Legally Easy

How to Write a Letter of Intent

2009-10-20T07:37:00.001-07:00

When you consider entering into a meaningful business transaction, a Letter of Intent is a good idea. A L etter of Intent is a legal document that outlines the important issues, people and organizations involved in the transaction. Often, negotiation of the Letter of Intent can be done primarily by the principals involved in the deal, helping clarify and define what they want sufficiently to save a lot of time and money when the time comes to create the formal contracts.

Thus, having a Letter of Intent drafted before going to the expense of creating what are called "definitive agreements" can be a very smart move.

Pictured are Attorney Lawrence Krieger and Legal Assistant Marcy DiGirolamo.

Will Unemployment Benefits be Extended?

2009-10-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

As the rate of unemployment hits a long time high of 9.8%, will congress provide for additional benefits for 15.1 million unemployed workers heading into the holiday season? Pictured here is Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who must help address the highest unemployment rate in 26 years.

According to the New York Times:

"Some 52 percent of unemployed people have exhausted state jobless benefits, and some are reaching the end of the makeshift strands of emergency extensions. The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would provide another 13 weeks of benefits, but a similar bill has stalled in the Senate over questions of whether it should only cover people in the hardest-hit states."

Most states now have websites where the unemployed can find information about unemployment benefits and, in many cases, complete an online application for unemployment insurance claims. It typically can take two weeks for benefit payments to start. The initial "waiting week", is not compensated. The second week is usually the time difference between program eligibility and payment of benefits for the first time.

The state unemployment agency certification usually includes having the unemployed person affirm that they are "able and available for work", the amount of any part-time earnings they may be earning, and that they are currently seeking work. Such certifications can typically be completed either by online or by phone call. After processing an application, the state will notify the individual about whether he or she qualifies for an unemployment program and, if so, the amount of unemployment benefits compensation that the person will receive each week. Often, states will require the individual to continually certify that they still meet the requirements for unemployment benefits, week after week.

Start at the State Law Legal Help page to learn more.

Healthcare Reform - Legal Rights and Medicare

2009-09-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

As healthcare reform continues to dominate the news, now is a good time to look at your legal rights under Medicare, the biggest government program that affects millions of Americans. Pictured here is Attorney Joseph S. Carp, whose practice includes Medicare legal issues.

Medicare is a health insurance program run by the U.S. government. It is a single payer health care system that covers people over the age of 65 and others who meet special status criteria. In our opinion, the websites run by the government, like medicare.gov, can be pretty confusing, so we're working on delivering the simple information and easy tools you need to exercise your healthcare legal rights.

Medicare consists of four parts - Part A through Part D.

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers hospital care, limited post-hospital skilled nursing facility care, part-time home health services, and hospice care. If you are 65 years old or over, you can receive Medicare Part A insurance without having to pay a premium if you are currently receiving or eligible to receive but have not yet filed for either Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits or if you or your spouse had Medicare-covered employment by the government. If you are under 65, you can receive Medicare Part A insurance without having to pay a premium if you have received either Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits for twenty-four (24) months or if you are a kidney transplant or kidney dialysis patient. If you have been denied a Medicare Part A claim, click here for a Medicare Part A Appeal Denial Form.

Medicare Part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) covers physician's services, certain outpatient hospital services (including emergency room visits), ambulances, diagnostic tests, laboratory services, certain preventive care services such as mammography and pap smear screening, outpatient therapy services, durable medical equipment and supplies, and home health care services not covered by Part A.

Medicare Part B pays 80% of approved charges for most covered services. The beneficiary is responsible for paying a deductible each calendar year as well as the remaining 20% of the Medicare approved charges. The beneficiary may have to pay additional charges if the doctor providing the care does not agree to Medicare's approved charges. If you have been denied a Medicare Part B claim, click here for a Medicare Part B Appeal Denial Form.

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage plans) gives Medicare beneficiaries the option of receiving their Medicare benefits from private health insurance plans.

Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug plans) makes those eligible for Medicare Parts A or B, eligible for certain access to funded prescription drug benefits.

How to Protect or Recover from ID Theft

2009-08-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

With breaking news of the largest identity theft scam in U.S. history, everyone should take a moment to learn how to protect their credit and good name from ID Theft. The Identity Theft Legal Center is here to help you learn about how to protect your identity with a credit freeze and more.

Think you may be a victim of Identity Theft or Credit Fraud? Here are critical first steps to take to recover, from the Identity Theft Recovery Center:

Place a fraud alert on your credit history.
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com

Complete an ID Theft Affidavit.

File a Police Report.

Follow up with creditors, banks, government, and others.
Use Rocket Lawyer's easy interview process to request a Credit Freeze
and create the written notices to follow up with whoever you need to resolve
your situation.

Here is the news from Reuters:

Three men were indicted on
Monday for allegedly stealing more than 130 million credit and
debit card numbers in what U.S. authorities said they believe
is the largest hacking and identity theft case ever
prosecuted.

Albert Gonzalez, a former government informant already in
jail in connection with hacking cases, and two unnamed Russians
were indicted on charges related to five corporate data
breaches from 2006 to 2008.

Card numbers were stolen in those breaches from credit-card
processor Heartland Payment Systems and retail chains
7-Eleven Inc and Hannaford Brothers Co, prosecutors said.

The men targeted two other corporations, the U.S.
attorney's office in New Jersey said in the statement, without
naming those companies.

Heartland Payment Systems and Hannaford Brothers had
previously and separately acknowledged the breaches, but the
scope of the fraud had not been known.

Authorities also for the first time tied those cases to
Gonzalez, who was arrested last year on suspicion of hacking
into a restaurant chain's payment system.

Attorneys for Gonzalez were not available for comment.

Text of President's Remarks on Living Wills and Healthcare Reform

2009-07-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (pictured) is bringing attention to Living Wills in connection with the pending healthcare bill. In fact, speaking to the AARP, President Obama discussed his own Living Will. Here is what he said, according to the Boston Globe (in the town hall Q & A format):

Q I have heard lots of rumors going around about this new plan, and I hope that the people that are going to vote on this is going to read every single page there. I have been told there is a clause in there that everyone that's Medicare age will be visited and told to decide how they wish to die. This bothers me greatly and I'd like for you to promise me that this is not in this bill.

THE PRESIDENT: You know, I guarantee you, first of all, we just don't have enough government workers to send to talk to everybody, to find out how they want to die.

I think that the only thing that may have been proposed in some of the bills -- and I actually think this is a good thing -- is that it makes it easier for people to fill out a living will.
Now, Mary, you may be familiar with the principle behind a living will, but it basically is something that my grandmother -- who, you may have heard, recently passed away -- it gave her some control ahead of time, so that she could say, for example, if she had a terminal illness, did she want extraordinary measures even if, for example, her brain waves were no longer functioning; or did she want just to be left alone. That gives her some decision-making power over the process.

The problem is right now most of us don't give direction to our family members and so when we get really badly sick, sadly enough, nobody is there to make the decisions. And then the doctor, who doesn't know what you might have preferred, they're making decisions, in consultation with your kids or your grand kids, and nobody knows what you would have preferred.

So I think the idea there is to simply make sure that a living will process is easier for people -- it doesn't require you to hire a lawyer or to take up a lot of time. But everything is going to be up to you. And if you don't want to fill out a living will, you don't have to. But it's actually a useful tool I think for a lot of families to make sure that if, heaven forbid, you contract a terminal illness, that you are somebody who is able to control this process in a dignified way that is true to your faith and true to how you think that end-of-life process should proceed.

You don't want somebody else making those decisions for you. So I actually think it's a good idea to have a living will. I'd encourage everybody to get one. I have one. Michelle has one. And we hope we don't have to use it for a long time, but I think it's something that is sensible.

But, Mary, I just want to be clear: Nobody is going to be knocking on your door; nobody is going to be telling you you've got to fill one out. And certainly nobody is going to be forcing you to make a set of decisions on end-of-life care based on some bureaucratic law in Washington.

MR. CUTHBERT: Mr. President, she mentioned, not in her question, but in her preview, that she's talking about Section 1232, the infamous page 425, which is being read as mandatory end-of-life care advice and counseling for Medicare. As I read the bill, it's saying that Medicare will, for the first time, cover consultation about end-of-life care, and that they will not pay for such a consultation more than once every five years. This is being read as saying every five years you'll be told how you can die.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that would be kind of morbid. (Laughter.) I think that the idea in that provision, which may be in the House bill -- keep in mind that we're still having a whole series of negotiations, and if this is something that really bothers people, I suspect that members of Congress might take a second look at it. But understand what the intent is. The intent here is to simply make sure that you've got more information, and that Medicare will pay for it.

So, for example, there are some people who -- they get a terminal illness, and they decide at a certain point they want to get hospice care. But they might not know how to go about talking to a hospice, what does it mean, how does it work. And they don't want to -- we don't want them to have to pay for that out of pocket. So if Medicare is saying you have the option of consulting with somebody about hospice care, and we will reimburse it, that's putting more power, more choice in the hands of the American people, and it strikes me that that's a sensible thing to do.

The end of life counseling elements of healthcare reform look to become more prominent in the ongoing debate. A Living Will (also known as an Advance Healthcare Directive or just Advance Directive) allows anyone to indicate their wishes concerning the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining procedures if they are in a terminal condition with no hope of recovery or are permanently unconscious.

Make a Living Will for Free

Get Living Will Information

Find a Lawyer for your Living Will

Automobile Accidents and Cell Phones

2009-07-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Automobile accidents cause of millions of lawsuits, injuries, deaths and tragedy. Years ago, an organization called Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) made a big difference in bringing the dangers of driving under the influence (DUI) to national attention. The resulting crack down on DUI has been credited with saving lives nationwide.

Now, the New York Times is attempting to bring greater attention to the risks of driving while multi-tasking on cell phones and PDAs. On Sunday, the Times commenced a series titled "Driven to Distraction" that chronicles the dangers of cell phone use on the road. As the article notes:

Extensive research shows the dangers of distracted driving. Studies say that drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers, and the likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a .08 percent blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated. Research also shows that hands-free devices do not eliminate the risks, and may worsen them by suggesting that the behavior is safe.

A 2003 Harvard study estimated that cellphone distractions caused 2,600 traffic deaths every year, and 330,000 accidents that result in moderate or severe injuries.

Further, according to Times reporter Matt Richtel, the U.S. government has even "withheld data on (the) risks of distracted driving:"

In 2003, researchers at a federal agency proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the wheel. They sought the study based on evidence that such multitasking was a serious and growing threat on America’s roadways. But such an ambitious study never happened. And the researchers’ agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, decided not to make public hundreds of pages of research and warnings about the use of phones by drivers — in part, officials say, because of concerns about angering Congress.

On Tuesday, the full body of research is being made public for the first time by two consumer advocacy groups, which filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit for the documents. The Center for Auto Safety and Public Citizen provided a copy to The New York Times, which is publishing the documents on its Web site. In interviews, the officials who withheld the research offered their fullest explanation to date.

The former head of the highway safety agency said he was urged to withhold the research to avoid antagonizing members of Congress who had warned the agency to stick to its mission of gathering safety data but not to lobby states.

Critics say that rationale and the failure of the Transportation Department, which oversees the highway agency, to more vigorously pursue distracted driving has cost lives and allowed to blossom a culture of behind-the-wheel multitasking.

“We’re looking at a problem that could be as bad as drunk driving, and the government has covered it up,” said Clarence Ditlow, director of the Center for Auto Safety. The group petitioned for the information after The Los Angeles Times wrote about the research last year. Mother Jones later published additional details.

We are going to continue to follow the Times reporting on cell phones and automobile accidents as well as track automobile accident legal issues.

Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website for more information.

If you have a legal matter relating to a car accident, you can find an automobile accident lawyer to help.

Small Business Administration Economic Recovery Update

2009-07-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

Is the Small Business Administration, aka the SBA, doing enough to help small business owners weather the current economic storm? We're keeping track of the SBA website and news to find out. It's important, because small businesses provide the vast majority of jobs and drive a much greater part of the U.S. economy than large enterprises. SBA chief Karen Mills is pictured above.

The SBA website describes several economic recovery initiatives, including new loan programs. One example is the SBA ARC Loan Program, authorized by the 2009 Economic Recovery Act:

If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed just for you.

SBA’s America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability. Each small business is limited to one ARC loan.
ARC loans will be offered by some SBA lenders for as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first.

Here's how to apply and prepare for the application process via your lender:

Applying for an ARC Loan

ARC Loans are provided by commercial lenders and guaranteed by the SBA. Your next step is to contact your lender who will help you determine if you are a candidate for an ARC Loan. Questions they may ask include the following:

Does your small business have an established banking relationship?
Has your small business been in operation for a minimum of two years?
Do you have financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement) which demonstrate your business had a positive cash flow in one of the past two years (or as long as your business has been operating, if less than two years)?
Does your cash flow projection for the next two years indicate sufficient cash flow to meet your current and future loan payments?

Is your business suffering an immediate financial hardship? For example:

Declining sales and revenues;

Difficulty in making loan payments on existing debt;

Difficulty in paying employees;

Difficulty in purchasing materials, supplies, or inventory; and/or

Difficulty in paying rent and/or other operating expenses

For more information to help you manage your small business, visit the Business and Employment Legal Help Center.

Supreme Court Decides New Haven Employment Case

2009-06-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

In a case that will have both practical and political reverberations, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the City of New Haven Connecticut in a reverse discrimination suit. The case, known commonly as "New Haven Firefighters," has political impact as well, due to the fact that Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonya Sotomayor, participated in the appeals court ruling that has now been overturned by the Court. What does the ruling potentially mean for you, your business or organization?

Well, the New York Times reports that:

The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide, potentially limiting the circumstances in which employers can be held liable for decisions when there is no evidence of intentional discrimination against minorities.

The fact that this was a 5-4 decision indicates that even at the highest level, judges remain split on the application of employment law to the facts raised by the New Haven case. In particular, the case asked whether the city of New Haven Connecticut erred in throwing out the results of a promotion examination because minority test takers were unlikely to receive promotions based on the results of the exam.

Writing for the majority, Justice Kennedy states:

"Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions,"

Kennedy was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Alito and Thomas.

The dissenting Justices were Ginsburg, Souter, Bryer and Stevens:

In dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the white firefighters "understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them."

Undoubtedly, labor and employment lawyers will be busy crafting new rules for employers to follow in employment testing situations. Employers will be wise to review their employment practices for compliance with the New Haven ruling and to consult with an employment lawyer to understand the issues raised by the case in application to their own organization's practices and policies.

Michael Jackson's Legacy and Legal Estate

2009-06-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Millions of us grew up in the Michael Jackson era of pop music. The first time I saw Michael perform, was as a pre-teen when my youngest and most fun loving aunt let me tag along with her friends to see "The Jacksons" with Randy on the bongos. I am definitely part of the "Thriller" generation. As much as any performer, Michael Jackson's body of work will always be part of the soundtrack of our lifetime.

Beyond his music, there is also, of course, a legal side to Mr. Jackson's legacy. On that front, his life diverged, especially as he aged, from the norm. He was very wealthy, but also very indebted financially. He experienced criminal legal accusation, trial and acquittal. He was the subject of lawsuits and settlements from both business partners and personal acquaintances. He was twice divorced. And now, without a doubt, there will be a protracted examination of his legal estate and perhaps that will involve more disputes.

Critical stories are already starting to appear. Here are a few links:

WSJ Law Blog opines "On Michael Jackson and the Law":

When the immediate tributes and remembrances and eulogies have run their course on the King of Pop, attention will likely turn to a handful of more mundane questions: what happens to Neverland, to his collection of curios; what, if anything, becomes of the rights to his musical legacy? All of these questions, of course, will involve lawyers. Dozens upon dozens of lawyers.

From Reuters: Mystery surrounds Michael Jackson's sudden death

There will be much more to follow on the Michael Jackson estate and legal situation. He leaves three children, apparently under the care of a nanny and his mother, Katherine. We hope that Michael made arrangements for his loved ones and that he rests in peace.

- Charley

Jon and Kate Divorce Shines Light on Family Law

2009-06-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

The sensational break-up of America's most famous television family again highlights the legal side of family life. According to the San Francisco Examiner, "on Monday, June 22nd, divorce documents were filed in the Berks County courthouse."

In their televised announcement of the divorce, Jon Gosselin said: "Kate and I have decided to separate...I am stil in the show, but we'll interview separately. Nevertheless, apparently, TLC will continue to air the Jon & Kate Plus 8 show. Mom, Kate Gosselin, said (really) "the show must go on."

While the blogesphere and mainstream media is full of angst over whether, on its face, the televising of the Gosselin saga borders on child abuse, will the continuation of the show possibly do some good by illuminating some of the issues faced by children of broken marriages? Divorce, child support and raising good children after bad marriages is part of life. Now, is it possible that the Jon & Kate Plus 8 show might actually live up to "reality?"

Before, during and after a marriage, couples and families experience a romantic, legal and financial relationship. It is a good idea for everyone to learn about the legal side of marriage, such as prenuptial agreements, child care, child custody and for some, divorce and child support. The Rocket Lawyer Family Legal Help Guide is a good place to start.

Child Support Update

2009-05-28T08:01:00.001-07:00

In this economy, child support payments can strain the often already tight relationships between former spouses. Sadly, children are often the ones who suffer the most. Your state probably has several resources listed on the state's web site to to help you, whether you are the spouse paying child support or the one collecting it on behalf of your children.

Attorney Elisabeth Camaur, pictured above, specializes in family law matters, including divorce and child support.

Rocket Lawyer has a list of every state department of child services web site and more information to help with your child support questions.

Your Legal Rights and Identity Theft Protection

2009-05-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Supreme Court recently put the spotlight on Identity Theft (albeit by making it more difficult to use federal ID-Theft laws in other prosecutions). So, we thought that this would be a good time to look at the ways that people can protect themselves from identity theft, and recover faster if they are the unfortunate victims of one of the fastest growing crimes in the world.

Over the past several years, many new laws have been enacted to help people protect against identity theft. These laws include the powerful Security Freeze process that is now available to residents of every state. With a security freeze, anyone can make it nearly impossible for someone else to obtain credit in the original person's name. This relatively simple process can take away most, if not all, of the financial benefits (for the criminal) and risks (for the potential victim) of ID theft.

Source: consumersunion.org

Rocket Lawyer can help you take control of your identity^TM

How do Whistleblower Lawsuits Work?

2009-04-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Two big whistleblower lawsuits netted the plaintiffs almost $100 Million combined in the past month. What are these David vs. Golliath lawsuits, also called qui-tam, and how might you someday be affected by them?

So called "whistleblower," or "qui-tam" suits are filed under the False Claims Act, a federal law that empowers people to file lawsuits against federal contractors claiming fraud against the government. Successful whistleblowers can receive a portion (often 15-25 percent) of the damages recovered. Thus, whistleblowers can serve to help reduce fraud against the government, ultimately saving taxpayer money. Whistleblowers with insider knowledge of false claims involving health care, military, and other government spending programs have brought suits under the Act for decades.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog, April 2009 has seen two of the biggest whistleblower settlements in history:

A few weeks ago, we blogged on a huge whistleblower settlement involving Northrop Grumman, one in which pocketed the plaintiff/whistleblower nearly $49 million. It was the largest whistleblower — or qui tam — settlement ever involving alleged military-procurement fraud.

Today, we open the papers to news of another whopper of a qui-tam settlement, one which will net the plaintiff/whistleblower about $45 million.

The case involved Quest Diagnostics and its Nichols Institute Diagnostics unit. The pair agreed to pay $302 million to resolve criminal and civil allegations regarding various diagnostic test kits manufactured and sold until 2006, prosecutors said Wednesday. The diagnostic tests allegedly provided inaccurate and unreliable results, prosecutors said. Under the arrangement, the duo will pay $262 million plus interest to resolve the claims. More...

If you know of instances of fraud against the government, you may be able to file and prevail in a whistleblower, or qui-tam case. Remember, in a qui-tam case, as the plaintiff (the person bringing the suit), you can receive a part of the ultimate settlement yourself. This right to share in the settlement has for centuries (qui-tam cases date back hundreds of years through both english common law and the American courts) encouraged citizens to act a watchdogs against fraud, waste and abuse in government contracting.

The first thing to do is to find a lawyer who specializes in whistleblower cases and knows what do to. In most cases, the lawyer will give you a free consultation to help you understand your rights. Thereafter, the lawyer will counsel you on how best to proceed, if at all with your whistleblower action. Many, if not most lawyers who work in whistleblower cases can also help you to understand your rights if you are retaliated against by your employer who may be involved in the subject matter of your case.

Find a whistleblower (qui-tam) lawyer

Attorney Alix Rubin
Entwisle & Cappucci LLP

Tax Day and Filing for an Extension

2009-04-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

Tax Day is here! Don't forget to file your tax return today. Need an extension? IRS Form 4868 is a simple Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Tax Return. You can do it yourself and send it in to the IRS today. If you do, don't forget to import the form into your Rocket Lawyer account and save it for your records in the File Safekeeper!

Or

If you need help with your tax return or extension, just start with Rocket Tax. In partnership with H&R Block, Rocket Tax has all the forms you need, including a free filing extension request. Simply complete the filing extension and send it to the IRS today, April 15.

Need a Tax Lawyer? Find a Tax Lawyer.

Good luck!

Tax Lawyer Jonathan M. Bernstein

No Fault Divorce in Hard Times

2009-04-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

It's a fact of life that not all marriages succeed. Now, the economic downturn is putting even more stress on families that are splitting up. While celebrity divorces like Mel Gibson's attract lots of media attention, for most couples, divorce is an expense that they just can't afford, but have to deal with in order to move on with their lives.

The New York times is reporting several commentaries in its series, "Husbands, Wives and Hard Times." As Paul Amato, a professor of sociology and demography writes in the series, "research...consistently shows that economic hardship undermines marital quality and stability...Since the middle of the 20th century, declines in the economy have been linked with increases in divorce rates."

Most states now offer a no fault divorce. So, couples who can amicably work out property distribution and child custody issues can preserve family and personal resources while moving on.

For more information, try:

Divorce Worksheet
Find a Divorce Lawyer
Collecting Child Support

Mel Gibson Divorce Papers:

Mel Gibson divorce papers - Get more Legal Forms

What Should You Do About the Denial of a Medical Insurance Claim?

2009-03-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Every day, many people find themselves in one of life's most distressing situations - having a health care insurance claim denied. Sadly, it's a fact of life that our healthcare system routinely results in denied claims for medical services and care that people need and probably should be entitled to under their existing insurance policy. What should you do if a healthcare insurance claim of yours is denied?

Well, there is more and more public momentum toward cleaning up health care and claims denials. Robyn Shelton writes in the Orlando Sentinel that if you are denied a health insurance claim, "you should appeal." She goes on to write:

"First off: Don't panic. Many claims are rejected initially for glitches that can be sorted out rather easily. Do not pay a bill without making some calls." Read more...

In her article "The Health-Care Crisis Hits Home," Karen Tumulty recounts her family's ordeal as her brother had to fight the twin battles of kidney disease and a denial of his insurance coverage. Stories like these are all too familiar to millions of people:

"The unforeseen was exactly what turned up when Pat went in for a physical on Nov. 30, 2007, his first in five years. The doctor found high levels of blood and protein in his urine, results that were confirmed in another round of tests in December. Soon after that, Pat discovered that his urine had turned brown and foamy. In the middle of all this, he was laid off from his job, and finding a new one while doing temp work was his most pressing concern...That's when Pat, who is now 54, learned that his kidneys were failing.
The diagnosis was only the first shock. The second came a few weeks later, in an Aug. 5 letter from Pat's health-insurance company (denying his claim). For six years — since losing the last job he had that provided medical coverage — Pat had been faithfully paying premiums to Assurant Health, buying a series of six-month medical policies, one after the other, always hoping he would soon find a job that would include health coverage...The previous four weeks had left my brother with more than $14,000 in bills from hospitals, doctors and labs..." Read more...

If you are facing an insurance claim denial, you can follow a few simple steps to first become informed about your rights, and second, fight the claims denial yourself, with the assistance of government agencies, and, if needed, your own lawyer.

Start Your Medical Claims Denial of Benefits Appeal

Find a Lawyer to Help with Insurance Claims and Personal Injury

Avoid the Tax Reaper with the 2009 Tax Savings Guide - Tax Tips to Save You Time and Money

2009-02-11T10:47:00.001-08:00

Now more than ever, many people need good tax advice due to the economic downturn. Whatever your situation, the new Rocket Lawyer Tax Savings Guide can help you understand basic tax terminology and point you in the right direction. This year, RocketLawyer.com has partnered with H&R Block to bring the latest tax savings information directly to Rocket Lawyer members.

The Tax Savings Guide can help you with the following important tax issues:

Tax Deductions and Credits
Marriage and Divorce Taxes
Home Ownership Taxes
Children and Dependents Tax Issues
Retirement and Investment Tax Issues
Taxes and Your Work

Plus, you can do your taxes yourself with a significant discount online, as a Rocket Lawyer member. Just click the Taxes link in your account, or visit to http://www.rockettax.com/

You can click here to find a tax lawyer to help you with your tax matters.

Did you see H&R Block's Super Bowl ad? Avoid the reaper and file your taxes online:-)

Lawyers add Easy Legal Documents to any Website and Blog

2009-01-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

We're happy to announce that any lawyer can now add a customized easy legal document service to any attorney website or blog! It's simple, just click the link on this widget to get started and add value for every legal website or blog visitor who is looking for do it yourself legal documents.

Plus - whenever anyone needs help with a document, Rocket Lawyer's patent-pending Click-through Legal Review(TM) system can automatically route clients to their favorite attorney to deliver the legal services they need on the spot. For lawyers, adding the legal document service to your site or blog can be another important step toward establishing full service relationships with clients for a lifetime.

Planning Your Estate - Estate Taxes are Here to Stay

2009-01-12T07:14:00.001-08:00

According to the Wall Street Journal and other news reports, the Obama administration and congress are planning "to move soon to block the estate tax from disappearing in 2010, suggesting the levy might outlive the 'Death Tax Repeal' movement that has worked against estate taxes for many years. Approved by President Bush and congress in 2001, elimination of most inheritance taxes has been phased-in over several years, pending full abolition of such levies as of 2010; however, again, according to a Wall Street Journal article, "the Senate Finance Committee will move within weeks" to reverse the Bush law, in order to preserve the estate tax.

Based on the WSJ report, there are a couple of likely scenarios:

On the other hand, if congress were to roll-back the estate tax rate to the levels seen during the Clinton administration, then the first $1 million would be exempted from taxation with the remainder of the estate taxed at 55%.

Now is the time to engage in your own estate planning. There are several tactics that you can employ to reduce the exposure of your estate to taxation while providing for your charitable interests and love ones. RocketLawyer.com's Estate Planning Legal Help is a good place to start, along with creating your own trust and finding an estate planning lawyer to help you.

How to File for Unemployment Benefits

2008-12-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

In response to the economic crisis and rising joblessness, Congress recently enacted an extension to the eligibility time frame for unemployment insurance benefits.

If you have been laid off or otherwise think that you qualify for unemployment benefits, you may be able to apply online, or in most cases, at least by phone, in your state without needing to visit a state office directly. Many states now support electronic access to unemployment claim forms and help. As a first stop, visit the Rocket Lawyer State Law Legal Help, find your state and proceed to the Employment section.

Rocket Lawyer can also help you find a labor lawyer to assist with unemployment or workers compensation matters.

Labor Lawyers of Dunn & Sheldrick, PS
Oregon and Washington State

Rocket Lawyer to Preview Web Law Office 2.0 at SaaS Conference

2008-11-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the support and feedback of our members, RocketLawyer.com has been selected to deliver a company Preview presentation at this year's SIIA OnDemand Software as a Service conference. SIIA OnDemand is widely viewed as the premier industry gathering for the SaaS market, with attendees from Salesforce.com, IBM, Oracle and many other companies, media and technology investors. According to SIIA's announcement, Rocket Lawyer was "chosen by the Software & Information Industry Association from among 82 candidate companies for the opportunity to present their products and services to OnDemand Conference Attendees."

You can read the full announcement here: SIIA Announces Its 2008 Previews Company Selections

The Rocket Lawyer Web Law Office(tm) is the easiest way for lawyers to produce legal documents in collaboration with new and existing clients, other counsel and other parties. Stay tuned for our official Web Law Office 2.0 announcement Tuesday morning, and thanks again for helping us make Rocket Lawyer work better for everyone!

What the New Government Means for You

2008-11-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

Now that the election is over, Rocket Lawyer will work to help you understand what the transition to a new government, led by President-elect Obama and the new congress, will mean for you and your family, your business or your law practice. The election results clearly indicate that next year will be marked by change. We can certainly expect a flurry of legislation targeted toward economic recovery, potentially including sweeping action on taxation, health care, energy and education.

How can you plan for the new government? What opportunities and risks will emerge in the coming months as a result of America's new political direction? These are important questions that Rocket Lawyer will help answer. The Rocket Lawyer Free Legal Help center will continue to be a good place to find simple answers to your legal questions.

We plan to be very active on behalf of consumers, small business owners and legal professionals. We'll be asking for your opinions so that we can understand how best to serve you. We hope that you will take the time to complete our survey and tell us what you think and what legal services and information you need, in this time of change.

As always, thank you for using RocketLawyer.com.

President-elect Obama:

How and Where to Vote

2008-11-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

Voting is perhaps our most fundamental legal right. Rocket Lawyer's State Law Legal Help center has links to every official state site. From there, look for your Secretary of State page to find essential voting information to help you get to the polls!

Google's US Voter Info map can help you find your polling place in all fifty states.

SmartVoter.org is also a great source of information, from the League of Women Voters.

- You can find your personal ballot and polling location
- Browse every election and find particular candidates
- Find a list of other helpful election-related links

Whatever you do, remember to vote and exercise your most important legal right.

And hey, Starbuck's is even giving away a free cup of coffee, so we can all caffeinate after staying up late reading about the issues and getting up early to cast our ballots!

An easy Employment Verification Letter

2008-10-20T11:19:00.001-07:00

Use this simple form to respond to a request from a bank or creditor of an employee to verify the employee's employment with your business.

When employees need a verification of employment, the business owner or manager is typically asked, either verbally or in writing to confirm certain information about the employee's status with the organization.

An easy way to comply is to use the Employment Verification Letter document available for free at RocketLawyer.com. If you are a business manager or owner, you will also find many other useful legal forms, documents and letters for human relations and employee management.

A Home Sale Worksheet Can Make Selling Your House Easier

2008-10-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

In a tough real estate market like this one, being prepared and organized can help you to maximize your chances of getting the most the value of your home and avoiding problems during the home sale process. Suprisingly to many, pending home sales rose by 7.4% in the most recent monthly report, according to the Wall Street Journal. The report goes on to say that perhaps lower interest rates and lower home prices are beginning to make homes affordable enough to enable the over-all home sale market to improve.

If you are selling a home, you can use the Rocket Lawyer Home Sale Worksheet to organize your home sale process.

You can also use your Rocket Lawyer account to store all of your important home sale paperwork in the File Safekeeper. In fact, File Safekeeper is a great place to store all of your important legal documents for a lifetime.

Once your home sale and home ownership documents are securely uploaded to your Rocket Lawyer account, you can share them online with family, brokers, lawyers and anyone else that you would like to give secure access to your legal documents.

In this video, Attorney Arthur Miller discusses when a lawyer is needed when buying or selling a house.

Good luck with your home sale!