Don't spend your long weekend behind bars

Labor Day weekend typically marks the end of summer for most, especially for families with school aged children and college students. Labor Day celebrations will undoubtedly continue throughout the weekend raising the likelihood for motor vehicle accidents.

The Michigan State Police program, "Over the Limit, Under Arrest," cracks down on drunk driving during holiday weekends, Labor Day being one of them. Last year MSP made 230 arrests for drunk driving and reported 11 fatalities, 4 of which were alcohol related.

Keep yourself, your friends and family and fellow motorists safe; designate a driver.

From all of us here at Attorney Meiers office, have a safe and happy holiday!

Handling student loan debt

 

Student loans have been a popular topic lately, and if you, like many other graduates are wondering how you will afford the payments on that huge bill, you may have options. If you haven't landed that dream job yet, and are having trouble making payments, you may qualify for flexible payments or deferment until you are in a better financial position.

But, if you are like many who have been under water on your student loans since you graduated years ago, and thought filing bankruptcy could help, it probably will not. There are exceptions as they apply to a hardship discharge however, its safe to believe student loans will generally survive the bankruptcy. There are other options available including forbearance, forgiveness, and loan consolidation that can make paying your loans a more manageable task.

If you have questions about bankruptcy or debt relief contact the office of Attorney Erwin F. Meiers, III today

Attorney Meiers competes in Warrior Dash!

The Warrior Dash took place Saturday and Sunday, July 28 &29.

Congrats to Attorney Meiers for competing in the 2012 Warrior Dash and finishing with a time of 1:09:07.75! The event took place in Mt. Morris on Saturday July 28th and Sunday July 29th. The race covered 3.25 miles and included 11 muddy obstacles. For any warriors who may have missed the event, there will be another Warrior Dash taking place September 15th in Walker, MI.

Are you driving Super Drunk?

Its Friday night, the bar is closing down and if you haven't designated a driver, you risk getting pulled over on your drive home. Especially if you have had a few more drinks than you should have. Michigan's new Super drunk laws aim to stick drunk drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.17 or above with higher fees, more jail time and a possible one year suspension of their drivers license.Consequences like these can have a devastating effect on your personal and professional life, not to mention your pocketbook.

According to a recent article in the Flint Journal, since the law went into action in 2010, only 5 people in the city of Flint have been convicted of driving "super drunk" and advocates for the law are arguing for more convictions. Currently, drivers convicted of drunk driving still receive hefty fines and consequences. Even a "regulatory" drunk driving offense can mean 90 days in jail, fees and possible license suspension.

Drunk driving is a serious matter, if you are facing drunk driving or Super Drunk charges, contact the law offices of Erwin F. Meiers, III. Don't let tonight be the night you regret.

Careless driving can mean serious business

People do all sorts of things while driving. Eating, putting on makeup or talking on your phone while driving can be dangerous business. Take this accident that happened on Sunday for example, where a driver, who was talking on the phone, left the roadway and struck a local municipal building sign. In addition to any damages caused to your vehicle, you can be ticketed for distracted, reckless or careless driving.

In the state of Michigan a careless driving ticket can come with a hefty fine and the possibility of points being added to your license.

In some cases, you may even need to appear in court. If you are facing a traffic violation such as Careless/ Reckless Driving, Suspended or Revoked Driver's License or Disobeying Traffic Signs call the offices of Attorney Erwin F. Meiers, III.

Prenups: unromantic or smart planning?

You have the ring, now what? Many celebrity marriages have made prenuptial agreements a popular topic in the news and online. While a prenup is probably the last thing on your mind as you prepare for your day of wedded bliss, its becoming a more and more common trend. And its not just for celebrities or millionaire businessmen. Couples who are marrying later in life with established wealth and credit are drawing up prenups as a way to protect their hard work.

Having a prenup doesn't always mean you'll get or lose millions in the case of divorce, a prenup is a way to protect assets gained before the marriage. In the event of a divorce, a prenup can also provide a predetermined plan for splitting up joint assets.


A prenuptial agreement is valid only if it is completed prior to marriage. There are five things that are required for it to be valid:
1) Must be written
2) Must be voluntarily executed
3) Full and/or fair disclosure at time of execution
4) The agreement can't be unconscionable
5) Must be acknowledged by both parties before a notary public.

Attorney Erwin F. Meiers, III can help guide you through the prenuptial process, call today.

Fourth of July Safe Travel Tips

Hot dogs, cold beer and fireworks sound like a traditional all American 4th of July celebration and that's exactly right. Statistics show 252 million pounds of fireworks are sold for personal use and 150 million hotdogs are consumed each 4th of July. With 87% of American households owning their own grill, many of us will choose to celebrate at home but some will travel to visit with friends and family. If your plans include travel, keep in mind that drunk driving enforcement is typically greater over holiday weekends and that in 2009 Fourth of July drunk driving accidents accounted for 410 deaths nationwide.

Travel safely, choose a designated driver and pack alcohol away while traveling. If you find yourself facing drunk driving charges following the holiday weekend, call the office of Attorney Erwin F. Meiers, III.

Happy 4th of July!

What can credit counseling do for you?

If you recently looked into filing for bankruptcy, you may have heard the term credit counseling.

Before you will be able to file for bankruptcy, you are required to take an approved credit counseling course as a way to determine if bankruptcy is your best option. Credit counseling is mandatory when applying for both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy even if a payment plan will not be feasible for your situation. Once you complete the course you will be given a certificate stating you completed the course. In some instances a repayment plan is proposed; if so, you must submit this to the court as well. After your bankruptcy begins, you will be required to take another course teaching you financial management skills.

The new skills you learn during credit counseling will put you on your way to financial freedom.

Call the law office of Attorney Erwin F. Meiers, III to discuss your bankruptcy and credit counseling options.

Beware of Zombie Debt

Zombie debts can come back years later to haunt you.

With all this talk of zombies in the news, here's another type of zombie you may not have known about.

No, it's not flesh eating zombies, but zombie debt.
Zombie debt is a term that has been applied to debts that were (or so you thought) settled and done. Because debts can be sold from one collection agency to another there is a great opportunity for making money in the reanimation (this is where the Zombie moniker comes in) of a debt you thought was resolved. Knowing about Zombie debt is important because even debt that has been resolved through bankruptcy or resulted from identity theft can come back to haunt you. Some consumers have even been threatened or sued over zombie debt, both practices that could be considered illegal if the debt is fraudulent.

If its illegal why is it happening?
Each state has its own statute of limitations on how long a debt can go unpaid before you are no longer responsible for paying it. However, collection agencies can purchase these debts from the original creditor for just pennies on the dollar allowing them to make a huge profit if you pay on it. Paying on the debt or even admitting that it is yours can reopen the statute of limitations.

So do you really owe on this debt and if not, how do you kill something you thought was dead?
First, find out if the debt is yours and was not paid. Many zombie debts are the result of identity theft, are fraudulent debts or are past the statute of limitations and you are not responsible for paying them. If you are unsure of the debt, do not discuss it with the collector over the phone. Ask for the mailing address of the company and dispute it in writing. If the debt is legitimate and you do not respond to the collection agency, they can take you to court. If you receive notice that you are being taken to court, contact a lawyer and dispute the debt in court with legal representation.

Don't let zombie debt get your credit score, contact Attorney Erwin F. Meiers, III today to discuss your debt.

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/z/zombie-debt.asp#axzz1yuKcpBqV
http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/debt-management/zombie-debt.htm
http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/31/debt-creditors-default-pf-education-in_af_1031investopedia_inl.html

Automatic Stays and your bankruptcy

What is an automatic stay? An 'Automatic Stay' is put in place once a bankruptcy claim is made. An automatic stay puts a hold on pesky phone calls from collection and repossession agencies.

According to the senate report relating to Automatic Stays: "The automatic stay is one of the fundamental debtor protections provided by the bankruptcy laws. It gives the debtor a breathing spell from his creditors, stopping all collection efforts, all harassment, and all foreclosure actions. It permits the debtor to attempt a repayment or reorganization plan, or simply to be relieved of the financial pressures that drove him into bankruptcy. Notes of Committee on the Judiciary, Senate Report No. 95-989"

While the automatic stay is temporary it may give you the relief you need to get through the bankruptcy process. As with any legal matter you should discuss all of your options with your attorney and make a fully informed decision.

If you are struggling with bankruptcy or harassing collection calls, contact the offices of Attorney Erwin F. Meiers today.

Determining Chapter 7 eligibility with a means test

Are you considering filing for bankruptcy and keep seeing the term "means test?" The means test was developed to determine if you are eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and to aid in separating Chapter 7 eligible persons from those who are not eligible.

The means test is a series of questions involving income and expenses. Qualifying begins with determining your income and whether it is higher or lower than the median of the state you reside. If it is lower, you pass and are ready to file for Chapter 7. If its higher, there are a few more steps to determine whether you pass. Determining your excess income and your debts is crucial at this point as you need to have more debt than income in order to pass. Keep in mind that the medians change from state to state and include differed levels of allowed expenses. In the event that you fail the Chapter 7 means test you could still qualify for Chapter 13.

So, you passed the means test, should you file?
As with many legal matters circumstances can vary and its important to consult an attorney before deciding to file. However, determining your filing eligibility using the means test is an important step in the process. The means test uses information needed to fill out bankruptcy forms and will help you regardless of if you pass or fail.

As with any legal matter you should discuss all of your options with your attorney and make a fully informed decision. Contact the law office of Erwin F. Meiers today.

Weekend plans didn't include a DUI?

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and enjoyed time with friends and family. For many Memorial Day is a time to fire up the grill, visit the beach or go camping and for most those activities may include a few drinks. But drinking and driving can put you at risk for getting pulled over or an accident. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration more than 30% of fatal crashes that occur on weekends are alcohol related. If you find yourself facing alcohol related charges following holiday celebrations this summer contact the office of Erwin F. Meiers.

Meet Sparty!

Sparty likes to help with filing paperwork too!

Living at an Attorneys office is hard work!

As a member and supporter of local pet rescue group PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving). I have adopted a number of rescue pets over the years. PAWS is a kill free rescue in Swartz Creek, Michigan founded in 1997. PAWS takes in over 600 cats and dogs each year and nearly all of them find homes.

Meet Sparty, a friendly cat who was found in an abandoned house on Flint's north side. Today Sparty spends his time greeting clients at our office and receiving lots of pets and attention throughout the day. Sparty is just one of the hundreds of pets that are found abandoned in Genesee and surrounding counties each year. If you are looking for a new furry friend contact PAWS and give a rescue pet a home.