In 2017, Equifax, Inc., a credit-reporting firm, suffered a cyber-attack that resulted in a data breach that affected millions of customers. After the company disclosed that the identities of roughly 148 million individuals were compromised, the … [Read more...]
Automatic U.S. Citizenship by Blood
Clients often ask about the path to citizenship. Most are eligible for the long and time consuming path to citizenship through visas, petitions, and Adjustment of Status. However, some are eligible for direct citizenship by blood via the N-600 … [Read more...]
Study Reveals Positive Effect of Professional Representation at Social Security Hearings
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of hearings-level award rates for disability claims revealed that “claimants who had representation at their hearings, were allowed benefits at a rate nearly 3 times higher than those without … [Read more...]
HANDLE WITH CARE
Perhaps you have seen “HANDLE WITH CARE” stenciled on the outside of a container or crate. If you’re like me you may have tried to child-proof a room or dealt with the consequences of placing an item in harms’ way. As we get older we accumulate more … [Read more...]
No Man’s Life, Liberty, or Property are Safe while the Legislature is in Session
No Man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. ~ Gideon Tucker For as long as anyone can remember, alimony has been tax deductible. In Texas, we do not call it alimony instead, it is referred to as Post Divorce … [Read more...]
BUDGETING 101
After 18 years practicing bankruptcy law, I am still amazed that clients often do not understand the importance of monthly budgeting. For individuals facing bankruptcy, a solid, realistic monthly budget will usually be the difference between success … [Read more...]
SO, YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEVIL?
Let’s call the Independent Medical Examiner (IME) “Devil”. The insurance carrier can request you see one of their own chosen doctors once every 180 days or after you have seen a Designated Doctor (DWC Appointed). From my experience, these doctors are … [Read more...]
Dram Shop Laws in Texas: Holding Bar Owners Accountable
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Texas and the other driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, you may have a claim against the person or establishment that served the alcohol to the at-fault driver. … [Read more...]
Expunging or Sealing a Criminal Record in Texas
When you’ve been arrested or convicted on a criminal charge in Texas, it can haunt you for years. Because arrests and criminal proceedings are a matter of public record, a potential employer may see them and make an unfavorable decision based on … [Read more...]
Potential Changes to Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2018
On January 11, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to state Medicaid directors, allowing them to waive the current Medicaid rules and impose more restrictive eligibility standards. Among the permissible changes to the … [Read more...]
How Do I Know When It’s Time to File for Bankruptcy?
Filing bankruptcy is scary, difficult and not fun. But when it’s time to file, it’s time to file. Ask yourself a few simple questions. First, do you feel out of control regarding your finances? Is this causing you stress and discomfort, or affecting … [Read more...]
SURPRISE!
Frequently, I will speak to someone about the death of a loved one and try to share wise counsel with them. There are a great many things that accompany death that most of us have little experience navigating. Each case is unique and each one has … [Read more...]
