What Is A Judgment Lien?

A judgment lien is a court ordered lien that is placed against the home or property when the homeowner simply fails to pay a debt. This doesn't seem like a big deal, but when the homeowner has a judgment lien against his or her home and wants to sell it, the judgment lien has to be paid in full before the home or property can be sold. Judgment liens can be placed against the property for a variety of reasons such as unpaid credit card bills, utility bills, department store bills, landscaping or home improvement bills, and just about any bill that the homeowner has failed to pay in a reasonable amount of time. Any bill that can cause one to end up in court can result in a judgment lien.

A judgment lien is different than a trust, in that the judgment lien holder cannot foreclose on the home or the property as trust holder can. Judgment lien holders can demand payment, but ultimately they must wait for the homeowner to sell the property before they can expect to be paid the money that they are owed according to the judgment. Luckily for the judgment lien holder, the court will typically assign an interest rate to these liens so that the lien holder is compensated for their waiting as the interest will continue to accrue until the debt is paid in full. Because the majority of people will live in their home for quite some time, the interest can make a judgment lien grow, and grow, and grow over the years so that it is quite large. Imagine what a lien of just $3,000 would grow to over the years if the interest rate were 15% annually and that would be an even bigger amount if the debt were $5,000 or $10,000!

Of course, judgment liens require court action. A creditor will take the homeowner to court where the judge will determine if the homeowner does in fact owe the creditor any money. If the court decides that the creditor is owed the money, and the homeowner will not or cannot make payment, the judge will order that a judgment lien be placed against the property. The judgment lien will then be entered into land records offices for the city or county so that the home cannot be sold without repayment of the debt. Once the lien is filed with the land records office, the judgment lien is said to be attached to the property, meaning that it cannot legally be sold without paying off that lien. If the judgment lien is not listed at the land records office, then it means that the debt or lien is not legally attached to the property and does not need to be paid off to sell the home.

A home or property can have numerous liens against it, which may present a problem when the home is to be sold. Fortunately, the law says that liens will be paid off in the order that they were attached to the property, meaning the first lien will be paid first, the second will be paid second, and so on. This is a law that was basically developed for when a home is foreclosed on. If a foreclosed home is auctioned it will first pay off the first lien, then the second, and the third until there is no money left to pay the debts that are still attached or associated with the home. Of course, all trusts against the house, such as mortgages and home equity loans, would be paid off before the judgment liens, so it's not uncommon for these liens to simply go unpaid because there is no money remaining to pay these debts after the trusts are paid. If there is not enough money to pay for all of the judgment liens and trusts on the home or property, they are then wiped out and can no longer be collected on. Of course, the auction will usually attempt to pay for all of these debts, and they are paid for until there is no money. The reason for this is that the new owner will not be able to get any home equity loans or second mortgages with judgment liens already on the home. If there is money left over after everything is paid off, the remaining amount would go to the foreclosed homeowner as all debts are paid.

You can look for judgment liens at the land records office, though you will typically not find them listed with trusts. Investors or homeowners looking to sell their home will have to look into both trusts and judgments, as they are listed in different areas. Investors can often be caught off guard when they realize how much debt is attached to the home, and sellers are often startled at old judgment liens that they had forgotten about and don't want to afford to pay off in order to sell their home. It's a good idea to go over all of this information before one bids on a home or attempts to sell it or put it on the market.

Judgment liens are not something that anyone wants put against their home, but they are common enough. There comes a time for many people when they simply cannot pay a bill, and a judgment lien is ordered. Making a continued effort to pay down the debt is a great idea so that you don't acquire large interest fees in addition to the initial dollar amount of the lien. The homeowner does not have to wait until the home is sold to pay off the lien, instead they can be paid off as soon as possible. The judgment lien is simply put in place so that the home cannot be sold without the debt being paid, and when you look at it from the creditors point of view, this is a great tool to ensure that you'll eventually be paid the amount you are owed in addition to an interest fee that will pay you for waiting.

DUI Drivers License Restoration in Michigan

This article deals with DUI driver's license restoration in Michigan. Michigan is different from many states in that drivers who have been convicted of two or more alcohol related charge in seven years automatically lose their driver's license. This means that they have to petition to have their driver's license restored.

Most people find that losing their driver's license severely cripples their lifestyle. They have to depend on other people or public transportation for all of the basics of life including going to work, shopping, and going to church. And much of the state of Michigan is made up of small communities that lack public transportation options.

Getting your driver's license restored in Michigan is a complicated process. Many people who try to do it on their own are unsuccessful. For this reason, you may want to consider hiring an experienced attorney for your DUI driver's License Restoration in Michigan.

If you are trying to get your license restored, you must file a case with the Michigan Driver's License Appeal Division. If you lose this hearing, you cannot reapply for six months, so it's important to get it right the first time.

At the DLAD hearing, the Petitioner (you) have the responsibility to show clear and convincing evidence that any substance abuse problems are under control, that repeat alcohol problems are unlikely, that repeat drunk driving is unlikely, and that petitioner has the ability and motivation to drive safely and within the law.

The petitioner must present three different sources of evidence to prove his or her claims. This can include urinalysis to prove that a petitioner is "clean," letters from people involved in treatment, and proof of AA meetings.

If the petitioner proves his or her case, they can get either a restricted license or full restoration of driving privileges.

That's the low down on DUI driver's license restoration in Michigan.

What to Expect After a Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim

The Workers' Compensation system was established to protect injured workers by providing for benefits (and to their families) in the event there is an on-the-job injury or an injury sustained due to the type of work performed. Some Workers' Compensation claims are for accidents on the job such as loss of limb in a machine or a back injury due to heavy lifting. Other Workers' Compensation claims are due to medical problems due to repetitive motion, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Still other Workers' Comp claims are for the inhalation of dangerous chemicals such as asbestos, which often results in a form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Regardless of the type of injury you have suffered at your job, you should seek the legal advice of an experienced Workers' Compensation lawyer today to ensure that you and your family get the benefits to which you are entitled.

Filing a Workers' Compensation claim is no easy task. The language can be difficult and confusing, and often times, the first filing is quickly denied. Workers' Comp will deny claims for reasons such as a deadline was missed or a form was filled out incorrectly. Workers' Compensation attorneys have a great deal of experience filling out these forms and dealing with the difficult aspects of Workers' Compensation law.

The Claims Process

Before making a workers' compensation claim, the injured worker or their representative must tell the employer that an injury has occurred and provide medical information. In certain cases, a an injured worker will need to submit a written claim form:

o If the insurer requests one
o If the worker needs weekly payments for more than 12 weeks or medical expenses of more than $7,500
o If the insurer decides to not start provisional liability payments, or stops making provisional liability payments, and the worker disagrees.

After this step, the insurer will decide whether or not to accept the claim. Before payments begin, the insurer will need certain facts and will investigate the matter by questioning the employer and the injured employee. Information will also be sought from the medical doctor who examined the injured employee. Within seven of being informed of the accident/injury, the insurer must begin provisional liability payments to the injured worker unless there is a compelling reason to not begin payments.

A claim for workers' compensation benefits must be made within six months of the date of the injury in most states. This may be extended to three years in some cases. A worker is not entitled to compensation unless notice of the injury was given to the employer as soon as possible after the injury occurred.

The Holidays and Auto Accidents

Thanksgiving Marks the Beginning of Dangerous Times on America's Roads

While a familiar holiday song labels this "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," it's also one of the most dangerous.

While we're giving thanks for so many other wonderful things in our lives, we also need to be mindful that the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, year after year, produces more alcohol-related auto accidents and wrongful deaths than any other time of the year - including Christmas. The high level of drunk driving fatalities continues until after New Year's Eve. As a Seattle-based personal injury lawyer, I can't help but notice the increase in senseless auto accident tragedies that happen during what should be solely a celebratory time.

Some shocking facts:

o In the U.S., the leading criminal cause of death is drunk driving.
o More than 17,000 people are the victim of drunk driving auto accidents annually.
o Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, 38% of all wrongful deaths from auto accidents are alcohol related.
o Repeat drunk drivers are responsible for almost 60% of those alcohol-related fatalities.

What's important is trying to stop these auto accidents before they happen - so everyone can enjoy a peaceful and happy holiday time. Here are a few suggestions from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
to help make that happen:

o Be a Safe and Responsible Party Host - Make sure none of your guests drive home when they're in no condition to operate a vehicle. Don't just depend on their physical appearance to evaluate their sobriety.
o Designated Driver - If one of your group makes the commitment not to drink, you can easily avoid an alcohol-related auto accident.
o Non-Alcoholic Party Drink Recipes - Give your guests a choice when it comes to beverages, or eliminate alcohol altogether - and serve fun party drinks for the whole family.
o Tie One on For Safety - Displaying the MADD ribbon on your vehicle shows your commitment to avoiding personal injury and wrongful death because of drunk driving - and can inspire other motorists to do the same.

There are ways to celebrate the holidays in a responsible way - and still have plenty of "good cheer." Starting this Thanksgiving, I hope all of you will do your best to keep the roads safe for everyone.

Biography of Top Ten NBA Players

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, February 17, 1963. He was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris. In June 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Later that year, he filed for divorce from Juanita, his wife of 17 years. They have three children together.

Wilt Chamberlain was born in 21th August 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. His nick name is The big dipper. He was unmarried. He personally believed that "Nobody roots for Goliath". He was the only player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring average and rebounding average in the same season. He died in 12th October 1999.

Kareem Abdul Jabber was born in 16th April 1947 in New York City, New York, USA. His nick name is Lew. His spouse name was Janice Habiba' Brown' (divorced). He coached the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League in 2002, leading them to the league championship before resigning.

Larry Bird was born December 7, 1956. He was the fourth of Joe and Georgia Bird's six children. His birthplace was West Baden, Indiana. Bird was always somewhat injury-prone. He missed much of the 1988-89 seasons after major surgery on both heels.

Earvin Johnson was born August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, the fourth of Earvin and Christine Johnson's seven children. In 1977 Johnson and his Everett High School team won the state championship.

William Felton Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a former American basketball player remembered for his central role in the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, during which he led the Boston Celtics to eight straight championships. Bill Russell's famous saying was "Don't knock the ball in the stands, keep it in your hands.

Oscar Palmer Robertson was born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee. His nick name was the big O of O Train. He came from a poor family. As a result instead of baseball he played basketball. His parents could not afford baseball.

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born in 6th March 1972, New Jersey, USA. His nick name was Superman. O'Neal graduated from Louisiana State University and is the only current NBA player with an MBA (Master of Business Administration). He intends to pursue a career in politics and/or sports ownership upon retiring from the NBA.

Hakeem Olajuwon was born January 21, 1963. His birth place is Lagos, Nigeria. His nick name is the dream. He has wife, Dalia Asafi with children. Prior to coming to the U.S. to attend the University of Houston, he had never played basketball and actually came to Houston to play soccer.

Tim Duncan's full name is Timothy Theodore Duncan and he was born April 25, 1976 in American Virgin Islands to Ione and William Duncan. His father is a mason, while his mother is a midwife. He has two older sisters, Cheryl and Tricia. He plays professional basketball for the San Antonio Spurs and he is also the captain of the team.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in the United States

Every year in the United States there are over six million auto accidents. The financial cost of these crashes are more than $230 billion and almost three million people are injured every year in the United States because of car accidents. The fact of the matter is, car accidents are not rare.

Statistics show that there are three major causes for automobile accidents. Being made aware of these three major factors can help the knowledgeable driver avoid being one of the statistics referenced above. The most common known reason for automobile accidents is due to what is known as driver distraction. Although there has been no "official" definition for driver distractions, it has been defined as "anything that diverts the driver's attention from the primary tasks of navigating and responding to critical events." Basically, anything that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off of the road or paying attention to the situation at hand.

These distractions can be caused by the driver eating or drinking, grooming activities, tending to children or pets in the car or even something as simple as smoking a cigarette or adjusting a CD or MP3 player in a motor vehicle. Many of these activities cause a driver to remove their attention from their first responsibility, which is road safety.

Another major cause of car accidents in the United States are from persons driving under the influence of alcohol. In the past 10 years, approximately 250,000 people died in alcohol-related accidents. Drinking alcohol and driving a motor vehicle are simply known as a combination for disaster.

Another major cause of automobile accidents is failure of drivers to abide by speed limit laws. Many drivers don't realize that speed limits are carefully chosen to allow for certain contingencies, such as weather conditions, sudden turns and the visibility of certain roads. Obviously, if one exceeds the speed limit it reduces the time in which that driver has to react to any contingency that may occur on the road.

It should be noted that if you have been injured by a driver that was engaged in one of the above activities, his or her liability may allow for you to receive compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering and other related costs. An attorney can greatly assist you with regard to helping you determine the liability of that driver and the correct amount of compensation that you should be awarded. Certainly the insurance company for that driver does not want to pay you full value for whatever injury the driver may have caused to you. Knowledgeable, experienced attorneys, such as those at Pellettieri, Rabstein & Altman, can assist you and your loved ones in the unfortunate event that you are involved in an automobile accident.

Networking Groups, Not Therapy Sessions

Joining a business networking group can be an excellent move in making strong relationships with like-minded professionals and providing yourself a means of continuous referrals. It really can be a valuable and fulfilling experience. If you can find the right group and participate accordingly, you may wonder why you had not become involved sooner.

The "Right" group would consist of real professionals who engage in real professional behavior. In other words, a great networking group is one that interacts in a warm manner but keeps professionalism alive at all times. This is a vital element if a group is to survive for any great length of time.

A few reasons why this is so important;

- As potential new members visit the group and are considering joining, the professionalism aspect will show through very strongly. Serious business people love this kind of atmosphere because it could prove productive and profitable for them.

- When professionalism is kept in mind, all of the groups activities will reflect it. A professional business networking group doesn't deviate or take detours from its primary objectives. When a group begins to practice activities that aren't consistent with its original purpose, it could be a sign of a lack of focus and could begin to fall apart.

Some may say that there is a fine line between business dialogue or general business interactions and that of more personal exchanges in communication. This is true to a large extent but nevertheless, there is a line. Sometimes things can happen when people begin to get very comfortable around one another.

Personal issues can make their way up to the surface and into what is supposed to be business speak intended to grow and improve careers. It can be a subtle merging and blind side the very integrity of the group. An example, is when someone in the group is perhaps going through a difficult divorce. This is a highly emotional experience and the individual can lose perspective and discuss such things openly.

When such things are brought to the surface, it causes the other members of the group to be affected because they are naturally empathetic human beings and want to show their sympathy as well as help. This is amicable on their part as real people but directly contradicts the purpose of the group and its objectives.

If such behavior is left unattended for too long, a pattern could develop and the productivity of the group will lessen until its ultimate failure. This is not to suggest being non-caring or cold but keeping the focus on appropriate activities could mean the survival of the group.