California grandparents can take steps to continue relationships Article provided by Lerner o Poole, LLP Visit us at http://www.cafamilylaw.com/ Like in most states, grandparents in California do not automatically have custody or visitation rights over their grandchildren. In the event a grandparent wishes to be awarded either custody or visitation, they must receive an order from the court. Of course, there are several different factors the court will consider in determining whether such arrangements will be allowed. When can a grandparent request visitation? When ...

Surge in student debt prompts Congress to reconsider bankruptcy laws Article provided by John Christopher Robinson Visit us at http://www.debtfreeky.com Go to college, get a good job. Unfortunately, this old maxim may no longer hold true. In these tough economic times getting a college degree does not always lead to a job, let alone a good one. The national unemployment rate continues to hover around 8 percent and college graduates are struggling to find employment after graduation. Unemployment rates for college graduates over 25 were estimated at 4.1 percent ...

Divorce and finances, bankruptcy may offer a fresh start Article provided by John Christopher Robinson Visit us at http://www.debtfreeky.com When a couple gets a divorce, most property accumulated by the couple is divided. This includes any debts accumulated by the couple. This can lead to financial stresses in a number of ways. The most common stressor comes from the fact that the same amount of money now needs to support two households. Additional issues can arise if accounts were not properly managed during the divorce process. If, for example, confusion existed ...

Oregon Chapter 13 bankruptcy and lien stripping Article provided by Hackett & Harris LLC Visit us at http://www.portlandlawyerbankruptcy.com Oregon residents who are going through bankruptcy may be able to strip liens from second mortgages and car loans to make the payments more manageable. However, lien stripping is only available to individuals or families that are going through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. What is chapter 13 bankruptcy? In a chapter 13 bankruptcy debts are repaid on a three to five year payment plan schedule. The payment plan amount is ...

Minneapolis study sheds light on causes of bike-car accidents Article provided by Walsh & Gaertner, P.A. Visit us at http://www.walsh-gaertner.com The Twin Cities area is well-known throughout the country for its pro-bike culture. Metro-area Minnesotans love to ride, and local governments in St. Paul, Minneapolis and many suburban communities have been working hard over the last several years to increase options for cyclists and make Twin Cities streets safer for bicycle commuters. Despite these improvements, car-bike accidents are still a pressing concern ...

How does an immigrant qualify for asylum? Article provided by Mark E. Jacobs, P.C. Visit us at http://www.markejacobslaw.com/ As the political debate regarding immigration heats up in the United States Congress, there is bi-partisan agreement that immigrants here both legally and illegally are seeking better lives for themselves and their families. However, if someone entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visa, their status puts them in constant danger of deportation. One way someone in the U.S. illegally might be able regain legal status is to apply for ...

Pennsylvania police crack down on underage drinking Article provided by Blanarik Law Offices Visit us at http://www.blanariklawoffices.com Though the legal drinking age is 21, many teens in Pennsylvania choose to consume alcohol anyway. Underage drinking is particularly prevalent on Pennsylvania's many college campuses. However, young people would be mistaken to think that mere fact that underage drinking is not uncommon means that it is tolerated by law enforcement. This fall, Pennsylvania State Police launched a crackdown on underage drinking, focusing on college ...

Teens more likely to be distracted while behind the wheel Article provided by Donohue, Sabo, Varley & Huttner, L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.dsvalaw.com The hazards that distracted drivers pose to those sharing the nation's roadways have been made painfully clear in media recently. According to the Department of Transportation, distracted drivers caused more than 416,000 injures and 3,000 deaths in 2010 alone. Although distracted driving is a problem for all age groups, experts say that teens are at a higher risk. Teens and texting The first reason that ...

Recognizing traumatic brain injury in Florida Article provided by The Burns Law Firm Visit us at http://www.pensacoladefenselawyer.com Recently, a Florida Senator's 12-year-old daughter suffered from a concussion after being involved in a golf-cart accident. According to The Miami Herald, she received treatment at Miami Children's Hospital and is now recovering at home. She is in fair condition but is undergoing neurological testing. The continued neurological testing is necessary since the symptoms of a more serious condition may not show up right away. She is ...

Michigan's No-Fault Medical Coverage May Come to an End Article provided by Joseph T. Barberi, P.C. Visit us at http://www.josephbarberi.com/ Citing unacceptably high costs, advocates support a proposal in the Michigan legislature that would eliminate Michigan's mandatory no-fault car insurance system. As it now stands, no-fault coverage for injuries sustained by a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle accident provides up to $500,000 for medical expenses. Once the $500,000 limit is reached, medical costs are paid from the catastrophic claims fund, with essentially ...

Protecting a small business during divorce in California Article provided by Law Offices of Evan Samuelson Visit us at http://www.samfamlaw.com/ When it comes to divorce and the division of property between ex-spouses, each state has a slightly different set of rules. In California and a handful of other states, the courts follow a system known as community property law. When a couple files for divorce in California, their assets are categorized as either community property or separate property, and each type of property is divided differently. Community property ...

Navigating through marriage-based immigration Article provided by Kim H. Buhler, Attorney at Law, P.C. Visit us at http://www.buhlerlawoffice.com As many people know, love can transcend boundaries, including international ones. American citizens who marry non-citizens are permitted under United States immigration law to bring their spouses to live in Utah or any other state, provided the conditions of the law are met. International engagements A foreign national who is engaged to an American citizen can obtain a fiance (or fiancee) visa to enter the United ...

Teens at greater risk for distracted driving Article provided by Ellis Law Offices LLP Visit us at http://www.ellislawoffices.com In Massachusetts and across the nation, distracted driving has received increasing attention as the general population becomes more aware of its dangers. This is a good thing, as according to the Department of Transportation, distracted driving killed over 3,000 people in car accidents nationwide during 2010 alone. In addition, the department also reported that distracted drivers injured 416,000 people during the same time period. Although ...

The Open Lane acquisition structure: Shareholders' window for best value Article provided by Klein & Wilson Visit us at http://www.kleinandwilson.com The rights of shareholders are defined by state law, incorporating documents--and sometimes the rules of securities exchanges. Therefore, the rights of shareholders of businesses incorporated in California may have different rights than shareholders of businesses incorporated in other states. Many public companies are incorporated in Delaware and as a result the rights of these shareholders are defined by Delaware ...

Football players at risk of developing serious brain disease Article provided by Law Office of James H. Guest, L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.jguestlaw.com/ Professional athletes in the United States are often idolized, none more so than professional football players. Parents often spend hours on weekends watching football with their young children and many enjoy the thrill of attending games in person, as well. With the star power enjoyed by many football players in the U.S. comes a predictable interest in playing the sport among many young Americans. In fact, ...

How to protect the elderly from financial exploitation Article provided by Mason Thomas Visit us at http://www.masonthomas.com/ From strangers' well-orchestrated scams to family members' or care providers' schemes to steal or divert property, the financial exploitation of senior citizens is a serious, yet often unreported, issue. And survey results released in 2012 by the non-profit Investor Protection Trust suggest that the problem is getting worse. It found that 20 percent of Americans over the age of 65 admit to having been the victims of financial swindles. ...

Bankruptcy an option for South Carolinians struggling with debt Article provided by Lord Law Firm, LLC Visit us at http://www.lordlaw.com/ Nearly one million people filed for personal bankruptcy in the United States during the first three quarters of 2012. Many people in South Carolina go through bankruptcy in order to make ends meet and relieve themselves of demanding debts. Chapter 7 bankruptcy The purpose of bankruptcy is to give a person struggling with debt a fresh start by discharging certain debts. Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows people struggling with ...

Web surfing while behind the wheel increasing, study finds Article provided by Adelman German, P.L.C. Visit us at http://www.adelmangerman.com/ With the increasing social expectation to stay connected, it has become harder for people to put down their cellphones for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, this means that more and more people are using their cellphone while behind the wheel. Although studies in the past have highlighted the dangers of using a cellphone to text or talk behind the wheel, a new study has found that another form of distracted driving ...

Proposed rule may require hedge funds to report own wrongdoing Article provided by Conforti & Turner, LLP Visit us at http://www.conforti-turner.com The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement network has proposed a rule that would make it mandatory for hedge funds to self-report wrongdoing in their day-to-day operations. While hedge funds and other corporations are protected from illegal search and seizure and enjoy freedom of speech, they cannot claim Fifth Amendment rights that protect citizens from revealing self-incriminating information. Proposed ...

ADA litigation among the costs of doing business in California Article provided by Karlin Law Firm Visit us at http://www.karlinlaw.com Since January 2005, more than 16,500 lawsuits alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act have been filed across the country, and California has seen more of these lawsuits than any other state. In this environment, employment-related litigation is an important and inevitable expense that California business owners cannot afford to ignore. Rather, such business owners should focus on retaining competent counsel that ...

Potential change to Kansas' sex trafficking law Article provided by Garretson, Webb & Toth, LLC Visit us at http://www.ks-sexcrimesattorney.com Sex trafficking is still a problem in the United States, and the state of Kansas is currently pushing for legislation that would allow the enforcement of harsher penalties. This push stems from the belief that young girls between the ages of 14 and 17 need protection and that no sexual act can be consensual when a child is involved. Senate Bill 61 The new bill sets out to create a new crime in the state of Kansas. ...

New CHP course aimed at reducing car accidents for teen drivers Article provided by Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr. Visit us at http://www.fiorelegal.com A driver's license is a ticket to freedom for many teens. It means no longer needing to rely on mom and dad to take them from place to place. They are able to go where they want, when they want to go there. While it is exciting for teens to finally be able to drive, they also need to know about some of the risks that may arise when they are behind the wheel. A new program by the California Highway Patrol has ...

Injured workers in Ohio must file their claim within two years Article provided by The Bainbridge Firm LLC Visit us at http://www.bainbridgefirm.com Under Ohio law, workers who are injured or who have contracted "an occupational disease in the course and scope of employment" need to file their workers' compensation claim applications within two years. This time limit is called a statute of limitations. If workers exceed this time frame, they are barred forever from receiving compensation for the injury from Ohio workers' compensation insurance. Permanently ...

Survey finds teens at high risk for drowsy driving Article provided by Browning Law Visit us at http://www.idahofallsattorney.com When you were young, your parents likely stressed the importance of a good night's rest, as sleep can improve your ability to concentrate on life's daily tasks. Unfortunately, not everyone has heeded this sage advice, according to a recent survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and are engaging in drowsy driving--a type of distracted driving. Teens in particular are at risk of driving while drowsy. According to the survey, ...

Study: effects of traumatic brain injuries can persist for years Article provided by Browning Law Visit us at http://www.idahofallsattorney.com Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a serious health problem nationwide. TBIs are caused by a bump or blow to the head or an injury that penetrates the skull resulting in the brain's inability to function normally. Each year, about 1.7 million people in the United States suffer a TBI, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Additionally, TBIs cost about $52 billion each year to treat and are responsible for about ...