| Volume 23 Number 3 |
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Daylight Time: Starting in 2007, daylight time begins in the United States on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time. These dates were established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. no. 109-58, 119 Stat 594 (2005). Click here for more.
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Buying a house through what is called a "contract for deed" does not offer you as much legal protection as when you use a more traditional mortgage. A new law, however, gives you the right to convert a contract for deed into a mortgage at any time by requesting the seller convey the property into your name and take back a mortgage.
Earned Income Tax Credit Could Pay Off
The earned income tax credit can be a great benefit for workers who don't make much money. This tax break returns to qualified individuals a portion of the taxes they paid. It even can produce a tax refund for eligible filers who had no tax liability. Click here for more.
Should You Walk Away From Your Home?
No one wants to lose their home to foreclosure. We have an emotional attachment to where we live. It only takes a few birthdays and holidays, family reunions and graduations to create memories that last a lifetime. But it's also an investment -- an increasingly bad investment for millions of Americans stuck with adjustable-rate loans they can't afford and homes that are losing value every day. Click here for more.
Most Bank Deposits Are Insured, But it's Best to Check
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke unnerved the financial markets last week when he predicted that the economic downturn will lead to an increase in bank failures. Does that mean you should withdraw your savings from your local bank and stash it in a coffee can? Click here for more.
How to Spot a Health Scam
Unscrupulous agents push insurance products that are high-priced and often bogus. Click here for more.
Your Money
Will you save by refinancing your mortgage? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
State law bad faith claim is preempted by ERISA. The Arkansas Supreme Court has held that ERISA preempts an employee claim for bad faith arising out of a denial of disability payments. Click here for more.