Resources - US Legal Services

What to Know About Personal Injury Law

August 22, 2018

Members of our legal benefits plans have access to attorneys who can assist them with personal injury claims. Personal injury law deals with injuries and/or damage that may have been caused by negligence. A personal injury attorney handles cases arising from a wide range of events, such as traffic accidents, defective products, workplace accidents, and much more. In this post, we’ll provide an overview of specialized area of law. Please note that this information is not offered as legal advice and that personal injury laws vary from state to state. You should consult with an attorney who can determine if you have a case and who can guide you through the personal injury claim process. Types of Law In the United States, there are two broad types of legal cases: civil and criminal. Criminal cases involve someone being accused of breaking a public code listed in our laws, with those suspected of breaking a law being charged with criminal offenses by governmental agencies. Civil cases, on the other hand, involve two parties—individuals and/or businesses—and personal injury cases fall within this category. If the harm you have suffered occurred because of someone else’s actions, and you believe they should be legally

Two Different Types of Bankruptcies and How to Navigate the Process

July 19, 2018

If you’re struggling to pay your family’s bills and there doesn’t seem to be a way to catch up, you may be thinking about declaring bankruptcy. Before you commit to that process, though, it makes sense to obtain credit counseling. We say this because, if you do decide to file for bankruptcy, you will almost certainly be required to undergo this counseling, anyhow. And, if you try counseling first, you may discover less drastic ways to solve your financial crunch than bankruptcy filing. Here is a list of credit counseling agencies, ones that are approved for use if you ultimately file for bankruptcy. If you decide that filing is the right avenue to pursue, then it’s important to: Understand the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy Know how to get the help you need to understand and navigate the process Propublica.com (an independent, nonprofit, investigative newsroom) took an in-depth look at both bankruptcy options, providing useful statistics about each. We will be using its information in select places throughout this post. Do I Qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? You may find this option to be more appealing because, if approved, you won’t have to repay many of your

Buying a Home? How Legal Counsel Can Help

June 12, 2018

When you find the home of your dreams, it can be tempting to move quickly to sign documents to get the process started. And, in some exceptionally straightforward transactions, an attorney isn’t needed. But (and this is a big “but”), there is no way to know ahead of time which transactions will go well, and which ones won’t. Only hindsight can provide that insight. So, what do you do? How do you get your questions answered? You can certainly ask your real estate agent questions about the process, but there can be a few flaws in that approach: Good agents can answer many different questions about the contract portion of the transaction (and there are many outstanding agents!), but not every agent is as well versed as you might like. Even the best agents can’t help with legal matters. Agents want to get the most money possible for sellers because their commission is based on a percentage of sales, so as a buyer, you need to walk a tightrope as you decide how much information to get from the real estate agent and how much you gather independently. Buying a home may be the largest purchase you’ll ever make, one

Five Must-Have Legal Documents

May 31, 2018

No two financial situations are exactly the same, and yet virtually every adult should have certain legal documents in place. In this post, we’re listing five important types of legal documents, along with the reasons they’re important to strategically complete. Guardianship Documents If you have young children or children who aren’t yet legal adults, it’s crucial that you legally document who should finish raising them and make key decisions about their health, education, and more if you no longer can. You may have already thought about who would be the best guardian for them, long-term, such as a sister who lives in another state. You’ll also then need to list who should care for your children in the short-term, perhaps right after your death, before arrangements could be made for your sister to get them. After creating this guardianship document, keep the highlights of this information in your wallet and write out detailed instructions to help the person or people to whom you’d entrust your children. Here are tips on choosing the best guardian for your child. Health Care Power of Attorney No one plans to become sick, but people of all ages can become too ill to make their own

Creating a Will: Why DIY Documents Aren’t Right for Everyone

April 23, 2018

Nowadays, you can find information and resources on virtually every topic imaginable on the internet—including forms and instructions for creating a will without the help of an attorney. But, just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in your own best interests. (Ask anyone who watches a scary movie before bed while eating dragon’s breath peppers and drinking super-caffeinated coffee, and he or she will tell you that CAN doesn’t always equal SHOULD.) The reality is that it’s all too easy to miss important components when creating a will without the help of an expert. To quote an article by CNBC.com, Where You Can Go Wrong With a Do-It-Yourself Will, this will “might have all the authority of a grocery list that has been notarized … And when there are mistakes, it is possible that the survivors of the deceased will end up in court, spending thousands of dollars to contest a will.” This is true, in part, because each state has its own rules. So, even if the most well-intentioned friend from another state gives you legal advice about your will, it may be completely inaccurate. In some states, for example, oral wills are legitimate. In others, they

Elder Care Planning Checklist

April 16, 2018

If your parents are aging, you may notice warning signs that concern you. These may include memory lapses or moments of confusion, more frequent falls or other injuries, or difficulty managing tasks that were once second nature. When this happens, there are several areas where you may need to offer help, ranging from medication management to home improvements, and from transportation strategies to helping them create and sign crucial documents. Here are four components of a typical elder care planning checklist, along with resources to help you create your own customized list. Health Care Issues As people age, they often need to take more medication and it’s far too easy for medication errors to take place, whether that means your parents forgetting to take them—or taking too much. Errors can also take place at the pharmacy and in the hospital, as just two more examples. AgingWisely.com provides an excellent checklist to help people avoid medication errors. It’s also important that people who are aging communicate well with their doctors to ensure they’re getting the best care possible. KendalAtHome.org provides a list of questions to ask the doctor. Household Issues If your parents want to age in place in the home they love, it’s often

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