MANY fathers and mothers have their own ideas of child custody and the standard to which Courts use in determining custody of children. Automatically, most parents believe that the children would naturally go to their mother. This perception is incorrect—the children do not automatically go to the mother. Rather, the Family Code statutes have a…
STARTING June 8, certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans (“FWV”) and who are beneficiaries of approved I-130 petitions can apply for parole with the USCIS so they can come to the US while waiting for their immigrant visa to become available (or to become current). This is pursuant to the July 2015…
ONE traditional way of obtaining permanent residency for most immigrants is through a petition by a US citizen spouse. As a spouse of a US Citizen, an alien is considered an immediate relative and entitled to immediately apply for a green card inside the United States. This is usually done by simultaneously filing an I-130…
Q: I HAVE been working at this company for 4 years and in my industry for 15 years. I just found out that a newly-hired male co-worker who is doing work similar to mine is being paid the same amount of wages as I am. This new hire has been working in the industry for…
HERE are 10 tips for students with summer jobs: 1. Fill out Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate). This form is used by employers to determine the amount of tax that will be withheld from your paycheck. If you have multiple summer jobs, make sure all your employers withhold adequate amount of taxes to cover…
Question: I owe a lot in back taxes. I’m constantly getting threatening letters from the IRS. This has become a big problem that I have no idea how to solve. Can you help me? Answer: For what it’s worth, take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone. There are millions of Americans in…
By and large, the venue’s ambiance was ecstatic and rapturous while every attendee’s mood was indubitably exuberant. The unswerving jauntiness and high spirited countenance that prevailed around the four corners of Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott Hotel’s Grand Ballroom was at its pinnacle when the Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM) commemorated its 26th Coronation and…
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: When I filed for adjustment of status, USCIS said I committed fraud when I entered the US under an assumed name. They required me to file a Form I – 601 (Waiver of Inadmissibility), which they denied, stating that my spouse would not suffer enough “extreme hardship”. My lawyer appealed my case…
They were together through thick and thin, in spite of the fact that there were doubts about their relationship. So it was not a surprise to many when actors Jason Francisco and Melai Cantiveros — together popularly known as “Melason” — admitted that their marriage is going through some problems. They, however, denied that they…
WHAT is coronary angioplasty? Commonly called angioplasty, the procedure is technically known as Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA). Percutaneous refers to “the needle puncture thru the skin,” transluminal means “the inside channel of the artery,” coronary is the name of the “arteries to of the heart,” and angioplasty is “repair/dilatation” of the blocked artery, using…
JUNE is here! The season of weddings and new beginnings unfold as the days get warmer and longer. It is unfortunate, though, that half of the marriages these days end in divorce. It does not have to be that way. It should not be that way. I just attended a beautiful wedding in New York where…
CHANGE is indeed coming. The transition of power to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has become more apparent even in the incoming 17th Congress. In the House of Representatives, a Congress shake-up is currently ongoing after several members of the ruling Liberal Party have decided to curtail its “Tuwid na Daan” (Straight Path) engagement for Duterte’s…
Las Vegas is a city of a thousand flashing lights racing on and off, bizarre and beautiful, meant to confuse people that there is no time here, no night and day, no past or future. It is just like having arrived at a palace at the end of the world, its oversized antiquitiess, employees wearing…
We consider it a once-in-a-blue-moon event whenever we run into famous personalities. And to memorialize that moment, we ask for their autographs (for those who still know what that means) or take a picture with them – nowadays, some would just secretly take a snapshot thru their mobile phones without permission. “It is not everyday…
JESUS, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me…This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For…
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 family code section 760. How do you characterize real property purchased prior to marriage but with the mortgage principal paid down using community income or…
Q: I RECENTLY heard from a friend who sued her employer for unpaid wages. However, the court threw out her case and she had to go to “arbitration.” She said she lost because the arbitrator was biased and she could not appeal. My company is now asking me to sign an “arbitration agreement.” What should…
AS an Elder Law attorney specializing in estate planning and Medi-Cal for Long-Term Care, I receive phone calls from adult children all over the country who have an aging parent here in California. Quite often, our conversation goes something like this: “My father (or mother) is in a nursing home in California, has a home…
SHOULD you attend your IRS audit? Yes, I mean, you—your own audit. Well, you don’t have to. This is always a strategic question that should be discussed at the early planning stage of an audit. Of course, you do not want to go. As your power of attorney, I do not want you to go…
ARE you currently struggling with high mortgage payments? Did you get your loan modified in the past but now have a new hardship based on changed circumstances? If so, this is an important article that you MUST read. If you’re one of the many people who got approved for loan modification many years ago under…
REMEMBER “C5 at Taga”? For the benefit of those with short memories, in January 2010, with the presidential campaign in full swing and Sen. Manny Villar leading in the surveys on presidential aspirants, the Senate debated a report recommending the censure of Villar “for improper and unethical conduct.” Villar, who owns one of the biggest…
EACH year, we celebrate Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives serving in our armed forces. The holiday is particularly close to my heart because I’m a veteran and also because it comes at the end of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. My parents immigrated to the United States when I was 3…
There is a funny thing about golf. It is more than strong shots or strong hands, beautiful knee action, smooth and self assured putting attributes or strokes. A tough player hides it well by acting nonchalant, whistling and laughing in the middle of tournaments. But in his mind, he is always calculating the next shot, never…
ALMOST every Filipino has seen the movie Titanic, the story of Jack and Rose who sailed that doomed ship, which hit an iceberg and sank. During consultations, I sometimes compare the person’s immigration situation to sailing on the Titanic. What do I mean by that? If a person wants to buy a ticket on the…
With the election of Rodrigo Duterte, The Punisher and Dirty Harry of Davao, as the next president of the Philippines, are the Filipinos headed towards a healthier, safer, and corruption-free nation? This is most certainly a tall order, which realistically could take decades to accomplish, but The Punisher promised he would achieve this much sooner…”in…
A NEW study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that Asian adults – particularly Chinese adults – are physically and psychologically healthier than other US adults. Overall, Chinese adults reported better health in five measures included in the report: likelihood for fair or poor health, chronic conditions, psychological distress, work…
STARTING 2015, filer of Form 8938 who satisfies the reporting obligation by completing Part IV Excepted Specified Foreign Financial Assets, must complete the newly added checkbox on item D on Form 5471 (discussed in this column), Form 3520,3520-A, 8621, or 8865 (not discussed in this column). What is a controlled foreign corporation (CFC)? • more…
This race to the White House is not like any other, especially when you look at the front-runners of each party. In past elections, voters generally have fallen in love with their candidates of choice, giving each a boost in favorability ratings. The winning candidate usually has the highest favorability rating — the one that…
WHILE most of the country is joining the bandwagon of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, the Church is keeping its stand and keeping a close eye on the incoming leadership. Earlier in April before he won the votes, Duterte has already shrugged off a possible support from the Church. He even warned Catholics to not vote for…
JACLYN Jose made history after winning the Best Actress award at the 69th Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, May 22. She is the first Filipino to bring home the acting honor for the Philippines at Cannes. The 52-year-old veteran actress was hailed for performance in the film “Ma’ Rosa,” directed by Brillante Mendoza, who marks…
