When it comes to estate planning, there are a lot of myths out there. Many people think that a lawyer is not needed to create a will, but this is not the case. A lawyer can help you in many ways. A lawyer can help you understand the estate planning process Estate planning can be complicated; it involves making decisions…
Most federally backed mortgage lenders are required to provide annual statements regarding the status of each escrow account it services under §2609(c)(2) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. While this section tells mortgage servicers what to do, §1024.17 of Regulation X tells them how to calculate your escrow payments. The first step projects the taxes and insurance anticipated to be paid over…
So you fell behind on your credit card payments and now the credit card lender has sued you. While you should prepare for a defense as soon as possible, this blog may have reached you too late and now they have entered a judgment against you. If the suit was filed with a Magisterial District Justice, I have good news and…
If you own your home or any other real estate in Pennsylvania, your county, municipality and school district probably assess a real estate tax. For example, if you live in Harrisburg, you will be assessed a real estate tax by Dauphin County, the City of Harrisburg and Harrisburg School District. Each tax is calculated based on the assessed value of…
On August 24, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced targeted student debt cancellation programs to address the continuing impact of COVID-19 on borrowers’ income. The program cancels debt held by the Department of Education (click here and sign in to see if your loans are affected since bank and other loans are not included) for borrowers who earned annual income during the…
In the last blog, we explored legal safeguards in place to protect your residence from foreclosure. This blog will explore remedies beyond legal safeguards within foreclosure litigation to save your home. So even if you cannot cure all of the arrears prior to a Sheriff Sale, alternatives exist to keep your law and you in your home. The first alternative…
Estate planning is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for those with loved ones who may be dependent on them. One of the most important estate planning documents is a beneficiary designation. What is a beneficiary designation? A beneficiary designation is an estate planning document that names the person or persons who receive your assets after you die. The…
A man’s (or woman’s) home is his (or her) castle. In recognition of this adage, Pennsylvania state law provides various protections to homeowners when marauders (including mortgage companies) attack. While most of the rights and obligations of the parties are contained in the Mortgage Note and Mortgage, residents have protections beyond the four-corners of that exceedingly long document. What is…
Income-driven repayment plans may be a good way to manage student loan debt. If the Loan Simulator indicates that you will do better with an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, you still have plenty of options. The following options are available: Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment (REPAYE) Plan Participants pay 10% of their discretionary income (total household income less 150%…
So, you are beyond the need for a deferment or forbearance in your student loan payments and now you are looking for a long-term solution to paying your student loan balance. Most of your federal student loans offer several options for repayment depending upon your circumstances. Some are considered “traditional” and others are considered “income-driven” or IDR. The traditional repayment plans…