What are the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy?
LET’S assume that you have incurred too much debt. What do I mean by too much debt? By this, I mean that you are now a slave to creditors because…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Pandemic debt relief: Is bankruptcy right for you?
“It is a misconception that ‘once you file bankruptcy, you will automatically lose everything.’ The truth is that most people keep everything they have (homes, cars, bank accounts, retirement plans,…
New California laws in 2021
HERE are 12 new California laws that take effect in 2021: • Potential COVID-19 Exposure Notification: Requires employers to promptly notify employees of potential coronavirus exposure. • Minimum Wage Increase:…
More employees covered by family leave rights this new year!
Time to bond with a new child or care for family Q: My spouse and I are expecting a baby in a couple of months and we are trying to…
How does the bankruptcy means test work?
WHAT is the means test in bankruptcy? It’s a method for calculating what your household income is to determine if you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 of the…
Too much debt and don’t know what to do?
ARE your debts keeping you up at night? Are you always worried about money? Are you barely surviving and can’t even keep up with minimum payments on your credit cards?…
Rounding down or shaving work hours may entitle employees back wages
LUCAS Mejia was a stocker for Walgreens, a nationwide pharmacy retail store chain. He and many other employees worked as hourly non-exempt employees in a Walgreens distribution center in California….
To people who are considering bankruptcy but are unsure
IF you are struggling with debt problems and are starting to feel hopeless about your situation because you are not getting anywhere in spite of your efforts, at what point…
Unusual Christmas this week
Friday marked Christmas Day as the the whole Christian world celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 2020 years ago. Christians also celebrate the fact that God…
Year-end tax plan for December 2020
WHILE we advocated accelerating deductions and postponing income in prior year tax plans, we cannot apply these traditional tactics anymore. Both COVID and a change of the guards at the…
Protecting employees who take medications
When a drug test may constitute disability discrimination “Under California law and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an employee who is taking medication for a disability is protected from…
The young, not so young and not so old need Chapter 7 debt relief for fresh start
THE young: Clients are in their late 20s, the epitome of youth. They have their whole life ahead of time. They married three years ago. Right after they got married,…
Unemployed due to the pandemic? How bankruptcy can help
Bankruptcy has always been a last resort for people who are struggling with debts that they can no longer pay. Most people would do what they can on their own…
Are you paid less due to your gender or race?
“The California Fair Pay Act (aka the Equal Pay Act) prohibits an employer from paying any of its employees wage rates that are less than what it pays employees of…
Bankruptcy debt relief: Is the pandemic threatening your financial security?
AS I write this article, the country’s economic outlook is grim. The governor just ordered another shutdown of “non-essential businesses” who have already suffered significant financial losses since the pandemic…
A tale of 2 seniors in financial distress
Chapter 7 for senior No. 1 Senior one is 73. He has been separated from his wife for 30 years but not divorced. So, for all intents and purposes, he…
Do you have too much debt and not enough income?
ARE your growing debts starting to worry you and cause you sleepless nights? Are you trying hard to pay what you can every month but feel like you’re just running…
Paying for all hours worked for non-hourly employees
AMERICAN Income Life Insurance Co. sells insurance policies in California. It hires agents that it pays on commission. David Hamilton, Bridget Smith, and David Joh worked for American Income as…
Is bankruptcy right for you?
SURE, there are alternatives to bankruptcy. But bankruptcy is the only solution that provides viable debt relief for those who are unable to repay their debts. Some people sign up…
Getting paid correctly for working on holidays
“The law does not require payment of overtime or other special premiums for work during holidays, unless such work goes beyond 8 hours per workday or 40 hours per workweek.”…
IRS has 2 million unopened mailed returns this tax season
THE Internal Revenue Service has about 2.5 million of unopened paper-filed income tax returns. Total pieces of mail (including income tax returns) stands at about 5 million pieces. This number…
Seniors need Chapter 13 as they retire
THE seniors are husband and wife aged 70 and 65. The wife is a young and healthy 65, while the husband is a healthy 70 who still looks strong. Both…
Don’t let your debt problems turn into a financial emergency
“Once you fall behind on your debt obligations, it is easy to ignore the situation and hope that things will get better on their own. But that will never happen…
Stock losers in a Biden presidency
THE expected Blue Wave for Democrats did not happen. Republicans kept control of the Senate. This forms a split government with Democrats at the White House and Lower House while…
Should employees be paid for on-call or wait time if not free to leave work premises?
EDGAR Orozco was an electrician working as an hourly employee for Ardent Companies, Inc., which provide services to drilling operations off the California coast, including on fixed off-shore oil platforms….
One senior qualifies for Chapter 13, while another gets Chapter 7. Why the difference?
THE first client is 82. He is married. “What’s the problem?” I ask. He says that he owes about $15,000 of credit cards and his wife owes about $10,000 of…
Filing bankruptcy to eliminate debt while protecting assets
ONE common misconception people have is that if they file bankruptcy, they will lose everything that they’ve worked hard for. For this reason, a lot of people continue to suffer…
Stock winners in a Biden presidency
THE projected Democrat Blue Wave did not materialize as Republicans kept control of the Senate. This limits what President-elect Joe Biden can do. It restrains his ability to significantly increase taxes…
Does employer need to know your medical condition to accommodate you?
Q: I WAS diagnosed with herniated disc and severe anxiety. I want to request leave but want to keep my privacy at work. Do I need to tell my employer…
Client needs Chapter 13 relief for $36K taxes, $80K unsecured debt
THE client is 50 and single but has a cousin who lives with him. The cousin has been employed on and off and has lived with him for 10 years….