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Bankruptcy Basics

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  • What Are Co-Trustee Powers?

    Trustees have a fiduciary responsibility to manage the property in a trust and are obligated to act in the interest of the beneficiaries. Trustees may be individuals, or entities such as banks. A trust may name more than one trustee. In the instance of multiple trustees, each trustee has duties and powers related to the trust and to the co-trustees.

  • How Can I Do a Hardship Letter?

    Hardships happen to many Americans. Economies vary from year to year, and with dips in economic situations come dips in individual financial security. Banks witness a rise in hardship letters during negative economic dips in society. Whether the reason for the letter is a job loss, illness or any combination of income-reducing activities, banks are looking for certain aspects within a hardship letter. Writing the letter correctly the first time may save a family the stress of reviewing points of financial loss more than necessary.

  • How to Appraise the Value of Split Property

    No two pieces of real estate are exactly the same, and several parameters must be taken into account when assessing the value of subdivided property. If you take a level one-acre lot and split it into two pieces, each exactly half an acre in area, they may not have equivalent value, and their combined value may not be equal to the total value of the property before it was subdivided. Professional real estate appraisers use several different methods to calculate the most accurate value possible.

  • What Is the Statute of Limitations on Amended Returns?

    The statute of limitations on amended tax returns varies depending upon whether the return is a state or federal tax return. Both federal and state governments provide statutes of limitations for the assessment and collection of taxes. These statutes of limitation also apply to the filing of amended tax returns.

  • Maryland Grants for Rural First Time Home Buyers

    Rural Maryland draws few new homeowners because of the lack of development, lack of housing, and lack of jobs. Those who wish to work in farming or other small businesses may, however, enjoy living in rural Maryland. They may also be interested in taking advantage of Maryland grants for rural first-time home buyers.

  • The UCMJ Statute of Limitations Amendment

    The provisions for Article 43 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) are contained in 10 United States Code (USC) Section 843. The statute of limitations for military prosecutions is set forth under Article 43 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

  • What Is an Unliquidated Debt?

    Many people owe money to private lenders, credit card companies, and financial institutions. Depending on whether or not the exact monetary amount owed is known, that debt may be liquidated or unliquidated.

  • What Is a Non-Mandatory or Reorganization Tender Stock Offer?

    A tender offer is a method of purchasing a company by buying its shares directly from the shareholders. The tender offer can be both non-mandatory and lead to a reorganization of the company sought to be purchased, also known as the target company.

  • Declaration of a Mortgage

    Housing loan applications usually require a declaration of a mortgage. The declaration normally includes acknowledgements of financial commitments, of transferability, and of higher lending charges,

  • How Long Can I Stay in My Home if I File Chapter 7 & Do not Reaffirm the Loan?

  • Primary Residence Vs. Pied-A-Terre

    Work and other commitments sometimes require an individual to spend a good deal of time away from home. In such situations, personal and financial considerations may warrant the establishment of a smaller, secondary home.

  • What is a Chapter 5-17?

    Chapter 5-17 is part of U.S. Army Regulation 635-200. It deals with active duty enlisted members being placed on inactive duty or discharged by a commanding officer for a physical or mental condition that is not considered a disability.

  • Partial Payment Agreements

    A partial payment agreement comes into play when an individual owes a monetary debt. It is a financial contract on how said debt shall be paid.

  • Definition of a Mortgage Aggregator

    A mortgage aggregator is part of the second mortgage market. They buy mortgages from financial institutions and then secure them with MBS, or mortgage-backed securities.

  • Nominal Defendant Defined

    A nominal defendant is, according to U.S. Legal Definitions, "a defendant included in a lawsuit because of a technical connection with the matter in dispute and who is necessary for the court to decide all issues and make a proper judgment."

  • Washington Statute of Limitations on Fraud

    Under the Revised Code of Washington, (RCW), allowing the statute of limitations to expire on a civil claim will bar that claim forever. Under RCW Sec. 4.16.080, the statute of limitations on a fraud claim is three years.

  • Investment Mortgage Rules

    Real estate investors are not typical homeowners who reside in the home. When an investor buys a property, the purchase is made solely for investment purposes. Investors typically rent the property and then sell it later at a higher price. Qualifying for a mortgage on an investment property has always been slightly tougher than qualifying for a mortgage on a personal property, because banks consider it as a higher risk. The mortgage rules for investment properties are different than those for personal properties.

  • How Often Can a Person File Chapter 7 in California?

  • The Difference Between a Foreclosure & a Sheriff's Sale

    A foreclosure sale and a sheriff's sale both refer to a foreclosed property auction where the lender attempts to recover debt unpaid by the defaulting party. The difference is that, while a foreclosure auction is managed by the lender, in some states, a sheriff's sale is presided over by the county sheriff's office.

  • Bankruptcy & Fraudulent Conveyance

    In the bankruptcy context in the U.S., "fraudulent conveyance" is a cause of action typically brought by the trustees of an estate demanding the return to that estate of assets that were conveyed to defendants. In the context of a "Ponzi scheme," these defendants can be earlier investors, who withdrew their money from the scheme up to two years before the bankruptcy filing.

  • How to Determine the Value of a Rental Property

    Cash flow from rents, depreciation as a tax write-off and equity in the property are just some of the benefits of rental property ownership. To access that equity either through a line of credit or through a sale, you will need to know the property's value. The value depends on several factors: the age and condition of the building, the neighborhood and the property's amenities .

  • How to Avoid Foreclosure in Canada

    Foreclosure is one of two ways lenders in Canada recover funds from a mortgage that has been defaulted on. There are ways that a person can keep a home once he has received notice of foreclosure from a lender, but the best way to deal with foreclosure is to avoid it entirely.

  • Retirement Plan Hardship Withdrawal

    401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans that allow employees to make voluntary payments from their paychecks can grant hardship withdrawals. This is not required, but if they do, employers need to define hardship as well as the proof needed to qualify for a hardship withdrawal.

  • Fiduciary Duties of Trustees

    A trustee maintains legal ownership of a trust on behalf of a beneficiary, and he owes a fiduciary duty to the trust's beneficiary. A fiduciary duty means the trustee acts only in the beneficiaries’ best interests. He is not permitted to take advantage of his role to further his own interests.

  • Explanation of Mortgage Underwriting

    Mortgage underwriting is the process of reviewing a mortgage loan application and making a decision on whether to approve the mortgage. Underwriting involves an assessment of the borrower’s financial qualifications and an evaluation of the real estate. Typically, the mortgage underwriting process takes about a month from application to closing, but it may take longer if there is anything questionable in the borrower’s overall financial picture.

  • What Is a Fee-for-Service Agreement?

    A fee-for-service agreement is defined as a method of business payment in which separate services are not bundled together but are instead paid for individually. (Reference 1). This is sometimes called "a la carte" payment. Many industries use fee-for-service agreements, such as cellular phone carriers and other telecommunications carriers, healthcare providers and the real estate industry.

  • What Is the Meaning of an Interim Payment?

    The term "interim payment" has numerous applications across different industries. The bottom line, however, is that it is a payment made between other payments. The specifics are unique to each industry. There is even a related legal term of "interim order" which has a similar meaning.

  • What Is the Meaning of Lessor & Lessee?

    People who need a place to live, something to drive, or some expensive piece of equipment have an alternative to buying, called leasing. A lease is a legal agreement between two parties that governs the use or possession of property for a particular time period, under specified conditions. Leasing is used for apartments, houses, motor vehicles and many types of equipment and machinery. The parties involved in a lease agreement are referred to as the lessor and the lessee.

  • The Duties & Powers of Trustees

    The duties of a trustee may cover a broad range of actions and decisions designed to benefit the best interests of the trust beneficiary. The overall power and duty of a trustee is to initiate any action that is deemed necessary to protect or manage the property or resources designated by the trust. A trustee may have the authority to make decisions regarding how a trust asset is to be handled, while in other instances it may be necessary to obtain the approval of the court before acting.

  • Military Statute of Limitations

    Military law, including the military statute of limitations, is governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCJM), which was enacted by Congress in 1951, and has seen several changes over the years. In 1987, the US Supreme Court gave the military jurisdiction over all types of crimes committed by service personnel, not only military ones. Article 43 of the UCJM deals with the military statute of limitations.

  • What Is a Safe Harbor Statement?

    Before investing in a company, prospective shareholders want to know the financial condition of the company and projections for the future. While independent analysts can provide information, the real experts are those in the actual business working for the company. They continually analyze their business, and make adjustments to increase profitability. But even the best forecasts can be wrong, and these companies obtain liability protection by issuing a safe harbor statement along with the financial forecast.

  • What Is the Meaning of Contingent Liabilities?

    A contingent liability is a current obligation arising from a past event that will have to be paid should another event happen in the future. The liability is contingent on an event that may or may not occur.

  • Grants for First Time Home Buyers in Kansas

    Homebuyer assistance has made homeownership possible for thousands of Americans. Most programs work by awarding money to help with a down payment, offering below-market interest rates on mortgages or by giving tax credits to first-time home buyers to make purchasing a home more affordable. There are three programs in Kansas that offer grants to first-time homebuyers, however, there are restrictions and criteria homebuyers must meet to qualify.

  • Oregon Trust Administration Rules

    Stemming from common law, trusts are legally recognized arrangements whereby one person or organization manages property on behalf of another. Oregon has specific laws governing how trusts can be formed, organized and administered. The Oregon Uniform Trust Code spells out how the administration of the trust can be performed, and the obligations it imposes upon administrators.

  • How to Complete Claim Form 1450

    When a patient enters your hospital or health-care center and has Medicaid, to collect on the services you provide to the patient you must file a claim with your state's Medicaid Agency. Typically this is done electronically. You can file a paper claim by using CMS Form 1450, also called UB-04. Claim Form 1450 is a long form; it has more than 80 fields (not all of which are required) and requires you to use medical bill coding. Complete this form using an instruction sheet after arranging all the data you need.

  • How to Qualify for a Mortgage With No Job

    Lack of current employment does not always preclude a person from qualifying for a mortgage loan. But an employed individual seeking mortgage financing is in a far more solid position to obtain financing. There are some added steps an unemployed person needs to take to qualify for and secure mortgage financing.

  • How to Calculate the Value of Assets in a Chapter 13

    Even though a trustee in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is not looking to sell your property as in a Chapter 7, valuing assets is still important in Chapter 13 because your debt repayment plan must guarantee that unsecured debtors be paid at least as much as the debtor's nonexempt property. Therefore, Chapter 13 debtors must prepare accurate asset valuations when they file.

  • Advantages & Disadvantages of Consolidation

    Consolidation usually refers to debt, and it involves combining all of your debts into one debt. Debt-consolidation companies perform this service by paying off all of your existing debts and allowing you to repay them in one monthly payment. This may sound like the best option to many debtors. Consolidation, however, has disadvantages that should be considered along with its advantages

  • Why Do Banks Sell Mortgages?

    The home mortgage industry is complex and involves many players, from front-line lenders to investors who purchase home mortgage loans. To understand how the industry works, you first must understand why banks and other front-line lenders sell mortgages.

  • How to Settle Medical Bills

    It is quite possible that one day you may find yourself in a position where you are faced with numerous medical bills and not enough income to pay for them. In addition, you may not have medical insurance and therefore incur significant medical bills. Moreover, loss of a job, illness or disability may cause a permanent or temporary loss of income. As a result, it may be necessary to seek a reduction in the debt owed on the medical bills and settle those bills for a lower amount.

  • How to Clear Judgements on Property

    In civil matters, a judgment against you means that you have to pay money to the other party in the civil suit. If you don't have the money to pay in savings, the court could garnish your wages or put a lien on your property as part of the judgment. Your property won't be taken away, but you won't have the full rights to it, and if you sell it, the money will go to pay the judgment before you realize any profit. Clearing that sort of judgment can be difficult, but the process for doing it is relatively simple.

  • How to Negotiate Your Defaulted Student Loan

    The consequences for defaulting on a student loan can be overwhelming. Indeed, if you do not make the payments you promised, the consequences can be harsh. According to the Legal Services Web page, after a time ranging from 180 to 330 days, depending on the type of loan you borrowed and the time rate at which you make your payment, the Department of Education considers you to be in default if you have not honored your commitment to pay. However, it is possible to negotiate a rehabilitation plan.

  • How to Close a Chapter 7 Case

    A Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding is always conducted under the jurisdiction of a Court of Law. The processes for opening the bankruptcy case, moving through the evaluation and liquidation, and discharging the debt is carefully followed at every step under the guidance of a Court-appointed Trustee. At the conclusion of the proceeding, after the discharge of debt, the case is officially closed. The closing is primarily an administrative function of the Court, and it ties up all the loose ends of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The simplicity of the closing is directly related to your case type.

  • How to Beat a Chapter 7

    When you find yourself unable to repay your debts, you can get relief by filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 proceedings. You'll qualify for the proceedings under the "means test," fill out the necessary forms and take required counseling classes for both responsible financial management and credit handling. A court-appointed Trustee will work with you to liquidate your non-exempt assets. The time between the filing and the discharge of your debts is usually several months. However, there are some ways to beat Chapter 7's effects on your credit and your life.

  • About Early Termination in Chapter 13

    A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a repayment plan for your debts. The bankruptcy trustee, the court official who is responsible for hearing your case, will approve the length of time your repayment plan lasts, such as 36 or 60 months. However, it is possible to terminate or end the Chapter 13 plan early, either voluntarily or involuntarily. This early termination is usually due to changes in your financial situation.

  • How to Get a Homestead Exemption From the Government

    Homestead exemptions exist primarily to protect homeowners from losing their residences to creditors. Residents often seek homestead exemptions to protect their home's equity in times of financial hardship, such as after the death of a spouse, when filing for bankruptcy protection or after becoming temporarily or permanently disabled. Laws vary from state to state, but most require that the home and/or land be the principal residence and that it be owned by the occupant rather than a family member or business. Filing the proper paperwork can exempt your home from seizure or forced sale and/or significantly reduce property taxes owed.

  • PACU Discharge Policies & Procedures

    Many hospitals and clinics have a post-anesthesia care unit, or PACU, that manages the care of patients that were administered anesthesia during surgery or outpatient procedures. PACU guidelines govern different phases of the anesthesia recovery process, including early recovery, intermediate recovery and late recovery, some of which overlap. In many cases, nurses use a point system to assess these patients.

  • Foreclosure Prevention Job Descriptions

    If you are seeking or are interested in becoming a foreclosure prevention specialist of some type, there are a variety of job descriptions associated with this type of position. These jobs require different levels of education and experience and use different practices to prevent a foreclosure.

  • What Are the Three Most Common Reasons for Granting a Loan Deferment?

    The granting of a loan deferment can help postpone loan payments for a specific period of time because of personal circumstances that may prevent you from being capable of making a payment. Many lenders require that certain criteria be met before they will grant a deferment on a loan. The most common types of loan deferments are economic hardship deferment, unemployment deferment and military deferment. Although education deferments are popular, they are only used for student loans and cannot be applied toward other debt. Whether you are seeking assistance for car payments, a mortgage, student loans or other debt, it…

  • Why Do Lawyers Use Esq?

    When you see a business card of almost any attorney, there will like be three letters after his name, "Esq." Standing for esquire, it is a term used to denote attorneys, much the same way Dr. or M.D. denotes a medical doctor. While the origin of the term is clear, there is some mystery as to how "esquire" became synonymous with lawyers in the U.S.

  • Definition of a Quick Sale

    In real estate law, a quick sale (or short sale) is a type of transaction in which property is sold for a price that falls below what is due and owing on a mortgage loan. The mortgage lender agrees to a proposed quick sale in advance of a property owner proceeding. The quick sale has been employed with greater frequency in the past five years. Experts predict that it will continue to be used with regularity into the future as well. Even in stable real estate markets, the short or quick sale of real estate can be a useful process…

  • Nutramigen Side Effects

    Nutramigen is a type of infant formula produced by the Enfamil brand. Nutramigen is frequently recommended by pediatricians to relieve signs of colic in babies. For typically healthy children, Nutramigen is a safe alternative to traditional formulas, and its side effects are similar to those of other formulas.

  • How to Get a Realistic Timeshare Appraisal

    One of the most frustrating aspects of selling a timeshare is determining its fair market value. It's common knowledge that a timeshare depreciates once the ink is dried on the contract--anywhere from 30% to 60% off the developer's price--but most timeshare owners don't have a good estimate beyond this range. If you are in the market to sell or buy a timeshare, here's how to get a realistic appraisal of the resale value.

  • Federal Guidelines for Reverse Mortgages

    Reverse Mortgages have become a very popular way for people to tap the equity that has built up in their homes. In addition, they are not required to pay back the money they receive from a reverse mortgage. On the surface, reverse mortgages appear to be the answer to many people's prayers, but there are both drawbacks and restrictions to reverse mortgages that HUD of the US government wants you to consider.

  • How to Keep Red Wine Stains From Spreading in Laundry

    Most people have accidentally spilled wine on their favorite shirt, dress or other piece of clothing. The most dreaded of these wine stains is the infamous red wine stain; the one that almost never comes out and can stain other clothing in the washer. But there are some tricks to prevent wine stains from spreading in laundry. Here is how to prevent those red wine stains from spreading and to possibly remove them from the clothing that they have saturated.

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