[COLUMN] How will your 401k retirement plan be divided in a divorce case?
For most families, their 401K retirement plan from work is the second largest asset an average family holds (second only to their family residence). How is this treated in a…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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[COLUMN] Can bankruptcy fix your debt problems?
When debts spiral out of control, bankruptcy can become an invaluable financial recovery tool in getting you back on the right track. While it’s not for everyone, close to a…
[COLUMN] There’s a right time to file for bankruptcy
HOW do I know that there’s a right time for you to file for bankruptcy and I am 100% sure of this? Well, I refer you to the Bible Ecclesiastes…
[COLUMN] How will your 401k retirement plan be divided in a divorce case?
For most families, their 401K retirement plan from work is the second largest asset an average family holds (second only to their family residence). How is this treated in a…
[COLUMN] Caregivers must be paid overtime by Los Angeles County as joint employer
THE State of California, in partnership with various counties throughout the state, administers an In-Home Supportive Services (“IHSS”) program to allow low-income elderly, blind, or disabled individuals to hire a…
[COLUMN] Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $20K credit cards
THE client is 66. He says he is now old all of a sudden. He migrated here in 2004. He says he has been working hard since he arrived, but…
[COLUMN] Filing bankruptcy again? What you need to know
IF you’ve ever had to file bankruptcy in the past for whatever reason, you probably told yourself that hopefully, you never have to do it again ever. But sometimes you…
[COLUMN] Can I file a divorce in California if my spouse resides outside California?
This is a common question among people contemplating divorce in California when the other spouse does not live in the state. The California Courts has the power to grant a…
[COLUMN] What type of insurance do you need for your business
Starting a business is no joke. It’s not for everyone. If someone says starting a business is a walk in the park, they are lying to you. From idea to…
[COLUMN] Motion for bifurcation, status only dissolution for spouses who want to move on while divorce pending
THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a…
[COLUMN] Should women receive equal pay for equal work?
FOUR female Google employees believed it was unfair that male colleagues with similar qualifications were consistently paid more than them and other female counterparts. This week, the San Francisco Superior…
[COLUMN] Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?
IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Be aware,…
[COLUMN] Do not conceal assets before filing for bankruptcy
WHAT are the things that you should not do before you file for bankruptcy? First on the list of things not to do is do not hide assets. Concealing assets…
[COLUMN] Motion for bifurcation, status only dissolution for spouses who want to move on while divorce pending
THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a…
Here’s what to ask when saving for the unexpected.
Finances are different for everyone, and so are the life events we all go through. An emergency fund is your financial line of defense against life’s lemons. Although there are…
[COLUMN] Employee’s waiting time to boot up and shut down computer must be paid
AN employer’s policy not to pay call-center employees for time spent booting up and shutting down their employer-provided computers is not lawful. The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected…
[COLUMN] Motion for bifurcation, status only dissolution for spouses who want to move on while divorce pending
THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a…
[COLUMN] 3 different Chapter 7 cases
Family of 3: $40K credit cards owed Client no. 1 is so young. She is in her late 30s, less than 40s. I remember when I was that young, a…
[COLUMN] Your workers’ compensation policy is audited. What now?
Relax. This is a normal process. Think of it as an end-of-year review of records to ensure that your business has paid the correct premium for workers’ comp insurance. During…
[COLUMN] California’s leave rights expanded to care of ‘extended relatives’ and ‘chosen family’
The family and medical leave rights under California Family Rights Act (CFRA) have been expanded. It now applies in instances when a worker needs to take leave to care for…
[COLUMN] Part I: The basics of bankruptcy
Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution authorizes Congress to enact “uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies. Pursuant to this grant of authority, Congress enacted the “Bankruptcy…
[COLUMN] Get out of debt and change your life for the better
Are you currently struggling with debt problems and don’t know what to do? To most people, finding themselves in that situation is pretty scary. They constantly worry about their finances…
[COLUMN] Should I be getting paid for time spent traveling out of town for work?
Q: I work for a medium-sized California company. I receive a salary, but I’m a nonexempt employee. I travel out of town a few times a month as part of…
[COLUMN ]Young client chooses Chapter 7 as business dies with $80K credit cards owed
THE client is young in his 50s. Believe me, that’s young. The client owns and operates a business that used to generate $800,000 of revenues yearly with good profit for…
[COLUMN] How important is it to have a living trust?
THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a…
[COLUMN] Can you be fined or imprisoned for not having Workers Compensation Insurance?
THE answer is coldly and astoundingly, yes. All California employers must provide Workers’ Compensation benefits to their employees under California Labor Code Section 3700. If a business employs one or…
[COLUMN] Employee’s career stalls after maternity leave, and loses job after her complaint
Q: I’m an account executive at a real estate company. I enjoy the work and I’m good at it. But I started having problems when I went on maternity leave,…
[COLUMN] Do not conceal assets before filing for bankruptcy
WHAT are the things that you should not do before you file for bankruptcy? First on the list of things not to do is do not hide assets. Concealing assets…
[COLUMN] Bankruptcy or debt settlement?
Most people are unaware that credit card companies will negotiate with you if they believe that it is in their best interest to do so. Many times, you can negotiate…
[COLUMN] Does job termination threaten your right to live in the US?
Q: I was petitioned by my current employer to work in a residential care facility in the U.S. While I worked 6 days a week, and often on a 10-12…