In 2017, the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network received over 2.5 million reports of fraud, identity theft and other consumer scams. While reports of fraud decreased slightly from 2016, the overall amount of money lost increased, up ... [Read more...]
Legal Tips
What Is Probate?
About halfway through the live action/animation classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit, hard-boiled detective Eddie Valiant is searching for ways to clear the titular cartoon star from the suspicion of murdering a wealthy property owner. Valiant directs his ... [Read more...]
Repairs, Responsibility and Rentals: What to Do When Your Landlord Won’t Maintain Your Property
Let’s say you’ve moved into a new apartment. You enjoy the new appliances; you like the open floor plan. But then the weather changes. Rain begins to roll in and you notice a dark patch on your ceiling and a puddle on your living room floor. You call ... [Read more...]
Which Debts Cannot Be Discharged in Bankruptcy?
The thought of filing for bankruptcy is likely to prompt two contradictory reactions: some people dread bankruptcy as a permanent stain on their financial record, while others may think of it as a get-out-of-debt-free card. The fact is, bankruptcy is ... [Read more...]
After Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know to Rebuild Your Credit
Perhaps you’ve been overwhelmed by debt and you’ve made the tough decision to file for bankruptcy. Now, you’re ready to emerge from your bankruptcy and you’re eager to rebuild your credit. After years of structured payments and limited borrowing ... [Read more...]
Advance Health Care Directives (“Living Wills”) and Powers of Attorney for Health Care Decisions
The old saw warns us that there is nothing certain but death and taxes, yet we may fail to plan for either. We can prepare for taxes through careful record-keeping and allocation of our finances and, with some forethought, we can plan for end-of-life ... [Read more...]
He Said, She Said, Then They Agreed: Mediating Divorce and Custody
If you are in the midst of a divorce or separation and looking for a way to resolve custody issues with as little hostility and expense as possible, you might want to consider mediation. Mediation may give you more control over the process: you ... [Read more...]
Arbitration Clause Pros and Cons
If you’ve read through a contract lately, you may have noticed language that states, “Any claims arising out of this contract shall be settled by arbitration.” You may wonder what this provision means and what advantages or disadvantages it ... [Read more...]
What Does A Patent Do?
If you have ever tinkered with building a device or if you have designed a process for completing a task, you may have wondered if you could get a patent on your work. If you are interested in pursuing a patent, it’s important to understand what ... [Read more...]
Child Protective Services Investigations Explained
Every state maintains an agency that is authorized to receive and investigate reports of alleged child abuse and child neglect. In addition, the agency (which may be called Child Protective Services (CPS), Children Youth & Families, or the ... [Read more...]