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Personal Handgun Laws in Maryland that Firearm Owners Need to Understand

Whether you’re thinking about purchasing your first fire arm, or you’re the proud owner of multiple personal fire arms, simply continue reading to discover 5 of Maryland’s personal handgun laws.

5 of Maryland’s, most important, personal handgun laws:

  1. By law, residents are required to present a permit in order to purchase a handgun

In Maryland, a permit is required to purchase a handgun. However, a permit isn’t required to purchase a long gun such as rifle or a shotgun. In order to be approved for a permit, individuals must undergo basic firearm training and must be willing to undergo a background check. In most cases, applicants will also be asked to be fingerprinted.

  1. By law, resdients much register each of their handguns

Not only do Maryland residents have to present a permit, in order to purchase a handgun but they are also required to register their handguns with the state police. If an individual plans on selling a handgun, they must inform the state police of the sale of their handgun. Residents who purchase a long gun, however are not required to register their firearm.

  1. By law, residents may only carry a concealed handgun if they have obtained a carry permit

Residents who plan to carry a concealed handgun must be able to demonstrate a fair reason for carrying a concealed weapon, in order to be granted a carry permit. Less than 10% of applicants are issued a carry permit. Carry permits are generally only issued to law enforcement officers and everyday citizens are rarely granted a carry permit to carry a concealed handgun.

  1. Individuals are permitted by law, to carry both concealed long guns and openly displayed long guns

Residents who own a long guns such as a rifle or a shot gun are permitted to carry a concealed long gun. As carry permits for long guns do not exist, individuals are not required to carry any documentation whilst carrying a concealed long gun. As a bonus, individuals in Maryland are also permitted by law to openly carry a long gun.

If you ever run into complications with the law, for carrying a legal fire arm, you may want to find out why it’s well worth your while, to speak to an attorney. As if you’re aware of your legal rights, you’re far less likely to be falsely charged by a law enforcement officer.

  1. Individuals who plan on selling a firearm must process their sale through a licensed dealer or a law enforcement agency

An individual who plans on selling a long gun or a hand gun, cannot process their sale on their own. Instead, they must have their sale processed through a licensed fire arms dealer or a local law enforcement agency. It is the job of the licensed fire arms dealer or the law enforcement officer, who processes the sale to run a background check on the buyer of the fire arm.

If you plan to purchase a fire arm, it’s crucial to keep up to date with Maryland’s gun laws as you don’t want to run the risk of being charged for an offence, that you’re unaware of.

 

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Law

An Important Overview of Maintenance and Cure Payments

Everyone who has spent time on the open seas knows that the ocean can be a brutal and unforgiving place. For people who make their living on the open water, it is important that they have some form of safety net that will provide compensation if they are injured on the job. This is called maintenance and cure payments. These payments are meant to cover a variety of costs including daily living experience (called maintenance) and financial assistance for medical bills (called cure). Ideally, these payments would continue until they are fit to return to their work. Many companies will offer advances on employee payments while they are injured in addition to the maintenance; however, this has a few problems that people should be aware of when people are recovering from injuries.

Tax Law Regarding These Payments Can Get Confusing

Anyone who is receiving maintenance and cure payments should understand that they do not typically have to make tax payments on funding categorized as maintenance. The advances that many employers offer is a different story. If the employer categorizes these advances as wages, they are seen as a paycheck that is being paid while the worker is injured. Like any other wages, these advances are subject to taxation. If an employee has a choice regarding whether or not they receive these advances of wages or maintenance, they should always select to receive the advances as maintenance. This way, they owe fewer taxes at the end of the year.

How Advances Might Impact a Legal Battle

Most people would assume that employers providing wages to employees while they are injured and recovering is an altruistic gesture. Most of the time, this is true; however, there are some cases when employees and employers wind up in a legal battle regarding maintenance payments, cure payments, or other legal issues related to the job. The employer can point towards the advance payments as a sign that they were trying to do the right thing. This can score favor with the judge and potentially swing the legal case in their favor. An experienced defense attorney might have a way around this; however, this is still something that employees should be aware of.

How do Advance Payments Impact Potential Settlement Awards?

Sometimes, an employee is injured on the job as a result of a lack of oversight on the end of the employer. While an employee might be receiving advances, they might also be seeking a larger settlement due to a mistake on the employer’s end. If a settlement is awarded, the amount awarded is often decreased by the amount of the advance payments. Again, employees should make sure that these payments are categorized as maintenance payments instead of advance payments. This way, the settlement award isn’t reduced by the payments.

 

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Law

Three Things to Keep in Mind Before Your Custody Hearing

If your custody hearing is coming up, you’re probably nervous. Custody hearings involve the people that are the most important to us, our children. With so much at stake, it’s important to enter your custody hearing with as much preparation as possible. Here are some things to remember as your court day approaches:

First, make sure you’re doing everything you need to do to make your best case. You need to make sure that you never miss a scheduled parenting time and that you arrive on time to exchange the children. Don’t spend your time arguing with your co-parent because the other parent might use this against you in court. Keep all interactions with your co-parent business like and professional. Keep records of interactions with the other parent, such as text messages or emails.

As court approaches, make sure the children are not late for school or absent on your parenting days without a doctor’s note. Make sure the children attend their scheduled doctor’s appointments, including any counseling. Refrain from using alcohol during your parenting time and never use illegal drugs. At the Law Offices of Piazza, Simmons & Grant, they give clients honest and direct instructions as to how to present their case in the best possible light.

Second, if you’re working with an attorney, be sure you follow his or her instructions for your case. If they ask you to make notes for them about the case, make sure you do this as soon as you’re able to do so. If they ask you to help them gather pieces of information or read over documents that they file in court on your behalf, make sure you do what they ask. This helps your attorney help you.

Third, put together things that you need for the big court day. Don’t wait until the day of court to find a nice outfit to wear or try a new hairstyle. Make sure that your clothes are ready the night before court. For court, you need a pad of paper and something to write with. You need to be able to take notes and give notes to your attorney during your court hearing. Pack tissues and a power bar or cough drops in case you need them. The court might call your case first or they might call it last on a busy court day with many cases, so it’s important to plan for either eventuality.

It’s also important to make other arrangements for important matters that happen on the day you have court. If you have children to care for, you need to make arrangements for their care. You might need to make sure that you have the day off from work. Whatever you need to do to plan, take care of it before the big day so that you have less to stress out about. Also, make sure you have the numbers of the court and your attorney on hand so that you can make contact if the worst should happen and you face an emergency on your scheduled day in court.

These three steps can help ease your worries and help you prepare for a smooth day in court. Planning and preparation can make the big day less stressful. Take the time to make your best case by doing the things you need to do ahead of your court date. Remember not to lose your cool when interacting with your co-parent. With these tips, you can arrive at court prepared and ready to focus on the children that matter so much to you.

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Law

Three Employer Laws You Must Follow In Canada

Setting up a business in Canada can be quite the ambitious pursuit, but it is a great country for such a pursuit.  There are many laws in Canada that are designed to encourage entrepreneurialsm, committed to encouraging people to starting a new business and employing their fellow citizens. It is a strategy that holds society together.

Of course, operating that monavocat Canada business is not quite as fantastical.  If you want to run your business properly and effectively, you need to have a grip on the many laws that ensure all businesses are running legally and in the best interests of all people.  As such, here are a few basic regulations you should know as you are getting started. You can learn more as you go, but these should help you to start and operate your business at the very basic level.

HIRING and PAYROLL

Most businesses require that you hire at least a few employees. Maybe you can manage much of the operations yourself at first but eventually you will need someone to help you delegate some of the responsibilities as you begin to expand.  And when you begin to hire people, you will need to understand how to pay your people and track your payroll, including information on:

  • employment insurance premiums
  • personal income tax
  • Canadian pension plans

To manage a payroll you will need to:

  • open payroll account numbers for each employee, at your bank
  • get key, payroll-related information for each of your staff members
  • calculate and pay according to associated deductions
  • keep accurate, long term records

SAFETY and INSURANCE

The Canadian government also requires that employers register their staff with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) within 10 days of hire.  The WSIB is dedicated to reducing the likelihood of work-related injuries, illness, and fatalities.  Benefits of WSIB registration can include:

  • assisting employees who have recovered from illness or injury back to work
  • insurance which covers the cost of lost earnings from such an injury
  • no-fault liability insurance
  • protection from potential work-related law suits
  • accident prevention
  • safety training

EMPLOYER HEALTH TAXES

In addition, all employers must also pay the Employer Health Tax to all employees who:

  • are employed at the employer’s permanent establishment, or
  • are attached, in some way, to this permanent address, or
  • work at another address but are paid through the financial department which is located at or via the permanent address
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Law

Role of SSI Attorney in Presenting your Social Security Disability Claim

Hiring an attorney would prove beneficial in a number of cases. However, you would be required to hire a competent and experienced attorney. It would not be wrong to suggest that an attorney has comprehensive understanding and knowledge in the field of law as compared to any other person. They would be more appropriate in handling your case, rather than you handling your case independently. In event of your social security disability being denied, you should hire a SSI attorney immediately. The SSI Attorney would be your best bet for presenting your case in an appropriate manner before the administrative law judge.

Need for hiring SSI attorney

One or the major reasons for social security disability claims to be denied has been inability of the claimants to prepare the case before the hearing. It would not be wrong to suggest that hiring a SSI attorney would be imperative for appropriate handling of your case. The disability attorney would prepare your case prudently and present it in a suitable manner before the administrative law judge. However, merely hiring of a disability lawyer to present your case in a prepared manner would not ensure success of your claim. Nonetheless, you would have your case being presented in a prepared manner.

When should you contact the SSI attorney?

It would be pertinent to mention here that more than seventy percent of the claims made for social security disability face rejections. Claimants who handle their cases independently might not be able to provide enough medical evidence for substantiating their disability. As a result, their claim is declined. Hiring a disability attorney would increase your chances of success, as they would prepare the case in the best possible manner. In case, when you should hire the SSI attorney, it should be done at the earliest. You should not wait for your claim to be declined and then hire an attorney for reconsidering the case. It should be done as and when you have suffered injury that disabled you to earn in future.

What help does SSI attorney provide

The SSI attorney would help you in presenting your case in an appropriate manner before the judge. The attorney would be well equipped with the legal stipulations and regulations for preparing and presenting your case in the best possible manner. In event of your SSDI claim being rejected on a relevant ground, the SSI attorney would peruse your denial notice. They would also guide you on the chances of winning the case, whether they are strong or slim.

 

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Law

Three Ways to Instantly Improve Your Court Case

While none of us love going to court to prove our case, it helps if you understand the process and know how to be ready for it. It doesn’t really matter if you are in need of a criminal defense lawyer for a botched burglary or a little old lady who is suing your landlord for not de-icing your sidewalk where you slipped and broke your hip.

When it comes to heading to the courthouse for that case, you can make a difference if you make some good decisions beforehand. Being in the right does not automatically give you an advantage in your case, but preparing and making some smart decisions on how to proceed will make an impact. Here are a few ideas on how best to proceed.

Get a Lawyer

You know that old saying that the person who represents themselves in court has a fool for a client? Well if you don’t you do now, and it is especially true if you are in court for anything serious. In fact, don’t just get any lawyer, legal up with someone who knows all the ins and outs of the particular type of law that you will need help in for this case. They will know how to anticipate the direction of the case, understand all the many details of American law and make sure no stupid mistakes are made that may cost you the case.

Don’t Blow Deadlines

Nothing will kill a chance for a quick settlement faster than missing important deadlines, especially if it has to do with paperwork that needed to be filed by a specific date. True, hiring a lawyer should eliminate much of this, but it doesn’t guarantee it. Go over the dates when paperwork is to filed, who will be doing it at the law firm representing you and stay in touch to make sure they have all the information they need to file on time.

Organize the Evidence

No case can go forward without the evidence to support it, so make sure that your lawyer has everything they need to give proof. This could include such simple things as receipts, letters, copies of emails, photos and even videos from your cellphone.

Anything that you have that can support your side of the story is vital, and must be in hand before you go to court. Looking for this kind of documentation just before your court date could end in disaster. Go over all needed documentation with your legal representative early, and make sure that the person has everything they need well ahead of time.

Behave Yourself

If you want to completely kill any chances for the court case to succeed, just act improperly at court and you are pretty sure of it. It may make for great films but jumping up in court and yelling, acting rebellious or uncooperative and even just sitting and being silent and angry will not help your case.

Show respect for the court, the jurors if you have them and anyone who is connected with the court such as police officers who are giving testimony. You don’t want the court to question your side of the story, and they will if they view you as unreliable or unstable in any way.

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Law

Soliciting: What is It and Why is It Bad?

If you’re in a public place there’s a 99% chance that you will see a “No Soliciting!” sign somewhere in the area. But is it really such a problem? What exactly is soliciting, anyway? In this article we are going to go over what exactly soliciting is, and why it’s become such a problem that it’s become a crime in most countries.

What Exactly Is Solicitation?

Solicitation is the act of asking, persuading, or demanding that someone buy a product which you are selling. Solicitation comes in many forms: regular solicitation, criminal solicitation, or sexual solicitation. Each of these has a criminal level, which can range from a misdemeanour to a felony charge. It’s no wonder when you consider the tactics and products that some of them sell.

If you have been a victim of any kind of solicitation offence then you might need to get in touch with solicitors in Dorking. They can help you determine whether you have fallen victim to a common form of solicitation or something considered a serious felony.

There are some forms of solicitation that are legal. Such as when people try to get your attention at kiosks in your local mall. Another example of legal solicitors are street performers. These forms of solicitation are harmless (though they’re sometimes annoying).

Why Is Soliciting Illegal?

There are several responses to this question. One of them is due to most businesses not wanting solicitors around their stores. Many people find solicitors annoying, and businesses don’t want someone heckling their customers. They also don’t want solicitors to be selling products that aren’t their own, or selling products for a cheaper price.

Another reason that solicitation is illegal is because, most of the time, the product itself is illegal. It’s not uncommon for someone to buy a product from a solicitor, then later find out that it was stolen and are arrested themselves. That, plus crimes like prostitution and “scalping” sometimes fall under the solicitation category.

Many people find solicitors annoying and sometimes even threatening. Solicitors find many ways to push their product and this sometimes includes intimidation tactics. It’s not uncommon for police to be called, simply because a solicitor became too persistent and the customer felt threatened or intimidated. This is another, more common reason why solicitation is illegal.

Conclusion

Soliciting is considered a nuisance and there are many negative connotations attached to the word. This is mostly due to the tactics and criminal attributes that are possible when dealing with a solicitor. Though some solicitors are harmless and just want to sell their product, it is still illegal, and they should be avoided.

Remember the next time you see a solicitor selling a designer handbag for a cheap price, it’s probably not real. Another common thing that solicitors do is they sell faux brand- name items, such as handbags and clothes. This is very important because it rips people who buy the bag off, so it’s always best to avoid solicitors altogether.

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Law

Have You Considered the Effects of Getting a Divorce?

Are you now contemplating a divorce? Is your marriage stale and lacking in love or do you or your spouse just feel like getting out of it as soon as possible? Have you thought of the myriads of effects divorce could have on you and your financial net worth? Attorneys Grand Rapids counsels that a divorce process is never an easy or smooth transition. Therefore, if you are thinking of no other option than to seek a legal divorce, then take some time to think of what divorce is in reality and then consider if getting along with the long term realities of divorce are preferable to making efforts to fix your marriage. Here are some reasons attorneys counsel you to approach divorce correctly and with cautions.

Take a look at the emotional effects divorce will have on you and your spouse: Attorneys indicate that the first thing about divorce is the realization that you and your spouse are ending your marriage. That realization itself is traumatic, thought provoking, and it’s capable of inducing emotional stress in you. Looking back in retrospect after divorce, you will now have to start all over again after the years you have spent working on your marriage. The next thing is the reality of many angry outbursts or hurtful words that usually come out of spouses during divorce proceedings. Do you think you would be free of these hurtful words and emotions during your divorce proceedings? Attorneys counsel that divorce issues can last for many years, so, are you prepared to go through it or endure the emotional stress of divorce for as long as the proceedings last?

Consider the effects of your divorce on your children, family, and friends: It is necessary for you to consider that divorce will not only affect you but others who are emotionally attached to you. Divorce could devastate your children emotionally if you already have them. Your family and friends will also be affected to some extents and the overall long term effects of the divorce process could last for a very long time and are not often easy to deal with. Pains and resentments between friends and in-laws should not be forgotten for obvious reasons of the feelings of having to choose one of you.

Count the costs of financial consequences of divorce on you: The financial burden of divorce is about the most difficult aspect of the proceedings to deal with besides the emotional trauma you could suffer. Have you considered how much divorce will cost you in legal and court fees? And these costs may not be a one-time deal only. Experts divorce attorneys advise that you should count the costs of countless hours of work you will lose due to the divorce proceedings, the debts you may have to share together with your spouse, and the effects of taxes. All of your assets may have to be sold and the money shared with your spouse. It is therefore advisable for you to think before you file for divorce.

If your marriage no longer work and you are considering a divorce, one of the experienced Grand Rapids attorneys can help you create a workable plan for your divorce.

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Law

What To Do When You’re Hurt At Work

When we go to the workplace, we don’t expect to get injured. However, it sadly can sometimes happen, even when we’ve taken the proper precautions. When we’ve been hurt at work, we can often feel overwhelmed. To ensure that you take the right steps after a workplace injury, here’s what you should do in the event of a professional injury.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you don’t feel as if your injury is life threatening, it’s best to seek medical attention in the wake of a workplace injury. Not only is this ideal for your health and well being, but it leaves a medical record of your onsite injury.

Talk To Your Employer

Many workplace injuries do not require legal action, as those injured receive Iowa workers compensation and the incident was not due to negligence on the part of the employer. If your employer did not act negligently and your medical bills have been covered, then there may not be anything else you need to do.

Consult An Attorney

If your workplace injury was the result of negligence, it might be best to talk with an attorney, unless your employer is offering you additional money for damages or suffering. Remember, it’s incumbent on your employer to create a safe workplace for you and your coworkers. If they’ve failed to do that, you might be entitled to compensation beyond just your medical expenses.

Follow Your Legal Counsel’s Advice

If you are taking legal action against your employer, it’s imperative that you follow your legal counsel’s advice very closely. They may advise you to resign your post or they may advise you to continue working there. Whatever they say, follow their instructions. They know the best course of action for you to take to ensure that your court case has a successful outcome and that you recieve the compensation that you deserve.

No one wants to be injured at work. However, workplace accidents occasionally help. If you follow the advice laid out here, you can be sure that you will be compensated fairly in the wake of a workplace injury.

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Law

How to Make a Harassment Claim Against an Employer

Being harassed at work can make being there uncomfortable and it creates a hostile environment for you. If you’re being harassed by a coworker, you can report it to a supervisor and it will usually be taken care of. However, when your harasser is a supervisor or manager, what do you do? Taking these steps will help you get legal assistance when you’re being harassed at your workplace by a superior.

What Is Harassment?

Under the law, harassment is any behaviours that are offensive to someone or that make him or her feel intimidated. Harassment by an employer may take the form of unfair treatment, malicious rumours being spread about you, undermining your work, or denying you training or promotion opportunities.

This harassment can take place face-to-face, by email, by telephone, or by sending you a letter. The law states this type of behaviour is harassment if it is related to your:

  • Age
  • Sex
  • Disabilities
  • Gender, including gender reassignment
  • Marriage or civil partnership
  • Race
  • Religion or belief system
  • Sexual orientation
  • Pregnancy and maternity status

How to Report Harassment

If you are being harassed by a superior at work, there are some steps you should take prior to seeking help from Dorking solicitors. It is always a good idea to document any and all of the times you felt harassed by your employer and to keep any documentation you may receive from them. While you don’t necessarily need to prove that it is taking place to report it, it is always a good idea to have specific information of the occurrences. Follow the protocol at work to report instances of harassment including reporting it to human resources, another manager, and your trade union if applicable.

If reporting the harassment doesn’t result in action being taken, then file a grievance with your employer using their procedures. If your company doesn’t have procedures set up to report harassment, seek a solicitor to help you take legal action at an employment tribunal.

Employment Tribunals

A tribunal is a way to make a legal claim of harassment against an employer. It is not the same as going to court because the tribunal is independent of the government. Their role is to listen to the parties involved including you (the claimant) and the respondent (the employer).

employment-tribunals

Since there are time limits for making claims, you should consult with a solicitor to get his or her advice and help with the paperwork that you will need to fill out. He or she can also help advocate on your behalf as the claim moves forward and make sure all the steps are taken prior to any hearing regarding your claim. Your solicitor will also help you prepare all the necessary documentation including a schedule of losses to present during the proceedings.

A schedule of losses will consist of two parts: the basic award and the compensatory award. Your lawyer will discuss this information with you and help you come up with a compensation amount for your claim. If you’ve reported your superior and nothing seems to have been done, contact a solicitor regarding a harassment claim.

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