Archives for June 2015

International Adoptions – Dealing with Immigration Issues

How to Work Most Effectively with Prospective Birthparents

When you adopt a child from a foreign country, in addition to the legal issues specifically related to making the child a member of your family, you may also be required to “re-adopt” the child once you return to the United States. Whether or not you must generally depends on the type of visa that was issued for your child.

The IR-3 Visa

An IR-3 visa is issued when the adoption is completed in the child’s home country. It is based on a confirmation that the adoptive parent or parents had an opportunity to see the child in his or her native country before the adoption. If you obtained an IR-3 visa, you will not be required to re-adopt your child once you arrive in the states, but you can still choose to do so. State courts are not required to recognize foreign adoption decrees (though many do). Re-adoption may be necessary if you want to obtain a state-issued birth certificate in the child’s name.

The IR-4 Visa

If either or both parents do not have the opportunity to travel to see the child in his or her own country, an IR-4 visa will be issued. When your child enters the country on an IR-4 visa, it is mandatory that you re-adopt the child in the United States. Otherwise, the adoption will not be legally finalized.

Contact Our Office

To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.

What to Do after You Have Been in a Car Accident

Protect Your Legal Rights after a Car Accident

When you have been injured a motor vehicle accident caused by the carelessness or negligence of another person, you want to take all the right steps to maximize your chances of getting full and fair compensation for all your losses. Here’s what we recommend:

Get the Medical Care You Need

The most important thing is to immediately seek medical attention for all your injuries. If you cannot leave your vehicle under your own power, or if you experience a lot of pain, stay where you are (unless there’s a risk of further injury by remaining in your car). This is not the time to be strong or be a hero. You have been hurt and you need to get all the medical attention you require. Emergency responders will know what is best for you. Let them determine if you need to go to the hospital by ambulance, or if you need a stretcher or other types of assistance.

When you get medical treatment, be sure to tell doctors and nurses about everything that seems out of the ordinary. Don’t focus on the most obvious injuries (the broken leg) and ignore other trauma (sprains, strains and muscle pulls). Ask medical professionals to document everything in writing.

If you are able to leave the scene under your own power, drive yourself to the emergency room or to an urgent care facility, or immediately schedule an appointment with your personal physician. The longer you wait, the greater the risk that defense attorneys will allege that your injuries were not a result of the auto accident.

Gather as Much Information as You Can

To assist legal counsel, try to gather as much contact information as you can from anyone who was involved in, or who witnessed, the accident. This includes name, address, phone number, e-mail address and insurance provider. If you can’t do it yourself, ask someone you trust to do so. Don’t rely on police reports.

Police often get less than thorough information about a motor vehicle accident. If your phone has a camera, take pictures of everything—the damage to vehicles, the road conditions at the time of the accident, any injuries you suffered, an road signs or other unique factors.

Hire an Attorney

Witnesses move and memories fade. The sooner you retain a lawyer to protect your interests, the easier it will be to preserve critical evidence.

Contact Our Office

To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.

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