At Herrman and Herrman, our Brownsville personal injury attorneys understand that dealing with legal settlements involving minors can feel overwhelming. Questions about how a child can accept a settlement, who manages the funds, and how to ensure the child’s financial protection are common—and crucial. That’s where we come in.
When it comes to safeguarding your child’s future after a settlement, the legal process includes a vital step known as a “Friendly Suit.” This court-approved process ensures your child’s settlement is protected and handled appropriately until they reach adulthood. Here’s why a Friendly Suit is essential and how Herrman and Herrman can help you every step of the way.
What Is a Friendly Suit?
A Friendly Suit is a special legal proceeding designed to finalize settlements for minors while protecting their best interests. Because minors lack the legal capacity to accept settlements independently, the court steps in to approve and oversee the process. At Herrman and Herrman, we ensure this process is seamless, efficient, and transparent for families like yours.
When a Friendly Suit is approved, the settlement proceeds are deposited into the court registry until the child turns 18. This protects the child in two critical ways:
- Preventing poor financial decisions by ensuring funds are preserved until the child reaches maturity.
- Ensuring the funds aren’t misused by keeping them out of anyone else’s possession, including parents.
Why You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
While Friendly Suits are not mandatory, they are commonly filed when the settlement is substantial or to protect the defendant from future lawsuits. Navigating this process without skilled legal representation can lead to delays, mistakes, or missed opportunities to maximize your child’s compensation. Herrman and Herrman bring years of expertise to the table, making sure everything is handled with precision and care.
What to Expect in a Friendly Suit Hearing
A Friendly Suit is typically straightforward and non-adversarial. Once the lawsuit is filed, the court appoints a guardian ad litem—an independent attorney who reviews the settlement to ensure it’s in the child’s best interest. The hearing itself is quick, often lasting just five or ten minutes, but it’s a critical step. Once the judge approves the settlement, it becomes binding, ensuring your child’s financial future is secure.
At Herrman and Herrman, we don’t just guide you through the process; we advocate for the best possible outcome for your child. Our team works closely with the guardian ad litem and other parties to ensure everything is in place for the judge’s approval.
Why Choose Herrman and Herrman?
Navigating the complexities of personal injury settlements for minors requires experience, dedication, and a deep understanding of the law. With Herrman and Herrman on your side, you can rest assured that:
- We’ll handle all the paperwork and filings, saving you time and stress.
- We’ll protect your child’s best interests and ensure their settlement is handled appropriately.
- We’ll provide clear communication and compassionate guidance every step of the way.
At Herrman and Herrman, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional legal representation to families in Brownsville and beyond. When it comes to securing your child’s future, trust the team that puts your needs first.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
