Tacoma

Our Washington criminal defense lawyers can also help you with misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges that include shoplifting, trespassing, street racing, reckless driving, and many more.

If you've been charged with any crime in Washington State, you should immediately contact the qualified Tacoma criminal defense lawyers at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe. Our professional litigators are ready to help you face this challenge head-on, and will aggressively fight to defend your legal rights.

You Must Defend Your Interests Within the Parameters of the Law

Whether you are ready to admit your guilt, or believe your are innocent of the charges against you, taking that first step and contacting a Tacoma lawyer is often the most difficult. Our Tacoma criminal attorneys urge you to contact our law firm as quickly as possible, because you are facing some of the most important decisions in your life. Our lawyers can offer you counsel that could very well make a huge difference in how your case is resolved.

You may think that your innocence is obvious, and all you need to do is explain the situation to a judge and they quickly dismiss the case. This is not how the Pierce County or Tacoma Municipal courts operate. The only way you can guarantee that your side of the story will be heard is with help from qualified Tacoma criminal lawyers that understand how the law works.

You may also think that pleading guilty will speed the process along, but this could backfire in ways you may not have considered. Before speaking with any person in law enforcement, you should seek out professional guidance from one of our Tacoma criminal attorneys, and make sure you understand the law. We offer a free case evaluation in Tacoma, so you have nothing to lose by asking an attorney for help.

If you're facing serious criminal charges, it's likely you will need to appear in Pierce County Court, where both District and Superior Court cases are heard. Preparation is essential, so follow this corresponding link above and contact our office immediately for a free consultation.

Our Tacoma Criminal Defense Attorneys Handle Cases Involving Every Variety of Crime

Our Tacoma criminal lawyers are capable of handling virtually any criminal situation. Criminal charges are diverse and are unique from case to case. The following are some of the most common situations we encounter:

• DUI, (driving under the influence), is a serious crime in Tacoma. A conviction will incur severe penalties that will affect your life in countless ways. If you've been arrested for drunk driving, our Tacoma criminal defense lawyers will fight to keep you out of jail and validly licensed to drive.
• Physical Control Violations are drunk driving crimes with punishments similar to that of a Tacoma DUI. You can be charged with this crime in Tacoma even if you weren't driving your vehicle when the arresting officer approached it. Our Tacoma criminal attorneys can help you outline potential defense strategies.
• Minor DUI doesn't at first appear as severe as a regular DUI, but a conviction will impose plenty of hardship for the young person found guilty of this serious crime. Our Tacoma criminal lawyers will aggressively defend our client's interests in these cases, with the hope that we can prevent the devastating impact of a criminal record.
• Assault is one of the most serious crimes, and the law separates them according to their severity. If convicted, you could spend a long time in prison.
• Theft and Shoplifting are serious crimes that are often prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and include fraud, retail theft, and embezzlement, among others. With penalties that can be life-altering, you should speak with one of our Pierce County criminal attorneys immediately if you've been charged with any of these crimes.
• Drug Crimes involve the possession of drugs or intention to distribute large amounts of drugs. These charges should be dealt with swiftly and decisively.
• Domestic Violence charges are usually complicated, so you should contact our Tacoma criminal defense attorneys right away to defend your legal rights, especially if you've been accused without cause.
• Sex Crimes can destroy your reputation and ruin your life, even if you are innocent. A conviction will make the situation far worse and haunt you for the rest of your life, so get help from our Tacoma criminal defense lawyers if you've been charged with any variety of sex crime.
• Juvenile Crimes - Getting a head start on life is hard enough without being forced to worry about a criminal record. Our Pierce County criminal lawyers understand that young people sometimes make mistakes, so we fully protect their rights and defend their interests.

Some people allow a Tacoma DUI to immobilize them, but inaction due to fear of the unknown will only make matters worse. If you are convicted of this crime, the penalties will be swift, severe, and potentially devastating. The best way to minimize your WA drunk driving penalties is to act quickly and decisively, without delay.

Our Tacoma DUI Layers Handle Every Drunk Driving Crime

There are a number of different drunk driving related crimes for which you can be prosecuted. Our Tacoma DUI attorneys routinely represent clients facing criminal charges for DUI, physical control violation, negligent driving, reckless driving, minor DUI, and marijuana DUI.

Our professional Washington lawyers can assist you in many other ways. First, they will act as a barrier between you and the state's legal machinery, making it possible for you to focus on getting your life back in order. Your attorney will ensure that you are treated fairly by the prosecutor, while reminding you of any important Tacoma filing or court dates, like your hearing with the Department of Licensing. Lastly, a compassionate DUI attorney will help you deal with the stress and emotional upheaval that always accompanies these cases.

Our Tacoma DUI lawyers understand that one of your largest fears revolves around how you may be punished, if convicted. Mandatory DUI punishments often include fines, a driver’s license suspension, and time in jail, depending on the nature of the offense and whether you've ever been convicted of a DUI in the past. Our Tacoma DUI attorneys will seek to minimize penalties in whatever way the law allows by exploring all defense avenues, while primarily focusing on the fact that you would like to stay validly licensed to drive and out of jail.

Get Your Own Free Consultation with One of Our Tacoma Lawyers

Would you like to ask us some questions about your Washington DUI case? If so, please contact one of our Tacoma DUI attorneys for a free case evaluation. While you may not be ready to make a commitment until processing all of the pertinent information, you can arm yourself with some legal facts without any risk or monetary obligation.

Afterwards, you are free to decide whether to retain the services of one of our hard-working Tacoma DUI lawyers. Our rates are not only affordable, but we also offer multiple payment options that will suit the budget of almost any Tacoma resident.

There is no substitute for professional representation, so contact one of our Tacoma DUI professionals today and let our more than 30 years of combined experience work to defend your legal interests.

If you're considering a divorce, where can you turn to for help?

The qualified Tacoma divorce lawyers at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe can help you deal with these serious issues, and offer you options that you may not have considered. Our Washington State divorce attorneys offer experience, dedication, and compassion, and we have successfully resolved many divorce cases in family court every year. Our attorneys believe that nobody understands the needs of your family better than you, so our Tacoma divorce lawyers help you clearly define those needs so that we can then pursue them during divorce negotiations.

Our divorce lawyers in Tacoma have more than 50 years of collective experience dealing with every sort of family law case. We can handle any divorce situation involving child support, child custody, property division, and spousal support (alimony). Our qualified family law lawyers can also help you handle child relocation situations, restraining orders, protection orders, and divorce cases where significant assets are involved. You can contact us right now if you have any questions concerning court orders and their enforcement, legal separation, contempt motions, or same sex marriage divorce.

Many new potential clients ask us whether or not they need a lawyer. In most divorce cases, you will be at a significant disadvantage if your soon to be ex-spouse has a good family law attorney in their corner and you are trying to navigate the chop waters of divorce alone. There are some good reference materials out there regarding divorce in Washington State. And, these principles will almost certainly apply to your Tacoma divorce case.

How the Law Applies to Divorce In Washington State
Right now, your future may seem filled with uncertainty, but the law is very specific on the subject of divorce. If you have some questions you would like answered before retaining a Washington State divorce lawyer, you can talk to one of our qualified Tacoma divorce attorneys today by contacting our office for a free consultation. Get reliable, honest information regarding your divorce now, so that you can make decisions that are based on facts and Washington family law.

When you consult with one of our Tacoma divorce lawyers they will cover topics that include:

• Spousal maintenance, or alimony
• Child support
• Child custody
• Annulments
• Military divorce
• Property division
• Temporary support

Your divorce case is undoubtedly unique and warrants personalized attention. For this reason, our Washington State divorce attorneys will provide you with the care and focus that your situation deserves. You may be filled with uncertainty as the divorce process unfolds, which is why it's imperative that you work with a lawyer whom you can fully trust. Indeed, your choice of Tacoma divorce lawyer couldn't be more important.

We will help you understand how Washington State divorce law applies to your situation, as we make preparations to protect your legal rights. You and your family will get the care and attention your situation deserves, and we will aggressively fight to achieve the best possible outcome.

Start Getting Answers About Your Tacoma Divorce Today
Would you like to talk to one of our experienced Tacoma divorce attorneys about your situation? If so, schedule a confidential consultation with one of our divorce lawyers in Tacoma today, and find out more about what our professional litigators can do for you.

Without cost, risk, or monetary obligation, there should be nothing preventing you from getting all the information you can to protect you and your family's interests. Contact our Tacoma law office today and speak with one of our experienced Washington State divorce attorneys. We are eager to help you take the first steps toward a more fulfilling future.

Filing for bankruptcy is that opportunity. In most cases, you can protect your property and retirement plan without being forced to take desperate measures to satisfy unyielding creditors. Bankruptcy is a legal procedure designed by the federal government to help you satisfy most debt.

How Our Washington State Attorneys Can Help You with Bankruptcy

Our Tacoma bankruptcy attorneys are easy to reach. Just give us a call or send us and email and you can talk to an attorney about your situation within minutes. When you do, we can give you a general idea of what bankruptcy can do for you. You may be able to learn what debt is a priority, what Chapter you will most likely need to file and that you can keep all your property in bankruptcy.

That initial call can provide you with a lot of relief. You will also learn that we are compassionate, patient and experienced. We strive to provide you with a comfortable experience from your first contact.

Of course we can only provide a general overview when you call or email us. We can then set up a free consultation. At the consultation you will learn how bankruptcy stops all debt collectors dead in their tracks and gives you a chance to sort out your finances. The harassing phone calls will immediately stop, and you will be surprised how much better this will make you feel about your situation. Your lawyer will also inform you about what debt you can wipe out.

Your Tacoma lawyer can give you a complete understanding of your right to exemptions, so you can keep as much property as possible, probably all of it. You will learn that there is light at the end of the tunnel as your cash flow gets back on track. We hear our clients say over and over that they feel a huge sense of relief after their first meeting with us and that they know they will finally sleep better that night.

We have several offices with convenient hours to serve your busy schedule. Our Washington State bankruptcy lawyers will set aside plenty of time to fully explore your situation and treat you with patience and respect.

Some multi-state firms set your appointment at a call center and schedule two appointments every half hour. We are a local Tacoma law office with extensive experience serving Western Washington debtors. We are eager and able to serve you with skill and understanding.

Understanding the Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Our qualified Tacoma bankruptcy attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in Washington State. If you have any questions concerning credit card bills, medical bills, mortgage payments, or would like to find out if you can maintain ownership of your home, contact us today so that we can help. In the meantime, here is some essential information about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

There are two types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. If creditors are paid anything in a Chapter 7 (liquidation bankruptcy) it is from taking unexempt property from the debtor, selling it and dividing up the proceeds evenly. In most Chapter 7 cases, debtors do not lose any property because the law protects it through generous exemptions.

In a Chapter 13, creditors share monthly payments according to a three to five year bankruptcy plan. In both types of bankruptcy, the process starts by filing a petition with documents disclosing income, a budget, a list of debts and a list of property.

A Chapter 13 also includes a repayment plan. In both cases there is only one hearing you are likely to have to attend – a meeting of creditors one month after you file. Your attorney will be there with you, though creditors usually do not appear. A trustee is appointed, who administers the case and conducts the meeting of creditors. A Chapter 7 trustee is in charge of liquidating unexempt property for creditors. A Chapter 13 trustee receives monthly payments from the debtor and pays creditors according to the plan.

The end result in each case is a discharge. Most debt that is not paid is discharged or wiped out. Some debt can not be discharged, such as student loans, back child support or spousal maintenance fine and some back taxes.

To qualify for Chapter 7 you must show that you do not have the ability to pay into a Chapter 13 plan. To show this, you must fill out a means test. The means test goes back six months and takes an average of your income. If the income is higher than the average income for your household size in Washington, you fill out the rest of the means test which subtracts expenses from your income to determine if there is anything remaining to pay your creditors.

Chapter 7 is the quicker, cheaper and easier form of bankruptcy. Again, most debtors are able to keep all their property. For that reason the means test is set up to help guarantee that nobody who files Chapter 7 is abusing the bankruptcy system. Although Chapter 7 is simpler, it can not accomplish some of the things a Chapter 13 can.

A Chapter 13 allows you to get caught up on a mortgage or car loan over as much as five years. You can pay off back taxes, traffic tickets and back child support or spousal maintenance in a Chapter 13. In fact, you have to include all your debt in a Chapter 13, unlike non-bankruptcy debt consolidations that only deal with some kinds of debt. You pay unsecured creditors, such as credit cards, signature loans, car deficiencies, medical bills and pay day loans, at a percentage you can afford – as little as 0%.

Your case will likely be heard in Bankruptcy Court, and it's important to be fully prepared. Contact us today and speak with a WA State bankruptcy lawyer about your situation so that we can help you start a brighter financial future.

Our experienced Tacoma lawyers will seek to have your ticket dismissed, but if this is not possible, we will seek other ways to mitigate the damage. For example, we may seek to prevent the citation from appearing on your driving record, allowing you to keep paying your same auto insurance premiums. We can also prevent you from being required to appear in Tacoma Municipal Court, which will save you time and a considerable amount of hassle.

Our professional WA State traffic ticket lawyers successfully resolve hundreds of cases involving traffic citations every year. You don't have to forfeit your hard-earned dollars without a fight, and even though fighting a ticket is never easy, the best Tacoma attorneys know that the alternative is often far worse. Even though it's become more difficult to challenge tickets over the years, our lawyers approach every case with the attitude that it can be resolved.

Our lawyers charge an affordable flat fee to handle traffic ticket cases. Most run between $300 to $400, but when you consider how much an undisputed ticket could cost you in the long run, this is a paltry sum. Your traffic ticket lawyer will likely be able to handle your case from beginning to end, which means you don't have to change your busy schedule in any way.

Contact a Tacoma traffic ticket attorney from our law office for a free consultation today. We can help you address cases involving following too close, speeding, negligent driving in the second degree, running a red light, failure to stop, and many more.

A Rundown of Traffic Tickets in Washington State and Tacoma

What follows is a comprehensive breakdown of some of the most common traffic citations in Washington. If you've been ticketed for any of these violations, contact us immediately to find out how we can help.

Speeding ticket – This is the most common traffic ticket in the State of Washington, and Tacoma is no different. Every driver is well aware of what constitutes speeding, but many don't realize that the ticket can often be challenged in court. Our Tacoma attorneys will do everything in their power to prevent you from feeling the full impact of a speeding ticket.

Speeding in a school zone traffic ticket – If you're caught speeding in a Tacoma school zone, the fines for the offense are doubled. If the infraction ends up on your driving record, you will likely see a significant increase in your auto insurance premiums. Motorists are commonly ticketed for going as little as 5 miles per hour over the speed limit in schools zones, and with good reason. If you've been ticketed for speeding in a school zone, contact one of our Tacoma attorneys for help.

Too fast for conditions traffic ticket – While this is yet another variety of speeding ticket, it is far different that your typical speeding infraction. Usually speeding means going over the speed limit, but you can get a ticket for this infraction even if you're going under the posted speed limit. Snow, rain, and other road conditions warrant more care, so when an accident occurs under these circumstances a police officer may cite a driver for this offense. Obviously, assumptions are being made after the fact, so it's vital that you protect your legal rights with help from an experienced Tacoma attorney.

Following too close traffic ticket – Most cases involving this infraction involve a rear-end collision, because the presumption is that you were following too close to stop if the situation warranted it. However, this is a subjective judgment often left to the sole discretion of one police officer, and may have little to do with the facts. If you feel as though you were cited for this offense without just cause, contact a Tacoma attorney without delay.

Speeding in a construction zone traffic ticket – If you're cited for this infraction, your fine is automatically doubled and you will likely see a huge increase in your auto insurance premiums. Speeding in a construction zone infractions are taken very seriously by the Tacoma court, but you can cited even if there is no construction work going on at the time you were traveling through the area. This may lead to confusion, so contact a Tacoma attorney today and find out whether you can fight this ticket.

Negligent driving second degree traffic ticket – This is the most serious infraction outlined in Washington law, so it's vital that you do everything you can to keep it from appearing on your driving record. This infraction is subjective, which means a police officer can write a negligent driving second degree ticket at their own discretion. This typically happens when they believe your actions behind the wheel endangered people or property. With the possibility of error so high in these cases, it makes sense to contact a Tacoma attorney for help.

Failure to obey a traffic control device traffic ticket – If you ignore a traffic sign, you can get ticketed for this infraction. For example, if you fail to make a turn from a lane marked “right turn only,” then you can get a ticket for failure to obey a traffic device. There are countless reasons why someone may fail to obey a traffic sign, and even pedestrians and those riding bicycles can be ticketed. Your Tacoma attorney from our law office will do everything in their power to protect your driving record.

HOV violation traffic ticket – Also called a carpool violation, this is when a motorist is driving in an HOV lane with fewer passengers than allowed by law. These cases are usually pretty cut-and-dry because you are either in the lane illegally or legally. Contact one of our Tacoma lawyers today and find out how we may be able to help you deal with this traffic ticket.

Unsafe lane change traffic ticket – If you hit another car when changing lanes, you will likely be cited with this infraction. You can also be charged with unsafe lane change if you cut off another motorist or are weaving through traffic like a NASCAR driver. These infractions can be tough to challenge, so contact one of our Tacoma lawyers today and see if there is a way to fight the ticket.

No insurance traffic ticket – If you don't have liability insurance, you can be fined $550 if you're caught driving. Because failing to possess insurance is usually ascertained after being pulled over for some other traffic infraction, this ticket often accompanies another citation. There are sometimes extenuating circumstances that cause a person to miss their insurance payment, so your Tacoma attorney may be able to help you have this charge dismissed or reduced.

Red light traffic ticket – Running a red light is relatively well understood, but many drivers don't realize that you can be ticketed for this offense if they make a right hand turn without coming to a complete stop. If you would like to fight a red light traffic ticket, contact a Tacoma attorney from our law office right away.

Stop sign traffic ticket – Much like a red light, stop signs require drivers to come to a complete stop. The “California” stop, or rolling stop, does not qualify and could result in an expensive lesson. You can even get a stop sign ticket if you cross the white line before coming to a complete stop.

Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle traffic ticket – This infraction can cost you a fortune. Sometimes drivers are issued this citation under dubious circumstances, which is a good reason to challenge the ticket. If you've been cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle you are facing a $1,000 fine, so you should contact a Tacoma attorney without delay.

Contact a Tacoma Lawyer Today

No matter what legal issue you're facing, we can help. Contact our Tacoma law office for a free case evaluation, and put our more than 50 years of collective legal experience to work for you.