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.
Using A Trust To Control Assets
/in Estate PlanningA 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 […]
Getting A Second Chance In The South Carolina Pretrial Intervention Program
/in Criminal LawPeople 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 […]
Three Ps Of Sentencing
/in Criminal LawIn 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 […]
Effect Of Domestic Violence On Divorce
/in Criminal LawDomestic 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 […]
Intestate Succession In South Carolina
/in Estate Planning, South Carolina Beneficiary RightsThere are a lot of misconceptions about what happens if you die without a Will. Many people think the state will take your property. While this can and does happen in rare instances, the state has a system for passing your assets to your next-of-kin. This system is called intestate succession. Every state has different rules […]
Living Trusts
/in Estate PlanningAn increasingly popular way of handling probate issues is to create a living trust. A living trust in South Carolina 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 […]
Drinking Age Law Change In California
/in Criminal Law, DUI Defense“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 […]
Being Charged With Domestic Violence
/in Criminal Law, DUI DefenseJudge, law, lawyer and Justice concept with a close-up 3d rendering of a gavel on a wooden desktop with dark red-brown background. Domestic violence is one of the most serious criminal charges. The negative stigma and financial penalties associated with domestic violence charges can damage your career and destroy relationships with friends and family. If […]
South Carolina Current Marijuana Possession Laws
/in Criminal LawAs attitudes about cannabis consumption loosen across the United States, criminal penalties for possessing illegal substances are also becoming less strict. It is difficult to keep up with all the recent changes in legislation. Let’s take a look at what the penalties for drug possession are currently (as of September 2015) in the state of […]
Introduction To Estate Planning
/in Estate PlanningFailing to plan is planning to fail. While death is an unpleasant subject, it is important to have a plan for your assets after you pass away. Many people wonder if they really need a will and what will happen if they die without one. If you die without a will, your estate will be […]