Chapter 12 bankruptcy serves as an alternative to the more commonly used Chapter 13 reorganization or “wage earner’s” bankruptcy. Chapter 12 is specifically designed for family farmers and family fishermen, allowing them to restructure their business finances and avoid repossession or foreclosure. If you’re involved in farming or fishing and are facing serious financial problems, you may wonder if you…
Commercial trucks are obviously much larger and heavier vehicles than normal passenger cars. Such trucks are also subject to special rules when on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes and enforces nationwide safety regulations for commercial motor vehicles. And if a commercial trucking accident is the result of a driver or trucking company violating FMCSA regulations,…
If you are deeply in debt and thinking about filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may have some anxiety over the possibility of having to actually go to court. In practice, however, most Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases do not require the debtor to personally appear before a judge. Instead, the debtor’s only obligation will be to participate in a “meeting…
Sometimes when there is an auto accident, it is clear that one driver was to blame. Consider a drunk driver who runs through a stop sign and plows into the side of another vehicle. It does not take an expert in accident reconstruction to determine the drunk driver was solely at-fault for what happened. But what about a situation where…
We are pleased to announce that Chuck Smith and Nicole Hughes, partners at Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, have been selected to the 2020 Great Plains Super Lawyers list. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in the area. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers…
The main reason that a person files for bankruptcy is to get out from under their crushing debts. But not all debts are structured the same. Generally speaking, a debt is either classified as secured or unsecured debt. And while bankruptcy can eliminate a person’s obligation to repay both types of debts, it is still important to understand how they…
Winter driving is never easy. Between the snow, the wind, and the ice, there are multiple hazards for even the most seasoned driver to navigate. And unfortunately, even if you are careful and take every precaution, the other drivers on the road may not. A winter car accident is therefore often unavoidable. How you react to an accident, however, is…
A will is a legal document that that should clearly and specifically lay out your final wishes. A will can establish what will happen to your property after death. It also lays out who shall receive that property. While a will is a valuable tool for directing what you want to happen to your property and estate, it has specific…
Congratulations to Charles Smith for being awarded the highest possible Martindale Hubbell rating! Chuck received an AV Preeminent Rating which is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. This Rating is earned through an arduous Peer Review Rating system that is managed…
One of the biggest mental obstacles people face when filing for bankruptcy is the fear they will lose their home or other property. But the bankruptcy process is designed to help give debtors a “fresh start,” not leave them without the ability to rebuild their lives. To that end, federal and state law provide for a wide range of “exemptions,”…