Resources - US Legal Services

How Traffic Violations Cost You—And How to Protect Yourself

June 5, 2019

Picture the scene. You hear a siren and look in your rearview mirror, only to see a police officer wanting to pull someone over. You. Your first thought might be “Why am I being stopped?” And, if you’re cited for a traffic violation—let’s say for speeding—your next question may well be “How much is this going to cost me?” The answer is that it depends. One way that financial consequences can vary is by the state where you live. Most states use a points system that assigns a certain predetermined value to each type of traffic offense, although specifics can vary. Lesser offenses come with fewer points assessed; more serious ones have a higher point value. When you get, say, a speeding ticket, the corresponding points are added to your driver’s license record and stay on your record for a predetermined amount of time that, again, can vary by state. If you accumulate a certain number of points, the legal and financial consequences can become much more severe. Financial Impact of a Ticket Using a speeding ticket as our example, according to BusinessInsider.com, factors that can affect the financial impact of that ticket include: how far over the speed limit

Commercial Drivers: Be Prepared in Case of Identity Theft

May 30, 2019

The harm done by identity thieves can range from a few fraudulent credit card charges in small amounts to completely ruining a victim’s credit. In every case, it takes time and effort to reach any kind of resolution when identity theft strikes. For commercial drivers, dealing with identity theft may bring the additional burden of having to go off the road to try to repair the damage. The disruption can cost both drivers and their employers a great deal of money and time. Plus, some savvy criminals are using the theft of a driver’s identity as step one to cargo theft, an event that could “derail an owner-operator’s career.” This crime is deceptively easy to commit for a thief with commercial driving skills. He or she simply collects enough information about another driver to create false identification—and then poses as that driver. This criminal could then steal loads of cargo, or accept money for a load and never deliver it. This can seriously compromise a driver’s reputation. Transport Topics notes how this crime is rapidly evolving, as thieves find increasingly more creative forms of “deception and unconventional methods to trick the shipper, broker or carrier into giving up the load.” Then there’s

Legal Insurance and Newlyweds: A Good Match

April 15, 2019

If you’re getting married, or are already newlyweds, congrats! This very well may be one of the most exciting, hectic, jam-packed times of your life—and, to help you address crucial legal and financial issues, we’ve created this post that takes a high-level look at three key areas: prenuptial (and post-nuptial) agreements estate planning financial planning As we note in this post, specifics often vary by state, so consider this a good starter list as you address these issues together as a new couple. Prenuptial Agreements They aren’t for everyone, but the need for them may be increasing as the average age of marriage continues to rise. In fact, in 2018, both men and women got married, on average, at the oldest ages to date: 29.8 years old for men and 27.8 for women. To see patterns from 1890 until today, the US government provides a fascinating graph. From a legal and financial perspective, this means that increasing numbers of people are now entering marriage with more assets, which may suggest that more might benefit from a prenuptial agreement. If you’re already married, then it becomes a marital agreement or post-nuptial agreement. To find out if you might benefit from this

What is Family Law?

March 14, 2019

In general, family law involves legal issues that pertain to families, including married couples, and parents and children. Because each state has its own family laws, if you need legal assistance in this area, it’s important that you find an attorney with experience in your state. In this post, we’ll walk you through common types of family law issues and provide guidance into how you can have affordable access to family law attorneys in your area. Family Law and Couples If one or both members of a couple have significant assets, they may decide to create a prenuptial agreement before they marry. This is a legal contract that specifically states how the couple would divide their property and income, as well as their debts, if they should divorce. Members of a couple may also seek the services of a family law attorney if they decide to legally separate. This is not the same action as a divorce or an end to a domestic partnership, because couples who legally separate are not free to remarry unless they ultimately divorce. When a legal separation takes place, the court will provide a formal judgment about a couple’s property, money and debts, as well

What to Know About Tenant-Landlord Law and Disputes

February 13, 2019

What to Know About Landlord Tenant Law and Disputes In a perfect world, the tenant/landlord relationship would always progress smoothly, with the landlord providing a quality place for the tenant to live at a reasonable price, and the tenant always paying rent on time and taking excellent care of the property. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way. In this post, we’ll share insights into four types of common landlord tenant disputes that often erupt, and how you can respond. Keep in mind that you should consult an attorney for specific advice for your individual situation. Lease Agreements The foundation of the landlord tenant relationship is the lease or rental agreement. Landlords are required to create agreements that follow landlord tenant laws according to state law, and you can find specifics about your state at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You’ll have to do a bit of clicking to get to where you need to go, but here’s an example of what HUD provides, for example, on the subject of Local Tenant Rights, Laws, and Protections: Florida. If you have questions about a lease, get clarification about them before you sign. Although it’s understandable to

What is Bankruptcy and Should I File?

February 1, 2019

If you’re struggling to meet current debt obligations and don’t think this will just be a temporary situation, you may be considering filing for bankruptcy and wondering what the process is and what the implications would be. If so, know that you’re not alone. The American Bankruptcy Institute keeps detailed statistics on filings that show that in 2018 alone: 747,219 bankruptcy filings took place in the 50 states and Washington DC 755,182 filings were made when including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands People living in some states file more often than others. When sorting by numbers of bankruptcies per capita, the top states in 2018 are: Alabama Tennessee Georgia Mississippi Illinois Arkansas Indiana Utah Nevada Kentucky As one more statistic, the US Courts notes that, from 2005-2017, approximately 12.8 million bankruptcy petitions were filed by consumers. So, long story short, if you feel as though you need to file, you definitely aren’t alone. The real question is whether this is the right move for you and, if so, which option makes the most sense. To help, here are answers to frequently asked questions about bankruptcy. What is Bankruptcy? This is a legal process available to people (individuals or

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