AREAS OF PRACTICE
LITIGATION
At Roberts and Associates, we have experience representing litigation clients in all the following courts. If you plan to file suit, or have been served with a lawsuit in any of these jurisdictions, we are able to represent you. We are equally comfortable and capable in Mississippi state courts and Federal courts, and have firsthand experience trying cases in all of these venues.
Federal Court – United States District Court, Northern or Southern District of Mississippi, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit Court of Appeal, U.S. Supreme Court
Circuit Court – General jurisdiction courts by district, handles civil cases and criminal matters
Chancery Court – General equity jurisdiction, handles matters of probate, estate administration, and real estate
County Court – handles civil cases with claims less than $200,000
Appellate Courts – Mississippi Supreme Court and the Mississippi Court of Appeals
INSURANCE DEFENSE
Roberts and Associates defends clients being sued, on behalf of their insurance companies. We have represented clients for companies such as: AIG, St. Paul, Hartford, GAB Robins, and F.A. Richard and Associates. Coverage Opinions for Insurance Companies- We have interpreted and analyzed for insurance companies, and have handled complex insurance coverage litigation and Declaratory Judgment actions.
PERSONAL COUNSEL
When you have been sued, and your insurance company has hired an attorney on your behalf, we at Roberts and Associates can counsel you. We may not be involved in the litigation or in your defense, but we will work with you to explain what is happening in your case and make sure that the insurance company is serving your interests.
BAD FAITH
When an insurance company denies coverage to a policyholder, and there is no arguable basis for the denial, the insurance company has breached their contract with the insured. In these cases of bad faith, Roberts and Associates represents the insured to provide them the coverage they were promised.
EXCESS OF POLICY CLAIMS
When some coverage is available but insufficient to cover a policyholder’s defense claim, we will represent the insured party in their continued defense, or in conjugation with your insurance company to make sure your personal assets are protected.
PERSONAL INJURY
At Roberts and Associates, we have over twenty years of experience handling personal injury litigation. We are advocates for our clients, and we will do everything in our ability to get you the compensation you deserve. Our firm will make sure that you have a voice and that your rights are protected. Most claims must be filed within a set period of time or they may be lost. The more quickly you consult us, the more quickly we can help you find relief. We will evaluate your case at no cost to you, and counsel you on the best way to move forward. After an accident, a good lawyer is exactly what you need, and the last thing you can afford to spend money on. That is why in personal injury cases WE ALWAYS OFFER FREE CONSULTATIONS and WE NEVER CHARGE LEGAL FEES UNTIL YOUR CASE IS RESOLVED.
We represent clients in cases involving serious injuries from:
Car accidents
Trucking & heavy equipment accidents
Injuries by products
Wrongful death
Construction accidents
ESTATE AND ELDER LAW
At Roberts and Associates, we believe that having a good estate plan is essential for businesses and individuals. We will work with you to keep your plan up to date, and make sure that you are protected from the unexpected. With a comprehensive estate plan in place, you can rest assured knowing that the future is secure. We also handle matters of probate law that deal with the transfer of assets to beneficiaries, and have experience with routine or complex estate administration.
At Roberts & Associates, we offer:
ESTATE PLANNING
Wills and probate administration, guardianships and conservatorships.
Trusts (living, grantor retained annuity, charitable).
Durable powers of attorney to help care for financial matters if you should become disabled.
Advance health care directives (living wills) which allow you to die with dignity.
Estate, income and capital gains tax minimization through planning.
Trust formation for wealth transfer, privacy, greater control and blended families.
Premarital financial planning.
Retirement planning (including wealth transfer and asset protection planning).
PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION
Probate of wills
Administration of estates
Establishment of heirship
Will contests
BUSINESS PLANNING
Business succession, wealth transitions and transfer planning for family owned/closely held businesses.
Partnership agreements, buy-outs, employment contracts.
Liability minimization.
Retirement plan development.
Tax minimization and exemptions, including estate, income and generation-skipping tax.
Estate planning presentations coordinated through employer’s Human Resources Department.
Packaged individual estate planning and probate services are offered to employers at a reduced rate so services can be presented to their employees at a discount as part of their compensation/benefit packages.
BUSINESS AND
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
At Roberts and Associates, we counsel business owners regarding your legal options in periods of formation, transition, expansion and development. We negotiate contracts, draft buyers’ and sellers’ documents, write title insurance, and work from start to finish when handling the purchase or sale of a commercial property. We are also experienced in the purchase and sale of large land tracts or industrial facilities with multiple zoning and environmental considerations.
We understand that your business is among the most important aspects of your life. With all the competition and potential liability, it can be complicated. We are committed to assisting you in the legal concerns of your business, so you can continue to focus on the success and progress of the business itself.
FOR BUSINESSES, WE OFFER SERVICES IN:
Commercial transactions
Buy/sell agreements
Due diligence
Negotiations in contracts
Transactional documents
Corporate LLC work—prepare resolutions to have proper authorization/shareholder votes to transfer corporation
Bill of sale personal property transfer—equipment transfer
UCC searches
Secured transactions—bank financing
1031 exchanges
Formation of Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
Formation of Corporations
Dissolution of business entities
Purchase and sale of businesses
Commercial transactions
Family limited partnerships
Minority shareholder rights