Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLCBellefontaine Criminal Defense Lawyer | Personal Injury2023-09-06T06:38:42Zhttps://www.marctriplett.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1201125/2020/09/fav-75x75.pngOn Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=470542020-11-11T20:43:04Z2020-11-06T17:50:33ZAre you drowning in debt? Many circumstances can render you unable to meet all your financial obligations. Fortunately, if you find yourself in over your head, you can file for bankruptcy protection.There are two types of personal bankruptcy, and both offer you a degree of protection. Declaring bankruptcy can put a quick stop to several threats.
Debt collection activity
Even when debt collectors stay within the confines of the law, their tactics can feel like harassment. They may call you many times each day in an effort to collect money. They may go so far as to call you at work until you request they stop. Bankruptcy imposes an automatic stay that prohibits debt collectors from contacting you.
Repossessions
Any items you purchased with a loan are subject to repossession, such as your house and vehicle. Creditors may also repossess furniture and appliances you bought in a rent-to-own arrangement.In many cases, lenders have the right to take items back after just one missed payment. However, you may avoid repossession of certain assets, including your home and auto, by filing for bankruptcy.
Wage garnishments
A court may order your employer to garnish your wages, or withhold a portion of your earnings to pay debts. In some cases, creditors may take a lump sum from not only your regular wages, but also from bonuses and commissions. Courts may order garnishments from other income including retirement plans. Bankruptcy can stop existing garnishments and prevent new ones.Bankruptcy can end your sleepless nights worrying about money. It may permit you to stay afloat and avoid undue stress while you get your finances in order.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469812020-11-06T18:50:18Z2020-11-06T18:50:18ZAre you drowning in debt? Many circumstances can render you unable to meet all your financial obligations. Fortunately, if you find yourself in over your head, you can file for bankruptcy protection.There are two types of personal bankruptcy, and both offer you a degree of protection. Declaring bankruptcy can put a quick stop to several threats.
Debt collection activity
Even when debt collectors stay within the confines of the law, their tactics can feel like harassment. They may call you many times each day in an effort to collect money. They may go so far as to call you at work until you request they stop. Bankruptcy imposes an automatic stay that prohibits debt collectors from contacting you.
Repossessions
Any items you purchased with a loan are subject to repossession, such as your house and vehicle. Creditors may also repossess furniture and appliances you bought in a rent-to-own arrangement.In many cases, lenders have the right to take items back after just one missed payment. However, you may avoid repossession of certain assets, including your home and auto, by filing for bankruptcy.
Wage garnishments
A court may order your employer to garnish your wages, or withhold a portion of your earnings to pay debts. In some cases, creditors may take a lump sum from not only your regular wages, but also from bonuses and commissions. Courts may order garnishments from other income including retirement plans. Bankruptcy can stop existing garnishments and prevent new ones.Bankruptcy can end your sleepless nights worrying about money. It may permit you to stay afloat and avoid undue stress while you get your finances in order.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469782020-11-01T21:33:02Z2020-11-01T21:33:02ZIf you currently feel overwhelmed by medical debt, you may wonder how many other people struggle with the same problem. Unfortunately, many people simply do not have adequate health insurance to cover all medical issues that may arise. Because of this, medical debt can quickly spiral out of control.In fact, CNBC reports that when people file for bankruptcy, two-thirds of them report medical bills as one big contributing factor to their decisions. Roughly 530,000 families rely on bankruptcy to resolve medical debts, each year.
What causes high medical debts?
The Affordable Care Act made health insurance more accessible to people of lower-income backgrounds. However, it did not necessarily make it more affordable for middle-income families. Some states subsidized the plan to make up for this, but many Americans still remained with no health insurance.Those with insurance policies may have chosen cheaper plans with higher deductibles. Some health insurance policies feature deductibles as high as $12,500. Few Americans have that kind of money set aside to pay for unexpected medical expenses. Insurance policies may also not cover all medical bills, such as hospitalization.
How can I avoid medical debt?
No one receives a solid promise of perfect health for the rest of their natural lives. Because of this, high medical debt may happen to anyone. People with pre-existing conditions should try to make special preparations for the possibility. Here are some options:
Invest time and effort in your health, such as exercising and eating better.
Try to get affordable health insurance through work, the government or your spouse.
Consider purchasing supplemental insurance, such as hospitalization benefits.
If you have a health insurance policy with a high deductible, consider saving money in an HSA.
Negotiate with medical doctors or the hospital and ask about payment plans.
Seek assistance from crowdfunding or local charities, if you feel comfortable doing so.
No foolproof way exists to avoid medical debt. Fortunately, if all else fails, bankruptcy still provides a viable option for many.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469732023-09-06T06:35:39Z2020-10-13T22:26:33ZRequirements
You must take the first course within the 180 days before you file for bankruptcy. This first course is a credit counseling program, and you will receive a certificate saying you completed the program that you will need to file with your bankruptcy documents. This course covers how to manage your personal finances, teaches you how to budget and provides alternative options to filing bankruptcy.
The second course is a debtor education program. You will take this at any point after you file bankruptcy. You must complete it and turn in the certificate you receive for the court to discharge your case. This course covers how to manage future debt, how to properly use credit and general money management.
Be aware that the certificates have numbers that are in a central automated system. The court will know if the certificate is not legitimate.
Approved programs
The programs with government approval receive it from the Department of Justice's U.S. Trustee Program. This organization has a published list that you should consult before paying for a program. It must be on this list or it will count for filing purposes.
You may have to pay a fee for each course unless you meet certain income requirements.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=470572020-10-01T19:51:41Z2020-10-01T19:51:41Zfocus on getting the best deal possible even if you will pay higher interest rates due to your bankruptcy.
Prepare for a loan
You may find offers from buy here, pay here lots that offer you a vehicle on the spot, but these deals are rarely in your best interests. Your better bet is to save a down payment and seek out an auto loan.
You want to save as much money as possible because the larger amount you put down on a new vehicle, the less money you need to borrow. This will help lower your overall costs.
You want to shop around for a loan, too. Compare rates and do not take the first offer to come your way. Keep in mind that if your credit score is 500 or less, you will get the worst rates, but if your score is higher than that, you can still get a decent offer.
After the loan
Once you secure a car loan, make sure to pay your payments on time. You do not want to end up with credit issues again because you cannot file bankruptcy again for a long time. Plus, making on-time payments will help raise your credit score. After a while, you can refinance your loan to lower your costs and your monthly payment amount.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469622021-04-15T04:22:50Z2020-09-18T22:07:08ZHow does the type of bankruptcy matter?
The majority of private individuals file either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a “liquidation” bankruptcy, which means that the courts will liquidate your property to a certain extent to pay off the debt. If you are filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, there is a possibility that you will lose your home.
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a “reorganization” bankruptcy. If you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, there is no risk of losing your home because you are simply reorganizing your debt.
How does equity matter?
If you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, whether or not you keep your home depends on the amount of equity you have in the property. Equity is the difference between the current market value of the property and the amount in mortgages or home equity loans.
In the majority of cases, persons filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy negative equity in their property. If a debtor has negative equity in his or her home, the debtor can keep the property so long as they can keep paying the mortgage. Otherwise, the courts will liquidate the property.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469542021-04-15T04:20:02Z2020-09-03T00:09:42ZPenalties of a DUI
According to Money Crashers, there are numerous financial consequences that accompany a DUI conviction. There are legal fees, court fees and fines. Additional things that cost money include towing, alcohol education classes, an ignition interlock device, community service supervision and higher car insurance premiums.
Jail or prison time may be a possibility, even for a brief time. There are also driving restrictions, which make it difficult to get around. Missing work days due to court appearances or jail time also puts job security in danger.
A conviction can also result in limited civil liberties. These may include the inability to apply for scholarship, be a child care provider or have security clearances.
Potential defense strategies
According to Abraham Lincoln University, there are numerous strategies used to defend a DUI charge. One defense is to question the legality of the stop, as the officer must have reasonable suspicion. An attorney may argue that the officer did not have probable cause to make an arrest.
A common defense strategy is to question the breath test. There may be issues with the machine’s accuracy, or the attorney may argue the defendant has a health condition that can give a false BAC result. If there is a blood test, the attorney may use improper collection, inappropriate preservation or inaccurate analysis as defense arguments.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469482022-05-10T11:26:29Z2020-09-01T00:08:20ZWhat is Ohio's blood alcohol limit?
The OVI blood alcohol content threshold for Ohio is 0.08%. If convicted, the driver will receive a minimum of three days in jail, $375 in fines and a six-month license suspension. The legal limit is 0.02% for drivers younger than 21.
Ohio also has high-tier penalties for drivers arrested with BAC of 0.17% or above. For a first offense, a driver will receive a minimum of six days in jail for a high-tier OVI. He or she must also have a special restricted OVI license plate upon reinstatement of driving privileges.
Does a driver have to take a breath test?
Drivers consent to a breath test when they travel on Ohio roads. If a driver refuses a breath test, he or she will receive a 12-month license suspension on top of any OVI penalties.
What happens with more than one OVI conviction?
Drivers who get another OVI after the first are subject to additional penalties. The court may require a convicted driver to pay for substance use disorder testing and treatment if indicated. Second and third OVI convictions carry higher fines, extended jail time and longer license suspension periods.
The lookback period for OVI in Ohio is 20 years. That means a driver will receive elevated penalties for a subsequent conviction after any OVI in the past two decades. For driver's license suspensions associated with OVI, the court will look back 10 years.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=470532023-09-04T07:27:22Z2020-08-14T21:59:50ZOhio drivers like you do your best to keep safe on the road. Unfortunately, you cannot predict the behaviors of other drivers. This means you can end up faced with risks when you least expect it.You can at least understand some of the potential sources of danger you may face. For example, drowsy drivers pose a great risk to you. But why is that, exactly? How are drowsy drivers a danger?
Drivers who do not get enough sleep are at risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examine the behaviors of drowsy drivers. The first thing they note is that drowsy driving is not limited to a certain age group. This automatically makes it riskier because drowsy drivers come from anywhere. The one thing tying drowsy drivers together is that they typically get less than 6 hours of sleep a night. According to that, some of the most at-risk groups include:
Shift workers
People with sleep disorders
People with health disorders that affect their quality of sleep
Those taking medication that result sin drowsiness
Commercial vehicle drivers, and truck drivers in particular
Factors that make drowsy driving dangerous
This covers a large number of potential people. The wide spread is just one factor that makes drowsy driving so dangerous. Another factor is that drowsy driving is not as frowned upon as other forms of distracted driving. For example, DUI and texting while driving have massive campaigns against them. Drowsy driving is only just starting to gain notice.Also, drowsy drivers actually share a lot of traits with DUI drivers. They struggle to concentrate, react to danger well, and notice risky situations. This puts everyone on the road at risk, including yourself.]]>On Behalf of Triplett McFall Wolfe Law, LLChttps://www.marctriplett.com/?p=469402020-07-31T17:40:49Z2020-07-31T17:39:49ZThe juvenile justice system differs in many ways from the adult system. Juveniles often receive different treatment due to their status as a minor and the fact they have certain rights an adult does not have. Some of this is easy to see during the arrest process. For example, officers usually place a minor in custody instead of placing him or her under arrest.The Ohio Revised Code explains that the move to arrest a juvenile can happen in the exact same ways as an adult. If an officer has probable cause to believe the juvenile committed a crime, then he or she can certainly put the minor under arrest.
Court requirements
When in custody, a juvenile will go to court quickly on charges. The court may make specific requirements about handling the child's case, such as requiring that officers videotape all interactions. In addition, the court will make certain requirements it feels are in the best interest of the child, including appointing a guardian ad litem.
Special holding requirements
When an officer takes a minor into custody, he or she cannot go to an adult jail or institution for holding. There are some exceptions to this, but transfer to a juvenile facility should happen as soon as possible after taking the child into custody.In addition, officers must have a court order to hold juveniles unless there is proof they are in danger or are a danger to others and the prosecutor has already charged them. Again, there are some exceptions to this, but in general, there must be a legal reason to hold the minor. For adults, it is possible to hold someone in jail for a certain time without charges.]]>