Category: Consumer Columnists

FACING difficult financial times can be a frightening thing for a lot of people. When bill collectors are hounding you, at some point, you realize that something must be done…

MANY self-employed individuals have relied on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other federal pandemic loans to rescue their businesses from going under. If you notice, many restaurants that we…

CARLOS Castellon worked as a driver for Penn-Ridge Transportation, Inc., a company that delivers the goods of major retailers (such as Best Buy) to the homes of consumers. The delivery…

Couples get divorced for various reasons.  California is a no fault state.  The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law…

ARE you struggling to pay your debts every month, especially your credit cards? Do you barely have anything left to pay your mortgage, rent, food, and other basic living expenses…

Q: I have a good employment record for this company I have been working with for more than 10 years. My employer recently hired another employee whose conduct made me…

Couples get divorced for various reasons.  California is a no fault state.  The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law…

Client case is unusual. She is young at 28 and owes about $300,000 of credit cards. She used these cards to fund a “gift card” business. What’s a “gift card”…

YOU’VE just been sued for a credit card debt after you’ve had trouble paying what you owe. After several months of getting harassing phone calls that you were ignoring because…

‘Poor performance’ is no excuse for employer WALLEN Lawson worked as a territory manager for two years for PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc. (PPG), a paint manufacturer. Wallen sold and stocked…

ONE of the biggest problem of millenials and Gen Z are educational cost and student loan debt.  This eats up a large part of a households budget even among married…

Debtor also has one collection lawsuit for $10K THE client is 48 and has just been sued for $10,000 by American Express. He recently received the summons and complaint. He…

ARE you having problems paying your debts? Are creditors calling you day and night threatening you with a wage garnishment, repossession, or foreclosure? Are you starting to feel hopeless and…

Arbitration is a procedure to resolve disputes without filing a complaint in court. By signing an employment arbitration agreement, the employee agrees to adjudicate any claim against the employer before…

I’VE recently gotten a couple of clients who have been on debt consolidation and are now ready to jump into Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. First, let’s distinguish debt consolidation…

THE COVID-19 Pandemic is a scary reality which affects everyone globally and has shut down the global economy.  Individuals over 65 are more at risk of having serious complications with…

Q: I WAS fired from work last week and another co-worker also quit at around the same time. Our employer told us both to sign an “exit form” and a…

WHEN debts become unmanageable, bankruptcy can become an invaluable financial recovery in helping regain control over your finances. Without the “fresh start” that bankruptcy provides, it would be impossible for…

THE COVID-19 pandemic is a scary reality which affects everyone globally and has shut down the global economy.  Individuals over 60 years old and individual that are immune compromised are…

FIRST client is 34. She is recently married and now has a one-year old son. She used to be employed making a gross of $50K yearly. At the same time,…

Running a small business can have its perks although it’s often an all-consuming endeavor. The owner often has to wear many hats – from being a marketer, manager, and yes,…

IF you’re traveling east on the 10 freeway from Los Angeles, eventually you will end up somewhere in Florida. It’s a long drive to cover about 2,800 miles, but that’s…

Q: I HAVE just entered the work force and I work in the service industry on 12-hour shifts. My supervisor says I am entitled to one 30-minute lunch break and…

Generally, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under…

Q: I worked in a company for over 10 years. A new supervisor and I do not get along. Last week, the company let me go without any explanation. I…

I AM often asked the following questions: When does filing bankruptcy make sense? How much should I owe in order to justify a bankruptcy filing and have that on my…

Q: I WAS severely injured in a recent car accident while returning to work on an errand. I had to undergo multiple surgeries. I missed several weeks of work and…

ARE your finances stressing you out? For a lot of people, financial concerns can be their number one cause of stress. We are living in difficult financial times and a…