New Hampshire Attorneys Mcgrath Law Firm Concord NH

Efficiency, Excellence of Work Product, Zealous Representation

Practice Areas

Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice
Complex Litigation
Civil Litigation
Real Estate Law
Business Law


Featured Posts

NH Bike Week – drivers be careful!

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NH Bike Week is here

It is a time to celebrate, summer has arrived – NH Bike Week is here!!! Laconia, and New Hampshire in general is at its busiest in terms of traffic thanks to bike week! The DOT has signs up warning the drivers but yet the inevitable happens every year – accidents. Accidents are even worse when a motorcycle is involved, regardless of who bears the liability.

What to do when you are in an accident?

When one is in an accident they are often in a state of shock. The first and most important thing for you to do is take care of yourself and seek medical treatment. The insurance and legal issues can wait. In fact, it should be the last step you take should you find yourself in an accident. You have up to three years in the State of New Hampshire to file a lawsuit, if needed. In a majority of circumstances, a lawsuit is never even filed.

Why call McGrath Law Firm?

Most people believe they call their insurance company and let them deal with it and all’s well that ends well. This is not always the case. Often, an insurance company will devalue the claim and not pay what you think is fair. The paperwork can be complicated. It is a fact, a claim handled through the McGrath Law Firm will get better results. You will have to decide if it is worth it to hire an experienced lawyer (at McGrath Law Firm an injury claim would be billed contingency – which means if you don’t get any money, neither will the McGrath Law Firm) or attempt to negotiate with the low offer given to you by the insurance company.

Contact Us!

The seasoned family law and divorce lawyers at the McGrath Law Firm, founded by former federal prosecutor, Peter McGrath, will walk you through every step of the challenging process to address your concerns and achieve your goals as efficiently as possible. From personal injury, criminal law and estate planning, spousal support, child support, fault, and equitable division of property and debt to valuations, prenuptial agreements, annulments, and restraining orders, the experienced attorneys at McGrath Law Firm have a successful track record in all aspects of law. Call us to schedule your consultation at (603) 224-7111.

DUI and DWI tips

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DUI and DWI

It is well known by now that legendary golfer Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with DUI (driving under the influence) this past Monday.  Mr. Woods fully cooperated with the police and has represented to the public that a mix of prescription pills, and not alcohol, were the contributing factors.  This leaves many wondering where does Tiger Woods go from here?  As a public figure, he not only has to answer for his crime, but he has to perform damage control with respect to his reputation.

In New Hampshire, as in many other states, the standard now is “impairment to any degree.”  You don’t have to be intoxicated by alcohol or under the influence of illicit drugs.  As in Tiger’s case you can be impaired by an adverse reaction to prescription medications.  In some instances you can even be “impaired” from an illness if it affects you balance, vision, dexterity or ability to reason and the ability to operate a vehicle safely.

Tips

So what do you do if you are stopped for a suspected of DUI or DWI?  Produce your license and registration.  Be polite and respectful to the officer.  If you are not impaired or under the influence of anything then submit to a breathalyzer or blood test.  These tests render a result that is definitive.

Often times in these situation what you do not do is even more important than what you do.  For instance, don’t volunteer information.  Remember you have the right to remain silent, exercise it.  Don’t agree to perform Field Sobriety Tests.  These are not definitive tests, they have no hard results, but rather are based entirely on what the officer claims his observations were.  If you know you are impaired don’t submit to any testing.  It could mean the difference between a regular DWI or a more serious charge of Aggravated DWI and potential jail time.  The less evidence you give them against yourself the better.

Why hire an attorney for a first offense and not just plead guilty?  A conviction for DWI has a lot of collateral consequences attached to it that can and will affect you for years to come and cost you a lot of money.  Screenings, evaluations, classes, insurance costs, all at your own expense, a probationary license, and possible incarceration.  All of that can possibly be avoided by just saying, “I want my attorney.”  McGrath Law Firm can certainly help you and we will fight for your rights!

Contact us!

The legal team members at the McGrath Law Firm, founded by attorney Peter McGrath, former federal prosecutor, will walk you through every step of the challenging legal matter to address your concerns and achieve your goals as efficiently as possible.  From criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury, Collaborative Law, Family Law, foreclosure prevention, the experienced attorneys at McGrath Law Firm have a successful track record in all aspects of criminal law. Call us to schedule your consultation at (603) 224-7111.

 

Making the Most Out of Your Consultation

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Booking your consultation.

Often when one books a consultation with an attorney they wonder how to get the most out of the meeting. Once you have decided on a law firm or attorney to meet with, the next step is to schedule an initial consultation. Making the decision to sit down and meet with an attorney to go over a legal matter can be a nerve-wracking ordeal. You probably have many thoughts racing through your mind. What’s going to happen, how much this going to cost, are they going to be able to help me, etc.… Below are a few suggestions that may help prepare you for your initial consultation and alleviate some of those fears.

Come Prepared for the Consultation:

Bring any paperwork related to your case or legal matter you plan to discuss. That way the attorney can make copies for your file and have a chance to look through it. Of course if you bring a box full of paperwork, the attorney will not have time to go through everything, so just bring what you think is important to the first meeting, as you can always bring other needed paperwork later.

Some of examples of good documents to bring for an initial consultation:

Criminal:              charging documents, citations, complaints, indictments, bail orders, bail bond, hearing notices

Divorce:               petition (if you are the respondent), financials

Real Estate:        if buying/selling bring the purchase and sale, deed, home inspection, survey, tax bill, opposing party’s Information, including attorney, if any

Probate:              Original Will (copy will do but the original is needed for the Court), trust, if any, names, address and phone numbers of all potential heirs

Personal Injury:  treating doctor’s contact information, medical records, if available, insurance policy, ability to communicate your story leading up to the event

Write Things Down:

Prior to your visit, make a list of questions you would like to get answered during your initial visit. List them in order of importance to you, as typically the initial consultation only lasts an hour. Sometimes it’s hard to remember questions you had, or items you wanted to discuss. If you write them down, you’ll have an easier time remembering them.

Also, be sure to jot down notes during your meeting with the attorney. That way you can go home and review what was discussed.

What to expect from the attorney:

The attorney you meet with should be knowledgeable and have experience in your type of case, whether it is criminal, real estate, divorce, probate, etc. They should listen to your side of the story and address any concerns you may have. They should be compassionate, yet honest with you about your situation. By the end of your consultation, they should advise as to what the next best steps would be for your matter. They will review the fee agreement, including hourly rates, a retainer (if necessary), a flat fee, etc. There should not be any pressure on you to sign anything, but do keep in mind, there may be upcoming court dates and deadlines, so it’s good to not wait too long to make a decision about how to proceed.

The Consultation fee is worth it:

If you are serious about receiving advice from an experienced attorney and it is not a personal injury or medical malpractice matter, then be prepared to pay for an initial consultation. It is definitely worth it whether you decide to hire the attorney or just see what your options are, depending on your case. It will be the best money you ever spend, and will most likely end up saving you money and frustration down the road.

Contact us!

The legal team members at the McGrath Law Firm, founded by attorney Peter McGrath, former federal prosecutor, will walk you through every step of the challenging legal matter to address your concerns and achieve your goals as efficiently as possible.  From civil litigation, personal injury, Collaborative Law, Family Law, foreclosure prevention, criminal defense, the experienced attorneys at McGrath Law Firm have a successful track record in all aspects of Family Law. Call us to schedule your consultation at (603) 224-7111.

Meet legal team member, Leeann – Paralegal at McGrath Law!

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Meet the legal team Tuesdays continues with Leeann, a Paralegal at McGrath Law

Leeann is originally from California but has been a New Hampshire resident for over 35 years. 

Leeann has over 25 years of legal experience as a legal assistant and paralegal.  She uses that experience to deliver efficient document productions and assist our clients in all aspects of litigation from initial investigations to discovery and trial.  Leeann is skilled at working with clients to minimize business disruption while ensuring timely and efficient document production.   She provides superior support for the team. She assists both attorneys and clients in navigating through the complexities of legal filings.

Leeann has been a member of the McGrath team for over three years.  Prior to that she has worked for the New Hampshire Department of Labor Commission as well as some of the biggest firms in New Hampshire.   She has significant experience in civil litigation, workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law, estates, collection, and bankruptcy, to name a few.

In her time away from the office she is an avid reader, loves the Red Sox and New England Patriots and traveling.

Paralegals must obtain passion and skills!

Leeann’s passion for justice and past experience is an asset to attorneys and clients during lengthy and arduous legal proceedings.  Leeann and the paralegals at McGrath Law not only have compassion, but also the skills to assist the attorneys in achieving the best possible outcome on your matter.  Certainly, Leeann is someone you would want on your legal team!

Contact us!

The legal team members at the McGrath Law Firm, founded by attorney Peter McGrath, former federal prosecutor, will walk you through every step of the challenging legal matter to address your concerns and achieve your goals as efficiently as possible.  From civil litigation, personal injury, Collaborative Law, Family Law, foreclosure prevention, criminal defense, the experienced attorneys at McGrath Law Firm have a successful track record in all aspects of Family Law. Call us to schedule your consultation at (603) 224-7111.