Young seniors file Chapter 13 for $145K unsecured debt
Another young senior files Chapter 7 for $10K credit cards CLIENTS are 59 and 58. Husband had a solid and well paying job for the last 20 years. He grossed…
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Are you entitled to additional pay for time spent at work on ‘bag checks’?
KIMBERLY Murphy worked at a Caremark CVS pharmacy in California. As a pharmacy employee, she was required by her employer to undergo a security inspection of her bag every time…
Community property with right of survivorship
MARRIED couples buying property are asked to decide how they should hold title: • Joint tenancy or • Community property. Basically, it is a choice between the ease of transfer…
Couples filing bankruptcy: Two incomes but still going broke
ONE of my clients told me recently: “My wife and I both work very hard to raise our two children. On some days we work long hours and don’t even…
What to know before you go
HOLIDAYS are here and that means travelling to see family members. But before you go, here are a few things to remember. Departing the United States when you are not…
Anorexia nervosa & bulimia
What is anorexia nervosa? This is a “psychological” disorder where the person has a disturbed sense of body image. He/she has a morbid fear of obesity, refuse to maintain a…
US Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino WWII veterans
MY father-in-law, Jose Nobleza, Sr., and my eldest brother, Wilfredo, did not live long enough to see this happen, but 99-year old Celestino Almeda of Gaithersburg, Maryland still walks the…
The interview: A delightful minuet
INTERVIEWS come in many ways. Some regard them as battles, others call them theater pieces — even as delightful minuets. But for showbiz interviewing, which tends to elicit mere entertainment,…
Weird on the road: Unusual driving laws you may not know
The rules of the road aren’t always as straightforward as red, yellow and green. For example, if a police officer were to pull over a driverless car, who would get…
Buckle up for safety: Why the seat belt is your best protection
Confusion and panic often accompany the sounds of screeching tires and metal slamming into metal. A passenger’s body hurtles forward during a front end collision, carried by momentum for a…
Federal tax update for 2016 tax returns
1. YOU are REQUIRED TO FILE an income tax return if your 2016 gross income reaches: A. Single $10,300 (11,850 age 65 or older) B. Married filing jointly $20,300 (21,850…
Futile attempt
THE Philippines has been a victim of drug abuse. This is why Pres. Rodrigo Duterte personally waged war on illegal drugs during his campaign. He promised to rid the country…
Driving tips for first-time drivers
BEING able to get a driver’s license is an enormous step in a person’s life, whether the new driver is a teen or older. Once the ability to drive is…
December 7, 1941: The Pearl Harbor moment
HOW could it have happened? Pearl Harbor — and its awful treachery and death — is one of the worst battles and defeat ever suffered by the United States. It…
A ‘hero’s burial’ and the path to forgiveness
The late Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the…
Our longing for peace
THERE are many things happening in the world and in our lives today that trouble us. They are the constant killings of innocent people in many countries, the never-ending violence…
What to expect from President Trump on his immigration plan
After Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, many people became fearful, anxious, and nervous about their future in America. After all, he started his campaign by stating…
Seniors consider Chapter 13 relief for $80K credit cards
Young couple need Chapter 7 relief for $40K credit cards CLIENTS are married to each other and they are both seniors. He is 68 and she is 66. He is a…
Series for Covered CA: Part 2
Different Health Plans PRESIDENT-elect Trump vowed to repeal at least parts of Affordable Care Act (ACA). Certain parts of that he will maintain, as he wants all Americans to have…
Can undocumented immigrants recover damages for serious injuries in an accident?
(Injured persons’ immigration status not subject to inquiry under new law) ON October 23, 1979, Jesus Rodriguez was injured in a traffic accident after being hit by a vehicle driven…
How should you hold title to real estate?
WHEN buying real estate, there is always that inevitable question: how do you hold title? Your choice can have dramatic impact on estate taxes and income taxes. Let’s explore choices…
Will your debt problems follow you into 2017?
I CAN’T believe this year is almost over. This morning, I saw a lot of my neighbors starting to put up their Christmas lights. It seems like 2016 just started….
Famed ramen shop Tsujita opens third location in Glendale
In recent months, a stretch of Brand Blvd. in Glendale, California has suddenly been revitalized with outposts of hot foodie spots. Across from The Americana at Brand, Shake Shack, Philz…
Legislation resulting from congressional hearings
AT my favorite watering hole in Daly City, California, the hottest topic has been the series of Senate and House committee hearings, particularly those on the extrajudicial killings under the…
Mark Bautista emboldens career image as he (still) sings on a high note
The moniker “Mark Bautista” has persistently been a household name since his emergence in the Philippine music arena via a local reality TV talent search, Star For A Night, where…
What to expect from President Trump on his immigration plan
AFTER Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, many people became fearful, anxious, and nervous about their future in America. After all, he started his campaign by stating…
When your green card expires: What next?
WHAT happens when my green card expires? Lawful Permanent Resident status is not affected by the expiration of the Form I-551, or the “green card.” A person does not lose…
The Wonders of Super Gene
All of us want to live a long and healthy life. The search for the Fountain of Youth has been an obsession of man from time immemorial. More than ever…
Looking Back
After more than 30 years serving Nevada in Washington, my time in office is coming to an end. Representing the Silver State in the United States Congress has been the…
Regular tax and Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
THERE are two types of income tax – Regular and AMT. Currently, regular tax rates are: 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, 39.6%, while AMT tax rates are: 26% with…