FAMILY LAW

 

Chuck understands that a divorce is a major life-changing event.  He understands how important truly personal legal counsel can be.  He will make sure you understand your rights and your options throughout the process.  He even understands your need for value, and strives to keep your fees as low and predictable as possible.  He is also there to assist you with whatever family law needs you may have, including child support, spousal support, child custody, visitation, grandparent visitation, and more.  Give him a call for a free consultation. 

 

COHABITAION AGREEMENTS

 

In today's society, many people put off marriage and live together.  While cohabitating generally avoids many of the potential financial consequences of divorce upon a breakup, a cohabitation agreement can often help avoid strife during the relationship and keep animosity to a minimum during a breakup.  A cohabitation agreement can formally specify the basic obligations and expectations of each party in regards to such things as rent, utilities, groceries, and even the division of domestic chores during the relationship.  And perhaps most importantly, it can control the disposition of assets acquired during the relationship in the event of a breakup.  A cohabitation agreement can be executed before you move in together or even if you are already living together.  Call Chuck today to help protect yourself with a cohabitation agreement.

 

Thanks to toll free phone and fax service, mail and email, most everything concerning your case can be handled without the necessity of an office visit.  This allows Chuck to represent clients throughout the state of West Virginia. 

 

 

With fees as low as $699 plus costs, you know Chuck understands when you are esperiencing financial difficulty, every dollar counts.  You'll find no judgments when you talk to Chuck.  A previous career in the finance and collection industries means he knows that most honest, hard-working people are merely the loss of one paycheck away from financial problems.  He knows how penalty interest rates, late fees, and other charges often prevent you from catching up when you get behind on your bills.  He also understands how difficult it can be to recover from a job loss, a major medical expense, or an extended illness in your family.  Sometimes there are options other than bankruptcy; he'll talk to you and explore the options that are best for you individually, and if necessary, help you seek relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

Filing bankruptcy can put a stop to annoying or harassing creditor calls; stop foreclosure proceedings; stop lawsuits; stop repossessions; and stop wage garnishments.  Despite what you may have heard, the changes in bankruptcy law have not affected most people's ability to obtain relief under the bankruptcy code.  And depending on your individual circumstances, you probably won't lose your home or car in bankruptcy. 

 

You may have heard that a "means test" is now required to determine whether you qualify to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the most common and advantageous type of bankruptcy for most people whose debts are mostly consumer debts such as credit cards and medical bills.  Don't worry.  If your income is at or below the median income for your state, you are still presumed to be eligible to file Chapter 7.  For instance, for cases filed after November 1, 2010, the Wood County West Virginia median household income for a family of four is $4942 gross per month, or over $59,000 per year.  And even if your household income exceeds the median, most people still qualify when all the available legal factors such as housing expenses, living expenses, transportation expenses, and vehicle ownership expenses are considered.

 

Do you live in Ohio and still want to retain Chuck for your bankruptcy?  Don't worry.  Bankruptcies for Ohio residents just across the Ohio River from Parkersburg, WV are routinely filed in the Southern District of West Virginia using Ohio's bankruptcy exemptions.  Your Meeting of Creditors or hearings would be held conveniently in Parkersburg.  So even if you are a resident of Ohio, call Chuck for further details regarding filing outside your normal jurisdiction.

 

For most people contemplating bankruptcy, the process is mostly a matter of gathering up the information to give Chuck.  You will generally need at least your last two years income tax returns, paystubs showing your last six months income, your last six months bank statements, and the most recent statement or collection letter from each of your creditors.  You want to be sure every bill is included in your bankruptcy, whether you intend to pay the debt or not - from your smallest collection account up to your first mortgage.  Chuck can often assist you in obtaining free copies of your credit bureau reports to help ensure you have accounted for all your obligations. 

 

Once all the required information has been provided, Chuck will complete and file your bankruptcy petition and schedules, then a "meeting of creditors" is scheduled by the bankruptcy court at the closest available location to you.  You and Chuck will attend the hearing together, which will be held in front of a Banruptcy Trustee.  The Trustee will ask you some very basic questions regarding your situation, and then creditors will be permitted to ask you questions as well; however, seldom do any creditors actually appear, so this hearing generally lasts only a few minutes.  Assuming there are no objections from any of your creditors or other problems with your filing, this is the only time you will have to appear in court for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

 

The last thing you need when considering bankruptcy is a judgmental attorney.  Call Chuck for a non-judgmental and helpful interview, and let him guide you through the bankruptcy process as comfortably as possible.