Areas of Practice
Administrative
This area of the law involves applications by businesses and individuals to government officials and agencies for licenses, benefits and approvals. It also involves responses to government action against business or individuals. When applications or responses are not successful, it is necessary to appeal to a government board for a hearing or to a court to change the government decision.
Attorney Ashcraft has experience in zoning, unemployment compensation, elections, and other areas of administrative law.
Business
Attorney Ashcraft has experience to help you determine which type of business entity will work for you. He consults with your accountant and other advisors to help you create and set up your sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or limited liability company.
Likewise, he can guide you in purchasing, refinancing, expanding or selling your business, as well as help your business’ dealings with customers, government and other businesses.
Civil
Civil law primarily concerns actions in court. Attorney Ashcraft represents businesses and individuals to seek justice against others or defend actions brought by them in the subject areas explained in this website.
Attorney Ashcraft understands that time is money so at the first conference with you he explains the process and the law in your case. You and Attorney Ashcraft can then proceed within your budget to handle the matter.
Estate Planning
As we mature we understand the need to make it easier for our loved ones to handle our affairs, whether the need to act for us is caused by illness or injury. Even young adults may find themselves in such a situation and need someone to act for them.
Powers of Attorney and Health Care Powers of Attorney/Living Wills are the documents which enable others to act for us when we cannot act for ourselves. Wills and Trusts are the documents by which a person provides for his or her affairs after death.
The failure to have such documents, and to be sure they are up to date and properly worded and executed, will only cause time and expense for others, even others not known to you, to do what law and the necessity of circumstances require. Estate planning may even involve giving or transferring property to loved ones.
Attorney Ashcraft has helped families and individuals determine their needs and desires, and their obligations, in planning their affairs since 1975.
Home and Hospital Visits
Many times every year Attorney Ashcraft visits clients in hospitals, care facilities, and their homes when accidents, illness or age confine them or when cost or convenience make it more sensible to do so. Attorney Ashcraft knows that the attorney-client relationship is not limited to his office or the courtroom.
Landlord & Tenant
Whether you are renting your home or business real estate as a tenant or a landlord, you normally want the relationship stated in writing. Attorney Ashcraft can prepare clear and complete documents for you.
If disagreements arise or one party fails to live up to his or her obligations, Attorney Ashcraft can help you enforce and protect your rights. There are specific procedures under Pennsylvania laws that apply to the landlord-tenant relationship and Attorney Ashcraft can guide you through them.
Probate
When a loved one dies, Attorney Ashcraft can help guide you through the web of your rights and responsibilities to conclude their affairs. Attorney Ashcraft will explain the process and your role in it.
Broadly, probate is the legal process of administering a decedent’s estate. It begins with the county Register of Wills accepting the decedent’s Will or recognizing one or more persons to administer the estate of a decedent who dies without a Will. A person administering an estate has responsibilities to the Commonwealth and to the creditors and beneficiaries of the estate. Attorney Ashcraft has the experience to guide you through the process, regardless of your rights and responsibilities.
Real Estate
Whether buying, selling or refinancing, Attorney Ashcraft can help you with your real estate transactions. There will be documents for you to sign which will set your financial and legal obligations for years to come. Matters such as “a minor title defect” or a non-working or damaged fixture may only come to your attention on the day of settlement. Attorney Ashcraft would be able to explain your options to you.
Attorney Ashcraft also has experience representing clients in real estate matters which, sometimes end up in court. Such matters include agreements of sale, boundaries, covenants, easements, fraud, mortgage foreclosure, title defects, trespass, and zoning.