A Practice for The People!

We are engaged in a general practice of law. Our clients are typically hard working class people who need an attorney once, twice, perhaps three times for a myriad of reasons. We have clients who have known and relied on Mr. Jannace for the entire time he has practiced law. And those clients have referred friends and relatives for various reasons. It is fairly easy to identify four areas in which Mr. Jannace has practiced for these clients.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE (TRAFFIC, MISDEMEANOR, AND FELONY CASES).

This area encompasses a vast array of cases, from minor traffic infractions to first degree murder; from juvenile detentions to the potential for life imprisonment. Most cases seem to fall somewhere in between like driving under the influence in major traffic court to felony drug and gun jury trials. Each case is important to the client; each case is handled differently than any other; there is no cookie-cutter approach to handling criminal defense cases.

One important area of criminal defense work is knowing what to do and not to do when you are accused of a crime but have yet to be charged. Many criminal defense attorneys shy away from giving definitive advice when asked seemingly hypothetical but indeed, real life, everyday questions by people who wrongfully or rightfully are the subject of the attention of law enforcement authorities. Not Mr. Jannace; having a working knowledge of police practice and procedure and an intimate knowledge of fundamental constitutional rights makes it easy to give the kind of advice that will deter the frivolous arrest and level the playing field when law enforcement gains an advantage through investigation. The direction of cases is often influenced by what happens before charges are filed and an arrest is made. The right advice can make a world of difference. Having Mr. Jannace on permanent retainer has saved many people sleepless nights.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS (CUSTODY, DIVORCE, AND ADOPTIONS).

Disputes among family members often produce the most contentious of litigation. People will spar over children many times more than they will litigate over money or houses. Separations and divorces have grown increasingly common even though fewer people marry than before. People who have never married still have rights and obligations that can be enforced in court. And more and more people want to protect their assets and their rights before a dispute arises.

Domestic relations is a very general phrase for a large amount of very specific life altering problems. Divorce; custody; visitation; child support; alimony; division of marital assets; guardianship. These are a few words you will hear when relationships deteriorate. Almost all of these cases involve children, seemingly innocent victims, either directly or indirectly. These types of cases are so important and unique that many courts have experts who hear few other kinds of cases. Having an attorney who not only knows the law but what is expected by the courts (which varies from county to county) of the litigants is critical in an area of litigation where few people come away boasting that they “won”.

Some domestic cases don’t end with the divorce or the custody decree. There are frequently valid grounds for modification of what once may have seemed to be a final result. Children mature, expenses escalate, alimony dissipates, tax burdens shift. You need an attorney who you can trust to stay alongside you as the lives of your children and you develop.

Many people believe that just because they were awarded custody in a Court outside of the State of Maryland that they can simply come to Maryland and have that custody award honored by local law enforcement officials. That is not the case. We will register and enforce your out of state custody award in a local Circuit Court and assist you in obtaining possession of your child or children from a wayward non-custodial parent.

Sometimes there is a need for precaution, like a pre-nuptial agreement. Many people scoff at them because they seem to run counter to the reasons why two people should marry. Those people are usually the ones who have little or nothing to lose. Frequently two people can resolve differences with a separation or marital settlement agreement and avoid thousands of dollars in legal fees and migraines. This office can provide either of these types of agreements that can reasonably ensure your rights will be protected and can withstand disputes that end up in Court anyway.

PERSONAL INJURY, ACCIDENT, AND WRONGFUL DEATH CASES .

For many years in New York, Mr. Jannace worked in law firms that represented insurance companies that defended all types of claims including personal injury and wrongful death claims. The tricks of that trade have not changed very much over the years. The goal, plainly and simply, of a claims adjuster working for an insurance company is to pay as little as possible. You don’t need an attorney if you cannot recognize the wiles of claims adjusters or the value of your claim.

You do need an experienced personal injury claims attorney if you don’t know the law, don’t know the tricks, and have better things to do (like convalesce) than plead on the telephone to insurance types who are trained to rebut every single thing that you can say on your behalf.

And a beneficial feature of hiring Mr. Jannace to represent your interests is that whether or not your claim is settled before a lawsuit is filed or whether your case is decided by a jury, the fee is always contingent on the outcome. That means that you pay nothing out of your pocket. The fee comes out of whatever amount is the settlement or verdict. If there’s no recover, there’s no fee. So, you get the benefit of having someone who knows the ins and outs of insurance claims without the risk of adding insult to your injuries.

BANKRUPTCY (CHAPTER 7, 13, DEBTOR, AND CREDITOR MATTERS).

The economic downturn has adversely affected many people who one year or two years ago were on top of their finances. Unlike other times, the financial embarrassment from which most people are presently suffering is not of their own doing. Unfortunately, even though your job loss or portfolio dissipation is due to Congress’ excesses and mistakes, no one is going to save your home from foreclosure or stop the credit agency’s annoying telephone calls. Your only possible remedy is to file for protection of the Bankruptcy Court with either a Chapter 7 (liquidation) or Chapter 13 (reorganization) Petition. We not only represent debtors and creditors in Bankruptcy Court, we also provide a simplified process for all clients with internet access who are qualified to file for bankruptcy. Firstly, you must apply for and obtain a Certificate of Counseling from a credit counseling agency like CCCS; if you do qualify, then click on Mr. Jannace’s personalized link, enter his attorney ID (MBBK481$D8C97E), and input all of the information requested. When you complete the process, we will receive an email notification and prepare the paperwork. There is no extra charge for this state-of-the-art service.

Under current bankruptcy law (28 U.S.C. Section 528(a)), we are required to advise you and all potential clients that “we are a Debt Relief Agency; we help people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code.”

SMALL BUSINESSES (WHOLESALE, RETAIL, NON-PROFIT, AND RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS).

Ah, the backbone of our economy. Start it up, develop it into something bigger, and stay ahead of the people with whom you do business. We can help you incorporate, collect overdue accounts, and formulate contracts that give your business an advantage. One legal misstep can bring down a business; it’s best to plan ahead and try to avoid doing anything other than what you’re in business to do.