ST. GEORGE — Chances are that in your day-to-day life the thought of hiring a lawyer rarely, if ever, crosses your mind. The idea of needing an attorney can seem abstract when life is going smoothly. However, if you operate a business, own property or just want to make sure that your loved ones are taken care of properly in the event something happens to you, a qualified lawyer can be a powerful ally and give you peace of mind.
This is where the efficient and professional attorneys of Clarkson and Associates come in. With experienced and effective attorneys focusing on a wide range of legal issues, the firm of Clarkson and Associates can be the help you need no matter your individual circumstances or needs.
Originally founded and principally located here in Southern Utah, the attorneys of Clarkson and Associates continually service the legal needs of clients in Utah, Nevada and Arizona. As a general civil firm, Clarkson and Associates offers a variety of legal services including help with the sale or purchase of a business, civil litigation, contracts, business formation and administration, estate planning, probate, real estate, business development, family law, landlord/tenant, construction law and debt collection.
Meet the team
Barry Clarkson
- Clarkson focuses on simple and complex real estate, business sales and licensing transactions. Clarkson is one of the founding members and the current manager of Clarkson and Associates. He received his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, a private law school in San Diego, California.
- Clarkson is a member of the Utah State Bar, the Nevada State Bar and the Arizona State Bar.
- Clarkson has also received the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and Lawyers.com.
Matthew Spring
- Spring has a wide variety of experience handling a range of commercial litigation, civil litigation, collection actions, small claims, divorce, adoption and child custody, among other legal matters. Spring received his Juris Doctor from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law in 2009.
- Spring is a member of the Utah State Bar and Nevada State Bar.
Rowland Graff
- Graff hails from eastern Michigan where he practiced law prior to moving to Southern Utah. Graff regularly works in many legal matters including estate planning, business organization, contract disputes and real estate matters. Graff earned his Juris Doctor at Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, in 2003 graduating Cum Laude.
- Graff is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Utah State Bar, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan Bar and the Southern Utah Bar Association.
Landon Smith
- Smith focuses his practice in estate planning and business law. He received a joint Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the Creighton University School of Law and Creighton’s Heider College of Business. Smith is licensed to practice for the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
- Smith is a member of the Utah State Bar and the Southern Utah Bar Association.
Why hire a lawyer?
Real estate and business transactions can oftentimes seem fairly straightforward. A handshake agreement, to the average person, might seem like enough. But given the current litigious society we live in, the attorneys of Clarkson and Associates often see a very different side of the coin.
There are many pitfalls that the average person might not see when entering into a real estate agreement or business transaction; pitfalls that can spell trouble down the road. Because there are so many things that can go wrong, it is good to have a lawyer that understands these potential traps and can help you to prevent them from affecting you and your family.
Barry Clarkson often warns clients that it is critical to “trust, but to verify” that all relevant information is disclosed and to also make sure and “get it in writing.” What may seam to be a simple business transaction based on a handshake and the exchange of money or other value, can turn into a lengthy and stressful ordeal, sometimes involving the courts for years to come. In most cases a qualified lawyer can prevent future conflicts and provide peace of mind throughout the process.
Having a clear written contract binds both parties to a set of rules they must abide by and limits problems arising from misunderstandings and intentional deceit.
For attorney Landon Smith, the important premise behind having a lawful written contract is that each party then has a better opportunity to enforce promises made in a given business transaction, whether that person or entity is buying or selling. This assures that neither party can simply walk away without being held accountable.
“If you don’t have a contract in place, if you don’t have rules in place,” Smith said, “then the other person can say ‘well, I’m done with you … you have nothing,’ then you have no way to enforce your agreement. A handshake agreement is hard to prove to the court.”
Although we all prefer to avoid the difficulties and expense of going to court, for those times that some type of court action is necessary, the attorneys at Clarkson and Associates are well qualified and competent civil litigators who can aggressively handle your particular case.
Another area of life where a qualified lawyer can be a very useful tool is in the planning of your estate against an untimely death or for the possibility of incapacity. “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” The attorneys at Clarkson and Associates help to plan everything from large and complex estates down to simple wills including guardians for minor children.
Believe it or not, we will all die someday and it is important that the estate is handled according to your wishes rather than being determined by a court or other third party. A living will and health care power of attorney, known as a health care directive, are also essential documents which give someone you trust the power to make health care decisions for you if you become incapacitated. Additionally, in the event of death, a trusted individual should be authorized and empowered to carry out your wishes regarding organ donation and resuscitation.
When it comes to your estate, if you own real property, a living trust is typically a good way to ensure that your property in fact goes to the person or people that you want to receive it, and that clear directives for the division of your assets are followed.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to estate and business planning so it is important to engage a caring and informed professional who can help tailor appropriate legal documents for you and your loved ones.
Why Clarkson and Associates?
With an over-abundance of choices when it comes to your particular legal needs, the attorneys of Clarkson and Associates focus on three areas they believe set Clarkson and Associates apart from other legal professionals; one, their attention to detail; two, their reasonable rates; and, three, their experience.
“I think we are a great pick,” Smith said. “We have experience in many fields, we can share information that is going to be useful to (the client) and all at a reasonable rate. We are in it to help people move along and better their life.”
It is a well-established practice of Clarkson and Associates that they make every effort to avoid “nickel and diming” the client. The firm offers each client a reasonable and fair rate while working diligently to make the process simple and easy.
Let’s be honest, no one really wants to have to call a lawyer. However, one must consider the fact that investing a small amount of time and money on the front end can save people a lot of time, frustration, anxiety and much more money in the end.
Clarkson and Associates offers a free initial consultation so it won’t cost you anything to come in and see what Clarkson and Associates can do for you.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Pictured is Barry Clarkson an attorney with Clarkson and Associates, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Clarkson and Associates, St. George News
Pictured is Matthew Spring an attorney with Clarkson and Associates, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Clarkson and Associates, St. George News
Pictured is Rowland Graff an attorney with Clarkson and Associates, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Clarkson and Associates, St. George News
Pictured is Landon Smith an attorney with Clarkson and Associates, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Clarkson and Associates, St. George News
This photo shows the façade of the building for Clarkson and Associates located in St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo Courtesy of Clarkson and Associates, St. George News
• S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T •
Resources
- Clarkson and Associates | Website | Address: 162 N. 400 East, Suite A-204, St. George | Telephone: 435-634-1940
- Clarkson and Associates in Mesquite, Nevada | Address: 340 Falcon Ridge Parkway Ste 700, Mesquite, Nevada | Telephone: 702-345-7588
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
if u want a good lawyer find a jewish one. i see none here.
Yeah whatever you Bob
say