. "Driving while license invalid" is a misdemeanor in New York State, and punishable by up to a year in jail. Not to mention the complications it will pose in your DWI case.

5. Not taking full advantage of your constitutional rights.

This usually happens when you try to handle the case on your own, or hire an attorney not well versed in DWI laws. There may be numerous areas of your stop and arrest that were unconstitutional. Defense Pre-trial motions
must be filed to:

• Contest the constitutionality of the stop
• Contest the constitutionality of the probable cause to arrest
• Contest the constitutionality of the Miranda rights
• Contest the manner in which roadside tests were given
• Contest the use of a Portable Breath Tester
• Contest the constitutionality of any search and seizure
• Contest the constitutionality of the refusal

6. Failing to appear in Court.

If you do not show up for a Court appearance, the Court will issue a bench warrant for your arrest and revoke any bond. The next time you are stopped for a traffic infraction, you will be spending some time in jail and posting a bond for your future appearances.

7. Talking to anyone but an attorney about your case.

Anything you say to them can be used against you. Talking to friends, family, etc. may be nice and comforting, BUT EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT. Just because something happened in your friend's case, doesn't mean it will happen in yours. Different counties, different judges, different facts mean different results.

8.Thinking that by talking to numerous attorneys you will then be able to handle it on your own.

You need to have an attorney go to Court with you. There is no way around it. It has been said that "an attorney who represents themselves in court, has a fool for a client." EVEN ATTORNEYS charged with DWI will hire a DWI attorney to represent them in court. What does that tell you?

You need an experienced DWI attorney to explain not only the law but options specific to your case and, most importantly, how your decisions can impact your future.

9. Just pleading "Guilty" to the DWI to get it over.

If I plead "Guilty" do I really even need a Lawyer?

I have many clients give me a call and say something along the lines of . . .

"I am guilty. I just want to plea guilty and get this over."

My answer is always a VERY strong "YES!" My job isn't simply to get
innocent people found not guilty, or to get guilty people "off."

My job is to make sure that you are treated fairly and receive fair treatment throughout the process. I also think it is of the utmost importance to understand all of your options and how the decisions you may make today can affect your future.

In New York State, DWI has a very large punishment range. These can range from license suspensions to revocations of 90 days or up to a year. The Court Surcharges can range from $260.00 (for a DWAI) and many hundreds more for a DWI. The fines can range from the hundreds of dollars to the thousands as well. Punishments can include years of probation where you cannot drink alcohol or be around anyplace serving it for years. The conditions of your probation can be as wide as you can imagine. If your plea bargain is not properly negotiated, you could end up with some overly harsh conditions.

Good negotiations may help you avoid having a deep lung device (ignition interlock device) attached to your car. This is an apparatus that requires you to blow into it to start your car, and periodically while driving. If you have friends or business associates in your car, it can be quite embarrassing. Not to mention, it costs about $70 per month to monitor... a price paid by YOU. Over the years, it can cost you thousands of dollars.

Other conditions on your probation could be large amounts of community service, costing you money when you are not working.

Another, and most important consideration is that if you plead guilty, you have 100% chance of being found guilty and having a DWI conviction on your record. New York State has no Expungement law so your DWI record will stay with you for life.

Sometimes, you have the opportunity to be found not guilty at trial, which is not necessarily the same thing as being found innocent. If your rights were violated, etc., a trial is usually the only chance for you to keep this off your record. You could even have the chance of being found guilty to the reduced charge of DWAI, which is a traffic infraction.

What it boils down to is that even if you are guilty, you still need a good DWI lawyer to make sure that you understand your options and are treated fairly.

By: Lawrence Newman
Lawrence A. Newman, Ithaca, New York DWI Lawyer
http://www.ithacadwi.com

An increasing number of people are utilizing the revocable living trust as the primary document in their estate plans. A revocable living trust is an entity created during lifetime in which an individual (called a trustee) holds legal title to property on behalf of a beneficiary, who is typically the individual establishing the trust (or the grantor).

It is a revocable trust because the grantor, at all times and for any reason, retains the absolute power and right to revoke the trust, or to otherwise amend or change the trust terms in any fashion. In addition, the grantor may withdraw the trust assets at anytime by taking the properties back into his or her individual name.

The living trust is beneficial because it permits an individual to transfer title of his or her assets now, but that transfer is not to the individual's beneficiaries, but rather to the trust entity. In fact, the re-titling of assets during lifetime is generally considered to be the revocable trust's principal advantage since assets held by the trust will not be subject to court supervision. Furthermore, the grantor typically serves as initial trustee so as to maintain complete control over the management of the assets.

In the event of an incapacity or illness, a successor takes over as trustee to manage the trust and otherwise provide for the grantor, without the necessity of seeking the appointment of a legal guardian to take title to his or her assets.

Upon death, the successor trustee would be in charge of the assets without the necessity for probate proceedings. If probate were required, delays in transferring the properties to one's family and the potential for additional legal, accounting and court costs could result. Without court involvement, the trustee can expeditiously transfer the assets in accordance with the grantor's wishes, which will remain private, as a trust agreement need not be deposited with the probate court at death.

The trust will often contain significant tax planning provisions as well as terms of ongoing trusts for the grantor's family. This arrangement could permit the grantor's assets to be kept together in one piece for the family's benefit for a period of years. In addition, the trust could also provide for the protection of the properties from creditors or claims against the family.

While the revocable trust will, in effect, take the place of a Last Will and Testament, in that the trust will provide for the disposition of the grantor's assets at death, a Will is nonetheless a necessary instrument in every estate plan. If a trust is established, but one's assets are not properly transferred to the trust during lifetime, a Will would be required to direct the disposition of assets at death. In an estate plan that includes a revocable trust, a Will could merely provide that any assets that might be titled in a grantor's individual name pass to the trust to be held by the successor trustee under the general provisions of the grantor's estate plan. Moreover, a Will would name a guardian for any minor children.

Notwithstanding the advantages of the revocable living trust, it is not appropriate or necessary in every instance. Therefore, any person interested in exploring the applicability of a revocable trust in their estate plan should consult their attorney.

By: Joshua Keleske
Joshua T. Keleske, P.A. proudly serves families in the Tampa Bay area with their estate planning, estate and trust administration, and business planning needs. If you have questions regarding how we can be of assistance to you and your family, please contact us at anytime at 813-254-0044. We are happy to answer your questions and arrange for an appointment to speak with you.

Please also visit http://www.trustedcounselors.com to learn more about Joshua T. Keleske, P.A.

"Power of attorney" is a legal tool that allows another individual the authority to act as a person's legal representative. This gives that person the power to make binding legal and financial decisions on a person's behalf.

It is not exceptionally difficult to find forms to grant someone the power of attorney via the internet, but there is typically not a lot of explanation of what a power of attorney is. In addition, there is very little information concerning when a person needs a person to act as power of attorney or even what type of power of attorney to choose. These are very difficult decisions to make as giving the power of attorney to someone gives that person considerable power over your life. Because an individual with power of attorney has the ability to sign a different person's name to legal contracts, careful consideration should be given to choosing a person and whether or not limits should be placed on how long the power of attorney will last and what limits should be imposed on a person's powers.

There are, broadly, two basic types of powers of attorney. A "general" power is unlimited in both its scope and in its duration. This granted type of power permits the named individual to act as a person's legal representative in relation to all financial matters until the power is revoked.

A "specific" power creates limits on a person's named representative. It is possible for a "specific" power to bind a representative's powers to one single type of conduct or even a single transaction. As an example, the representative could be granted the power to engage in financial transactions stemming from a specific checking account or be given the power to sign the closing documents for a specific real estate transaction. These activities are very limited and are assigned to a specific type of transaction. They are not nearly as broad as "general" powers are.

Either type of power can be limited in its duration. This means that the person selecting a representative can specify a date after which the power of attorney assigned to that representative will no longer be valid.

Typically, forms granting power of attorney do not have to be registered with the state. If a form grants an individual the rights to engage in transactions and dealings pertaining to real estate, it may be required that the forms be registered with the state.

By: Joseph Devine
If you would like more information concerning power of attorney or other legal transaction related to probate, please visit http://www.probatelawyeraustin.com.