Read Our Reviews

Call Now! 855-780-4357

Younger Generations Worse Off Than Older Generations

Over the history of the United States there has been a general trend of increased wealth with each passing generation.  However, analysis by the Pew Research Center points to the exact opposite.  The older generations have been able to amass more wealth over time relative to the younger generations.  Despite the obvious ability to collect more wealth by living longer, households in 1984 headed by people 35 years and younger had a median net worth of $7,859 greater than households headed by people 35 years and younger in 2009.  Today, the wealth gap between households headed by people age 65 and older and households headed by people age 35 and younger has never been wider.  In 1984 the 65 year old age group had a median net worth 10 times greater than the 35 year old age group. Today the 65 year old age group holds a median net worth 47 times greater than the 35 year old age group.

Besides a weak economy, there are several other likely culprits to this increasing net worth gap.  For instance, today’s individuals are starting their independent lives later and putting home ownership off longer.  The increased cost of attending college also has aided in this change; younger generations are attending college in greater numbers compared to the older generations.

The Pew Research Center attributes the largest factor in the increased wealth gap to the housing market.  The report said, “While rising home equity helped drive wealth gains for the older generation over the long-term, younger people had less time to ride out the housing market’s volatility — especially its most recent boom and bust.”  Whatever the reason for the increased net worth gap, one thing is certain, the younger generation is not better off financially than their parents and grandparents.

 

Source:

Annalyn Censky, Older Americans are 47 times richer than young, https://money.cnn.com/2011/11/07/news/economy/wealth_gap_age/index.htm?iid=HP_River (accessed November 8, 2011)

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Foreclosure Sales Down, but Will Likely Increase Later in 2011

During the second quarter of 2011, almost one third of all home sales were foreclosures. According to RealtyTrac Inc., foreclosure sales made up 31% of home sales during April through June 2011. A foreclosure sale occurs when a home is purchased after the owner receives a notice of default or when a home is repossessed. The second quarter foreclosure sales represent a decrease from the foreclosures during the first quarter of this year. However, the figure is six times the percentage of foreclosures that is considered healthy for the housing market. Overall, 265,087 homes that were in foreclosure were sold during the second quarter.

The percentage of foreclosure sales would have been larger without a federal and state investigation into the foreclosure process. An investigation has been launched because of defective foreclosure paperwork kept by banks and mortgage servicers. The investigation has caused foreclosures to be delayed and foreclosures will likely increase when the investigation is complete.

Nevada had the highest foreclosure percentage, with foreclosures making up 65% of all home sales. Arizona and California followed, with foreclosures accounting for 57% and 51% of home sales. Michigan, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Oregon also had foreclosure sales that made up at least one third of home sales.

 

 

Source:

Associated Press, Foreclosures Likely to Surge Again This Year, https://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/08/25/foreclosures-likely-to-surge-again-this-year/ (accessed August 25, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

U.S. Postal Service Close to Bankruptcy

The U.S. Postal Service has been struggling financially. Patrick R. Donahoe, the postmaster general, has stated that if Congress does not take action the agency will not be able to make a $5.5 billion payment this month and may be forced to shut down this winter. Recently, the Postal Service has proposed cuts to eliminate a deficit that will rise to $9.2 billion this year. The proposed cuts include ending Saturday delivery, closing 3,700 locations, and laying off 120,000 employees.

The financial problems can be attributed to lower revenue and increasing costs for the Postal Service. Fewer people and businesses are utilizing post office services, largely because of increased Internet usage. Additionally, the Postal Service has contractual obligations to its employees, including no-layoff provisions, which have resulted in increased costs. Labor costs account for 80% of the Postal Service’s expenses, compared to 53% at UPS and 32% at FedEx. Postal Service employees also receive better health benefits than other government employees.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees will consider the Postal Service’s situation this week. Democrats and Republicans have been unable to reach an agreement on a solution. If the Postal Service does miss the $5.5 billion payment due at the end of September, an emergency will not immediately occur. However, in early 2012, the Postal Service will be unable to pay for its operations and will have to shut down.

 

 

Source:

Steven Greenhouse, Postal Service on Verge of Going Broke, Shutting Down, https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44396682/ns/business-us_business/#.TmUMDzuF4ro (accessed September 5, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Burt Reynolds Facing Foreclosure

Burt Reynolds Facing Foreclosure

Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation has sued Burt Reynolds over his Florida home. According to the lawsuit, the 75-year-old actor is behind $1.2 million on the mortgage for his home in Hobe Sound, Florida. Reynolds has not made a payment on the home since September 2010. BankAtlantic holds a second mortgage of $750,000 on the home and was also named in the lawsuit. Reynolds’ Florida home is 12,500 square feet and is valued at $2.4 million. The actor attempted to sell the home in 2009, listing the property at $8.9 million. However, a poor housing market and high asking price made it difficult to sell the home.

The foreclosure suit is not the first time Reynolds has faced financial difficulty. In the 1990s, Reynolds filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a divorce and poor career and investment choices. Reynolds also owns a home in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is currently filming a made for TV movie.

 

Source:

Tim Kenneally, Burt Reynolds Slapped with Foreclosure Lawsuit over Florida Home, https://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=664577&GT1=28101 (accessed August 18, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Payday Loans Dangerous For Borrowers

Payday loans are short-term loans offered by lenders as an advance on the borrower’s paycheck. Payday loan lenders are located in stores and online. Generally, it is a good idea to take out a payday loan only if it can be paid back immediately. Payday loans are one of the most expensive types of credit. The loans carry high interest rates, and interest adds up quickly if payment is not made on time. It is not uncommon for borrowers of payday loans to pay 700 or 800% interest. Payday loans are usually easy to get. The money usually is transferred in a few hours, and borrowers only need a paystub to prove they are employed. In most circumstances, payday loans are dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Payday loans often are targeted to people who cannot afford them. Additionally, most lenders do not sufficiently disclose the interest rates and other costs. Borrowers who apply for online payday loans have to be careful to avoid enrolling in additional programs. Online applications often include opportunities to sign up for unrelated programs, such as travel, phone, or Internet plans. A borrower can easily become enrolled in these programs and will be charged every month. Regulation of payday loans varies from state to state. The predatory behavior by lenders has caused many to question the existence of payday loans.

 

 

Source:

Sheryl Nance-Nash, How Online Payday Loans Can Get You in Trouble, https://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/08/10/how-online-payday-loans-can-get-you-in-trouble/ (accessed August 14, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Past Relevant Work


Video Transcription:

Hi, my name is Andrew Kinney.  I’m an attorney at Hoglund Law offices.  I practice Social Security Disability Law.  Today I wanted to talk about past relevant work.

It’s a phrase that Social Security uses a lot. It means the work you used to do within the last 15 years.  Why is past relevant work important to your case?  Well, when social security makes decisions about disability insurance and supplemental security income they go through a process.  They decide first if someone is currently working, it’s called SJ issues.  Then they look to what medical problems affect work in a basic way.  It’s called a severities step. The third step is deciding if the individual meets or equals any sort of definition or listing of disability.  The fourth step finally is can you return to you past relevant work; what you used to do?  And they have definitions of what you used to do exactly as opposed to what you used to do in the general category.  There is another step after that as to your ability to perform other work.  But in terms of performing past relevant work social security evaluates your past relevant work in every single case.

Now the essence of past relevant work is you probably know you can’t return to your past work if you’re applying for benefits, the medical standard is can you work full time at either your past work or other work.  That generally applies to most people depending on age.  So practically speaking, most people who are considering disability or have applied for social security disability benefits don’t think they can return to their past relevant work.

Now here’s the crux of the problem. Social Security, at least when you’re under 50, now will consider if you can return to not just what you used to do perhaps a specialist in something, skilled craftsman, maybe a lawyer. Social security will look not to whether you can return to that job let’s say you had a stroke and can’t concentrate too well they’ll consider that people under 50 whether they can return to other work as well.  So you can benefit greatly from having some legal advice as to whether you should apply or if you have applied how do I meet my definition of disability because if the only thing you can’t do is your past work you can probably perform some other part time work in some other capacity.   Your attorney is going to need to make arguments that you are by definition disabled.  You are by definition disabled if you meet certain criteria.  And again I’ll mention stroke but it can be any matter of health problems.  A lot of the health problems are listed under our disability library at www.HoglundLaw.com

The other instance where past relevant work actually is very important though is if you are over 50 or within 6 months of age 50.  And this can happen after you apply or can happen after you have your pending appeal.  In that case social security looks to see if you have physical restrictions first.  If physically you’re limited to sit down work or sedentary work.  And the definition of sedentary is within social security’s regulations.  As absorbed to the dictionary of occupational title.  Social Security looks to see if you can’t return to your past work and you’re limited to sit down work, if you’re over 50, and you don’t have skills that could shift into other sort of sedentary work you can be what’s called gridded out.  There are some guidelines that social security uses for people over 50 and that’s again an instance where past relevant work is crucial.

If you have questions about past relevant work please feel free, if you don’t already have an attorney call our office at 1-800-850-7867 you can also go on our website at www.HoglundLaw.com.  Hopefully this information can help you.  If we can actually represent you that’s wonderful.  But keep in mind that these concepts are specific to Social Security so getting to know them is very important.  Thank you.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

5 Reasons To Get An Attorney – Handling your own Social Security Case


Video Transcription:

“Hi, my name is Andrew Kinney.  I’m an attorney at Hoglund Law offices.  I practice Social Security Disability Law.  I also help people with supplemental security income, otherwise known as SSI.  Today I wanted to talk about why it may not be in your best interest to handle your own social security case.

Well, I have 5 reasons.  First, when you apply, it’s very important is that your application is complete.  You can apply online or in person or you can apply over the phone.  What you don’t know though is, is everything in?  Do they have all the information they need?  And ultimately, did I choose the right date when I said I first couldn’t work?  That isn’t always obvious.

The second reason why you may not want to handle your want social security case is that you have to appeal at every step within a certain deadline.  So you have an application stage, a reconsideration stage, a hearing stage, and what’s called the appeals counsel after the hearing stage.  There are deadlines between each of those stages, and if you miss those deadlines you perhaps could have good cause. But, generally you cannot expect to do anything but start over if you miss appeals.

A third reason why not to handle your own social security case is that during the process you can get input from doctors beyond medical records.  What form of input would help?  What do doctors need to comment on?  How can doctors comment on it?  Who gets it if you get a letter form a doctor?  Are there better forms or charts that would otherwise be available?  These are issues that a lawyer can help you with.

A fourth reason to perhaps why not handle your social security case on your own is one of the two most important reasons.  The fourth reason is that you’re at a hearing.  The judge is a federal judge, you’re in a private conference room, with a tape running.  You’ve given a testimony, the judge is a trained lawyer, there is generally always a job expert in there trained in social security law, wondering whether you can do work, there may even be a medical expert in there talking about your own medical records and wondering whether the standards that disability has are met.  So if you think about it, you’re in a hearing and you have to give your own testimony about why you don’t feel well, why you’re disabled, why you haven’t returned to work and what work you worked for.  You have to be ready to cross examine these experts.  So keep in mind that if you want this kind of help, if you want a trained attorney that does hearings all the time, it’s easy enough within reason to try to hire someone late in the game.  But don’t wait any later if you decide you need a lawyer.

The fifth reason and I would think the biggest reason that you should perhaps consider not handling your own social security case is that you don’t feel well.  If you have a medical problem particularly a psychological problem or maybe chronic pain that affects your ability to concentrate, handling your own social security case alone is very, very difficult enough, let alone not feeling well.  So, if you keep that in mind, knowing that you don’t feel well, feel free to call our offices at www.HoglundLaw.com.  You can also call us at 1-800-850-7867.  Thank you.”

 

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Adaptative Functioning


Video Transcription:

Hi, my name is Andrew Kinney.  I’m an attorney at Hoglund Law offices.  I practice Social Security Disability.  Today I’m going to talk a little more about cases involving borderline intellectual functioning.

I have a previous video that discusses the basics of how social security uses definitions of disability to defining impairments with IQ scores.  What I’m going to talk about now is more specific, adaptive functioning.  Adaptive functioning is claimants have been able to survive and actually thrive in a work environment.  That’s a good thing, but that doesn’t always happen.  So if you are pursuing social security benefits on borderline intellectual functioning, or social security calls it mental retardation under listing 1205 C, It is very important for your attorney to know that we have evidence of adaptive functioning.

functioning, because if an individual has shown, despite the work history, they only worked alongside family members or close friends with understanding bosses, they may not have adapted properly. So in those situations, if someone has not adapted then that would be evidence of it, and so I would perhaps have a family member testify at the hearing, that they helped them get the job, they showed up at the job during lunch, they had interactions with the boss.

It comes down to this:  Sometimes jobs that people do look like they’ve adapted and can function well, and that’s a good thing, but sometimes the actual job the way its performed is more toward sheltered workshops or sheltered work.  That sort of work is done with direct supervision and its different than competitive work.

There are other examples of where adaptive functioning comes into play.  For instance, if they went back to school and learned a specific skill or not.  There are also questions about day-to-day activities.  Reading the paper, basic functions, taking the bus.  There are a lot of other examples about what adaptive functioning actually is and it’s important at hearings to get evidence of it.  If you have further questions about adaptive functioning, borderline intellectual functioning in general, or just about getting benefits for social security disability please feel free to call our offices at 1-800-850-7867.  You can also go to www.HoglundLaw.com.  Thank you.

 

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Dismissal of a claim – Administrative Law Judge – Social Security ALJ


Video Transcription:

“Hi, my name is Andrew Kinney.  I am an attorney at Hoglund Law offices.  I practice social security disability law.  Today I wanted to talk about dismissal of hearings by Administrative Law Judges, otherwise known as ALJ’s.

When you apply for social security disability, there could be a big difference from the time you apply to the time of your hearing.  Sometimes as much as 2 years or more depending on the area you live. By the time you get to your hearing you would have gotten a letter roughly 3 weeks in advance stating the time and location of your hearing.  Well, people often relocate and can even lose contact with the attorney that’s helping them with their social security claim.  So, sometimes we have dismissals of hearings by the SSA when someone doesn’t show up for their hearing.

Now I wanted to distinguish dismissals from withdrawals from hearings.  Withdrawals would mean if someone is helping you with your social security claim and you decide that it’s in your best interest to not pursue the hearing, for instance if there’s not enough evidence and the attorney has given you good legal judgment on that.  Sometimes you withdraw your hearing request and you re-file and start over and the last denial is the reconsideration denial.  This is different. If you have a dismissal. That means that you didn’t show and there was no explanation why you didn’t show.  If you have an attorney, you technically have a right to protect your right to a hearing by having the attorney show on your behalf, but at some point for you to get a proper hearing, it will be important to be able to appear at your hearing because there would be at least a rescheduling of one hearing.

So, if you have a dismissal of a hearing and you’re wondering what to do, the first thing you should do is call the hearing office.  Also, call your attorney, if you have one, and find out what to do.  Now there are some factors that are hard to quantify. For instance, if it’s over a year that you’ve missed your hearing and you’re first learning about it I have not had any experience where someone has been able to get a new hearing.  But, if it’s within a certain amount of time since you’ve had your hearing and you’ve missed it, what’s very important is that you have an opportunity to offer what’s called the cause.  Here’s why I missed my hearing, here’s my circumstances, it could be family emergency, it could be homelessness, it could be many factors.  But, what the judges need to allow a new hearing and avoid a dismissal is a good reason to miss your first hearing.  If you have an attorney that’s helping you, they will get involved.

Last winter we had examples of the snow being too bad to be able to get in to a hearing.  Or, an inordinate amount of traffic.  If there are some more practical reasons you couldn’t make it on time to your hearing those may have a better chance of getting a hearing rescheduled.  So if you have a hearing dismissal letter or at least the threat for it, make sure to respond right away.  If you find that it’s too late and you lost your right to a hearing, what you can do is re-file a new case, get an attorney, and help them re-open the prior case.

So, that can take a lot of time. But, it is the best thing you can do to make up for what would be lost back pay.  If you have more questions about dismissals from administrative law judges, or just general questions about social security disability feel free to call our office at 1-800-850-7867.  You can also visit www.HoglundLaw.com.  We also have other videos about different subjects to help you.”

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Taxes On Credit Cards

Don’t charge taxes on a credit card before filing

When preparing to file a bankruptcy, there are a number of things which an individual should not do. One of these is to use a credit card or loan to pay taxes.

If one pays for owed taxes by charging them on a credit card or taking out a loan, the credit card company or creditor will be able to object to the discharge of that debt. There is a rule in bankruptcy that allows a creditor to object to the discharge of a debt that was incurred because a debtor used that creditor’s loan to pay taxes if the taxes were charged or paid within the last year.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

How to Understand Debt and Avoid Problems

Despite all the negative headlines, debt is not always bad. Good debt can allow people to do what they otherwise could not, including, going to college, or buying a house or car. Bad debt is used to make purchases that are not necessary and purchases the borrower cannot afford. One way to determine if something is good debt or bad debt is the interest rate. Generally, good debt is more affordable and can be tax deductible. There is an additional type of debt in-between good and bad debt, which can be referred to as “convenience debt.” This debt represents the monthly credit card balance that builds up because it is easier to pay for purchases with a credit card. Convenience debt should be paid off on time each month to avoid interest charges.
It is important to remember that the fastest way to get out of debt is to pay off the most expensive debt first. Therefore, if you are behind on more than one credit card, you should put the most money toward paying off the most expensive card and pay the minimum balance on the others. Another important step is to take care of your credit report and credit score. To maintain a high credit score you should pay bills on time, pay down credit card debt to below 10% of the card’s limit, do not apply for new credit cards or close credit card accounts, and maintain a history of paying phone and utility bills on time.
If debt becomes overwhelming or something occurs that will make repayment more difficult, inform creditors of what has happened. Many companies will be willing to work with you by lowering interest rates or fees, extending the term of the debt, or reducing the amount of debt.

Source:
Jean Chatzky, How To Avoid Debt Problems Before They Start, https://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31507914/ns/today-money/ (accessed August 1, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

What is a deed in lieu of foreclosure?

What is a deed in lieu of foreclosure?

With so many individuals unable to afford to keep their homes, many people are looking for ways to walk away from their home.

One option is to do a deed in lieu of foreclosure. When a person signs a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the person is essentially signing the property over to the mortgage without forcing the mortgage company to go through a foreclosure to reclaim the property. When a property is foreclosed upon, the mortgage company must follow state laws which set up a number of steps a mortgage company must complete in order to take over possession of the property. This can be a drawn out process and typically the mortgage company will incur costs such as attorney’s fees when undertaking a foreclosure.

When an individual signs a deed in lieu of foreclosure that person is essentially giving the mortgage company permission to bypass the foreclosure process and take back possession of the property immediately.

Clearly, in this situation the mortgage company benefits by skipping over the expensive step of foreclosure; however, the property more quickly enters onto their books as a foreclosed property. Some mortgage companies have “Cash for Keys” programs that will offer financial compensation for owners willing to vacate their property more quickly.

The benefit for the homeowner in a deed in lieu of foreclosure is not as obvious. Many individuals believe that their credit will be spared by doing a deed in lieu of foreclosure. This is not the case. A deed in lieu of foreclosure can still adversely affect a person’s credit score.

In addition, when a person signs the deed in lieu of foreclosure that person is giving up his or her right to occupy the property during the redemption period. In Minnesota as in many states, a homeowner is allowed a time period after a sheriff sale to try to refinance the property or pay off the entire mortgage in full in order to keep the home. During the redemption period, the homeowner is entitled to keep possession of the home. In Minnesota, this period typically last 6 months. In certain circumstances it can last a full year. Essentially this means that a person can lose their home to a foreclosure and yet remain in the property until the redemption period expires. During this time the homeowner’s name remains on the title of the property and the homeowner is responsible for the property. The homeowner is not required to make mortgage payments on the property during this time and therefore has a chance to save up money that would have been spent on rent.

Signing a deed in lieu of foreclosure ends this right. It can however occasionally be in a homeowner’s best interest to sign a deed in lieu of foreclosure. For example, if an individual has already moved out of the property, having their name remain on the title is a liability for them if the property is not being maintained.  For example, if the lawn is not mowed, the city could cite the homeowner for the violation.

Another concern that an individual should have when considering signing a deed in lieu of foreclosure is whether the mortgage company will choose to go after the homeowner for a deficiency balance if the property subsequently sells for less than the homeowner owes the mortgage company. One should be wary about signing an agreement that makes them responsible for the difference.

Not all mortgage companies will willingly allow a homeowner to sign a deed in lieu of foreclosure straight away. Often the mortgage company will force the homeowner to put the property up for sale before considering the option of a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A homeowner may incur unnecessary costs in doing this.

Whether or not signing a deed in lieu of foreclosure is in a person’s best interest depends on a number of factors. Before making such a decision, an individual would be wise to consult with an attorney regarding their options.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

How Americans Are Reducing Spending

Many Americans are facing difficult financial situations. Results from a new Harris study show how consumers are reducing their expenses. (Today) The survey asked consumers to respond to whether they had thought about using different methods of saving money in the past six months. The results are listed below, along with the percentage of those surveyed that considered the method. (DailyFinance)

  1. Saving money at the grocery store, 67%
  2. Packing a lunch instead of buying one, 46%
  3. Going to a hairstylist less often, 43%
  4. Switching to reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water, 39%
  5. Ending magazine subscriptions, 31%
  6. Reducing amount of dry cleaning, 24%
  7. Cancelling or reducing cable TV service, 22%
  8. Stopping morning coffee purchases, 21%
  9. Ending newspaper subscriptions, 18%

10.  Ending landline phone service, 16%

11.  Ending or reducing cell phone service, 14%

12.  Using public transportation or carpooling, 14%

 

 

Source:

12 Ways Americans Are Cutting Back on Spending, https://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2011/07/06/7029594-12-ways-americans-are-cutting-back-on-spending (accessed July 10, 2011).

 

Top 10 Ways Americans Are Cutting Back on Spending, https://www.dailyfinance.com/photos/top-ways-americans-are-cutting-everyday-spending/4276496/?icid=sphere_copyright# (accessed July 10, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Princess Diana’s Dresses Will Be Auctioned To Cover Bankruptcy Debt

Fourteen well-known dresses worn by the late Princess Diana will be auctioned off in Toronto. The proceeds from the sale will be used to settle bankruptcy debts. Maureen Rorech Dunkel, a Florida entrepreneur, bought the dresses in 1997 when Diana sold them to raise money for charity. Princess Diana died in a car accident just two months after the original sale.

Dunkel belived the dresses were a good investment when she purchased them. She put the dresses on display in many different countries and formed the People’s Princess Charitable Foundation. However, Dunkel went bankrupt in 2010 and decided to sell the dresses to cover her debts. The fourteen dresses are worth more than she owes.

One of the most famous dresses in the collection is a black dress Diana wore to a White House dinner in 1985, where she danced with John Travolta. That dress is expected to raise between $800,000 and $1 million. Bidders from the United States, Canada, China, Germany, and Britain have all shown interest in the dress.

Source:

Ellen Tumposky, 14 Dresses: Princess Diana’s Iconic Gowns Go Under the Hammer, https://abcnews.go.com/US/princess-dianas-dresses-hammer-toronto/story?id=13904367 (accessed June 23, 2011).

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →