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Many people have difficulty qualifying for credit because they don’t have a credit history, or that history has black marks on it. Others in this situation may qualify for credit, but with an out-of-reach down payment and higher fees and interest. The option of using a cosigner can be critical for people without established credit or with low credit scores to purchase cars, take out loans to cover emergency expenses, and meet other needs. A cosigned loan can also help establish or rebuild credit. 

When you’re in need of a medium-ticket item like an appliance or a new couch and can’t afford to buy it outright, rent-to-own might look like the perfect solution. On the surface, it looks a lot like buying the item on credit, but it’s much more accessible to people who might not qualify for conventional financing. That’s why rent-to-own services often appeal to people with lower incomes and not-so-great credit histories.

Most parents across the United States are facing an unusual choice this school year. The specifics are different from state to state, but the core question is the same: Should we send our children back into physical school buildings in August? 

Depending on the state, parents may have between two and four options. These include returning to a traditional school day, virtual learning on a traditional schedule, a hybrid model with limited classroom time, or opting out of the school system and homeschooling kids. 

Access to healthcare is an ongoing problem in Alabama and across the United States. In the early days of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the number of Americans without health insurance declined. However, the problem was never fully solved. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of uninsured Americans dropped from 46.5 million (17.8%) to 26.7 million (10%). U.S. Census data suggests slightly higher statistics (49.9 million in 2010 and 28.1 million in 2016), with the trend remaining the same. 

By Ronald C. Sykstus, 256-713-0221, rsykstus@bondnbotes.com

As a veteran myself, I have been handling VA disability claims for my clients with the VA for several years on behalf of veterans.  Unfortunately, many of my veteran clients suffer from hearing loss and/or tinnitus, which is a constant or periodic ringing in one or both ears.

I have written previously on the Top Ten security clearance issues and problems that I see in my law practice.  It gets a lot of views at our web site so I thought I would come up with a Top Ten list as it relates to VA disability claims filed by military veterans.   

The U.S. civil court system was designed to handle a wide range of non-criminal cases, ranging from family disputes to substantive contract breaches, property disputes and more. However, over the past several years, the civil courts in most states have been overrun by debt collection cases against consumers. 

Many people struggling with debt fear losing their housing. That concern runs deep, and not just for those who are purchasing homes and fear foreclosure. Although the process and the financial impact is different, eviction can be just as traumatic as foreclosure. And, the eviction process typically moves much faster, leaving a renter little time to make alternate arrangements. That is challenging under any circumstances, but especially when financial resources are limited.

Short answer: yes. The real question is whether you want to.  

A married person can file bankruptcy alone or jointly with his or her spouse. The better option depends on circumstances such as: