Author: John B. Pike

Don’t Walk Into Your Motion Hearings Blind If you’ve been charged with a crime, navigating the legal process can be intimidating. More often than not, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side to represent you in court. One of the ways that a lawyer will help you in this difficult situation is by filing pretrial motions. The right pretrial motions can help you...

Attorneys have been defending people accused of crimes in the United States since the country was founded. In some ways, it has been broken down into a science. No two cases are the same, but cases from yesteryear can help criminal defense attorneys today.  After defending people for so long, there have been a few criminal defense strategies that have formed. They’re not rigid...

One of the worst parts of the probate process is seeing how the probate courts will tax the assets the deceased left to their loved ones. Not only do they have to deal with the loss of someone dear to them, but the state gets to take a cut of the assets their loved one worked hard for. However, certain assets should not be taxed in Pennsylvania.  The Pennsylvania inheritance tax is...

Crime in the Keystone State has declined significantly. In 2022, there were 309,981 crimes committed in Pennsylvania, and by 2023, that number had dropped to 222,473. Of those crimes, 5,938 were robberies. While crime reduction is a positive development, there are still individuals being charged with robbery who need to understand the potential consequences they may face. The penalties for...

Protect Your Child Against Juvenile Delinquency Charges In Pennsylvania, a juvenile is someone who is over the age of ten but under the age of 18. If they committed a crime before turning 18, they are typically tried as juveniles unless they reach 21 years old before their trial is over. When charged with a crime as a juvenile, the offender will be prosecuted in a different court, with...

Accused of Impaired Driving at a Police Checkpoint? DUI checkpoints are not something everyone has experienced. They are typically only set up in the evening when people are more likely to drink and on popular drinking holidays. You may understandably not be familiar with DUI checkpoints and how they work, but it only takes one bad interaction with one to ruin your life. To be safe,...

In Pennsylvania, when someone passes away without leaving a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the state’s intestacy laws. These laws determine who inherits the deceased’s assets and how much they receive, depending on their relationship with the deceased. Understanding intestacy laws is crucial, especially if you’re managing the affairs of a loved one who didn’t leave...

After years of experience as a criminal defense law firm, Pike Law understands that even a single drug charge can have extensive ramifications on your life, even if you’re not found guilty. Not only are you at risk of severe legal consequences but your reputation and future opportunities may also be at stake. Pike Law will provide a comprehensive overview of the penalties for each type of...

A trust is a legal arrangement where someone creates a legal entity (the trustee) to hold and manage assets for the benefit of another person (the beneficiary). This arrangement allows people to transfer their assets, such as property or money, to a trustee who then manages or receives it according to the terms set out in the trust document. This is a way to pass down your assets to someone...

A will is one of the most basic estate planning tools. It’s used to decide how you want your assets distributed to your surviving loved ones after you pass. If you die without a will, the state law will take over distributing your assets, which may or may not line up with your final wishes. That said, not all assets can be included in a will.  Clients often try to add certain types of...