Q&A

After spending over 25 years answering legal questions on my radio shows, I have collected the best for my website. Below are the Frequently Asked Questions on a variety of legal topics. I have tried to arrange them in an order that is easy to read through. Click on the any question to read its answer.

Credit Reports

Note: More detailed information about credit reports can be found in Steve Weisman’s book 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit.

1. What is a credit report?

2. What do credit reporting agencies do?

3. Who are the major credit reporting agencies?

4. How often are mistakes made in credit reports?

5. How do you find out if there is a mistake in your credit report?

6. What do I do if there are mistakes in my credit report?

7. What happens when the investigation is completed?

Wills - The Basics

1. What is a will?

2. What happens if a person dies without a will?

3. What is an executor?

4. Can I write my own will?

5. Do you need a will if your assets are held in joint tenancies?

6. How easy is it to amend a will?

7. When should a will be reviewed?

8. If I move to another state is my will still valid?

9. Whom should I choose for an executor?

10. Can I disinherit relatives?

Wills - Now that you have a will…

(Things you need to know about your will)

1. Where shall I keep my will?

2. Whom should I tell where my original will is located?

3. Who should get copies of my Will?

4. When should I review my Will?

5. What are some changes that would cause me to review my Will?

6. How do I change my Will?

7. How do I revoke my Will?

8. What if I have other questions about my Will?

Durable Powers of Attorney

1. What is a power of attorney?

2. What makes a power of attorney durable?

3. What happens if you do not have a durable power of attorney?

4. When does a durable power of attorney take effect?

5. Can you revoke a power of attorney?

Long Term Care Planning

1. Overview

2. Burial account

3. Prepaid funeral

4. Automobile

5. Long term care insurance

6. Single premium life insurance policy

7. Annuities

8. Family limited partnerships

9. Home

10. Aggressive tactics

11. Protecting your home

Debt Collection

1. Overview

2. How is a debt collector allowed to contact you?

3. How do you stop a debt collector from contacting you?

4. What must a debt collector tell you?

5. What forms of harassment are prohibited by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?

6. What statements are debt collectors prohibited from making?

7. What are some of the unfair practices outlawed by the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

8. What are your rights if you are the victim of unfair debt collection?