OUR SERVICES

I.

Bankruptcy is a form of federal law which allows individuals to discharge their personal responsibility for paying debts or to greatly reduce what they are required to repay on those debts. Most secured debts (meaning there is collateral that can be repossessed or foreclosed) will have to be paid in order to keep and maintain possession of those items. However, complete or almost complete discharges can occur on unsecured obligations (debts that are not secured by any collateral).

For individuals, there are usually 2 choices of bankruptcy. One is a Chapter 7 and the other is a Chapter 13. The Chapter 7 allows for a total discharge on unsecured debts while keeping your secured property (house, car, furniture) and obtaining a discharge from the unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills, repossessed automobile debts). No matter what chapter you file, the law allows you to keep such things as household goods, clothing, all furniture, jewelry. You are also entitled to exempt certain equity in your home.

The Chapter 13 is known as a repayment plan or a reorganization. It allows you to "catch up" on missed house payments and missed car payments while you keep that property. It can allow you to pay an auto loan over a period of sixty (60) months; thereby possible extending the amount of time that you are currently paying on the loan. If you extend the payment period, the effect is that the payments are reduced.

The Chapter 13 also allows you to pay for unsecured debts; however, you can pay back as little as 1 cent on the dollar. There is essentially no difference between a complete discharge and repaying 1 cent on the dollar. A discharge would be received on the remaining 99 cents on every dollar.

Regardless of the chapter that is filed, a creditor may not continue to garnish wages, file a lawsuit, make harassing phone calls, or write letters in an effort to collect a debt.

Some debts are non dischargable, even though unsecured, such as criminal fines, tax debts, and student loans.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE LAW FIRM OF DARRELL L. BURROW, P.C. WILL SET A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION TO DETERMINE WHICH OPTION IS BEST FOR YOU.

II.

Personal Injury is a broad term that covers any injury caused by the negligence of another party. This could be an automobile accident, a slip and fall, a pedestrian accident, a trip and fall or contaminated food. Other types of injuries also come under the broad description of personal injury such as wrongful termination and sexual harassment.

In almost all of these situations, the injured party, to be compensated for their injuries, must deal with an insurance company or a large corporation. These companies are interested in their own financial interest, not in seeing that you are fairly compensated. You need counsel to see that the appropriate measure of damages are paid.

Damages are not only in the form of paying the medical bills you have incurred; but, also paying your wages that were lost because of your inability to work due to the injury. You are also entitled to an element of damages called pain and suffering which is paid to compensate you for physical, mental, emotional, and psychological pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can also be paid for future pain and suffering in the event your injury is long term.

Many questions come about in the realm of an auto accident with regard to property damage. Whether the vehicle is repairable or a total loss? Who covers the rental vehicle? Can I choose where the repairs are made? What and who determines the value of my vehicle?

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE LAW FIRM OF DARRELL L. BURROW, P.C. WILL SET A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION TO FURTHER EXPLAIN YOUR RIGHTS.

III.

Probate is a term that generally encompasses the handling of the estate of a person who has died. This can and should be done in every instance, whether a person dies with or without a Will.

Regardless of the value of a persons estate, the only way to properly transfer true ownership of property is through the Probate Court. If a person has a Will at the time of their death, the process is called "Probating" the Will. This entails having the executor approved by the Court and then that person can act legally for the deceased so as to transfer property.

When a person dies without a Will, the process is called "Administering" the estate. This entails a person applying and being approved as administrator. That person can then transfer property. The biggest misconception is that the State will get the deceased persons estate if they die without a Will. This is incorrect; however, the State, by Statute, does determine who gets what share of the estate.

Probate also covers the drafting of Last Wills and Testaments for clients. Often times, this also includes the drafting of a Living Will, Power of Attorney, and Durable Power of Attorney for Heath Care documents.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE LAW FIRM OF DARRELL L. BURROW, P.C. WILL SET UP A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS ALL THESE DOCUMENTS AND TO DISCUSS THE PROBATE PROCESS.