Lawyers in Somerset, PA

Finding a lawyer in Somerset

Somerset is the seat of Somerset County, in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most civil and criminal matters from the surrounding area are heard in the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. As the county seat for a largely rural area, Somerset's legal market covers the family, estate and criminal work typical of a courthouse town, along with real estate matters tied to farmland and the region's tourism-driven economy.

Legal issues people in Somerset bring to lawyers

• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody and support matters heard in Somerset County's Court of Common Pleas.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts and estate administration through the Somerset County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court, including farm and rural land succession.
• Real Estate — closings, landlord-tenant matters and boundary disputes across the county's farmland and small towns.
• Criminal Defense and DUI & DWI — defense from the preliminary hearing through trial in the county's courts.
• Personal Injury and Car Accident — crash and negligence claims arising on the Turnpike and the county's rural highways, generally pursued on a contingency fee.
• Workers' Compensation — job-injury claims for the area's manufacturing and tourism workforce.

Choosing a law firm in Somerset

Before signing on with a firm, look up the attorney in the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's online search to see the license status and any public discipline; a Pennsylvania Bar Association listing is a separate, voluntary membership and not proof of a license. Ask how often the firm appears in Somerset County's courts for cases like yours, and who will actually handle the day-to-day work on your file. Get the fee arrangement — contingency, hourly or flat fee — in writing before any work begins.

Free and low-cost help

Income-qualifying Somerset County residents can reach a free civil legal aid program through PALawHelp.org, the site maintained by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, for help with housing, family and benefits matters. A reduced-cost first meeting with a private attorney is also available through the Pennsylvania Bar Association's statewide referral service, and the Unified Judicial System publishes forms and guidance for people who choose to represent themselves. Anyone facing criminal charges who cannot afford a lawyer is entitled to a court-appointed public defender.

For a closer look, see estate planning lawyers in Somerset, or compare with lawyers in Johnstown nearby.

See also Lawyers in Pennsylvania for the rest of the state.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Pennsylvania attorney about your situation.