What Happens if Your Spouse Dies in the Middle of a Divorce?
It happens sometimes that when two spouses are in the middle of settling their estate, one of them dies. In these cases, the courts sometimes rule that if there are no longer two parties to the divorce, then the court no longer has jurisdiction over the matter. For the living spouse, this can create a...
Retail Bankruptcies Could Cause Chain Reaction, Warns CEO
Retail has been going the way of the dodo even before the pandemic struck in 2020. Post-pandemic, many of these businesses remained on life support as government payouts kept them alive. Now, retailers are pinning all of their hopes on the Christmas season to get them back in the black, but the economic slowdown could...
Can One Parent Deny Visitation to Another Parent?
Many folks worry that in less-than-amicable divorces, the other parent will not honor visitation schedules. The matter becomes more serious once there is a divorce decree and a court order to maintain a specific visitation schedule. Without the threat of contempt of court orders being imposed on parents, and this impacting their divorce case, some...
Can Marijuana Use Become a Custody Issue in Indiana?
Indiana has not yet legalized marijuana for recreational use. However, a recent announcement makes it clear that they will not be prosecuting simple possession charges of marijuana, either. With more states looking to decriminalize, this has created an issue for the courts. Can marijuana use be used against you in an Indiana child custody case?...
The Kids Get the House: Custody Arrangements in Modern America
More often than not, parents cooperate with one another in the best interests of the children. Often, this means that one parent gets the house while the other parent pays for an apartment that is capable of housing children when it is time to visit. Often, this arrangement is difficult on the kids because the...
Can I Sue a Debt Collector in Indiana?
Every borrower is protected against specific types of creditor actions that are considered illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). If a creditor takes any illegal action against you, you may be able to file a lawsuit or report the company to the FTC. On the other hand, you may want to use...
A Brief History of Bankruptcy
The American judicial system is based on English common law and a lot of trial and error. The first bankruptcy laws in England were passed under King Henry VIII (the one with all the ex-wives) in 1542. These laws bore no resemblance to our modern laws. An unpaid debt could only be discharged with a...
Economists Argue That a Recession May be Inevitable
One of the major factors in determining the number of and scope of consumer bankruptcies is the presence of an economic recession. To understand the matter, you must first understand the terminology. A recession is a period of decreased economic performance that lasts for months. While the primary determining factor for ranking recessions is related...
Will My Divorce Impact My Retirement?
There is no nice way to say it, but the chances are good that a divorce will impact your retirement savings. 401(k)s and IRAs are not protected assets in a divorce settlement. Any retirement funds that you have accrued throughout the course of your career are subject to equitable distribution. Those who have gone through...
New Changes to Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Could Help Consumers
A congressional bill introduced by Iowa senator Charles Grassley (SB 3823) would increase the debt limits in Chapter 13 bankruptcy and make filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy much easier. Chapter 13 is ideal for those who have money tied up in secured assets like a home mortgage, a second mortgage, car payments, or are paying...