Surviving Furlough During the Government Shutdown

Surviving Furlough -- LEE LEGAL -- DC VA MD

The first known use of the word “furlough” dates to 1631. The word is from the Dutch word “vorloffe,” meaning “permission” or literally “for leave.” The modern non-military definition of furlough is “a period of time when an employee is told not to come to work and is not paid.” Since 1976, there have been […]

Top 5 Foreclosure Defenses in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC

Top 5 Foreclosure Defenses -- LEE LEGAL -- DC VA MD foreclosure attorney

If your mortgage company forecloses, you may have defenses. Virginia and Maryland are nonjudicial foreclosure jurisdictions, which means you must sue the mortgage company to raise these defenses. But the District of Columbia is a judicial foreclosure jurisdiction. In DC, you can raise these defenses in your Answer to the Complaint for Judicial Foreclosure. Here […]

Don’t Wait Until You Hit Rock Bottom to File Bankruptcy

Don’t Wait Until You Hit Rock Bottom to File Bankruptcy -- LEE LEGAL -- DC VA MD

You don’t have to be penniless to file bankruptcy. You don’t have to have your back against the wall. And you don’t have to lose everything to get a financial fresh start. Don’t wait until you hit rock bottom to file bankruptcy.  Don’t deplete your savings trying to avoid bankruptcy 57 percent of Americans have less […]

Be Tough, Not Uncivil

Be Tough, Not Uncivil -- LEE LEGAL -- DC VA MD litigation attorney

Litigation isn’t for the weak of heart. Opposing counsel will seek any advantage to exploit, and a case can be won or lost by small margins. But you do not need to be rude when litigating a case. You must be tough, not uncivil. Let the facts rule Get your story straight and let the […]

Avoid Debt This Holiday Season

Avoid Debt This Holiday Season PIC

We don’t have to incur debt every holiday. Here are some tips that will allow you to avoid debt this holiday season without later financial regret. Budget Make your budget realistic and relative to you. Excluding this factor will decrease your chances of calculating a healthy budget. Approach this by remembering your past holiday spending, […]

Can Eviction Happen in Cold Weather?

Can Eviction Happen in Cold Weather -- LEE LEGAL -- DC VA MD foreclosure lawyer

Landlords in Virginia can legally evict you during a blizzard, but in Maryland and DC, whether you can be evicted depends upon just how cold it is. Cold weather evictions in Washington, DC In the District of Columbia, the U.S. Marshals Service executes writs of restitution issued by DC Superior Court judges. D.C. Code § 42–3505.01 […]

How Student Loan Debt Prevents Homeownership

Student Loan Debt Prevents Homeownership

Perhaps it’s no surprise, but student loan debt prevents homeownership. In just the third quarter of 2018, total outstanding student loan debt increased by a whopping $37 billion. The amount of student loan debt in the United States now stands at an eye-popping $1.56 trillion. Out of necessity, student borrowers must delay homeownership while attempting to […]

Think Twice Before You Co-Sign for a Loan

Think Twice Before You Co-Sign for a Loan -- LEE LEGAL -- DC VA MD

A family member or a close friend is usually a person with whom we have a special connection. We highly regard these relationships which allows us to willingly assist them when there is a need, especially when we are able. How does this translate when asked to co-sign for a loan?  It may not be […]

Why Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Cases Get Dismissed So Often

Why Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Cases Get Dismissed So Often -- LEE LEGAL -- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer DC VA MD

Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases get dismissed for lots of different reasons. Most dismissals, however, can be avoided. Chapter 13 is complicated Obtaining trustee and creditor consensus on a court-approved repayment plan takes hard work, finesse, and expertise. Chapter 13 allows a debtor to propose several plans in an attempt to reorganize. But unnecessary delay will […]