Articles Written By: datamine

Estate

  • Posted on September 28, 2015
  • /Under Service
Watt Law Firm are Grand Rapids estate planning attorneys whose mission is to provide residents of Grand Rapids and surrounding areas with quality estate planning resources. Let us help you gain peace of mind today. Let your worries become a thing of the past and give yourself the gift of a good night’s sleepRead more

Business

  • Posted on September 28, 2015
  • /Under Service
Watt Law Firm has expertise in the formation of new business entities including the determination of the appropriate structure for your business and the creation of the corporate documentation.Read more

Real Estate

  • Posted on September 28, 2015
  • /Under Service
Watt Law Firm has performed extensive work in the real estate field. The Grand Rapids real estate law firm represents a large number of real estate clients, and provides legal representation in all areas of the real estate business.Read more

Divorce

  • Posted on September 28, 2015
  • /Under Service
Divorce litigation can be difficult. The experienced professionals at Watt Law Firm have represented clients in simple, complex and high stakes cases for years.Read more
What Are The Benefits of Bankruptcy?

What Are The Benefits of Bankruptcy?

  • Posted on February 18, 2015
  • /Under Blog
There are four primary benefits to filing for bankruptcy. They include: Automatic Stay Once you file for bankruptcy, your creditors are barred from taking any further collection action against you, including phone calls, letters, lawsuits, repossessions or mortgage foreclosures. Debt Discharge Once your bankruptcy is complete, most or all of your debts will be resolved. Even if you have ineligible debts left over, you will likely be in a better position to address them than you were before bankruptcy. Catching Up On Past Due Payments If you file for Chapter 13, you will…Read more

Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)

  • Posted on February 3, 2015
  • /Under Blog
A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is a judgment, decree, or order included in a divorce judgment dealing with pension funds and/or an employee benefit plan. A QDRO or a similar legal order is used to split and change the ownership of retirement funds, making sure the employee’s divorcing spouse receives their fair share of assets. Qualified domestic relations orders are complex legal documents, and an incomplete or incorrect one can put your future financial security at risk. Watt Law Firm has helped people with complex transactional needs like these, and we have…Read more

Can I Discharge Michigan Driver’s Responsibility Fees with Bankruptcy?

  • Posted on November 13, 2014
  • /Under Blog
Yes You Can Michigan driver’s responsibility fees are generally dischargeable in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Criminal penalties are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. However, Michigan driver’s responsibility fees are not “criminal penalties.” They are administrative fines levied by the Secretary of State’s office, not as a sentencing judgment or criminal statutory penalty by a criminal court conviction. Therefore, they should not fall under the “criminal penalty” non-dischargeability exception to the list of debts dischargeable under the US Bankruptcy Code as traffic tickets, parking tickets, and other fines may. Thus, the filing of a Chapter 7…Read more

Can I keep my 401(k) if I File for Bankruptcy?

  • Posted on November 10, 2014
  • /Under Blog
Can I keep my 401(k) if I file for bankruptcy? Yes When you file for bankruptcy you are given exemptions that you may use to protect your property. Some exemptions are limited, such as those used to protect your automobile and household goods, and some are unlimited, such as the exemptions you receive to protect any qualified retirement. 401(k)’s, 403(b)’s, pensions and the vast majority of IRA’s are considered to be qualified retirement plans.Read more

A Civil Judgment

  • Posted on October 3, 2014
  • /Under Blog
A civil judgment is good for ten years.  The month of October is the month to file income tax garnishments.  It takes about thirty days for it to get through the court system and then another twenty days to have it filed with the State of Michigan.  This is a good way to collect monies.  You probably got the civil judgment and then didn’t know what to do with it.  Now is the time to do that.  It is a simply process.  If the judgment is getting close to being ten years old,…Read more

How Much Time Does It Take to Complete a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

  • Posted on September 2, 2014
  • /Under Blog
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy begins upon filing a bankruptcy petition. Once the petition is filed, the court will issue a case number and an automatic stay is invoked. The automatic stay prohibits creditors from collection activity. This affords the Debtor relief from phone calls, foreclosure, repossessions, garnishment or other collection activity. Approximately thirty days after filing the petition, a meeting is scheduled called the First Meeting of creditors. At this meeting, creditors may attend to ask questions about the case. The meeting is conducted by a Trustee who is appointed by the court.…Read more