September Legal Newsletter

Overwhelmed by Bills and Afraid You’ll Lose it All?

Bankruptcy may help you lose the debt and still keep your property. Let me repeat that, in most cases bankruptcy helps you to eliminate your debts and still keep your property. How is that possible? The bankruptcy process is not designed to punish debtors. There are exemptions available under either federal or state law that help to protect the value of your real and personal property. In most cases, these exemptions are enough to allow debtors to keep all their real and personal property. How do the exemptions work? The exemptions provide certain dollar amounts to protect certain types of property. For example, Jody owns a 2003 Honda Civic DX in fair condition worth $3,064.00 and is worried she’ll have to give up her car if she files bankruptcy. Jody is in luck,
federal law provides a vehicle exemption up to $3,675.00. Since $3,675 (the vehicle exemption) is greater than the value of the 2003 Honda Civic DX, the debtor’s vehicle is fully exempt and Jody gets to keep her car. Curious about the other exemptions? Check out our bankruptcy FAQs.

Finding the Silver Lining in Your Divorce.

The Huffington Post recently posted a article about finding the silver lining in your divorce. Divorces can be messy, nasty, and often unpleasant matters. We don’t walk down the aisle in a white dress or tux to think the final aisle we will walk down is the one at the courthouse to get a divorce. Marriages don’t always work out and divorce happens. Take time to mourn the loss, but remember
your divorce starts a new chapter in your life. Focus on the future and the making the next chapter of your life the best one yet. Remember that you are in control and team up with an attorney who will help you get what you deserve. Need help navigating through the murky waters of your divorce? Give one of our attorneys a call to set up a consultation, they’re here to get you through to the other side!

Child Support Basics – What Every Parent Should Know!

Maggie meets Mike on a dating website, they instantly connect and eleven months after their first date, they welcome baby Maxwell. Maggie cannot bear to leave Maxwell, but returns to work part-time and sends Maxwell to day care. Shortly after, Mike breaks up with Maggie. Mike moves out and visits the baby every other weekend. Not wanting to deal with lawyers and the Courts, Mike agrees to pay one-half the day care costs, but doesn’t think he should pay child support even though Mike works full-time as a mechanic.

Soon, Mike stops paying for one-half of Maxwell’s day care. Maggie returns to work full-time as a nurse, but it’s hardly enough to keep up with the monthly day care bill of $1,000. She doesn’t know where to turn. Maggie confides in a friend, who urges her to meet with an attorney.

Maggie schedules an appointment with the attorney, who sat with her for over an
hour. Maggie learned that child support is based upon the New Jersey Child
Support Guidelines.

A request must be made to the Court asking for support. Once support is established, the County Probation Department can collect directly from the parent’s paycheck. If payments stop, Probation can enforce child support in Court, take tax refunds and even suspend a driver’s license.

Maggie’s attorney files the request with the Court to establish the child support obligation. A week before the court date, everything gets resolved by exchanging financial information and using the Guidelines without ever stepping foot in the courthouse. Attorneys for Mike and Maggie prepare a written agreement and submit the Court Order to establish the child support obligation and create the Probation account to collect the child support.

By seeking legal advice, both Mike and Maggie know they established a fair amount for Maxwell’s support.

Are you having trouble with child support? Do you need to establish child support? Contact us to schedule an appointment today to discuss your rights and options.

Buying or Selling your Home? We Can Help with that!

Whether you’re buying your first home or Selling a home, we understand how stressful and confusing the process can be. Our attorneys are available to guide you through the process step-by-step from attorney review to the closing table. Did you just sign a contract and not know where to start? Give one of our friendly attorneys a call!