Glossary of Legal Terms & Definitions

- Habeas corpus A writ of habeas corpus is filed to bring a prisoner before the court for any of the following reasons: to determine the legality of their imprisonment; to allow them to argue there is not sufficient cause to imprison them; to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
- Hearing A formal proceeding held before trial to discuss issues of law or of fact. They can be used to narrow down the issues needed to be argued at trial or to help facilitate settlement.
- Hearsay Information a witness obtained secondhand from another source which they then try to testify to at trial. Unless it falls under an exception, hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence.
- Lawsuit A legal action originating with a complaint where a plaintiff claims a defendant failed to perform a legal duty owed to them, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
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What People Say
Client Testimonials

“I appreciate everything more than they will ever know”
Both my attorney Judie Rettelle and paralegal Whitney Stricker made a very difficult situation in my life (a divorce with 2 young children involved) a bit easier with first and foremost, their kindness to me and patience with me. I appreciate everything more than they will ever know. They were also extremely knowledgeable on all fronts and extremely prompt and detailed with their communication. I function the same way, so that really helped a lot. Thank you both again for everything. No one wants to have to go through a divorce, but if it happens, you need someone you can trust and count on – CHM and Judie/Whitney specifically – are those people.
Jennifer kelley - Google Review

“He was professional, knowledgeable, understanding and very patient”
Darin has been great!!! I unfortunately, had a very long and complicated divorce because of the circumstances involved. He was professional, knowledgeable, understanding and very patient. I would highly recommend him for any legal services he can provide.
Ann Gaston- Google Review

“Tim was absolutely amazing and worked diligently”
I had an incident and was given the catch-all charge. There wasn’t really anything I could do by myself to get out of it. Tim was absolutely amazing and worked diligently to ensure that I would have the best possible outcome from my case. Which he successfully achieved! As of right now, I am on the path to having my case fully dismissed. A couple of things that really helped me through this process was that Tim did an amazing job at answering my questions. He was available almost anytime and would respond promptly when he got my emails. He was also very approachable and comforting to be around while we had in person meetings and especially when I was at the court house. I would trust him and the company he works for with any other cases in the future, and as of right now, they will be my first choice if I need a lawyer in the future.
Dylan - AVVO Review

“Excellent service, caring, and a great communication”
Excellent service, caring, and a great communication. Don’t have a lot of experience with law firms, but this has been a very easy process
La Meany - Google Review

“Wonderful & smooth experience”
Want to give a big thanks to Juanita for a wonderful & smooth experience. I highly recommend her. Thank you again CHM team!
Meriam Bolivar- Google Review

“They’re great with their communication and very professional”
Amazing legal firm! They’re great with their communication and very professional. They had genuine empathy for my case and was very helpful every step of the way.
Kaycia Clyburn - Google Review

“A job well done, Thank you!!”
I hired Darin after my ex abandoned our marriage. Darin put me in touch with a private investigator to serve papers to my ex that I’d filed seven days after she disappeared. No luck there, the P.I. could not find my ex, so Darin prepared me for a default case. Lo and behold, my ex surfaced and had a process server deliver legal papers to me. I emailed copies of the papers to Darin. We had a meeting where we detailed our response. A dispute resolution conference was set, and Darin gave great advice including a settlement proposal. We met with the opposing parties, my ex had hired a lawyer. The conference was a bust since my ex decided to claim a larger settlement, including personal property?! Darin assured me my ex had no valid claim to my personal property since I had gained them before the marriage. Before the next resolution conference, my ex upped her claim to approximately $1300/month for four years plus money from my personal property. She’d made unfounded allegations against me. I think she thought the allegations would be taken seriously even though there was no evidence to support her allegations. This is why she was asking for so much money and my personal property. She had been here in the U.S.A. for only two years and left two days after the approval of her ten year spousal green card.
An alternate resolution conference was set for April. The opposing council asked for an extension of my settlement proposal for $500 a month for one year and money to pay off the vehicle my ex took when she left. A judge pro tem presided over the alternate resolution conference. He asked questions of Darin, I and the opposing party. The process went well. All the advice given to me by Darin proved invaluable. The judge ended the conference when my ex finally accepted the settlement proposal. At the end I shook Darin’s hand for a job well done.
The process of my divorce took ten months and attorney’s fees but in my opinion was worth it to end a failed marriage.
Keith - Avvo Review

“He gives sound advice and also what is in the best interest of the client”
Aside from being a genuinely nice person, David Maletta is an excellent lawyer. He gives sound advice and also what is in the best interest of the client. I highly recommend his services.
Robert Carolina - Google Review

“They were very professional”
I had a great experience with this law firm, they were very professional from the first touch to the resolution of my case, and fully recommended.
Eduardo Domínguez - Google Review

“I was found NOT GUILTY. Dave won the trial for me.”
Dave stayed with me while he pushed back and forth with Covid-19 and the delays with court. Once cited, the state basically decides that you’re guilty through the automatic suspension of your drivers license. Dave immediately took care of that problem and I never lost the privilege of driving. Dave took notes like crazy and was upfront about our uphill battle. I was also well aware that the plea deal that was given to us, was unacceptable and through Dave’s knowledge and experience I had put my trust in him to guide me to make the right decision on how to proceed. With Dave’s guidance I had decided that we needed to fight for something better than what the prosecutor was offering and Dave was 100 percent behind me on that decision. We knew the risks, be we also knew we had very little to lose based on the prosecutions stance. We decided to go to trial… Watching the prosecution and then watching Dave was night and day!! It was clear to the jury that the prosecution didn’t have their facts straight and were not addressing the facts that they could not address…There was a lot at stake for my personal life and my work life. I was found NOT GUILTY. Dave won the trial for me.
Gregory - AVVO Review

“He ensured that I could get the best possible outcome for my case”
Tim Hintze was absolutely amazing. He worked diligently, He ensured that I could get the best possible outcome for my case. It’s hard to find good help these days. I really got lucky finding them online
JC Evans - Avvo Review

“This law firm is the absolute best!”
This law firm is the absolute best! They were responsive, communicative, and professional. Customer service is always on top answering calls in a timely manner. I will be recommending this firm to everyone I know.
Samantha Tagala - Google Review

“They went to bat for me in what I would call a difficult Judge in a difficult city in a difficult situation”
First I have to say there are no words to say thank you to the team at CHM Law Firm and special thanks to Dave H, Kyle C., And Kiara C for working for me on my case. I am an RN and have had my nursing license since 1994 with no blemishes. I was involved with an incident that happened on Oct 23 and I was charged with an assault and domestic violence! Wow I was horrified, scared, and in shock… felt like my life was ending. I immediately started calling different law firms but none would get back to me in a timely manor except for CHM law firm. They were smart enough to identify my urgency in my time of troubles. I immediately received a call from Dave H who listened to my story of the events that had landed me in my situation. He actually listened and heard and understood the fear of loosing my nursing career. He provided a very impressive history of his experiences and I immediately know CHM would represent me as if they knew me. I was assigned to Kyle and Kiara who went to work right away. It didn’t matter if it was early in the morning or later in the evening, I knew I had a friend I could call. They went to bat for me in what I would call a difficult Judge in a difficult city in a difficult situation. They presented the facts of the case and was able to get my charges dismissed. I can say THANK YOU, Thank you All day and it wouldn’t be enough to express how grateful and blessed to have such caring and concerned people in my corner. thank you CHM TEAM!!
Fran, Emily Gabel - Google Review

” She did an excellent job”
Juanita did an excellent job helping my family, we got the answers we needed and the info she gave us was easy to understand.
Jeremy Standfill - Google Review

“She provided me with the best experience”
Juanita was outstanding throughout my whole process. She provided me with the best experience I could possibly have through the toughest times of my life. Her team is exceptional as well as very knowledgeable and caring firm!
Danelly Aleman - Google Review

“He was amazing every step of the way. Super friendly and professional”
I was extremely happy with having David Maletta represent me. He is one hell of a guy! He was amazing every step of the way. Super friendly and professional. Having him on my side made all the difference in the world. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. I recommend him to anyone who is going through a legal struggle. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Chase - Avvo Review

“He was very thorough and professional all the way through”
Dave Maletta Attorney represented me in a legal matter and he did an excellent job. He was very thorough and professional all the way through. I would highly recommend his services and his firm. He and his firm did an excellent job apprising me every step of the way about what to do what to expect and the legal process. I very much appreciate his help and I would recommend his services and his firm very strongly as I feel I received a high value for the legal services I requested.
Roger Donohue - Google Review

“I’m very amazed by their service and how smooth it is”
Amazing experience, very knowledgeable, thorough, and professional. I’m very amazed by their service and how smooth it is, especially with how much help I received with my case.
Hugo Esparza - Google Review

“She was a ray of light for me and my children when all hope appeared infeasible”
I appreciate Attorney Lauren Bostick because of all she did for my family, and words cannot describe the joy I feel making a decision to have her as my attorney. She was a ray of light for me and my children when all hope appeared infeasible. She was available to walk me through and was very kind to help with my questions. Thanks a lot from the deepest part of my heart for all you have done for me and my family and may God bless you. My children and I are eternally grateful and strongly recommend Attorney Lauren Bostick.
Nuli G - Google Review

“She is very knowledgeable and is there with you through the whole process”
It was a pleasure working with Juanita Peña, she is very knowledgeable and is there with you through the whole process. Excellent customer service. I will be referring my family and friends.