Articles Posted in Uncategorized

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stockfresh_8628171_legal-advice-book-title-3d_sizeS-300x150The coronavirus pandemic has Americans in a state of quarantine and there is no telling when this will all end. However, the legal process continues and will not be interrupted. There are still activities that require attention, and these include the witnessing and notarizing of legal documents.

 

The importance of witnessing and notarizing cannot be understated. Many legal documents must have that process completed to be legally binding and that includes powers of attorney and mortgages. Fortunately, some states are allowing remote online notarization (RON) to permit notaries to acknowledge documents without in-person witnesses. Other states are looking seriously at RON to deal with the current lockdown. Continue reading

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small-claimsEmployees struggle with both work-related and personal stress issues. Money is at the top of the worry list. It sometimes seems that creditors are in a conspiracy to drive a person insane.

 

Major Causes of Anxiety

 

Financial wellness takes hits from all directions. Credit card debt, with the double-digit interest rates, can keep folks pacing the floor at night. Other problems impact specific demographics harder than others. College debt weighs heavily on young employees and especially recent college graduates. People in their mid-30s may be worried whether they can finally afford to buy a house. Older employees are grateful for the company’s health insurance, but the high deductibles are a serious mountain to climb. The need to save some money becomes an issue the older a person becomes. Continue reading

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stockfresh_1104622_falling-credit-cards_sizeS-300x200People, by now, realize they were perhaps a little bit too generous at Christmas time. The credit card statements have come in and the debt balances are higher than usual. This can be a direct threat to the financial wellness of some people. The credit card debt may already be substantial and they are paying double-digit interest rates on the balances.

 

The figures can be frightening and may lead to some drastic decisions. A person has to be cautious in dealing with credit card debt, however. Paying the monthly minimum is essential, but too much can leave a consumer strapped for cash and not able to fully pay other obligations. Some have no concept of a personal budget and are floundering. Credit card balances can be managed and can be lowered. It requires a little strategy along with frugality. Continue reading

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Death and taxes are the only things you can be sure of in this life. Employees will sometimes ignore the possibility of death and forget about writing a will. We admit dying is a morbid subject, but it cannot be ignored. Your family’s security depends on a will.

Group legal plans will promote right simple wills and Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services is no exception. Drafting a simple will is one of our group legal plan options and a very popular one. Continue reading

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The Bills Are Controllable

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Folks need to understand deductibles will renew annually. For example, let us suppose that a person has a deductible of $5000 and a medical procedure consisting of a surgery and physical therapy each costing $5000. Let us also suppose that the surgery is performed in 2017 and the physical therapy is scheduled for 2018. Even though the patient has paid $5000 in 2017, this person will need to pay an additional $5000 out of pocket BEFORE the insurance pay anything. It is because meeting the deductible starts all over again with the new year. This scenario is not fiction; it happens all the time. People run into serious deductible debt when medical procedures span more than one year.

The bills can mount up and the providers expect to be paid. Failure to meet the obligations can result in collection agencies knocking on the door. Employers should help their staff with medical bills. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has a financial wellness plan that provides needed assistance. Continue reading

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Contract Language Has Consequences

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Ordinary contracts are not large documents. It takes a few pages to determine what one party must do and what the other party is obligated to pay or give. Nevertheless, even in a small contract, there are clauses that hold consequences. Not being aware of what the words mean can be dangerous.

The part of the contract that can be the biggest problem are those clauses that involve penalties for work not performed, or products not provided. The contract can stipulate exactly what a person needs to do and the penalty is in force when the person doesn’t do it. Too many people are in a rush and sign contracts without carefully reading them. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has seen too many people run into problems because of not reading a contract. Our group legal plan benefit includes a review of contracts for the plan members. Continue reading

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Countrywide Offers Home Buying Advice

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Apartment living has its setbacks. The neighbors can be very noisy, and the landlord can be unpredictable. The rent is not always stable and can go up without warning. These are some reasons why people want to buy a house and live there. It is not out of the question even though prices seem a bit high. A good financial wellness program is going to help somebody find a house and make it home.

An obstacle for many home seekers is a glut of information on the market, most of which is useless. Folks get confused by various offers and financing programs. Incidentally, not all those programs are on the level; some have serious flaws. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can appreciate the frustration. We have a house education program within our financial wellness plan. It seeks to help people make the right decisions about the financing of a home. We have certified counselors nationwide who are there to provide service. Continue reading

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It is a Lifesaver for Many

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Financial anxiety affects many people. Millennials are worried about their bills, and the same applies to baby boomers. One problem which causes a great deal of stress is the spending habits of a person. People use plastic quite a bit, and the credit cards generate large debt sums. It happens a person owes more than the income he or she makes. Auto repairs or unexpected medical bills can drive credit card balances sky high. These, in addition to mortgages and student loan obligations, can adversely affect financial wellness.

Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has helped many people get out of the financial crisis through our financial wellness program. We understand that some people have situations that have gone out of control and need special help. Our debt management plan means to do that. Continue reading

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There are Many Options for Financing a House 

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Americans still think of owning a house as a big part of the American dream. They want to be able to have the same type of shelter their parents enjoyed, but many people think that owning a home is not realistic. The price of housing is high, and folks have other debts. These all make an individual hesitate before trying to buy a house. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services firmly believes that the American dream is still there for people to enjoy. Our financial wellness program is intended to assist people in making the decision to buy a house.

Knowing All the Options

The conventional mortgage is what most people think about when it comes to home purchases. Yes, the standard 30 – year mortgage is still available, but there are some other options. Those other possibilities are not common knowledge, and learning about them is going to help in the final decision. Countrywide has a nationwide network of certified housing counselors who deal with financial wellness. These professionals are part of a homebuyer education course, “Make Your Move”, that can provide the very best information about financing a house acquisition. Continue reading

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Professional Counselors Know Credit Card Debtroad-to-recovery-300x300

The Christmas holiday is over and people have packed up the holiday decorations and thrown out the boxes. It is time to get on with the new year but Santa Claus left something behind. Many people use credit cards to purchase presents and for most people it is not a problem. Unfortunately, for others it can be devastating. The Christmas bills and debt balance may have gotten out of control. The financial wellness of some people is in trouble.

Being Generous Has Consequences

It is easy to get wrapped up in the spirit of giving. No one wants to look like Scrooge, and the plastic comes out quickly. Stores encourage this with special deals but the problem comes a few weeks later. Christmas is not cheap, and missing a credit card payment adds a penalty to the figures. The shock of Christmas can add to a person’s stress. There are ways to get out of credit card problems with the right advice. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services seeks to help people achieve better financial wellness balance. Continue reading