New Client Information/Frequently Asked Questions
The firm of Hubbard, Ruzicka, Kreamer & Kincaid L.C. serves clients in Johnson County, Kansas; Jackson County, Missouri; and the surrounding area. We concentrate in family law, personal injury, civil and commercial litigation, appellate practice, mediation, real estate, and business law. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions that you may find helpful.
- What is probate?
- How is a settlement amount determined in my personal injury case?
- What factors does the court consider when dividing marital property?
- How much child support will I have to pay?
- Is child support tax-deductible?
- What should I bring to my first meeting at Hubbard, Ruzicka, Kreamer & Kincaid L.C.?
Accomplished and practical attorneys
Contact Hubbard, Ruzicka, Kreamer & Kincaid L.C. for practical and cost-effective solutions to many legal issues. Call us at 913.815.8269 or contact us online.
What is probate?
Probate is the legal process of administering an estate after someone dies. Most of the estate assets must go through probate before distribution to beneficiaries. Probate includes the following:
- Proving in court that the will is valid
- Identifying and inventorying the estate property
- Appraisal of assets and property
- Payment of debts and taxes
- Distribution of the property as directed by the will
- Transferring title and ownership to the beneficiaries
How is a settlement amount determined in my personal injury case?
Our experienced personal injury attorneys review all the facts and circumstances of your case to determine an approximate settlement value. Some factors that are taken into consideration include:
- Severity of your injury
- Cause of the accident
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Loss of income
- Age
- Impact on your future earning capacity
- Prognosis for future problems
- Strength of lay and expert witness testimony
What factors does the court consider when dividing marital property?
Kansas and Missouri courts usually consider the following criteria and more when dividing marital property:
- Length of the marriage
- Age, health, income, vocational skills, employability, liabilities, and needs of each spouse
- Contributions made during the marriage by one spouse to the education, training, or increased earning power of the other spouse
- Future income and assets
- Other sources of income including pensions, retirement, and other benefits
- Value of each spouse's property
- Standard of living during the marriage
- Tax consequences of any property distribution
- Custodial parent designation
How much child support will I have to pay?
The law requires parents to support their children, even when the parents were never married. The state of Kansas has developed guidelines to assist lawyers, judges and the public to determine the minimum amount of child support depending on the income and size of the family. These guidelines may be difficult for a lay person to understand. Our attorneys help clients to work through the guidelines to estimate how much child support will be expected.
Is child support tax-deductible?
The parent paying child support does not receive a tax deduction and the spouse receiving it does not have to report it as taxable income.
What should I bring to my first meeting at Hubbard, Ruzicka, Kreamer & Kincaid L.C.?
Depending on the issue involved, it is helpful to bring the following documents to assist your attorney in evaluating your case:
- Appellate practice
- Decision of lower court
- Supporting motions and documents
- Family law and divorce mediation
- Tax returns
- Benefit summary
- Investment statements
- Retirement information
- Outstanding bills and liabilities
- Mortgage and loan documents
- Business law
- Articles of incorporation
- Partnership agreements
- By-laws
- Agreements
- Civil and commercial litigation
- Contracts and agreements
- Insurance policies
- Relevant correspondence
- Paid invoices
- Insurance policies
- Personal injury
- Police or incident reports
- Medical bills and reports
- Witness statements
- Property damage estimates
- Real estate
- Contract of sale
- Rental agreements
- Title search
