Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy: means test
DURING initial consultations, some debtors contemplating filing bankruptcy have expressed their personal preference of filing Chapter 7, instead of Chapter 13, for various reasons such as a shorter time frame…
Read More
The wrong immigration help can hurt
RECENTLY, I had a third year international college student do a consultation with me. She had married her US citizen boyfriend. She hired an “immigration consultant” referred to her by…
Audit – 10 tips to handle field audits
THERE are three basic types of audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations. Correspondence audits are the simplest ones – W2s, 1099s and other items that can be easily resolved by…
Should I allow my employer to disclose my name and contact information to attorneys in a class action?
Q: MY employer has been sued in a class action by another employee who is trying to collect unpaid wages. All the employees, including me, received a Notice from an…
Financially broke? The first question you should ask yourself
AS we go through life, we are likely to encounter several bumps along the way. This is especially true when it comes to our finances. I’m sure you’ve heard of…
There is the international will for people that live or will move outside california
QUESTION: I have a bunch of assets in other places than California. Also, I will be moving soon. Is there a Will I can use here for my Last Will…
Is property acquired with financing during marriage community or separate property for purposes of divorce?
A QUESTION that invariably arises during divorce proceedings is whether assets are properly characterized as community or separate property. If property is characterized as community property, it must be divided…
Quiet angels with gentle hearts
THERE is a quiet army of gentle women who wear their tact like a uniform. They look after elderly people with long-term needs. Whether in a high-rise, multi-storey building, a…
As Grace Poe shines in polls, is the Binay camp in panic mode?
PERHAPS the surrogates of Vice President Jejomar Binay are scratching their heads over how their tactic of aggressively probing Senator Grace Poe’s nationality and qualifications to run for President in…
Obama signs bill limiting NSA’s access to Americans’ phone records
President Barack Obama on Tuesday, June 2, signed the USA Freedom Act into law, reforming the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of Americans’ phone records. The legislation still permits the…
Right-to-die bill moves past state Senate
FOLLOWING a debate filled with personal stories of loss, the California Senate on Thursday, June 4, approved a highly controversial measure that would allow terminally-ill patients to end their lives…
Tar balls wash up on Long Beach coastline
Raises health and environmental concerns A CLEANUP operation was underway on Wednesday, June 3, on a four-mile stretch of coastline in Long Beach, Calif. that was closed the day before…
13-year-old Fil-Am commits suicide after public shaming video
A 13-YEAR-old girl from Tacoma, Wash., committed suicide by jumping off an interstate bridge on Friday, May 29—days after her father filmed himself cutting her long hair as punishment for…
Final vote needed for LA minimum wage hike
THE Los Angeles City Council tentatively approved a measure on Wednesday, June 3, to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, making it the biggest city in…
Octogenarian Paraluman ‘Lumen’ Castañeda watches sunset like dawn
“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole… her true beauty is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that…
Final vote needed for LA minimum wage hike
THE Los Angeles City Council tentatively approved a measure on Wednesday, June 3, to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, making it the biggest city in…
Filipino math teacher in Barstow recognized for teaching methods
A FILIPINO math teacher at Barstow High School in Barstow, Calif. received multiple awards this year in recognition of a flipped classroom teaching style that incorporates digital presentations so students…
USCIS begins accepting applications for employment authorization for certain H-4 dependent spouses
STARTING May 26, 2015 the Department of Homeland Security US Citizenship and Immigration Services began accepting applications for employment authorization from certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrants who are…
Know your gum health numbers
HAVE you wondered what the numbers mean that a hygienist calls out while examining your gums? They’re readings of the gum pocket depths in your mouth, and they’re an important part of monitoring…
Hot summer car care tips
• CHECK your fluids and perform regular maintenance. • Confirm proper tire pressure to avoid a blowout and improve fuel economy. • Keep yourself cool with a/c and your vehicle…
The 12 super foods
Oats and Grains Tested for centuries, and loved by billions around the world, oats and whole grains, high fiber cereals, are most effective in naturally lowering blood cholesterol and in…
Obama signs bill limiting NSA’s access to Americans’ phone records
President Barack Obama on Tuesday, June 2, signed the USA Freedom Act into law, reforming the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of Americans’ phone records. The legislation still permits the…
South Korean MERS outbreak likely to spread worldwide
A recent MERS outbreak in South Korea—the largest outside of Saudi Arabia, where the disease first emerged in 2012—is likely to grow, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). MERS,…
Minimum wage hikes meet mixed reactions in SF
IN the diverse, densely packed city of San Francisco, known for its high living costs, 77 percent of voters last year approved a series of pay hikes that will boost…
Filipino math teacher in Barstow recognized for teaching methods
A FILIPINO math teacher at Barstow High School in Barstow, Calif. received multiple awards this year in recognition of a flipped classroom teaching style that incorporates digital presentations so students…
Minimum wage hikes meet mixed reactions in SF
IN the diverse, densely packed city of San Francisco, known for its high living costs, 77 percent of voters last year approved a series of pay hikes that will boost…
Providers seek double-digit hikes on healthcare premiums through Obamacare
Health insurance providers under the Affordable Care Act are looking to boost premiums by double-digits in 2016, according to information released Monday, June 1, by the White House. Providers say…
Lawmakers push for medical marijuana measures
The House of Representatives voted on several pro-pot amendments on Wednesday, June 3, aimed at tackling the sticky issue of conflicts that arise when the Department of Justice interferes with…
House GOP moves to cut State Dept. budget over delayed Benghazi response
Following through on a threat, House Republicans on Tuesday, June 2 proposed cutting the State Department’s budget to protest its slow response in producing documents related to the investigation of…
Senior opts for chapter 7 to discharge $50K in credit card debt
Court allows postpetition creditor client to deny discharge of debtor Client No. 1 CLIENT is 74. She was married to her husband for 30 years. Husband was a lot older…