A home is one of the highest dollar purchases that any person will make in their lifetime. Especially the first time you buy a home, the process can be quite overwhelming. It’s hard enough to choose a real estate agent, find a home, make an offer, and survive the inspections and negotiations that will follow. Then, […]
In their twenties and thirties, the last thing most people are thinking about are what will happen to their assets after they pass away. However, it’s never too early to think about estate planning, even if you don’t feel like you have much of an estate to plan at this point. Unfortunately, there’s a lot […]
Transferring property when its held jointly can come with certain complications. Joint ownership is a term that arises when more than one person owns property. And, ultimately, it can be used as a simple and cost-effective way to transfer property after death. For example, a parent who wants to make sure that an adult child […]
Under South Carolina law, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. People who are found guilty of driving with a blood alcohol level that is too high may be fined or imprisoned. Here is the possible penalties for DUI in South Carolina. To learn […]
A trust is a versatile estate planning document that can be used in many different ways and for many different reasons. One benefit of a trust is that it can provide instructions for how money or assets are to be distributed. There are numerous possibilities for using a trust to control assets. Some examples of […]
People who are first-time offenders charged with a non-violent crime may qualify to participate in South Carolina’s Pretrial Intervention Program. The purpose of the program is to deter first-time offenders from committing crimes in the future. Not all first-time offenders qualify for the Pretrial Intervention Program. Under South Carolina law, the following first-time offenders are […]
In South Carolina, the terms probation, parole and pardon are often referenced in criminal cases. Although each term relates to sentencing, they have very different meanings. Parole The Board of Paroles and Pardons can order parole, which allows an offender to be released from prison and complete part of his or her sentence in the […]
Domestic violence includes causing or attempting to cause physical harm to a spouse or former spouse or another household member. In addition to imprisonment, a domestic violence conviction can have serious consequences in a South Carolina divorce case. If an individual is convicted or pleads guilty to domestic violence, that person may not later claim […]
An increasingly popular way of handling probate issues is to create a living trust. A living trust helps bypass probate proceedings in court and can also help mitigate tax liability. There are two types of living trusts: revocable and irrevocable. A revocable trust can be changed whenever you wish. The irrevocable trust can be beneficial for […]
“Because Your Future Deserves a Defense” A ballot initiative has been proposed in California that could potentially lower the drinking age. In California, a proposed law is written as a “ballot initiative” and is submitted to the Attorney General. The Attorney General’s office will give the proposed law a title and summary and the state […]
The De Bruin Law firm offers a wide range of legal services to clients in Greenville, SC and the surrounding upstate. Our experienced attorneys can help you with legal matters in the areas of business law, criminal law, estate planning, and real estate law.
