Theft Lawyers Near You

At least once in your life, you probably had something stolen, taken without your permission,  and never returned to you. It’s a terrible inconvenience and can be a dreadful experience to go through, leaving you feeling vulnerable and violated. Having your identity stolen from you, for example, can be a long-term inconvenience because of all the complex legal issues you have to deal with if this occurs. 

Hiring a knowledgeable theft lawyer near you to navigate the legal process should certainly be your first step. The role of a theft attorney, guidance on getting the best theft lawyer near you, and what costs you should expect to incur are shared below to guide you through this ordeal. 

Theft lawyers are legal professionals who practice law and specialize in criminal law. They have an understanding of the elements of various crimes and experience with the criminal justice system. In your case, this will involve righting the wrong the thieves did to you. The process of dealing with the various institutions this might involve is often cumbersome and tedious. A theft attorney will help you through this, communicating with the institutions and even filing charges in court if this becomes necessary. 

It can be easy to recover what someone stole from you if it is something tangible and you know who took it. However, oftentimes and especially with identity theft getting back what an unscrupulous person took from you is difficult. 

The main role of theft attorneys and identity theft attorneys near you is to help you recoup your financial losses. They will help you file the appropriate police report or identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission or place freezes and fraud alerts on your credit report. They can also help you hire private investigators, file criminal charges, and recover compensation. 

The extent of help provided to you by a theft attorney will depend on what you decide at the initial consultation. You should keep detailed records of your credit reports, statements, and other documents for your lawyer to review.

As soon as you suspect that someone stole your identity, you should hire the best theft lawyer near you. The identity thief can be a financial institution looking to hold you accountable for a debt you do not owe. You could also potentially be the victim of commercial identity theft when someone uses your business name to get credit. A thief could also use your Social Security number to access your bank accounts or make large purchases such as buying a house. You should consider hiring identity theft lawyers who will then help you to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a thief stole your identity and is actively using it. Failing to do this can cause harm to your finances and reputation. 

If you decide to contact a law firm, you should decide carefully so you can get the best theft lawyer near you. An identity theft matter that is improperly handled could lead to a lifetime of financial, legal issues and debt, so you should consider the following before you hire theft law lawyers near you: 

1. Experience: Confirm the firm’s practice areas. The right lawyer has handled cases like yours in the past and had great success rates with them. You want to make sure your lawyer knows the appropriate steps to take to correct your records and ensure that you are not liable for debts you did not incur. 
2. Costs: You’re already facing potentially heavy financial losses, and you want to know what the fee arrangement is to plan accordingly and ensure that it’s within your budget. Confirm what your potential costs may be at your consultation.
3. Scope of representation: After confirming what your potential costs may be, it is important to find out what you are paying for. Will the lawyer take steps only to correct your records, or will they file complaints and criminal charges and represent you in court. 

The costs of a theft lawyer near you will depend largely on your location and the level of the law firm’s experience. The hourly average costs are upwards of $368 an hour. The total costs will depend on how many hours it takes to work through your case. This will include filing reports, reviewing your documents or appearing in court for you.  It is important to note that this estimate is not inclusive of other potential costs such as court and filing fees. 

It is common for these attorneys to offer free consultations. Typically, with this structure, your costs are likely to be based on a contingency fee with payment after your case has been successfully settled in your favor. However, it is possible for you to be charged a consultation fee, which may either be the hourly rate of the lawyer for theft near you, or a flat fee to cover initial consultations before you have hired the lawyer.