Helpful Articles
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The Differing Exemption Schemes for a Bankruptcy Case in Different States: Is it Equitable?
Federal law governs bankruptcy cases in the United States. When you file for bankruptcy, you will need to file your petition in one of the 94 federal judicial districts, and you cannot file a bankruptcy case in state court. However, bankruptcy cases filed in one state can still differ significantly from bankruptcy cases filed in another state. This is because each state has its own laws regarding available bankruptcy exemptions in a Chapter 7 liquidation case and in Chapter 13 r... -
Advice from Small Business Attorneys about the Best Practices for Unpaid Internships
Written by: Andrew Gale - Orange County - Small Business Attorney Hiring interns is a perfectly acceptable way of adding to your workforce. However, it can get a little tricky when you are thinking of not paying the intern. This is a common question and an activity that requires caution. There are a number of criteria that must apply to the job and the intern. Incorporation Attorney, a team of trusted small business lawyers in California, highly recommend th... -
Final FLSA White Collar Exemption Rules Announced
Written by: Andrew Gale - Orange County - Small Business Attorney Today the Department of Labor announced the new salary threshold for certain employees to qualify as exempt from minimum wage and overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act’s White Collar Exemptions. Federal Law Alert – May 18, 2016 Effective December 1, 2016, the new minimum salary level will be $47,476 per year ($913 per week). Up to 10% of this income may come in the form of non-discre... -
Divorce Arbitration is the Way to Go! So……
Anthony C. Adamopoulos is a Massachusetts Divorce Mediator, Arbitrator and Collaborative Attorney A decision of our Appeals Court, Gravlin v. Gravlin, is helpful for those facing divorce. For collaborative divorce attorneys and divorce mediators, the decision confirms that arbitration is the viable alternative to court litigation for resolving a single issue or even taking the place of a full court trial. In Gravlin, the Appeals Court acknowledged “… arbitra... -
STUCK IN DIVORCE COURT? HERE IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO CUT COSTS AND AGGRAVATION!
By Anthony C. Adamopoulos, Massachusetts' Divorce Mediator, Arbitrator and Collaborative Attorney Are you in divorce litigation? Are you having second thoughts – time standards, discovery cost, no trial in sight? Enough! You have complained to your attorney and your attorney reports that your spouse’s attorney has heard the same complaints from your spouse. Your attorney suggests mediation or conciliation. What is the difference between Divorce Mediation and Divorce Conciliation? ... -
The MassachusettsDivorce Property Division Law
NO LAW REQUIRES DIVORCING COUPLES TO DIVIDE ASSETS 50/50 Posted on August 23, 2018 By: Anthony C. Adamopoulos, Massachusetts: Arbitrator, Mediator, Collaborative Attorney Recently, a distressed client, I will call Casie, came to me. She feared for her future. Casie explained that her husband wanted a divorce and “claimed” he would “get” his lawful 50% of the house an... -
Dealing with Sexual Harassment, What to do what Not to Do
Florida Bar Journal... -
What happens the day of your real estate closing?
If you are selling a house, what exactly happens the day of the closing? First, the buyer will need to accomplish a final walk-through of the property. Before this can happen, all of your possessions must be out of the house. The buyer and their realtor will then visit the property one last time before heading to the closing meeting. I would estimate that over 75% of my clients who are selling, opt to not show up to the closing. What does that mean? It means that we sign all of the paperwork ... -
"All Eyes on You"
SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM http://www.orlandostylemagazine.com/all-eyes-on-you/ Almost everyone uses some form of social media. For some of us, it’s a secret indulgence that gives us a euphoric high – who needs exercise, shopping, or that glass of wine at the end of the day when 100 likes or 300 reposts will do it. For others, we have no pretenses about the message we are putting out to the world – here I am, look at me! We som... -
Bankruptcy and Joint Bank Accounts
Many people have joint bank accounts for many different reasons. Often, married couples choose to have joint accounts for ease of financial accounting and access. Parents may put the name of a child as a joint account holder to build up their financial experience or to ensure access to accounts if anything should happen to the parent. Whatever the reason for having a joint account may be, these accounts should always be considered if one of the account holders decides to file for bankrupt... -
Student Loans Are Not Just a Problem for Young Adults
When most people think of the ever-growing student loan crisis in the United States, they are generally concerned about young individuals who are recently out of school and are struggling to find quality work in their chosen field—or at all. Focus is on young adults who have to put off purchasing houses, starting a family, and other milestones that traditionally have happened in a person’s twenties or thirties because of their crippling student loan payments. If a borrower cannot ... -
School Closure Could Provide Student Borrowers with Debt Relief
According to a report published by Forbes, the total amount of student loan debt was estimated at $1.2 trillion and 2 out of 3 students were graduating with some level of debt. There are few options left for many borrowers, as the bankruptcy reforms of 2005 made it extremely difficult to discharge student loans in bankruptcy. With so many students struggling to pay their monthly debts, the Obama administration has directed federal agencies to explore options to help student b... -
A Snapshot of American Credit Card Debt
The United States is commonly known for its consumer tendencies. Spending money on lavish homes, vehicles, clothes, jewelry, and other possessions has long been a status symbol and, in the last decade, many Americans have scrambled to purchase SUVs, smartphones, and home entertainment systems to rival their neighbors and “keep up with the Joneses.” While living with all of these conveniences and even luxuries can be enjoyable, there is a darker side of the financial picture in many Americ... -
Does The Loss of a Loved One Mean The Loss of Inheritance For Bankruptcy Debtors?
Does The Loss of a Loved One Mean The Loss of Inheritance For Bankruptcy Debtors? When a family member or friend passes away and leaves you money or property, it is generally because they want you to benefit from the bequeathment. However, for individuals who have filed for bankruptcy or are considering bankruptcy, receiving an inheritance may be stressful and concerning. They often wonder whether the inheritance will disqualify them from bankruptcy or whether the bankruptcy trustee will ... -
Adding Insult to Injury? Information Regarding Personal Injury Claims In Bankruptcy
When an individual files for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, they are already facing financial difficulties. Suffering a personal injury in an accident can only make financial struggles worse due to medical bills, lost income, and other injury-related losses. If another party was negligent in causing the accident, the injured victim can seek compensation from them by filing a claim for personal injury in civil court. However, if the injured victim has filed for bankruptcy or plans to... -
Judicial Lien Avoidance In Bankruptcy
Judicial Lien Avoidance in Bankruptcy A money judgment is a court ruling that makes an individual debtor liable for the payment of a debt. A judgment is effective as a lien against all of the judgment debtor’s real property in the county of the judgment or any other county where the judgment has been transcribed into the official records. This judgment lien or judicial lien is effective both with respect to property owned at the time of the judgment, as well as property acquired af... -
3 Things Drivers Need to Know About California Lemon Law
California is, without a doubt, one of the most intense states to drive in. In addition to the largest population in the United States, California has the most automobiles registered by more than 6 million (ahead of Texas). Of all the states to have a faulty vehicle, California is by far the most dangerous. Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect consumers from certain defects. This refers to the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, or the California lemon law. The purpose of this law... -
MALPRACTICE AT ROUTINE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS
No one likes going for a medical checkup but, unfortunately, it is important to your overall health to do so. It is good to check in with a trusted medical professional on a regular basis to discuss any changes in your health or other concerns. Physicians should know how to best spend time with patients to identify any health issues and advise patients on how to lower the risk of developing certain conditions. When you think of medical malpractice, you likely think of doctors making grav... -
You Can’t Take My House! Requirements for an Assigned Mortgage Lender to Have Standing in a NY Foreclosure Case
When a property owner defaults on a mortgage in New York, the lender that owns that mortgage has the right to file an action for foreclosure against the borrower to seize the property due to non-payment. However, as in any type of legal action, the borrower has the right to assert certain defenses and simply because a request for a foreclosure was filed does not mean the borrower will lose their property. Instead, they should enlist the assistance of a skilled foreclosure defense ... -
Which Type of Modification is Right for You? A Look at the Trends Regarding HAMP v. Traditional Mortgage Loan Modifications in the U.S
Many homeowners who were delinquent or in default on their mortgages have obtained relief by securing a modification of various terms of their loans. Over a four-year period from 2007 to 2001, the U.S. Treasury reports that more than 2.1 million property owners obtained modifications throughout the United States, and millions more have obtained modifications in the years since. Such modifications not only help owners keep their property but also relieve loan servicers and banks ...