Legal News
Student Loans? New Tax Law Allows Employers to Match Your Loan Payments in 401(k)
A Silver Lining to the Burden of Student Loan Payments: Pre-Tax 401k Matching Contributions for Student Loan Borrowers. A new federal law allowing employers to match employee student loan payments with pre-tax 401(k) contributions went into effect January 2024. As part of the changes to the retirement law, Secure 2.0, passed in 2019, allows employees…
Read MoreN.C. Department of Revenue Announces Extra Credit Grant Application Extension through July 1
Hartsoe & Associates, P.C. recently received word that the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) has extended the application deadline for Extra Credit Grants, worth $335, through July 1, 2021. This extension applies only to eligible individuals who have not already received the grants. Per the message: The grant program was established in last year’s…
Read MoreDo’s and Don’ts of Child Custody Mediation
In North Carolina, mediation is required in child custody cases. Parents have the option of using a court-appointed mediator (at no extra cost to the parties) or a private mediator hired by the parents (where the cost is usually split equally between the parents). A child custody mediator (usually an experienced family law attorney) is…
Read MoreCan I Transfer My Child Custody Case From North Carolina To A Different State?
Is it possible to have a child custody lawsuit moved from North Carolina to another state? Yes, it is possible for a North Carolina court to “remove” or transfer a child custody action to another state. In the recent (August 4, 2020) opinion, Harter v. Eggleston, COA 19-493, the North Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed a…
Read MoreLittle Known Law Can Foul Up Your Estate Plan
Estate planning is the most often neglected aspect of a couple’s life. Many couples have no will, no health care power of attorney (saying who makes your health care decisions when you cannot), durable power of attorney (allowing someone to act on your behalf if you are unavailable, unconscious, etc.), and living will (saying whether…
Read MoreNorth Carolina Churches Can Return to Normal Services Under Phase 1 Executive Order—the Press is Simply Mimicking the Governor in Saying Only Outdoor Services Are Allowed
Executive Order 138 issued by Gov. Roy Cooper on May 5, 2020, known as the Phase 1 Order, is supposed to be the first phase of a three-phase plan to begin to return North Carolina to more normal activities. The prior order, issued March 27, 2020, (and extended to May 8 by Order 135) created a “Stay at…
Read MoreCustody In the Midst of COVID—A Quick Guide
We have received many inquiries about what to do about custody concerns during the governmental shut-down of most activities. Here is what you need to know: If you already have a custody ORDER in place, you must continue to do what it says unless doing so would create a significant danger to the child or…
Read MoreWarning Signs Of Medical Malpractice
Signs of Medical Malpractice We rely on the judgment of doctors and nurses precisely because they’re experts at what they do. When they make mistakes, it’s not always obvious to untrained eyes. Malpractice often goes overlooked for this very reason. These red flags might indicate that something suspicious is afoot: Nobody from your care team…
Read MoreHow Will I Pay My Bills?
Financial worries are common after a traffic accident. A car crash can leave you with severe and possibly permanent injuries. As a result, you’re unable to work, and the bills are piling up. Your medical expenses from the accident alone can be staggering. Your car may have been totaled. You may have been the primary breadwinner…
Read MoreWhat Should I Do After An Auto Accident?
In the chaos and confusion that follow a traffic accident, it’s easy to lose track of important steps for protecting yourself. Here are three things you should do after any accident. 1. Gather The Right Information If you’re able, get the names, addresses, phone numbers, license plates and insurance information of all the other parties involved…
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