Q. I WANT to file a wage claim against my employer for unpaid overtime hours and missed breaks. Some of my fellow employees, who also have unpaid overtime and missed breaks, want to file with me but they are afraid of being fired if they complain. Is there a way that I can claim wages…
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 lot of people are worried about how they can get by from month to month. But worrying doesn’t really solve anything. If you feel that…
One seeks to discharge $20K and another $30K WE all go through different stages in life. When you are in your twenties, your whole life is ahead of you. You may be starting a family or starting your career or profession. You’re buying your starter home. If you have children, your whole life is centered…
WE do get tax benefits from our little rasca… lovable adorable children: • Dependency exemption: A child can be claimed as a dependent starting from the year they are born. That’s a deduction of $3,950 for 2014. • Child and Dependent Care Credit: You may be able to claim the credit if you pay someone…
BETWEEN 2005 and 2013, Sheri Garibaldi worked as a part-time teller for Bank of America (BOA), in its branches in Belmont and Foster, California. Garibaldi was classified as a “20 hour” part-time employee, although she was regularly scheduled to work more than 20 hours per week. As part of her wages, Garibaldi received paid time…
IF you’re like most people, making money and thinking about money takes up a significant amount of your time. In the world that we live in, money is an important issue in our lives. Having enough of it gives us peace of mind knowing that we can provide for our families. On the other hand,…
Retired military files Chapter 7 for $40K credit cards; Client uses Chapter 13 for HOA default Client No. 1 CLIENT is 52 years old with a son in college. She is an R-Nurse with annual gross income of $80K. She comes to see me with a person I thought was her husband. But apparently is…
Do you constantly scratch your head thinking, “Wow I really do not understand young people these days.” Do you look at kids and wonder why they can’t go anywhere without their phones? I would like to think it wasn’t that long ago when I was one of those young people that was misunderstood. The truth…
Client No. 1 CLIENT is 52 years old with a son in college. She is an R-Nurse with annual gross income of $80K. She comes to see me with a person I thought was her husband. But apparently is not. He could be a potential suitor. Client is slim and has maintained herself well and…
WE often hear about women being denied a job, a promotion, or higher pay because the employer preferred to give the job, promotion or more money to a man. In the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) an opposite scenario unfolded. Peter Bakotich, Michael Fanning and Debbie Guerrero worked as senior detectives assigned to LAPD’s Fugitive…
CHRIS Cerbone was hired as a head football coach and physical education teacher at a private high school in the summer of 2012. According to news outlets, sometime in December 2012, Cerbone heard that varsity football players were hazing freshman players in the school locker room. The older players were allegedly exposing their genitals to…
IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Be aware, however, that your income and expenses have a lot to do with which chapter you will be able to file because the courts…
IF you lose an audit to the IRS, you have two choices: pay or appeal. If you are happy with the results (or don’t want to extend the agony of dealing with the IRS) – pay. If you are not happy or feel that you have not been treated fairly – appeal. Let’s explore the…
A RECENT study conducted in Berlin and referenced by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry highlights an interesting observation: People tend to underestimate someone’s age when he or she is smiling. While we tend to find smiling faces more attractive, youthful and upbeat, a smile that contains damaged or yellowed teeth can reverse some of…
Client seeks Chapter 7 discharge of $250K credit card debts after waiting six years Client No. 1 THIS is my single mom’s week. Client is 48. She is a registered nurse and has annual gross income of $70K. She has two teenagers. One has started college in a community college. The other is about to…
Q: I AM a registered nurse in the Philippines but I have not yet obtained a license in California. However, I am working as a ‘private nurse’ to a bed-ridden patient in Los Angeles. My duties are mainly nursing duties – tube feedings, inserting catheter, tracheal suctioning, observing and recording vital signs, administering therapies prescribed…
1. DO not estimate income from interest, dividend, independent contractor or LLC. Banks, stock brokerage companies and LLCs send exact amounts to IRS via form 1099s and K-1s. Estimates generate mismatch – the main source of correspondence audits. 2. Do not estimate mortgage interest because lenders send exact amounts per form 1098 to IRS. TIP:…
AS a Bankruptcy Attorney, I have counseled thousands of individuals with all types of debt problems. I often encourage people by telling them that it is not too late to get a fresh financial start and that the law is on their side. Bankruptcy is not the end of everything you’ve worked hard for. It…
OUR bodies are ecosystems where a change in one area affects other areas. This connection is becoming clearer as scientists continue examining the links between oral health and cardiovascular health. Recent studies suggest that taking care of your gums through great oral hygiene could cut your risk of a heart attack or stroke! Important links between gum health and…
Senior with reverse mortgage seeks Chapter 7 discharge of $37k credit cards; client reopens Chapter 7 to cover unlisted debt “ Client says he likes his life now as simple as it is with no mortgage to pay, and living by himself. He’s not sick and in good health, so he takes each day one…
SURELY as April 15 comes along, some of you will procrastinate in filing tax returns. It can be habit forming as I see the same taxpayers come after April 15 year after year. After four decades of counseling taxpayers, I look back at so many reasons why taxpayers don’t file on time – not having…
OUR client, Teresa,* has always lived with a serious lung condition since childhood. Although Teresa knew that her condition limited her activities, she did her best to live a productive work life. She finished her schooling in the Philippines and worked in several skilled jobs there before she came to the U.S. with her two…
WHEN debts spiral out of control, bankruptcy can become an invaluable financial recovery tool in stemming the tide and getting you back on the right track. Without the “fresh start” that bankruptcy provides, it would be impossible for a lot of people to ever pay back what they owe and they will simply remain stuck…
Senior revisits Chapter 7 after 20 years; disabled client seeks to discharge federal student loans of $70K without BK Client No. 1 YOUNG mother of two teenagers, both daughters, presents her problem as follows. She is a registered nurse with gross income of $70K. She doesn’t own a house but pays rent of $2K for…
1. THE failure-to-file penalty is generally more than the failure-to-pay penalty. If you cannot pay all the taxes you owe, file to prevent that more costly failure-to-file penalty. 2. The failure-to-file penalty is 5 percent per month of the unpaid taxes. This penalty will not exceed 25 percent of the taxpayer’s unpaid taxes. 3. The…
S.W. was 15 years old when Luis Morales offered her a job at US Metro Group, Inc., where Morales worked. S.W., who was best friends with Morales’ daughter, accepted Morales’ offer. She started working with Morales cleaning buildings at night. Morales then began sexually molesting S.W. He was later caught and criminally prosecuted. S.W. sued…
IF you are in debt and are seriously considering bankruptcy as an option, I am sure a lot of thoughts are going through your mind. I just want to get out of debt and start over but how quickly can I recover from bankruptcy? What are the different types of bankruptcy available? How do I…
SOMETIMES you just can’t resist – it’s so cheesy and saucy— right out of the oven! You dive in and take your first bite…uh oh! Too soon! You’ve got “pizza burn!” Pizza isn’t the only culprit You’ve probably burned your mouth before with coffee, soup, and other scorching hot foods. Soon afterward, you may have noticed that the roof of your mouth, and…
Young client files chapter 7 to discharge $30k credit cards Client no. 1 CLIENT was disabled when he was 55, which was 7 years ago. He receives $1,600 of disability pay monthly. Since he is single, he doesn’t really have too many expenses. In fact, he almost has no expenses because he lives in the…
• FILE your tax records neatly and orderly during the year. If you are not an organized person by nature as some of us are, just throw tax documents in a shoe box or stuff them into a folder labeled with “20__ tax records.” It beats turning over your whole home and garage at tax…
