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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1990)
Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat & Conference Center P.O. Box 578, Detroit, OR 97342 (503) 854-3314 - Info. & reservations A Great Getaway W eekday Special (Sun- ThursJ $5 off ovemlte rates. $10 off any 60 or 90 min. massage with ovemlte stay expires March 31, a special seminar: (offer good with this ad only) Laura Davis The Courage to Heal: The meadow Spring above the Breitenbush River working with Adult Survi vors of Child Sexual Abuse January 12 - 14 Fir Crest Grove Reaching (Jut & Making a Difference (5 0 3 ) 2 9 2 -4 2 7 4 o r 6 5 9 -7 2 5 3 C aring and experienced people w ith an em phasis on preserving dignity and independence for persons diagnosed HIV positive and A ID S related diseases . . . For M ore Inform ation, Please C ontact B onnie H enry or D arrell B row n, 659-7253 or 292-4274 V A S W E E N T E R 1990, we would like to give recognition to our staff members who have given you so many years of good service! Charlie Kirby Mary Gates-King Rick Brodner (since 1986) Myriam Baker Anne Laufe Ron Edmonds John Kilbourne Mark Furstenberg Laurie Huntwork Jennie Sherwood (Since 1987) (Since 1988) During 1990, we will offer expanded seating in our new south “quiet” dining room opening in late January and a completely remodelled main dining room by summer. Holly Hart, Proprietor & General Manager Paddy Collins, Chef Kate Johnson, Sous Chef Maude Goin, Dining Room Manager Sherrie Carrero, Asst. Dining Room Manager Old Wives tales Reslaaranl 1300 EAST BURNSIDE PORTLAND • 238-0470 just out y 26 y January 1990 New Year's resolution: Get advice before taking legal action • cozy cabins In the forest * licensed massage abundant vegetarian meals • hot springs - 24 hr. use * mineral steam sauna * forest trails & X-C ski • Sanctuary honors all ways Valuable rights can be damaged or destroyed if you delay in getting advice the deal is expiring, the situation is more difficult than necessary for all involved. I could go on with various horror stories Note: No two legal situations are exactly the that I have seen personally or heard about same. This column discusses general legal from other lawyers. I hope the point is clear: principles only. For specific advice, please some major actions, by their very nature, consult your lawyer. require that your interests be represented by a lawyer. In such cases, you will often get a ’m writing this column at the height of the better result when you and the attorney have holiday season. That special time of year when many people try hard to forget the cares enough time to put your affairs in order. of day to day life, in favor of a warm holiday Problems that arise Sometimes the need is not so obvious. glow. Also, the time when people make Problems can develop slowly over time or promises to themselves (cutely called may be discovered when something changes. “resolutions”), to take care of, after the first of For example, boundary disputes sometimes the year, those things that have been put off. pop up when property is surveyed prior to a sale. A couple who has acquired property together over many years may find their partnership gradually deteriorating. Illness can become long term or life threatening, raising questions about the adequacy of your will, or power of attorney for health care. The point of this column is to advise you Maybe you receive a seemingly minor injury — even implore you — to get timely legal in a vehicle accident and decide to try to settle advice, when you need it. Time and again, your own claim with the insurance company. people go to a lawyer’s office only after their But it may turn out your injury is more serious valuable legal rights have been damaged or or lingering than first thought. destroyed. Often times, problems in the work place So, how do you know when you should develop gradually. Slowly a person may fall seek legal advice? There are two important out of favor, begin to be disciplined, or limes to consider getting legal advice: before subject to other actions leading to termination. taking “major legal actions,” and very soon Sometimes the disciplinary action is after a “new problem” has arisen, Major Legal Actions motivated by discrimination. There are certain kinds of activities that, In all of these types of cases, you should by their very nature, are major legal actions, obtain legal counsel at the earliest on which, as a general rule, you should opportunity. receive competent legal advice at all stages. Most lawyers I know would rather listen to Some obvious examples of these major legal your problem early on, even if you don’t need actions are buying or selling real estate, immediate representation, than be brought in especially if you buy property jointly; buying at the last minute to try to fix a problem you or selling a business, or signing a long term let go too long. lease; making a partnership or couples It is possible to give up or “waive” agreement, including an agreement to split up important legal rights, often with no idea that a couples property; making a will; any time you are doing so. Legal rights are you are accused of a crime. complicated, and few people have the As obvious as some of these examples are, expertise to figure them out. Most lawyers it is astounding to me that some people will do, and can do so better when involved in a put off getting legal advice on them until the case early on. very last minute. Often times, significant While lawyers can sometimes be problems have already developed, which expensive, your affairs are usually worth the could have been eliminated or minimized with investment. If you truly lack funds, there may advance legal advice. be legal advice available through subsidized If you’re buying property, you should clinics, several of which exist in the Portland involve your lawyer even before you make an area. In addition, various bar associations offer on the property. I have often heard from operate volunteer lawyer projects for certain potential clients who tell me they are going in groups. Don’t assume that you can’t afford tomorrow to sign all the papers to buy their legal advice, or that none is available for those first house, and could I look over the of limited income. In a future column we’ll paperwork. Of course, a lawyer can try to discuss some specific ways to find a lawyer to give service in that situation, but may discover help you with your problem. problems in the transaction that can lead to delays. Sometimes a real estate purchase must be closed by a certain date or the buyers The author is an attorney in private practice, suffer penalties. If a problem appears in the and maintains his office in the Crown Plaza title report, for example, but the time to close Building, downtown Portland. ▼ BY B R A DL E Y J. WOODWORTH I . C oum UX lust out We've got plenty of pride. SANDRA K. PINCHES, Ph.D. Counseling and Psychotherapy 1809 N.W. Johnson, Ste. 7 Portland, OR 97209 Specializing in issues of: (5G3) 227 7558 • Recovering Alcoholics • Lesbian & gay couples • Co-dependency_______ • Intimacy & commitment