Anderson, Wilmarth, Van Der Maaten, Belay & Fretheim Law Firm

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Disclaimers and Warnings

The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This disclosure is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa. A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. Memberships and offices in legal fraternities and legal societies, technical and professional licenses, and memberships in scientific, technical and professional associations and societies of law or field of practice does not mean that a lawyer is a specialist or expert in a field of law, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. This disclosure is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Confidentiality

• Never send anything that contains confidential information to an attorney you have not retained (whether by email, fax, voice mail, the postal service, courier service, or by any other means).
  • Unless the attorney has confirmed that he or she will represent you, you have not "retained" the attorney.
  • If the attorney has not agreed to establish an attorney-client relationship with you, you risk disclosing your confidential information to someone who could represent an adversary of yours.

• Sending confidential information by email is risky, even if you have established an attorney-client relationship.
  • Someone other than the attorney or a member of the attorney's staff might read it.
  • Since email is transmitted through more than one computer system, it can be intercepted and read by unauthorized persons.
  • It is always best to encrypt email that contains confidential information.

Obtaining Legal Representation

• If you need legal advice, do not rely on email or the Internet to obtain legal representation.
  • Email is not always read on a daily basis. If the person you send it to is sick or on vacation, it may not be read for weeks.

• If you need legal advice, the best way to contact an attorney is to telephone the attorney's office and schedule an appointment,
  • Most attorneys will not give legal advice over the telephone or by email to someone they have never met in person.

Legal Deadlines

• Many legal matters require prompt, if not immediate, attention. Your legal rights could be lost if you delay contacting an attorney.
• Telephone an attorney of your choice for an appointment.
  • Do not wait until the last minute. Most attorneys will not take "last minute" cases.

• Do not assume that an attorney will respond to unsolicited email, faxes, or letters.

• No one is a client of our law firm unless we agree in writing to an attorney-client relationship
• An attorney-client relationship is not established by sending unsolicited email, faxes or letters to us.
• We do not respond to email from non-clients who ask legal questions.
• We do not read anonymous email.
• We do not provide free legal advice.
• The information and materials presented throughout this website are for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. The transmission or receipt of information to or from this website is not intended to create, and does not create or constitute, an attorney-client relationship.