The phone is ringing again, but you don’t pick up because you’re pretty sure who it is: that collection agency that’s been chasing you for overdue credit card or loan payments. You offered to do a payment arrangement, but they wanted their money NOW and used abusive language when you demurred. Is there anything you can do to stop the harassment? Actually, yes. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a Read More

In Utah, all drug offenses are serious and treated as such. What you can expect after an arrest will depend on the type and quantity of the drug involved, as well as the alleged crime, which can range from a simple possession charge to the sale, distribution, and trafficking of illegal drugs. You may also face misdemeanor or felony charges, both of which impact your freedom and future Read More

For many of us, having a driver’s license is essential for getting to work, shopping for necessities, and travel in general. A suspension interferes with your freedom to get where you need to go, when you need to be there. In Utah, certain offenses will cause you to lose your license and spend a lot of time and money trying to get it back. Without legal assistance, you may not be able to get it back at all before Read More

You’ve made a mistake (or two) that has left you with a Utah criminal record. Although you’ve been a conscientious and law-abiding citizen ever since, that record is preventing you from applying for certain jobs or professional licenses. Fortunately, it may be possible to have your record expunged. In other words, sealed or erased so that you can put the past behind you. The Utah Expungement Act governs the Read More

In Utah, the crime of assault refers to an attempt to do bodily injury to someone else via violence or unlawful use of force. It is usually charged as a misdemeanor, but can be treated as a felony when the assault is: Likely to cause serious bodily injury or death OR Committed by a prison inmate OR Your second (or subsequent) conviction for assaulting a law enforcement officer or member of the U.S. Read More

The individual crimes of assault and battery are frequently confused or used interchangeably in conversation. Although both involve physical violence, they are not one and the same. To compound the confusion, the legal definitions of “assault” and “battery” vary from one state to the next. In Utah, assault is defined as an illegal act of violence that injures or creates a risk of injury to another person. Read More

Unfortunately it is not uncommon to see a significant amount of dishonesty in the real estate industry. Many of the players in the real estate game work off commission, so they have an incentive to make every house worth as much as possible. Because of this incentive, it’s fairly common to have some combination of the builder, real estate agent, appraiser, and loan officer conspiring together to set the purchase Read More

Most people are aware that criminal charges are generally classified as either misdemeanors or felonies (or potentially as infractions for minor violations like speeding). However, far too many people are grossly misinformed about the difference between these two key crime classifications. Everyone knows felonies are bad, but this common knowledge oftentimes causes people to make false assumptions or spread Read More