About Doug Mentes, Esq.
Douglas Mentes is an alum of Drake University with a degree in journalism, who has covered news in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. He has a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and ran his own law firm for more than 10 years in St. Paul, Minnesota, earning designation as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. He practiced in the areas of family law, real estate and probate, handling several successful appeals. He currently covers bankruptcy law for Thomson Reuters.
Articles written by Doug Mentes, Esq.
Do Domestic Violence Offenders Lose Their Guns?
There are several options to protect victims of domestic violence from abusers. Obtaining a domestic violence restraining order is often the first step. Preventing abusers from owning or using guns is another important way to protect victims. For legal help getting a restraining order or ensuring that a domestic abuser does not have access to firearms, reach out to a local domestic violence law attorney. Federal Gun Laws Federal restrictions on gun rights for domestic violence offenders go back …
Can You Discharge Student Loan Debts in Bankruptcy?
If you are dealing with the financial burden of student loan debt, you're not alone. You may even be wondering if you can file for bankruptcy to get rid of federal student loan debt. With limited exceptions, the answer is “no.” Federally guaranteed student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. “The bankruptcy code has a specific section on the types of debt that don't go away in a bankruptcy,” explains bankruptcy lawyer Heather Culp. “It's a pretty narrow group, but student …
Can I Claim Child Care Expenses in My Taxes?
The child and dependent care credit reduces the tax burden for working parents who have work-related childcare expenses and daycare center fees. A parent can receive a credit of between 20 to 35 percent of their work-related childcare payments. The maximum amount of the credit for childcare expenses that can be claimed is capped at $3,000 for one child or $6,000 for two or more, but that allows for a credit total amount as high as $600 to $1,050 for one child and twice that for two. When …
Filing an Automotive Breach of Warranty Lawsuit
Warranty law is designed to protect consumers when their vehicle doesn't live up to the promises made by a dealer or manufacturer. Whether you're dealing with persistent repairs, misleading warranty terms, or delays, understanding your rights is the first step. “The biggest challenge we face is educating the public that legal help is out there,” says Scott M. Cohen, a consumer lawyer who represents car owners in car warranty claims. “We can help people in these situations because …
Disputing a Furnisher’s Error in Your Credit Report
Credit reporting agencies (CRAs) like the big three of Experian, Equifax, and Transunion rely on others to Errors on your credit report can damage your credit score and make it harder to obtain a loan or approval from a credit card company. Some errors come from simple mistakes, but more serious problems involve identity theft. If you don't achieve the results you expect when disputing errors with furnishers or CRAs, it may be time to contact an experienced consumer law attorney for legal …
Who Claims the Kids on Their Tax Return Child Care Tax Credit?
There are many income tax benefits for parents of younger children. However, if the parents are unmarried or divorced, they must divide the tax benefits in some way. For tax purposes, under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, the custodial parent typically claims a qualifying child as a dependent on the parent's tax return. However, a non-custodial parent may claim the child if the custodial parent provides a written release using IRS Form 8332. A qualifying child under IRS rules is, …
Should I Take Early, Full or Delayed Social Security?
Retirees have options when it comes to when they want to retire and begin to take their social security retirement benefits. It is important they understand these options and the effect it will have on their retirement planning. Retirees can take benefits anywhere from age 62 to age 70. Specifically, the options are: Early retirement at age 62 Full retirement at age 66 or 67 Delayed retirement up until age 70 The range in the amount of monthly benefit will vary widely depending on when the …
The End of Alimony Deductions in Utah
A staple of divorce law has been the fact that alimony payers can get relief from their payments by deducting them from their tax return. No more. The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017 eliminated that deduction. Beginning in 2019, alimony payers can no longer receive tax benefits and deduct alimony payments from their income. For legal help on family law issues, find an experienced family law attorney in your area. Why the Change? Those who wrote the federal tax law claim the …
Which Creditors Can I Pay Before Filing Bankruptcy?
When someone files for bankruptcy, the law presumes the individual or couple is insolvent — having more debt than assets — in the 90 days prior to filing. Consumer debts are incurred by an individual primarily for personal, familial, or household purposes. For legal advice on handling debts and bankruptcy options, speak with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer in your area. Creditor Payments and the Trustee’s Role in the Bankruptcy Process For bankruptcy filers with primarily consumer debts, …
Oregon Bankruptcy Planning: Paying Debts Before Filing
The goal for many debtors when filing a bankruptcy case is to obtain a discharge of their debts — often, the more debt discharged, the better. Debts are discharged under both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. But these are different types of bankruptcy, depending on the two types of debt. Debt is divided into three types under the bankruptcy code: Secured Unsecured Priority This article will explain these types of debt and the role of bankruptcy. For legal advice on your situation, …
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