Continue reading "Can You Legally Grow Your Own Marijuana In California?"
The post Can You Legally Grow Your Own Marijuana In California? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Instead of assuming you can do whatever you like with marijuana, it is much better to find out how to enjoy cannabis without breaking any laws. For example, you may grow weed on your property, but you must comply with state cultivation laws.
Currently, adult residents (18-years or older) in Costa Mesa and other state regions may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants for their personal use. Those who grow cannabis for personal use may also possess and consume the harvest from these plants. If you break these cultivation laws, you may expect the following penalties:
If you have been convicted in the past for breaking state marijuana cultivation laws, you can expect the consequences you face to increase. Further, if your growing activities violate other laws (water theft, environmental harm, etc.), you could face significant time in prison.
Ignorance of the current laws regarding the cultivation of cannabis in California will not protect you from punishment if arrested. However, when you make an effort to learn more about state marijuana laws, you can grow weed for personal use without interference from law enforcement.
The post Can You Legally Grow Your Own Marijuana In California? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "Why Work With An Immigration Attorney?"
The post Why Work With An Immigration Attorney? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>The USCIS has a helpful page that discusses the best form filing tips, which can help you get your forms set up well. However, even if you use these, it’s still wise to take them to your immigration attorney to review them and make sure everything looks right. This might seem like an unnecessary step, but by making sure that your forms are filled out correctly and are the latest available, you’ll save yourself any unnecessary trouble from the USCIS over basic form-related issues.
If you want to prepare your forms in advance, this can help you be sure that all the necessary information (or at least most of it) is with you when you speak with your attorney. The USCIS suggests following these tips:
Your attorney will go over these and other tips to make sure your form is legible and set up the way that the USCIS wants. Doing this gets you through the initial stage where rejections are made simply for not following directions. Be 100% sure your form is filled out correctly before you send it into the USCIS to improve your chances of an approval.
The post Why Work With An Immigration Attorney? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of California Man Followed Inside His Garage By CHP"
The post Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of California Man Followed Inside His Garage By CHP appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>That was the question before the U.S. Supreme Court last week. The case involved the 2016 arrest of a Sonoma County man for driving under the influence. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer said the man was honking his horn and playing loud music, so he followed him.
According to the officer, as the man pulled into his driveway, he activated the lights on his patrol car, but the man continued into his garage. The driver later said he didn’t realize the officer was following him. The officer prevented the garage door from closing and stepped inside. He said he smelled alcohol on the man’s breath, administered a sobriety test and arrested him for drunk driving.
The man’s attorney said that the evidence was obtained illegally because the officer had no right to enter the man’s garage without a warrant. The case made its way to a California Court of Appeal, which upheld the CHP’s right to enter the home under the general idea that police can make a warrantless entry into a home when in active pursuit of a fleeing suspect.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the warrantless entry was not justified in this case, but not that such entry is always illegal.
Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote the court’s opinion, said that when a person is suspected of committing a misdemeanor, “[a]n officer must consider all the circumstances in a pursuit case to determine whether there is a law enforcement emergency. On many occasions, the officer will have good reason to enter — to prevent imminent harms of violence, destruction of evidence, or escape from the home. But when the officer has time to get a warrant, he must do so….”
You should never assume that evidence being used against you was obtained legally. That’s why it’s wise to have experienced legal guidance if you’re facing criminal charges to help ensure that your rights are fully protected.
The post Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of California Man Followed Inside His Garage By CHP appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "College thinks Wife Have to do After a Divorce"
The post College thinks Wife Have to do After a Divorce appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>The very first thing a better half should do after having a husband leaves is make sure she comprehends her partner’s decision to end their particular relationship. Your lady needs to think that she is shielded https://jbc-berlin.go-turniere.de/where-you-get-a-new-wife-tips/ and is also not being criticized for her decision. She should know that her husband is there for her, and she must show her spouse that she actually is worthy of that respect. If you need your matrimony to previous, https://bestmailorderbride-agencies.com/slavic-brides/slovakia/ you should definitely invest amount of time in your marriage.
Once the partner leaves, the wife must seek out the Lord’s wisdom and security for her children. She must ask the Lord to get protection to get the children. Her marriage is no longer her priority, but it must be. Her youngsters are the most important part of her existence. If you want a healthy and happy marriage, the wife need to make the effort to pursue the Lord’s Should. She must also get the help of her husband’s belief.
The 2nd step in college thinks wife must do after a divorce is usually to make the most of the relationship. The better half needs to look safe enough to offer her thoughts and opinions upon matters that matter to her husband. In addition, she needs to look and feel protected via criticism, and she should feel that her husband could there really be on her behalf. If jane is not sure how to go about this, the lady must hope for advice. The next step is to meet up with her partner’s needs.
The wife should seek out the Lord’s guidance that help. She need to ask for his guidance and protection in her marriage and for your children. She should certainly as well seek help from her family, which should be a priority in her existence. She will need to understand that protecting the Goodness of her spouse should be the first priority and make her partner happy. Nevertheless , she should be aware that her priorities might not really be suitable for her partner’s needs.
There are many solutions to pray to the Lord. Based on your circumstances, you may pray in several ways and use a number of methods. If you would like to get help from your Lord, the wife should certainly ask for his support. A good spouse listens for the husband and communicates with him. The husband should know that he is the a single responsible for his family. In the event that he is certainly not listening to his wife, he or she must respect her decision.
The post College thinks Wife Have to do After a Divorce appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "These Offenses May Permanently Bar You From U.S. Citizenship"
The post These Offenses May Permanently Bar You From U.S. Citizenship appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>The U.S. government strives to ensure that only foreign nationals of good moral character acquire permanent residency status. Delving deeply into your criminal background with help from agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is one way the USCIS accomplishes this goal.
If you have been convicted of a serious crime, you can expect to attract the wrong kind of attention from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Convictions on the offenses below typically result in a permanent bar from citizenship:
The list above is far from complete and even includes convictions associated with prostitution and information theft. For best results, have a legal advcoate conduct a thorough review of your record to ensure you meet the legal requirements for citizenship. The government looks for criminal convictions occurring in countries other than America as well.
The post These Offenses May Permanently Bar You From U.S. Citizenship appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "Could Drug Court Protect You From A Having A Criminal Record?"
The post Could Drug Court Protect You From A Having A Criminal Record? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>While some individuals can try a drug once or twice in a social environment and then never think about it again, others get hooked immediately. You often don’t realize until it is too late.
If you find yourself accused of a drug-related crime because of your chemical dependence, you may have legal options that will let you put this whole issue in the past.
The possession, consumption or intentional misuse of medications are all criminal offenses, and California will arrest and charge people for violating controlled substances laws and policies prohibiting other drugs.
Still, that doesn’t mean that California’s approach to drug crimes focuses solely on punishment. For those with an addiction, it may be possible to seek adjudication in the drug courts instead of in criminal court. In the California drug courts, an individual is subject to monitoring and randomized drug testing. They will also likely have to get treatment for their addiction.
Provided that a defendant complies with all of the requirements for drug court and completes the program, they may be able to not only address their addiction but also exit the criminal justice system without a permanent criminal record. Those facing a drug charge or with a loved one accused of an drug-related offense may need to look into drug court.
The post Could Drug Court Protect You From A Having A Criminal Record? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "What You Need To Know If You’re Adopting A Child Who Was Born Outside The U.S."
The post What You Need To Know If You’re Adopting A Child Who Was Born Outside The U.S. appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>It’s essential to understand the process for obtaining citizenship for your child and comply with the requirements.
When an adopted child first arrives in the U.S., they do so on an IR-4 or IH-4 visa. These are for children who have parents preparing to adopt them in the U.S. They will have lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and have a green card until the adoption is finalized and they can get a citizenship certificate.
Note that there are different requirements if the parents live outside the U.S. or the child remains overseas. Here, this post only addresses adoptions where the parents and child will be living in the U.S.
When you’re dealing with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as you need to in order to get citizenship for your child, it’s always wise to have an experienced immigration attorney providing guidance as you prepare and submit the necessary paperwork for a visa. This can help the process go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
The post What You Need To Know If You’re Adopting A Child Who Was Born Outside The U.S. appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "Depression Can Be A Driving Factor Of DUIs"
The post Depression Can Be A Driving Factor Of DUIs appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>If you are going through mental health issues and you have recently been charged with a DUI, this may have only contributed to negative thoughts you have been having about yourself, and you may now be feeling even worse. However, it’s never too late to change the course of your life. The following are some tips for turning your life around after facing DUI charges and struggling with depression.
Sometimes, you have to get to a very low place before you are able to say “enough is enough.” Perhaps now you are ready to face life head-on and start addressing the things that you may have avoided for so long.
Defending yourself from DUI charges could be the first step in facing your problems head-on and improving your situation. Instead of allowing the shame and embarrassment to get the better of you, you can decide to look into the defense options available to you and successfully get the charges dropped.
You get to choose how you view yourself. Depression can alter your grip on reality, convincing you that you are the victim or a loser, The fact is that you have the power to change this self-image and view yourself as the hero in your story through reflection and action.
Make sure that you take action to defend yourself against DUI charges and to get treatment for any mental health issues that you are struggling with.
The post Depression Can Be A Driving Factor Of DUIs appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>The post What Factors Could Adversely Impact Your Ability To Secure A Visa To Come To The U.S.? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>One main visa disqualifier is a criminal record. Convictions on your record for crimes of moral turpitude may be hard for immigration officials to overlook and issue you a visa. There are other reasons for visa denials, though as well, each of which you can overcome to still secure the visa that you request.
Any criminal offenses, such as fraud, violent crimes and drug ones, fall into the category of crimes of moral turpitude. Immigration officials may be willing to overlook some minor crimes depending on how long ago they occurred, their seriousness and any efforts you’ve made to rehabilitate yourself. Those same officials may not be willing to do the same with other offenses, though.
A variety of other factors may result in immigration officials denying your visa request, including:
Know that immigration officials generally provide you with a description of why they deny your visa application in the letter they send you, letting you know why they did so.
You must be cautious when applying for a visa to come to the U.S. so that you don’t make unnecessary mistakes. Doing so can result in a denial of your visa request. While you may be able to reapply, it can delay the processing of your application.
Some factors, like a criminal history, may make coming to the U.S. impossible no matter what. You may be able to qualify for a waiver in some situations, though. An immigration attorney can provide you with guidance as you look to apply for a visa to ensure that you have the best chances of success.
The post What Factors Could Adversely Impact Your Ability To Secure A Visa To Come To The U.S.? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>Continue reading "Are Probable Cause And Reasonable Suspicion The Same Thing?"
The post Are Probable Cause And Reasonable Suspicion The Same Thing? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>The difference between reasonable suspicion and probable cause can become particularly important if a traffic stop leads to charges of driving under the influence (DUI).
As it relates to a DUI stop, “reasonable suspicion” means that a police officer has some valid cause to believe a driver is operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Officers rely on their training and education to spot potentially incapacitated motorists, and a motorist’s behavior is often key. For example, they may look for drivers who are weaving, driving too slowly or making erratic stops and starts.
Although officers may stop motorists for suspicion of DUI, they must establish “probable cause” before making an arrest. In essence, this means only that the officer must have evidence that a driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol in order to justify charging a driver with a DUI.
Typically, this can involve a failed Breathalyzer test, but it can also include a driver’s own admission that they were drinking, failed field sobriety tests, the odor of alcohol on a driver’s breath coupled with their slurred words and so on.
As you can see, the wording of legal terms and the U.S. Constitution can play a vital role in the outcome of criminal cases, including DUI stops and arrests. If an officer stops you without reasonable suspicion or makes an arrest without probable cause, it weakens the prosecution’s case against you. Working with an experienced defense attorney can protect your rights if you’re facing charges.
The post Are Probable Cause And Reasonable Suspicion The Same Thing? appeared first on Brown & Stedman LLP.
]]>