| Volume 9 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Writing a check when you do not have enough money in the bank is criminal and criminal charges may be filed. Stopping payment on a check because you are dissatisfied with the goods or services purchased is not, provided the money would have been available to pay it if payment had not been stopped.
Extras Make Home Payments Climb
Think you know what you can afford as a first-time home buyer? You might want to grab a calculator and run those numbers again. There's a lot more to a mortgage payment than the loan amount and interest rate. Extras such as property taxes, mandatory structural insurance and private mortgage insurance, or PMI, can add as much as 30 percent to 50 percent to your monthly payment. Click here for more.
Taxes 2007: The IRS Will Take Closer Look
When 2007 rolls in, you can be sure of one thing: The Internal Revenue Service will be taking a longer, closer, harder look at all of us taxpayers. Now, the agency can disallow claims of donated goods that don't meet its standards, as well as demand receipts for charitable cash gifts of any amount. Previously, the IRS took the taxpayer's word on the value of clothing or household items that were given to nonprofits, and only donations of $250 or more required documentation. Click here for more.
The Five Mistakes Married Women Make
Here are five common financial mistakes married women make - along with some advice on how to avoid them. Click here for more.
Your Money
How much do you need to retire? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Second Circuit places burden of proof on party asserting jurisdiction. The court held that CAFA did not change the traditional rule and that defendant bears the burden of establishing federal subject matter jurisdiction. Defendant must show that it appears to a "reasonable probability" that the aggregate claims of the plaintiff class are in excess of $ 5 million. Click here for more.