Filing bankruptcy is not a decision to be made lightly, as it is likely to affect your ability to obtain a mortgage, a car loan, or a new unsecured credit card for quite some time into the future. In this day and age, your credit report will very likely be pulled when applying for a new job, an apartment lease, and car insurance.
The process of filing bankruptcy should not be an exciting process that you look forward to, but instead should be viewed as your last resort option. It may indeed be your best and perhaps only option, but it should only be considered when you have exhausted all other options after a thorough investigation into what other options are possible and available to you.
While bankruptcy may alleviate much of the financial stress you may be feeling due to your mountain of bills, which seems to get higher every day, it may not be the total answer for you. Yes, bankruptcy will stop the creditor harassment calls since after you have filed, your creditors are no longer allowed to call you or hound you, and that will almost certainly provide a certain amount of relief. Having your bills under control will also provide a great amount of relief, but to what end? You still have the long road back to getting your finances under control.
Many institutions understand the fact that the majority of people who are filing bankruptcy these days are not doing so because of their own financial mismanagement or trying to live a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. They understand that most of the consumers who file do so due to unexpected circumstances that they have no control over, such as high medical bills, a job layoff, a messy divorce, or similar things. So they may cut you a bit of slack if you are trying to get a loan, a credit card, finance a car, or whatever when they see that you have filed for bankruptcy in recent years. But that still tells them that you are a higher risk and they will therefore set repayment plans and interest rates accordingly because you naturally now fall into a higher risk category for the funds or credit they are going to give you.
But even so, if you decide that bankruptcy is your best option, make sure you know what you are doing. With the recent sweeping changes of the bankruptcy laws, this is no longer a do-it-yourself process as it used to be in years past. In fact, you must be approved to file by the judge, and there is no guarantee that just because you want to file that you will be allowed to do so.
You also need to decide and be approved for the chapter of bankruptcy that you want to file. With Chapter 7, most debts are able to be discharged. Note the word “most”, since there are some types of debts that cannot be discharged by bankruptcy. But you may only be approved to file Chapter 13 which is like a “reorganization”. This means that your debts are reorganized, not wiped out or discharged, to make it affordable for you to repay them. But the key point here is that with Chapter 13, the debts are not wiped out, you still have them and need to repay them.
The best advice that can be given is to encourage you to get together with a qualified bankruptcy lawyer who understands the laws of your state and can help you understand what your options are and how the paperwork needs to be completed in what steps if you decide to move forward. Most people filing bankruptcy have found that they save themselves an order of magnitude more time, money, and assets by using a qualified attorney than what they pay out in legal fees. This is not the time for you to make yet another mistake, so consider your options carefully.
To find a Pre-Screened Lawyer in your area, please call our 24Hr Unbiased Lawyer Referral Hotline at 661-310-7999.
To find pre-screened and monitored attorneys in the Los Angeles Metro area please call 661-310-7999.
Certified by the California Bar Association (Certification # 0128), 1000Attorneys.com is a single point of contact to find pre-screened attorneys in Los Angeles, California. The lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals to Los Angeles residents
The bankruptcy laws in earlier times used to affect the debtor harshly as the creditors used legal and physical methods to get back their credits. But as time changed, new bankruptcy laws evolved as well as older ones were amended to make the laws more permanent and beneficial for both the debtors and creditors.
If you are facing a financial crisis then you should get the help of a bankruptcy lawyer that can help you understand the complexities of chapter 7 and chapter 13 and other procedures related to it.
About Chapter 7 Bankruptcy:
Chapter 7 bankruptcy: otherwise known as liquidation is most common and is proposed for the discharging of the unsecured debts such as medical bills, credit card debt, and unsecured personal loans. These types of bankruptcy can be completed within a period of months. It gives trustees, the ability to pay creditors by liquidating the non-exempt assets, although due to problem of absence of non-exempt assets among people who are filing the chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustees are able to keep their property and can easily eliminate the debts which are unsecured.
Eligibility
The qualification for being eligible to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy is the debtor must be an individual, a corporation, a partnership or any other business entity. The first thing that will be done to check your eligibility is that your average income for 6 months earlier to the filling date and comparing it with the median earnings of the state in which you reside if your average income is below that median income then you are eligible to apply.
One another important eligibility criteria is to be able to discharge your non-exempt debts you should have unsecured debts such as consumer debts, medical bills, or payday loans.
There are certain conditions that make you ineligible and you should take care about these:
1. If you have enough disposable income to repay your debts , after cutting the allowed expenses and important debt payments for repaying small portion of the unsecured debts on a five-year repayment phase 2. If you have already attained a chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier within a time period of the last eight years prior to the time of filing.
Proceedings and working:
The chapter 7 bankruptcy works on the concept that any of the secured assets a petitioner has will be handed over to an estate which is a legal that becomes the temporary owner of all secured assets and the creditor has no right to liquidate these assets until the case is over.
To find a Pre-Screened Lawyer in your area, please call our 24Hr Unbiased Lawyer Referral Hotline at 661-310-7999.
To find pre-screened and monitored attorneys in the Los Angeles Metro area please call 661-310-7999.
Certified by the California Bar Association (Certification # 0128), 1000Attorneys.com is a single point of contact to find pre-screened attorneys in Los Angeles, California. The lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals to Los Angeles residents
If I have an auto accident, do I have to stop?
Yes. California law says you must stop—whether the accident involves a pedestrian, a moving car, a parked car or someone’s property. If you drive away, you can be charged with hit and run even if the accident was not your fault.
You must also exchange information with the other driver—your name and driver’s license number, the vehicle identification number of the car you are driving, the name and address of the car’s owner, the name and address of your insurance company and your insurance policy number (or other evidence of financial responsibility, such as a bond posted with the Department of Motor Vehicles).
Hit-and-run penalties are severe. Depending on the damage or injuries, you may be fined, sent to jail or both. You also could lose your driver’s license.
If you hit a parked car or other property, try to find the owner or driver. If you cannot, the law says you may drive away only after you leave behind, in a conspicuous place, your name, address and an explanation of the accident, and the name and address of your car’s owner (if other than yourself).
You also must notify the local police or California Highway Patrol (CHP) either by telephone or in person as soon as possible.
You must call the police or the CHP if the accident caused a death or injury. An officer who comes to the scene of the accident will conduct an investigation. If an officer doesn’t show up, you must make a written report on a form available at the police department or CHP office as soon as possible.
What should I do if someone is injured?
The law requires you to give reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured. For example, you may need to call an ambulance, take the injured person to a doctor or hospital, or give first aid—if you know how.
If you are not trained in the appropriate first aid procedures, do not move someone who is badly hurt; you might make the injury worse. However, you should move someone who is in danger of being hurt worse or killed (for example, in a car fire) even if you do make the injury worse.
To help prevent additional collisions, try to warn other motorists that an accident has occurred. Placing flares on the road (only if there are no flammable fluids or items nearby), turning on your car’s hazard lights and lifting the engine hood are usually good ways to warn others on the road. Arrange to get help for anyone who is injured, and try not to panic.
How can I get help?
As soon as you can get to a telephone, call 911. Explain the situation and give the exact location of the accident, so that help can arrive quickly. Be sure to mention whether you need an ambulance or a fire engine.
Remain on the telephone until the operator tells you it is okay to hang up. Or, flag down a passing car and ask the driver to go for help. The driver may have a cellular phone in the car and can make an emergency call on the spot.
What information should I gather at the accident scene?
Since many records now are confidential under the law, you may not be able to obtain the information that you want from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). So be sure to get as much correct and complete information as you can at the scene of the accident.
You and the other driver should show each other your driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations. Then you should write down:
The other driver’s name, address, date of birth, telephone number, driver’s license number and expiration date, and insurance company.
The other car’s make, year, model, license plate number and expiration date, and vehicle identification number.
The names, addresses, telephone numbers and insurance companies of the other car’s legal and registered owners—if the driver does not own the car.
The names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and telephone numbers of any passengers in the other car.
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. Ask them to stay to talk to the CHP or police. If they insist on leaving, ask them to tell you what they saw and write everything down.
Try to identify people at the accident scene, even if they will not give their names. For example, if someone who saw the accident drives off, take down his or her license plate number. Law enforcement officials can trace the owner’s name and address.
The name and badge number of the law officer who comes to the accident scene. Ask the officer where and when you can get a copy of any accident report.
A simple diagram of the accident. Draw the positions of both cars before, during and after the accident.
If there are skid marks on the road, pace them off. Draw them on the diagram, noting the distance they cover. Mark the positions of any crosswalks, stop signs, traffic lights or streetlights. If you have a camera with you, take pictures of the scene, and of the other drivers and occupants.
However, do not place yourself in a position of danger in order to complete an accident diagram. Be aware of traffic conditions and skip any measurements that could place you in a position of harm.
Make notes, too, on weather and road conditions.
If the accident happened after dark, note whether the streetlights were on. Estimate your speed and that of the other vehicle. Be sure to record the exact time, date and place the accident happened.
If I think the accident was my fault, should I say so?
Do not volunteer any information about who was to blame for the accident. You may think you are in the wrong and then learn that the other driver is as much or more to blame than you are. You should first talk to your insurance agent, your lawyer or both. Anything you say to the police or the other driver can be used against you later.
Do not agree to pay for damages or sign any paper except a traffic ticket (see #6) until you check with your insurance company or lawyer.
However, be sure to cooperate with the police officer investigating the case. But, stick to the facts.
For instance, if you were driving 30 miles an hour, say so. Do not say, “I wasn’t speeding.”
Attorney referral hotline 661-310-8999. Certified by the California Bar Association (Certification # 0128), 1000Attorneys.com is a single point of contact to find pre-screened attorneys in Los Angeles, California. The lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals to Los Angeles residents
Opertations:
1000Attorneys.com Lawyer Referral operates as a telephone service and online service. Potential clients call the intake number, where they are screened by an intake specialist. If a referral seems reasonable based on information given by the caller, the potential client is given the name and number of an attorney. We work on an underlying rotation system, by relevant panel in the geographic area requested by the client. Sometimes special circumstances require referral out of the rotation. LRS does not refer on the basis of ethnicity, gender or other characteristic unrelated to the legal area. We do, however, refer for non-English language ability if needed and we can.
The intake staff members are not in a position to give legal advice or to decide the merits of a claim. They do, however, try to refer matters that seem to have minimal damages or that do not hang together to the Neighborhood Legal Clinics for an initial consultation, or to Small Claims Court if the claimed damages fit that jurisdiction. They also try not to refer matters where the caller cannot articulate a legal matter.
Benefits:
There are many benefits from joining a California Bar Approved lawyer referral service. Most importantly, you can have an immediate impact on your pipeline while avoiding any violations of the California State Bar code of conduct as it relates to attorney advertisign and marketing. Other benefits are:
Credibility Immediate access to hundres of cases in your area. Exposure. Additional Income. Access to peer to peer referrals.
Unique Call Rotation System: All calls are rotated evenly and effectively among each panel member.
Superior In-house Call Processing Center: Our trained legal analysts gather all necessary contact information and immediately forward the information to your office if it is determined that legal counsel is needed. Callers are either patched directly to your office or are given your contact information. You will also get an email or fax confirmation of every referral forwarded to your office.
Marketing Consulting Services: Free offline/online marketing and corporate identity support for all our members.
Dedicated Customer Satisfaction: You will be assigned a LRIS Coordinator specializing in your area of practice, who will contact you periodically to ensure quality of service.
Cost Efficiency: The service monitors all details of performance to ensure maximum results. Benefit from a large advertising budget for an entire market for only the cost of a single area in which you practice.
State Bar Compliance: Our lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals.
Target Audience: Our Powerful Internet advertising positions our website at the top of all the major search engines and online directories; this generates immediate call generation to our call center. We partner with our panel members to strengthen and grow their practice through direct response Internet advertising.
Certified by the California Bar Association (Certification # 0128), 1000Attorneys.com is a single point of contact to find pre-screened attorneys in Los Angeles, California. The lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals to Los Angeles residents.
***Avoid fraud by unethical bankruptcy attorneys in the Los Angeles Metro area. If you need a pre-screened bankruptcy attorney, you must call a CALBAR approved lawyer referral service by calling 661-310-7999 or by visiting 1000Attorneys.com ***
San Fernando Valley: There have been many reported incidents in the San Fernando valley about unethical business practices by bankruptcy attorneys.
Specifically, these offices are violating rule 1-400 which prohibits lawyers from paying commissions to people who generate leads of potential clients. Moreover, these agents cannot act in behalf of any attorney to offer their bankruptcy services.
Anyone giving bankruptcy advise MUST be licensed with the California Bar Association.
Rule 1-400 from the California Bar Association clearly states:
(A) For purposes of this rule, “communication” means any message or offer made by or on behalf of a member concerning the availability for professional employment of a member or a law firm directed to any former, present, or prospective client, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Any use of firm name, trade name, fictitious name, or other professional designation of such member or law firm; or
2) Any stationery, letterhead, business card, sign, brochure, or other comparable written material describing such member, law firm, or lawyers; or
(3) Any advertisement (regardless of medium) of such member or law firm directed to the general public or any substantial portion thereof; or
(4) Any unsolicited correspondence from a member or law firm directed to any person or entity.
(B) For purposes of this rule, a “solicitation” means any communication:
(1) Concerning the availability for professional employment of a member or a law firm in which a significant motive is pecuniary gain; and
(2) Which is:
(a) delivered in person or by telephone, or
(b) directed by any means to a person known to the sender to be represented by counsel in a matter which is a subject of the communication.
(C) A solicitation shall not be made by or on behalf of a member or law firm to a prospective client with whom the member or law firm has no family or prior professional relationship, unless the solicitation is protected from abridgment by the Constitution of the United States or by the Constitution of the State of California. A solicitation to a former or present client in the discharge of a member’s or law firm’s professional duties is not prohibited.
(D) A communication or a solicitation (as defined herein) shall not:
(1) Contain any untrue statement; or
(2) Contain any matter, or present or arrange any matter in a manner or format which is false, deceptive, or which tends to confuse, deceive, or mislead the public; or
(3) Omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements made, in the light of circumstances under which they are made, not misleading to the public; or
(4) Fail to indicate clearly, expressly, or by context, that it is a communication or solicitation, as the case may be; or
(5) Be transmitted in any manner which involves intrusion, coercion, duress, compulsion, intimidation, threats, or vexatious or harassing conduct.
(6) State that a member is a “certified specialist” unless the member holds a current certificate as a specialist issued by the Board of Legal Specialization, or any other entity accredited by the State Bar to designate specialists pursuant to standards adopted by the Board of Governors, and states the complete name of the entity which granted certification.
(E) The Board of Governors of the State Bar shall formulate and adopt standards as to communications which will be presumed to violate this rule 1-400. The standards shall only be used as presumptions affecting the burden of proof in disciplinary proceedings involving alleged violations of these rules. “presumption affecting the burden of proof” means that presumption defined in Evidence Code sections 605 and 606. Such standards formulated and adopted by the Board, as from time to time amended, shall be effective and binding on all members.
(F) A member shall retain for two years a true and correct copy or recording of any communication made by written or electronic media. Upon written request, the member shall make any such copy or recording available to the State Bar, and, if requested, shall provide to the State Bar evidence to support any factual or objective claim contained in the communication.
[Publisher's Note: Former rule 1-400 (D)(6) repealed by order of the Supreme Court effective November 30, 1992. New rule 1-400 (D)(6) added by order of the Supreme Court effective June 1, 1997.]
Standards:
Pursuant to rule 1-400(E) the Board of Governors of the State Bar has adopted the following standards, effective May 27, 1989, unless noted otherwise, as forms of “communication” defined in rule 1-400(A) which are presumed to be in violation of rule 1-400:
(1) A “communication” which contains guarantees, warranties, or predictions regarding the result of the representation.
(2) A “communication” which contains testimonials about or endorsements of a member unless such communication also contains an express disclaimer such as “this testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.”
(3) A “communication” which is delivered to a potential client whom the member knows or should reasonably know is in such a physical, emotional, or mental state that he or she would not be expected to exercise reasonable judgment as to the retention of counsel.
(4) A “communication” which is transmitted at the scene of an accident or at or en route to a hospital, emergency care center, or other health care facility.
(5) A “communication,” except professional announcements, seeking professional employment for pecuniary gain, which is transmitted by mail or equivalent means which does not bear the word “Advertisement,” “Newsletter” or words of similar import in 12 point print on the first page. If such communication, including firm brochures, newsletters, recent legal development advisories, and similar materials, is transmitted in an envelope, the envelope shall bear the word “Advertisement,” “Newsletter” or words of similar import on the outside thereof.
(6) A “communication” in the form of a firm name, trade name, fictitious name, or other professional designation which states or implies a relationship between any member in private practice and a government agency or instrumentality or a public or non-profit legal services organization.
(7) A “communication” in the form of a firm name, trade name, fictitious name, or other professional designation which states or implies that a member has a relationship to any other lawyer or a law firm as a partner or associate, or officer or shareholder pursuant to Business and professions Code sections 6160-6172 unless such relationship in fact exists.
(8) A “communication” which states or implies that a member or law firm is “of counsel” to another lawyer or a law firm unless the former has a relationship with the latter (other than as a partner or associate, or officer or shareholder pursuant to Business and professions Code sections 6160-6172) which is close, personal, continuous, and regular.
(9) A “communication” in the form of a firm name, trade name, fictitious name, or other professional designation used by a member or law firm in private practice which differs materially from any other such designation used by such member or law firm at the same time in the same community.
(10) A “communication” which implies that the member or law firm is participating in a lawyer referral service which has been certified by the State Bar of California or as having satisfied the Minimum Standards for Lawyer Referral Services in California, when that is not the case.
(11) (Repealed. See rule 1-400(D)(6) for the operative language on this subject.)
(12) A “communication,” except professional announcements, in the form of an advertisement primarily directed to seeking professional employment primarily for pecuniary gain transmitted to the general public or any substantial portion thereof by mail or equivalent means or by means of television, radio, newspaper, magazine or other form of commercial mass media which does not state the name of the member responsible for the communication. When the communication is made on behalf of a law firm, the communication shall state the name of at least one member responsible for it.
(13) A “communication” which contains a dramatization unless such communication contains a disclaimer which states “this is a dramatization” or words of similar import.
(14) A “communication” which states or implies “no fee without recovery” unless such communication also expressly discloses whether or not the client will be liable for costs.
(15) A “communication” which states or implies that a member is able to provide legal services in a language other than English unless the member can actually provide legal services in such language or the communication also states in the language of the communication (a) the employment title of the person who speaks such language and (b) that the person is not a member of the State Bar of California, if that is the case.
(16) An unsolicited “communication” transmitted to the general public or any substantial portion thereof primarily directed to seeking professional employment primarily for pecuniary gain which sets forth a specific fee or range of fees for a particular service where, in fact, the member charges a greater fee than advertised in such communication within a period of 90 days following dissemination of such communication, unless such communication expressly specifies a shorter period of time regarding the advertised fee. Where the communication is published in the classified or “yellow pages” section of telephone, business or legal directories or in other media not published more frequently than once a year, the member shall conform to the advertised fee for a period of one year from initial publication, unless such communication expressly specifies a shorter period of time regarding the advertised fee.
(Amended by order of Supreme Court, operative September 14, 1992. Standard (5) amended by the Board of Governors, effective May 11, 1994. Standards (12) – (16) added by the Board of Governors, effective May 11, 1994. Standard (11) repealed June 1, 1997)
To find pre-screened attorneys in the Los Angeles area call 661-310-7999.
Certified by the California Bar Association (Certification # 0128), 1000Attorneys.com is a single point of contact to find pre-screened attorneys in Los Angeles, California. The lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals to Los Angeles residents
This article mainly aims at enlightening you about the paralegal employment possibilities in Los Angeles. Below are some details of jobs offered in the city given for you. Take a look at the requirements, compensation and read the job description that suits you the best.
Infinity
This company aims at providing full time employment. The salary option has been defined as open by them. The job category has been defined as legal. The candidate must be ready to provide any kind of general support to the firm and its lawyers. The job requirements have been specifically underlined by the company for better understanding.
The aspiring candidate must have a valid bachelor degree of four years with an experience of minimum 6 months of drafting discovery documents and also drafting the discovery responses. He should be able to summarize the medical records and claims files and should have good communication skills so that he is able to interview the clients properly.
Typing skills should be excellent; he should be able to type 50 words per minute with 95% accuracy. He should be well versed with the equipments that are used in the office, from a calculator to fax and copy machines, he should know how to operate them all.
His organizational skills along with communication skills should be impeccable. He must have some knowledge over word processing software and a PC experience is also required. He should have good knowledge of legal research software, law office management and time billing is also highly desired. If you are interested then upload your resume in their site and send it to them.
Entertainment partners
This company is well known for providing production management services to the entertainment industry. It is located near the Burbank airport. The 9 person in house legal department of their company requires a paralegal that would be of good help in providing assistance to their company. This person will be given the duty of maintaining corporate legal records for the company. He would also assist with the contract preparation and give aid in intellectual property matters.
Apart from these some of his other tasks include assistance with the maintenance and filing of many LLC entities. He is expected to behave like a liaison with CSC and help in the monitoring of the corporate calendar, research matters and also give his support in general matters whenever required.
A minimum of 5 to 7 years experience is demanded along with the bachelor degree of 4 years. He needs to be proficient with the handling of the Microsoft office. If you are interested in sending your resume then please do not forget to mention your salary expectations along with this.
U.S. CA simi valley Los Angeles
A paralegal is required in this company who can assist the attorneys with his documentation and research works. The paralegal must have an experience of 4 years for this job. A bachelor’s degree is required. And the person should have good communication skills.
So these are some of the jobs that you can think of applying in Los Angeles.
Silas Reed, Writer for LawCrossing, writes articles that inform and teach about different law job profiles. Please visit http://www.lawcrossing.com for a list of ALL of the many jobs we offer in the law field.
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