Name Change 101…Yes, You’ll Still Smell as Sweet!

By Heather Faucher | Posted on July 23, 2009 | Filed Under Name Change 

So you’ve decided to change your name. Maybe you never liked it to begin with, or maybe you got married and want to take your spouse’s name. Could be that it’s unpronounceable and you’re tired of having it spelled wrong all the darned time. Maybe you’re a wanted criminal and…okay, okay, that last one was a joke. But seriously, changing your name can be easy with the right person to guide you through the process. In the meantime, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Choose carefully. If you’re lucky enough to get to choose your own name, make sure you practice signing it and having people call you by it out loud to make sure you like it, both on paper and on the lips. Also, if you’re the sensitive kind, try and think of any embarrassing nicknames people might come up with based on the new name. Even if you’re out of high school! Just make sure it doesn’t appear that you’re trying to pretend to be someone else to avoid bankruptcy or prosecution, and it’s also ill advised to violate trademarks, to use numbers or symbols except Roman numerals, or to use obscene words.

2. Rules vary. The rules you’ll need to follow are going to vary from state to state–possibly even from municipality to municipality. Here’s where having an experienced lawyer to help you could definitely come in handy. At minimum, you should definitely contact the appropriate local governments to find out what rules you need to abide by to get your name legally changed.

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Bankruptcies on the Rise…

By Heather Faucher | Posted on July 22, 2009 | Filed Under Bankruptcy 

Both consumer and commercial bankruptcy filings are racing upward again and are expected to reach a stunning 1.5 million this year, according to a report from Automated Access to Court Electronic Records (AACER). While that number may still be below the record of 2 million filings hit in 2005, it’s still a sharp increase over last year’s 1.1 million filings.

A serious bankruptcy reform measure was signed into law in 2005, which seemed to stem the tide of bankruptcy filings over the next year. The law was intended to curb bankruptcy abuse and make it harder for people to simply erase their debts. The plummeting economy is swinging the bankruptcy pendulum back up, however. Rising job losses, tighter credit, dwindling 401(k) accounts, and dwindling paychecks means consumers are struggling even more than ever to make ends meet and keep creditors at bay.

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First Time Homebuyers Q&A Part 4

By Heather Faucher | Posted on July 21, 2009 | Filed Under Real Estate 

Check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this semi-regular series.

14. WHAT’S A BETTER BUY:  AN OLDER HOME OR A NEW ONE?

There isn’t really a black or what answer to this question, since there are pros and cons to each.  Older homes are often located in more established neighborhoods which could translate to higher property value and a better school district.  They also typically offer more ambiance and lower property tax rates.  That extra atmosphere and charm can come with a price, however; those purchasing older homes should be ready for home repairs and maintenance costs that naturally come with the territory.  Newer homes, on the other hand, often have more modern architecture, amenities, and floorplans, require less maintenance and repairs, and can also be more energy efficient than older home.

15. WHAT SHOULD I KEEP IN MIND WHEN DOING A HOME WALK-THROUGH?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a Home Scorecard you can use in addition to any minimum requirement or wish lists you might have.  Questions to consider include:

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Jon & Kate + 8 – Marriage = Reality Show Divorce

By Heather Faucher | Posted on July 14, 2009 | Filed Under Divorce 

One prominent divorce which has been splashing front pages everywhere is that of reality tv stars Jon and Kate Gosselin, parents of twins and sextuplets and stars of the TLC hit series Jon & Kate Plus 8. Of course, with the tension evident in several episodes before they announced their news on the June 22nd episode, the ultimate announcement they were divorcing didn’t exactly come as a huge surprise to most. Unfortunately, now the famed reality series which provided so handsomely for their family will be in no small way blamed for their marriage’s demise–and the media frenzy surrounding the divorce will no doubt traumatize the “Plus 8″ (Cara, Maddie, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel) even more than the average child dealing with parental divorce.

The desire to protect their children’s privacy as much as possible may well be why the Gosselins chose to file their initial divorce papers in Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County instead of Berks County, where their home is actually located. Montgomery County automatically seals divorce papers in its jurisdiction, a practice that isn’t all that typical these days and came before no-fault divorce.

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First-Time Homebuyer Q&A: Part 3

By Heather Faucher | Posted on July 9, 2009 | Filed Under Real Estate 

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this semi-regular series.

8. WHERE SHOULD I GO FOR INFO ON LOCAL SCHOOLS?

One surefire source for getting the low-down on local schools is by contacting the school systems themselves. They can give you basic information on their statistics and rating levels. You can also pop by their website, if they have one, to see what information they have posted online. Alternatively, contacting the city or county school board can also turn up further information on local schools. A good real estate agent is definitely going to be knowledgeable about schools in the area, so may be an additional source to tap.

9. WHAT ABOUT INFO ON COMMUNITY RESOURCES?

The local chamber of commerce is a great place to start. They should have promotional literature they can send you, as well as a website you can poke around on your own time. Also, try asking your estate agent about welcome kits, maps, and other information. Another place to seek information is the local library, since it can be an excellent source for information on local events and resources. Many librarians can often answer many of your burning questions–and are eager to help library patrons.

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