Bankruptcy and Tax Liens: What You Need to Know If you’re struggling with tax debt and wondering whether bankruptcy can help, you’re not alone. We get questions all the time at our firm about bankruptcy and tax liens. The law is so complex that understandably, they have no idea how tax debt might affect their case. Many people assume taxes can never be discharged in bankruptcy, but that’s not entirely true. While tax debt is more complicated than credit card or medical debt, bankruptcy can still provide relief. As a Memphis bankruptcy lawyer, I’ve helped hundreds of people navigate tax-related debt through bankruptcy. Let’s break down what you need to know about how bankruptcy affects tax liens and IRS debt.
Why Workers’ Comp Claims Can Take So Long If you’re in the middle of a workers’ compensation claim and feeling frustrated by the slow pace of your case, you’re not alone. As a Memphis workers’ compensation lawyer with over 40 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how delays in the process can make an already stressful situation even more difficult. So why is your workers’ compensation case taking so long? While it may feel like your case is dragging on forever, there are several reasons why this can happen. In this post, I’ll explain some of the most common causes for delays in workers’ compensation cases and what you can do to move things forward. Complicated Medical Evaluations and Treatment
Comparative Negligence in Personal Injury: What to Know If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be wondering how the courts decide on fault and how it affects your ability to get compensation. In many personal injury cases, more than one party may be responsible for the accident—including you. That’s where comparative negligence in personal injury comes into play. As a personal injury lawyer, I want to help you understand how comparative negligence works and what it might mean for your case. What Is Comparative Negligence in Personal Injury? Comparative negligence is a legal rule that decides how much compensation you can receive if you’re partially at fault for an accident. It doesn’t bar you from recovering money for
The Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know If you’re drowning in debt, constantly getting calls from creditors, or facing threats of wage garnishment, foreclosure, or repossession, you might feel like there’s no way out. But there’s one powerful tool to stop it all: the automatic stay in bankruptcy. The automatic stay is one of the most powerful tools for stopping debt collectors in their tracks. As a bankruptcy lawyer, I’ve seen firsthand how it gives people much-needed relief while they figure out their next steps. So, let’s break it down: What is the automatic stay? How does it work? And what does it actually stop? What Is the Automatic Stay? The automatic stay is a court order
Dog Bite Laws in Tennessee: Rules and Regulations If you’ve been bitten by a dog in our home state of Tennessee, you may be wondering who is responsible and what your legal options are. What are the dog bite laws in Tennessee, and what options do you have? As an award-winning Memphis dog attack lawyer, I help victims like you understand their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve. Tennessee’s dog bite laws can be confusing, but I’m here to break them down in a way that’s easy to understand. Tennessee’s “One Bite” vs. Strict Liability Rule Tennessee has a mix of strict liability and the “one bite” rule, depending on the situation. Strict Liability In most cases, a
How Will Disability Change in the Coming Years? Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a vital lifeline for millions of Americans unable to work due to disability. As we move into 2025, several changes and proposals are on the horizon that could impact current and future beneficiaries. So what do we know about the future of SSDI, and how can you prepare? Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Increase Starting in January 2025, SSDI recipients will see a 2.5% increase in their monthly benefits due to the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). So for example, if you’re currently receiving $1,000 per month, your benefit will increase to $1,025. This adjustment happens every year in order to help beneficiaries keep up with inflation and rising
Dealing with Debt After a Layoff: What You Need to Know Layoffs are stressful enough without the added burden of overwhelming debt. If you’ve recently lost your job and are struggling to keep up with bills, you might be wondering whether filing bankruptcy after a layoff can help you regain control of your finances. The good news is that bankruptcy exists for situations just like this—to give people a fresh start when life takes an unexpected turn. As a Memphis bankruptcy lawyer, I’ve helped many people navigate the challenges of filing for bankruptcy after a layoff. Here’s what you need to know about your options and how to move forward. How a Layoff Can Lead to Bankruptcy A sudden loss
What Happens if the CFPB Closes? How It Could Impact Creditor Harassment What happens if the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shuts down? Here’s what you need to know about the CFPB and creditor harassment. The Power of the CFPB and What’s Next For years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has acted as a watchdog against abusive debt collection practices. It has fined shady lenders, cracked down on illegal creditor harassment, and given consumers a place to report bad actors. But if the CFPB shuts down or loses its power, what happens next? As a bankruptcy lawyer, I already help clients escape creditor harassment. And without the CFPB, the responsibility to hold debt collectors accountable could shift even more onto
The Importance of Honesty in Your SSDI Claim Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a long and frustrating process, and it will leave some people wondering, “Can I lie on my disability application?” Maybe you think an exaggeration here or there might help you get benefits you really do need. But that’s not the way to go. One of the most important things you can do in the application process is be completely honest throughout your claim. As a Memphis SSDI lawyer, I’m happy to lay out for you why honesty is so imperative in your SSDI claim – and how to present your case the right way. Can the SSA Tell if I Lie on My
What Happens If You Misuse a Product and Get Injured? You’ve been injured by a product, but there’s a problem—you weren’t using it exactly as intended. Now the medical bills have added up and become unaffordable. You know that using the product caused the injury. So you’re left wondering: can you still sue if you misused the product? As an experienced personal injury attorney, I get this question a lot. The answer depends on a few key factors. In many situations, yes, you may still have a product liability case. Here’s what you need to know. What Counts as Product Misuse? Product misuse happens when you use an item in a way that wasn’t intended or recommended. Some examples include: