January 12, 2010
Lawyers often get stereotyped as unethical, greedy, or arrogant. Just think of all the Lawyer jokes you've heard. But, there is one profession that may have an equally bad rap – used car salesmen.
Admittedly, some of the reasons behind both of the above stereotypes are legitimate. However, while I started my firm with the goal to change minds about lawyers, today I’m also going to compliment at least one member of the used-car sales profession. His name is Cameron, and I bought my first car from him over a decade ago. Cameron worked at a tiny, rundown, roadside car lot with about 15 vehicles. I’m sure he barely made enough to support his family. Yet, he was friendly, helpful, interested in his potential customers, and never pushy. He had a reputation that was passed by word of mouth around my college, and whenever someone mentioned needing to purchase a car, frequently the conversation would end with: “Go see Cameron, he’ll take good care of you.”
June 1, 2009
Filing bankruptcy is a complicated process. In fact, it’s complicated before you even start because you have to make some initial decisions about whom will represent you. Here are your four options:
1. Represent Yourself
As in most legal proceedings, a party is entitled to represent his own interests in a bankruptcy. This is called pro se or pro per representation. Some people are successful in doing a bankruptcy this way if they do not have a complicated case and if they have the time and ability to research the law and procedure for bankruptcy. However, even in a successful pro se case, the debtor often misses subtle items that could ultimately cost them more time and money than they would have spent on a lawyer. And, if the case begins to unravel, you will end up seeking out a lawyer and probably paying more than you would have if you had started out with a lawyer in the first place.
Pros: Low initial cost (just the $299 filing fee), learn about legal system, sense of accomplishment
Cons: Risk, potential high long term costs, anxiety of not knowing the process
May 8, 2009
Recently, I've had a number of great clients from the City of Maricopa, Apache Junction, Florence, and South Queen Creek, AZ. These towns and cities are all located in Pinal County. Pinal County is in a different Division of the Arizona Bankruptcy District than Maricopa County.
So what? All it means is that if you live in Pinal County, your meeting of creditors will be in Casa Grande instead of in downtown Phoenix. The meeting is held at a conference center called "the Property" on Gila Bend Highway.
March 9, 2009
The US Trustee Program is updating the median income numbers for cases filed on or after March 15, 2009.
Even though incomes are presently dropping, the numbers produced by the Census Bureau go back far enough that they capture an increase in median income in Arizona.
The new median income levels for bankruptcy filings in Arizona are:
Household Size - Income
- One - $43,397
- Two - $57,620
- Three - $62,002
- Four - $71,867
- Five - $78,767
- Six - $85,667
So what does this mean for you?
February 23, 2009
Last week, President Obama was in town to announce his plan to help stem the tide of foreclosures. Arizona has been particularly hard hit, which is one reason why he chose to come here to give his speech.
Mr. Obama began by describing how all of us are paying a price as a result of the home mortgage crisis – depressed home values, businesses closing, and high costs to local government.
So, he set out a four-part plan to try to stop the slide in home prices and shrink the foreclosure rate.
