Be prepared for dental emergencies
INJURIES always seem to happen when we least expect them. Picture yourself at an outdoor gathering, having fun, when suddenly a crying child runs up to you, knocked-out tooth in…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Client files chapter 13 to stop garnishment of social security
Abandoned wife files chapter 7 to discharge collection lawsuits for $20K Client no. 1 IS it even legally possible that your social security benefits can be garnished? If creditors can get…
Racial and sexual harassment lead to wrongful termination of employee
IT is illegal to harass a worker because of that person’s race or sex. Racial harassment may be verbal or physical conduct targeting the worker’s race, skin color, or national…
10 excuses to abate penalties for late filing or paying taxes
IF you fail to file on time or pay on time, penalties kick in. Here are 10 reasonable causes to abate (forgive) penalties for late filing or late paying: 1….
5 questions to ask yourself if you’re considering bankruptcy
ARE you being harassed by your creditors day and night due to unpaid bills? If you are, you know that this is a pretty unpleasant experience. You may feel scared,…
Business owners seek bankruptcy relief
“ You owe it to yourself and your family to put yourself in firm financial footing now for future prosperity by getting rid of accumulated debt now.” Client 1: Garment…
Are you paid lower wages because of your gender?
Q: I AM a single mom and I have worked for this company for several years. Recently, while talking with another newly hired male co-worker whose responsibilities are similar to…
10 tips for tax deadline jitters
IF you have not filed your income tax returns by the end of March, chances are you do not expect a refund, your tax records are a mess, or you…
Don’t let your debt problems drain your family’s savings
I HEAR this all the time. People who are in debt are barely making it by living paycheck to paycheck so how can they even think about saving for the…
Your regularly scheduled visits are about more than clean teeth
HAVE you ever wondered why it’s so important to see us every six months? From oral health maintenance to serious disease prevention, there are a lot of reasons to keep your semi-annual visits…
Who should seek bankruptcy relief
SOMETIMES debtors cannot decide whether they should seek debt relief through Chapter 7 wipe out of all dischargeable debts or personal reorganization through Chapter 13, or business reorganization though Chapter…
How far should disabled employees be accommodated at work?
Granting medical leave may not be enough LAURALYN Swanson is a highly accomplished elementary school teacher with over 30 years’ experience teaching kindergarten through sixth grade. She has a master’s…
IRS expands audits to prior year and subsequent years
THE Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA, an agency that oversees the IRS) instructed the IRS to expand audits to prior and subsequent years. This means that if IRS…
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…
Client seeks Chapter 20 relief to avoid lien
Senior protects house from $100K judgment lien with Chapter 7 Chapter 20 NEVER heard of Chapter 20? That’s because in the Central District of California, most courts don’t allow Chapter…
Is driving part of your job? You may be entitled to back wages!
Q: AS a mobile technician, I travel to patients to obtain laboratory specimens. I drive the company vehicle, which I garage at my home, to do my job. I cannot…
12 tips to keep a current installment agreement with the IRS
1. MAIL your payments to be received on time. The monthly due date is the date of receipt at the IRS Service Center, not the date of mailing. 2. Use…
Procrastination can be your greatest enemy when facing debt problems
ARE you facing insurmountable debt problems? Are creditors threatening you with lawsuits, judgments or a wage garnishment? Are you afraid of losing what little you have and wonder how you…
Chapter 11 business re-organization
Signs of a company headed toward failure and important ways to fix the problems SOMETIMES companies get into financial trouble. They have leadership issues, they have failures by suppliers, and they…
Are you correctly reimbursed by your employer for business expenses?
Q: I TRAVEL several times a month as part of my job duties using my own car. I also make several business-related calls on my personal cell phone. My work…
IRS announces ‘fresh start’ initiative for payment plans
(Part 2 of 2) THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: • Offer in Compromise (OIC) –…
The ‘secret’ fear that comes with being in debt
I KNOW we’ve never met. But there’s a common fear everyone shares when they’re in drowning in debt. As a debt relief attorney, I hear it from people who consult…
Business with $2.1M judgment against it seeks Chapter 11 relief
Senior with $24K debt seeks Chapter 7 relief; Senior protects house with Chapter 13 Chapter 11 CLIENT presents himself as an importer & nationwide distributor of electronic items with gross annual…
Can employer legally fire employee for exceeding pregnancy leave?
Q: I work for a large company and recently took a leave of absence due to pregnancy disability. My pregnancy was high-risk and I used up all of my 4…
Guaranteed installment agreement with the IRS
TOO good to be true? Perhaps, but read on. The IRS cannot deny your application if you satisfy all of the following requirements: 1. The tax is not more than…
Bankruptcy: Should you file now or later?
INDIVIDUALS who have accumulated excessive debt are often left to ponder whether they should file bankruptcy in order to get out of debt. Sometimes, these people feel that somehow, they’ve…
The power of direct marketing
Have you ever received an email, a flier on your car, shopping catalogues in the mail, a promotional letter from your cable provider, or have seen television commercials, banner ads,…
Signs of a company headed toward failure and important ways to fix the problems
SOMETIMES companies get into financial trouble. They have leadership issues, they have failures by suppliers, and they have cash flow problems. Companies have a lot of problems, often every day….
More protections for ‘temps’ and subcontracted employees
Q: I WORK at UX Corp, a big national processing plant. However, I am employed by ABC Agency, a subcontractor of UX Corp. ABC Agency pays my wages. We often…
Are your debt problems causing you anxiety?
BEING in debt can be one of the most stressful situations you will ever face in life. It happens to everyone although you may feel like you’re the only person…