Recent Blog Posts
Bankruptcy Exemptions
If you are thinking about filing for personal bankruptcy, you may be especially worried about having to part with your possessions. It’s a legitimate concern—since that is precisely what happens in many bankruptcies. Understanding the rules and laws related to exemptions is important before you take the plunge into bankruptcy. Exempt and Non-Exempt Property … Read More »
Testify Against Your Abuser in DV Cases
She was stabbed to death while pregnant. Ms. Chilel was 20 weeks pregnant, and was the mother of two, when the father of her children went into a rage and killed her. Neighbors commented that the admitted killer had the face of a madman and was prone to extreme jealousy. It was only after… Read More »
Bankruptcy: Should You File Before or After the Holidays?
If financial problems have you in a quandary and you are considering filing for bankruptcy, you are not alone. In 2023 alone, nearly half a million bankruptcy filings occurred, compared to just about 390,000 filings the previous year. After decades of a decline in the number of bankruptcy cases, the numbers are inching upwards… Read More »
Voter Intimidation is Illegal
Although you thought you were acting patriotically when you chatted up fellow voters, you’ve been arrested and charged with voter intimidation. What constitutes voter intimidation, and what should you do about these charges? Defining Voter Intimidation Voter intimidation is a federal crime, and is spelled out in U.S. code as intimidation, threats, or coercion… Read More »
Bankruptcy Glossary
For people on the precipice of bankruptcy, the thought of entering a confusing and convoluted process can be overwhelming, if not terrifying. Understanding the process and the possibilities of bankruptcy starts with a basic understanding of the terminology common to bankruptcy proceedings. A handful of the important terms worth having at least a general… Read More »
The Hope Card for Domestic Violence Survivors
After the upheaval and disruption of domestic violence, survivors often feel jittery about their futures. The turmoil of violence can certainly lead to post traumatic stress, and with it all of the insecurities and fears one might expect. Recognizing as much, Floridians who’ve suffered domestic violence (DV) now have a new bit of legal… Read More »
Is it Domestic Violence?
You find yourself making excuses for your partner’s behavior. Always conscious of your own behavior and trying to appease this significant other, you find yourself making decisions that you hope will please them, not yourself. You’re always afraid of a meltdown—sometimes fearing for your physical safety. You’ve considered packing it in and leaving, but… Read More »
Parental Criminal Liability
After school shooter Ethan Crumbly pleaded guilty to a mass shooting in Michigan and accepted a life sentence in prison, it didn’t take long for his parents to be charged and convicted of involuntary manslaughter—one count for each of the four students killed by their son. Crumley’s parents hadn’t been on the scene of… Read More »
Medical Bankruptcy
Healthcare costs can be crippling. In 2022, research shined the light on just how devastating medical debt can be, noting that two-thirds of all bankruptcies involved medical debt. That’s about 530,000 bankruptcy filings annually, all situations impacting normal, everyday families who just happened to have to deal with a catastrophic medical issue. And even… Read More »
Killing an Abuser Could Lead to Prison for Victims of Domestic Violence
It was 1984. When Ms. Ford told her brother, George, about her husband’s threats and abuse, the two discussed ways to get rid of the abuser, who’d dragged her through dog feces, squeezed her hand in order to break the glass she was holding and shredded her hand, punched and pulled her hair, and… Read More »