Telpner Peterson is proud to announce that Nicole Hughes has been appointed by the Acting United States Trustee for Region 12 to the Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the United States Bankruptcy Courts of the Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, and District of South Dakota. As a panel Trustee, Nicole will remain with Telpner Peterson but…
Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can be time-consuming and stressful. You must meet the eligibility requirements, complete various forms, and follow specific steps. Any error you make could result in a delayed process or denied petition. You should hire an experienced bankruptcy attorney to guide you through the complex procedure, whether you owe money to lenders, credit card companies, healthcare…
Estate planning isn’t only for people at an advanced age or with a terminal illness. Creating a valid and legally enforceable estate plan can protect a person if they become incapacitated. If you’re incapacitated, you can’t make informed decisions regarding your well-being and finances. Incapacity often results from a debilitating injury, sudden illness, or traumatic accident. If you don’t include…
It is never easy to think about what would happen to your family if you were no longer around. Unfortunately, avoiding the question of what will happen doesn’t make the problem go away. Sitting down to create an estate plan is one way that you can plan for the future and ensure that your wishes are respected, and your family…
Filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a frightening and overwhelming process, especially when all you want to do is protect your assets from aggressive creditors and figure out a way to keep yourself afloat. One of the advantages of filing under Chapter 13 is being able to “cram down” a debt-secured property. What does this mean, and how can…
At some point, you may have found that your debt has become unmanageable. This can happen if you lose your job, become seriously ill, or need to take time off work to care for a family member. When that happens, short-term loans can become long-term burdens. The Iowa legislature has put laws in place to help protect you from predatory…
After buying property in Iowa, you may believe you own the land, and it’s yours until you sell it. For the most part, you would be correct. However, in some cases, an individual that is not the record titleholder can gain legal ownership of property when they meet certain conditions. In legal terms, this is called adverse possession. More colloquially,…
Meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer can cause anxiety, especially if you are feeling embarrassed about your financial situation. But you should feel relieved because bankruptcy lawyers want to help you. To get the most out of the first meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer, here’s what you should prepare for. Know What Questions the Lawyer Will Ask You At the first…
If you have written a will, you shouldn’t assume that you won’t need to do any more estate planning. Wills are not set in stone – you can update your will throughout your life. Depending on your stage in life, you may have significant personal, familial, and financial changes ahead of you that should motivate you to review and update…
When you choose to bequeath wealth to a family member, you might be concerned that the money or property you’ve worked hard to earn may soon be squandered due to the recipient’s poor financial habits or personal problems. You can protect your loved one and the legacy you leave them by putting it into a spendthrift trust, which we will…