Not many people know that the legal system is subdivided into various fields. The movies make it look like people are handled by one kind of lawyer, but there are actually different kinds of lawyers. Each lawyer specializes in a field of practice. Common fields include real estate law, family law, and criminal law.
Criminal law, or penal law, is the body of laws that defines offenses that endanger public welfare. These offenses are classified as fatal, personal, or property offenses. Examples of property offenses include trespassing, theft, and fraud. Some personal and fatal offenses sometimes overlap; rape and battery are personal offenses that sometimes lead to fatal results, like homicide or manslaughter.
Family law deals with family-related issues including marriage, adoption, and legitimacy. The structure of family law varies in each state. However, the concept remains the same; family law pertains to binding or separating families and the responsibilities of the members of the family. Spouses and children’s rights are also dealt with here.
Now, these families naturally have to own a place to live in. This is where real estate law comes in. Real estate law is the set of rules that give distinctions in ownership of property. This includes residences and business property. When it comes to the business itself, business, tax, and bankruptcy laws apply.
Like family law, business, tax, and bankruptcy laws vary in each state; Utah bankruptcy laws may be a little different from those of another state. Anyway, these only apply in dire situations wherein a business can no longer pay debts. The debtor may then be compelled to declare bankruptcy.
The Utah bankruptcy law declares that the person or company in debt is to suffer liquidation of property to cover the debt. When this happens, all other unsecured debts, like in credit cards, medical debt, or personal loans, are eliminated. The individual in debt is allowed to repay the debt within three to five years while keeping the property at risk for confiscation.
Under the Utah bankruptcy law, indebted individuals are also allowed to keep certain assets. They are allowed to keep their primary residence, their personal vehicle, and pension and public benefits. Certain personal property and work tools may also be kept.
