I subscribe to a legal question and answer website where individuals ask questions about bankruptcy and attorneys, like me, answer them. In the last couple of weeks a number of people inquired whether or not it’s necessary to hire an attorney in order to file bankruptcy. The legal answer is no. It is not a legal requirement to have an attorney to file bankruptcy. In fact, I tell this to every potential client that comes into my office. You are under no legal obligation to hire an attorney to file bankruptcy.

However, the practical answer is different. Do I think it is imperative to hire an attorney to file bankruptcy? Absolutely.

While some bankruptcy cases are routine, the bankruptcy laws are complex, and it can be easy to screw up your case if you don’t know what you’re doing. If pr

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THE big four Australian banks have had their credit rating downgraded by Standard and Poors. This is likely  to dramatically reduce the chances of any rate cut announced by the RBA next week, being passed on in full to the consumers.

Standard & Poors, the worlds biggest ratings agency, has changed its ratings criteria in response to criticism in wake of the global financial crisis in 2008.

ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank and Westpac were each cut one notch to AA-minus, the fourth-highest credit rating on S&Ps scale.

Macquarie Group was cut by two levels to BBB, the ninth-highest grade. Standard Chartered Plcs rating was increased one level to A-plus, the fifth-highest rating.

The move is expected to add to the pressure on the nations top banks, with the funding costs for Australias banks already starting to surge.

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A payday quick loan is short-term cash advance that can help get you through unexpected bills or expenses. Like any financial transaction, it is important to know how a payday loan works so you can make the right choice for your situation.

So What Exactly Is a Payday Loan?

Payday loans are short-term speedy loans(two to three weeks generally) for amounts generally less than a thousand dollars. There are a few methods to getting to loan, including writing a check for the loan and any fees and leaving it with the lender, or setting up electronic repayment. If you cannot manage to repay the loan when it is due, it can often be extended, which results in an additional fee. Read full post…

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Florida statutes provide unlimited protection against wage garnishment when the debtor is head of household. This protection is very broad and effective, but some states have even better wage protection. Four states- North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania- do not allow wage garnishment to enforce a commercial debt regardless of whether the debtor is head of household. I do not know if courts have carved out any exceptions from what appears to be an unqualified prohibition against wage garnishment in these four states. I do know that many Florida debtors, including most unmarried debtors and some business owners, are vulnerable to continuing wage garnishment up to 25% of their take-home pay.

Many of my clients consider moving to Florida because they believe we have the best debtor protection laws.

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Having a simple blood test could prevent the dangerous complications associated with a medical condition called sepsis.

“Sepsis is really the body’s response to severe infection,” says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven Peck. “There’s inflammatory activity in the cells trying to fight the infection, but in some ways, it’s thought that the body turns upon itself.”

Also called “blood poisoning,” sepsis kills 215,000 Americans every year, according to the Sepsis Alliance. Those lucky enough to survive can face organ failure and lost limbs.

“Sometimes it can move very quickly, sometimes minutes to hours, and so catching it early, your window of easy treatment can be very narrow,” says Elder Abuse Lawyer Peck.

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One of the all time best ways to save money is to cut your cell phone bill. With a family of four, our cell phone plan now costs us close to $200 a month, including data and texting packages. The cost has gotten out of hand, so Ive been in search of ways to lower our cell phone bill. Here are some of the tips and tricks Ive found.

1. Stay Under Your Minutes: Nothing drives me more crazy then to see a big fat charge on my cell phone bill because we went over our minutes. If this is an habitual problem, youll want to either change cell phone plans or cut your talk time.

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