With the first confirmed positive tests of the coronavirus in the United States, public health officials are keeping a close watch on its progression. The virus, which broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in mid-December, had infected thousands of people at a skyrocketing rate by the end...
The message on your greenbacks would seem to be unequivocal: “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” Well, not all debts, as it turns out. More and more restaurants and stores are going cashless, in effect telling their customers, “Your money is no good here.” These retailers...
When a concert is postponed or canceled, the news can hit hard. Sometimes the ticket holder doesn't have the luxury of abundant free time, and can't make the new date. Other times, the purchase price was a lot of money, and the ticket holder really needs that money refunded immediately rather than...
Domestic violence affects millions of American households each year. Over the past several decades, every state has enacted laws to protect domestic abuse victims. Many laws specifically address how domestic violence or other abuse affects court decisions in divorces. This article will explain how...
After you graduate from college, repaying your student loans is a great way to build and maintain a good credit score . Also, by repaying your student loans responsibly and regularly, you’re more likely to be able to qualify for an apartment, a car loan, or a mortgage in the future. In other words,...
Defaulting on your federal student loans is different than defaulting on another kind of debt you owe, like a credit card or a mortgage loan. With those types of debts, you’re in default if you miss just one payment. But federal student loans are another story. You go into default on most federal...
Almost every state has issued a “stay-at-home” or similar order during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Your state might refer to the order by another name, such as a “shelter-in-place,” “safe-at-home,” or “safer-at-home” order.) As these orders continue to be extended and amended, state and local...
COVID-19 Update: The coronavirus outbreak has changed the way we live our lives, restricting our movement and limiting the services available to us. As reports of domestic violence are on the rise, it is important to know what services are available to help and the legal resources you can use to...
Abuse can affect all aspects of your marriage, regardless of whether the abuse is physical or emotional. Your spouse’s emotional abuse may be one reason—or the primary reason—for your divorce . Emotional abuse may not leave visible scars, but it can be just as damaging as physical violence. COVID-...
Negotiating with your creditors can be an excellent way to reduce the overall amount that you owe, increase the period over which you repay your debts, or lower your interest rates. But getting free or low-cost assistance can be tricky. It's often difficult to know where to start, and scammers...
Your credit report is a record of all open credit accounts you have, as well as your payment history with each of them. The three national credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—keep these records, and federal law limits what they can do with the information they gather about...
If you’re experiencing a financial hardship due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak , you might be wondering how late or missed bill payments could impact your credit scores and what you can do to protect your credit history. Missing payments, charging credit cards close to—or over—their limit,...
Our everyday lives are still adjusting to the new normal. A new normal consisting of state of emergencies, stay-at-home executive orders, social-distancing requirements, and lists of activities and businesses considered “ essential ” or “nonessential.” And trying to figure out what is happening at...
Like millions of people across the globe, you probably use a computer or smartphone to access the Internet to handle most of your personal and business tasks. You might use email everyday, and often each day, to do your job, as well as communicate with family and friends. The volume of email you...
Criminals are very clever when it comes to defrauding people. More often than not, scammers use new technology along with old tricks to try to get your money or personal information. In this article, you'll learn about some of the most popular scams out there. By learning to recognize fraud, you...
Homeowners facing foreclosure sometimes reach out to anyone offering a lifeline that could save the family home. Unfortunately, there's almost no limit to the number of scam companies willing to defraud you. The scams vary widely, but usually seem too good to be true. They make inflated promises...
You learned it as a child: "Don't talk to strangers!" Many people would never dream of giving intimate details of their personal life to an unfamiliar person on the street. But people are somehow less inhibited when on a mobile device or the computer. And online scammers are very clever when it...
There's no shortage of people willing to take advantage of homeowners facing foreclosure . Two common scams are: refinancing scams and loan modification scams. The actual scams vary a bit, but pretty much result in the same thing—the scammer pockets your cash. How a Refinancing Scam Works In a...
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This serves to expand paid sick leave as well as family and medical leave for employees impacted by COVID-19. The new regulations take effect on April 1, 2020 and last through...
Small business owners face a myriad of challenges when the economy shuts down due to a pandemic or other emergency. In this section, we provide links to articles discussing human resource issues, financial protection, business contracts, insurance, and more. What Is an Essential Business? Learn...
