Savannah Legal Blog

Under the legal limit doesn't necessarily mean safe driving

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Wednesday, July 31, 2019.

Like many others here in Georgia, you may be under the impression that you could only face charges for DUI if your blood alcohol concentration is at or above the legal limit of 0.08. Unfortunately, that perception is not necessarily correct.

Your BAC could be below the legal limit and still result in an arrest for DUI. Of course, those under the legal drinking age and those with a CDL license do not have to have a 0.08% BAC to face charges under the law. However, that is not what this article is about. Instead, it points out how alcohol affects your body at different levels since alcohol consumption can diminish your ability to drive safely even before your BAC reaches the legal limit.

Shoplifting convictions lead to serious penalties

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

When you were younger, you may have taken something from a grocery store or convenience market on a dare or just to see if you could get away with it. You may have felt a rush when you stepped out of the store with the gum, candy or lip balm in your pocket, or maybe you made it home with something more expensive that you couldn't have paid for otherwise.

Shoplifting is not just a kid's prank. Each year, U.S. retailers lose billions of dollars to theft, including items employees steal. Many retail stores spend an enormous portion of their budgets on anti-theft systems, cameras and security guards. They also willingly spend whatever it takes to prosecute shoplifters.

What is legal custody, and how does it impact parental rights?

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Friday, May 31, 2019.

After a divorce, your main priority is protecting the needs and interests of your children above all else. Regardless of how difficult your relationship is with the other parent, you will want to provide as much stability and continuity of lifestyle as possible. One way you can do this is with a thoughtful child custody arrangement.

As a parent, it is in your interests to understand all of the factors that could impact your parental rights and your relationship with your children. An example of this is legal custody. In addition to how much time you will get with your children, you will also want to consider legal custody as well. This could impact your right to have a say in certain aspects of your kids' lives.

Make sure your prenuptial agreement will be there if you need it

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

A wedding symbolizes the love you and your intended have for each other. For this reason, you want to make sure it's a special and joyous occasion. You intend for the relationship to last forever and plan your wedding and reception accordingly.

Even so, a marriage is also a contract between you and your future spouse. You become legally and financially bound to each other for the duration of your marriage. In light of this, you may decide to enter into a prenuptial agreement in order to protect the separate assets you bring into the marriage in case it doesn't last.

Keep your record clean, including your driving record

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Monday, April 1, 2019.

Having a clean name with no negative record may be more important than you think. It may seem obvious that a felony or violent crime on your record can interfere with your life in many ways, including the very real potential for placing you under an immediate cloud of suspicion during any future interactions with law enforcement.

However, even lesser offenses, such as misdemeanors and traffic violations, can come back to haunt you at certain times. Traffic violations, for example, may seem inconsequential, but having certain convictions on your record may jeopardize your chances for jobs, make your insurance premiums too high to afford, or even interfere with your chances in a child custody dispute.

Paternity is not enough if you want custody rights

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Monday, March 4, 2019.

If being a dad is something you have looked forward to, you may have been surprised but delighted when you learned that a woman you dated had a child. Whether you are in a long-term relationship with her or you only went out a few times, you want to do your part for the child as well as participating in each milestone in his or her life. Of course, you must start by determining if the child is biologically yours.

For obvious reasons, it is easier to determine a child's mother than to determine a child's father. If you are a man who is married to the mother of the child, the law assumes you are the biological father. However, if you and the mother are not married, you may have to prove your paternity. In Georgia, taking a paternity test only goes so far in protecting your rights as a father.

What happens to your spouse’s debt during divorce?

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

There are many different elements to consider during a divorce. Throw debt into the mix and it gets even more complicated. You know that your property and assets are divided during a divorce but what about you and your spouse’s debt? From medical bills, student loans and credit card debt, there is a variety of debt you may be worried about. What happens to debt during divorce?

Do you have to take on your ex’s debt?

Defenses to a DUI

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

Being pulled over for drunk driving is a scary and potentially life-altering event. A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge in Georgia comes with serious consequences and penalties. If charged, you face jail time, community service and costly fines, could lose your driver’s license and could suffer damage to your personal and professional reputations.

If you are facing DUI charges, you probably have a lot of questions including whether your charges could be reduced or dismissed. A skilled defense attorney can utilize defense strategies to raise doubts about your arrest and challenge your charges in court. Each case is different, but the charges against you could be reduced or dropped altogether.

Can a misdemeanor conviction disrupt the rest of your life?

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.

If you have found yourself in trouble with the law, not matter what the outcome is, you should take the consequences seriously. Especially if you are found guilty of a misdemeanor. You should not look at the conviction as “only having a misdemeanor.” Being found guilty of any kind of crime can have a dramatic and, in some cases, a devastating effect on your future.

What happens when you get a DUI out of state?

On behalf of Law Office of Erin Muldoon Haug on Friday, November 16, 2018.

Perhaps you are visiting friends or relatives in Savannah. You plan to go out to eat and end up drinking a little more than you should have. On the way home, police pull you over for a DUI.

This is not an uncommon scenario, as over one million drivers faced DUI arrest in 2014. But what happens when you get a DUI while traveling out of your home state?