Coping with a legal issue can be expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally overwhelming. Many employers offer a legal insurance plan for just such situations as part of their employment benefits but in my experience a significant number of people sign up for such a plan and completely forget they have it. Legal insurance won’t count for […]
Debt and other money issues are often at the root of divorce or the dissolution of domestic partnerships. But these problems don’t just go away once a couple separates. When debt is incurred by spouses or domestic partners in their joint names (and, in some cases, in just one party’s name), creditors can go after […]
Anyone facing the possibility of foreclosure on their home is in serious financial distress. People in these situations are susceptible to undue influence and can be easily misled into making bad decisions. It’s a sad but true fact—there are many unscrupulous third parties who won’t hesitate to take advantage of someone desperately seeking a way […]
According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, changes originally enacted in 2005 to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act have made it substantially more difficult for “financially struggling people” to file for bankruptcy relief. While it’s true that changes like these have made it tougher for people to […]
Many have experienced anxiety by reminding themselves of their own mortality with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of this, people are reaching out to me for estate planning. They ask if they need a Will or a Trust? Would they be able to get by with just a Will? As an attorney, I will […]
Many attorneys offer free legal consultation as part of their services to prospective clients. For the client, it’s an opportunity to get a feel for the attorney and see if they feel comfortable having this individual represent them in their legal matter. For attorneys, it’s a chance to get a sense ofthe client’s legal needs […]
Here’s a situation I encounter frequently. Tenants renting a house or apartment say they’ve called the landlord repeatedly to repair something or clean up pests of some kind, and nothing gets done. What can they do? Under California law, every residential tenancy, whether under a written lease or otherwise, is subject to a landlord’s warranty […]
A restraining order (also known as a “protective order”) can be as powerful as a court order or as flimsy as a piece of paper. You can’t hold it up in front of someone with a gun and expect it to protect you. However, a protective order can serve a useful purpose, which I’ll get […]
During the course of a family law matter, such as divorce, legal separation or dissolution of domestic partnership, many California courts offer the option of a scheduled “settlement conference.” In some counties, including San Diego, this is a mandatory proceeding, should the parties be unable to resolve their dispute among themselves. It is, in essence, […]
Getting a collection notice in the mail is never a fun thing. But it’s also not a reason to panic. In California and other states, there are very strict rules about the proper way to prepare and distribute a collection notice. So if you receive one, I recommend investigating the following factors before taking any […]